Izuna's sword crackled with intense lightning chakra, the arcs of electricity dancing along the blade with a sharp, audible buzz. In an instant, before either Itachi or Shisui could react, Izuna vanished from their sight, reappearing directly in front of Shisui with blinding speed. The force of his swift kick sent Shisui flying backward, crashing through the air before he managed to twist and land gracefully on his feet.
Itachi, ever the strategist, anticipated Izuna's next move. He sidestepped the lightning-infused sword strike aimed at him, the blade narrowly missing as the electric energy sizzled dangerously close to his body. Without hesitation, Itachi flung a flurry of shuriken and kunai toward Izuna, hoping to force him into a defensive position.
But Izuna was always one step ahead. With a mere flick of his hand, the air around him shifted. A barrier of wind materialized, swirling with such force that Itachi's projectiles were harmlessly deflected away, sent spinning off into the distance. Itachi's eyes widened in disbelief. Wind was one of the most difficult elements to control in such a precise way. Earth Release was typically used to create barriers, but to fashion wind into a defensive shield… that was unheard of, even among wind element masters.
"This isn't possible," Itachi thought. "Even the greatest Wind Release users can't do something like that…"
Izuna's calm smile never wavered. His stance was relaxed, as if this fight was more of a lesson than an actual sparring match. Itachi's mind raced as he tried to understand the depth of Izuna's abilities. He finally voiced the question burning in his mind.
"So, you can use earth, lightning, and wind?" Itachi asked, still catching his breath. "How many elements can you use?"
Izuna's smile widened slightly, and his voice carried a hint of amusement. "All of them," he answered simply.
Before Itachi could respond, Izuna's mouth opened, and without forming any hand signs, a massive Fireball Jutsu roared forth, heading straight for Itachi. The heat radiated from the jutsu was immense, and Itachi knew there was no time to evade. Just as the flames were about to reach him, a second fireball, smaller but equally potent, collided with Izuna's, dispersing the attack in a burst of smoke and ash.
It was Shisui, having recovered from the earlier blow, who had countered Izuna's fire jutsu with his own.
"Thanks," Itachi muttered, quickly regrouping with Shisui. Both of them now understood that this sparring session was far more intense than they initially thought. They had underestimated Izuna—he was far beyond the level of any ordinary shinobi.
As the battle raged on, Izuna began incorporating every element into his attacks. He weaved through fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning jutsu with an ease that bordered on supernatural. Shisui attempted to use his Body Flicker Technique to catch Izuna off guard, teleporting from place to place in quick succession. However, Izuna's heightened sensory abilities rendered Shisui's famed technique useless. He could detect every movement, pinpointing the real Shisui amidst his afterimages with precision.
No matter how fast Shisui moved or how many clones he created, Izuna always seemed to know which one was real. His sword flashed with lightning once more, parrying every strike from Shisui and Itachi's coordinated attacks. The sheer force of Izuna's counterattacks kept the two Uchiha on the defensive.
Sweat dripped down Shisui's brow as he exchanged a glance with Itachi. "We can't rely on normal tactics against him," Shisui panted. "He's too strong, too fast. And with his sensory abilities, my teleportation doesn't even matter."
Itachi nodded, wiping the sweat from his own forehead. "We'll need to push him harder. We haven't even touched him yet."
Izuna chuckled softly, sensing their frustration. "You both are holding back," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Don't make the mistake of underestimating an opponent just because they're not using their full power. If you want to improve, you'll have to do better."
The words struck both Itachi and Shisui like a challenge. They had trained their entire lives, but this was unlike anything they had faced. Izuna was operating on a completely different level, and it was clear that if they wanted to even have a chance of competing, they would have to go all out.
The fight raged on, with Shisui and Itachi pushing themselves to their limits, but Izuna remained composed, effortlessly countering their every move. His sword danced through the air, crackling with lightning chakra, and his control over the elements was nothing short of extraordinary. It was as if he had mastered every possible technique, turning the battlefield into his personal domain.
As they clashed once again, Shisui managed to find a brief opening to speak, his breath heavy. "With you training Naruto… that kid is going to become a powerhouse," he said between attacks. "His chakra reserves are already immense… if he can learn even a fraction of your skills, he'll be unstoppable."
Izuna deflected Shisui's blade with ease, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's the plan," he replied calmly, sidestepping Itachi's kunai strike and spinning around to counter Shisui's follow-up slash in a fluid motion.
Despite their best efforts, both Itachi and Shisui were slowly being worn down. The Uchiha prodigies, known for their precision and raw talent, were finding themselves outmatched. It wasn't just Izuna's skill or his ability to use all five chakra natures—it was his experience, his composure, and his complete understanding of the battlefield. He fought like a man who had nothing to prove, his every move calculated and efficient.
As the fight dragged on, the Uchiha duo began to tire. Their chakra reserves were running low, and each breath came harder than the last. Shisui and Itachi exchanged glances, both realizing that they were no match for Izuna in their current state. Even their combined efforts couldn't push him into a corner.
