Chapter 11: Serve Them Red Pepper
The children at the orphanage enjoyed a rare feast.
Naturally, Yami's gifts were not ordinary. Most of the food he brought consisted of various meats, a luxury for the orphans of Konoha's orphanage. Typically, they only had the chance to eat meat two or three times a month, and even then, the portions were small. So today's meal was truly a special treat.
However, Yami himself wasn't in the best mood. His expression remained dark, and he spoke less and less.
"Is the food not to your liking?" Nonō cautiously observed his demeanor. "I'm very sorry. The orphanage's chef isn't very skilled."
If she were just an ordinary orphanage director, she wouldn't need to be so careful, even if Yami had donated valuable supplies.