Finally, with a swift motion, Izuna disarmed Shisui, knocking his tando from his hand. A second later, Itachi found himself forced to retreat, his shuriken intercepted by another gust of wind that deflected them harmlessly. The fight had reached its conclusion.
Both Uchiha knelt on the ground, panting heavily, sweat dripping from their brows. Izuna, however, stood tall, barely winded, his sword still sparking with residual lightning chakra. He sheathed the blade back into his walking stick, his eyes—though blind—focused on them with a sense of calm authority.
"You two are impressive," Izuna remarked, his tone respectful. "But there's much you still need to learn. In battle, endurance is just as important as strength or skill."
Itachi wiped the sweat from his forehead, his Sharingan deactivated as he caught his breath. "We can see that now," he admitted, humbled by the overwhelming display of power. "You're no ordinary shinobi, Izuna. And Naruto… he's very lucky to have you as his mentor."
Izuna's expression softened, the small smile returning to his face. "Naruto has great potential. His chakra is vast, and he's determined. But more importantly, he has a good heart. That will make him strong."
The Uchiha duo shared a knowing glance. Sparring with Izuna had opened their eyes to just how powerful he was—far more than they had imagined. They now understood that Naruto, under Izuna's watchful eye, was in the safest hands possible. Any threat that dared to come after Naruto would most likely meet a swift and deadly end.
Itachi stood up, his mind processing everything. "Perhaps we should spar with you more often, Izuna," he said, half-joking but entirely serious. "It's not every day we get the chance to face someone of your caliber."
Shisui grinned, wiping the dirt from his face. "Agreed. If we keep this up, maybe one day we'll give you a proper challenge."
Izuna chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll be here whenever you want to train. But don't expect me to hold back."
As the fight concluded and the three shinobi began walking away from the secluded training ground, the forest around them filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional chirp of distant birds. Itachi, lost in thought, glanced over at Izuna, who walked ahead with his cane, seemingly at ease despite the intense sparring session they had just gone through.
Itachi had something weighing on his mind, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask.
"Izuna," Itachi began, his voice calm but carrying a sense of urgency, "I've been thinking… Would it be possible for you to train my younger brother, Sasuke, along with Naruto?"
Izuna didn't stop walking, but Itachi noticed the slight stiffening of his shoulders at the mention of Sasuke. There was a long pause, the only sound being the crunch of their footsteps against the forest floor. Izuna's reluctance was clear, but he remained silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts.
"Sasuke, huh..." Izuna finally replied, his tone thoughtful but cautious. "Training him alongside Naruto would not be easy. Not because of his potential—no, Sasuke is talented—but because it would be difficult to keep things secret. The more people involved, the harder it becomes to hide our training from prying eyes."
Itachi nodded, having anticipated that response. "I understand that," he said quietly, "but I worry about him. He's strong, yes, but the world we live in doesn't guarantee survival, no matter how talented one is. I want him to have every advantage he can get. With your training, Sasuke could become untouchable, just like Naruto will."
Izuna remained silent, still hesitant. He knew the potential dangers that came with training someone like Sasuke. The boy had an incredible aptitude for learning and immense potential for both good and harm. Izuna had already foreseen what Sasuke could become, and it weighed heavily on his decision.
But then he considered something else. Sasuke had changed since the introduction of the Capture the Flag game. The rivalry and teamwork he had developed with Naruto had reshaped him in subtle ways, making him less isolated and more willing to work with others. Perhaps there was a way to guide him in the right direction—if Naruto was involved, perhaps Sasuke could avoid the darker paths.
Izuna sighed softly and turned his head slightly toward Itachi. "If it's okay with Naruto," he began, "I'll allow Sasuke to join us for training. But only in the mornings—and he has to be fully committed to the regimen."
Itachi's lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. It wasn't often that he allowed himself such a reaction, but the relief he felt was palpable. The idea of Sasuke being trained by someone as powerful and skilled as Izuna gave him a sense of peace. In a world filled with uncertainty, Itachi knew that under Izuna's guidance, Sasuke would become a formidable shinobi, one who could protect himself and others.
"Thank you, Izuna," Itachi said sincerely. "With your training, Sasuke will be safer… and stronger than I could have ever imagined."
Izuna nodded but remained reserved. "Don't thank me yet," he said, his voice quiet. "Sasuke has a long way to go—and training under me won't be easy for him. But if he's anything like you, I'm sure he'll endure."
As they continued walking, the forest began to thin out, signaling the end of their secluded trek. Itachi's thoughts drifted toward Sasuke. His brother had already shown great potential, but the future was unpredictable. All Itachi wanted was to give Sasuke the tools to survive and thrive in the harsh world of shinobi.
He glanced over at Izuna once more, feeling grateful. With someone as capable as Izuna training both Naruto and Sasuke, Itachi had hope that both boys would grow into untouchable forces—shaped not only by their own will but by the guidance of one of the most powerful shinobi in the world.
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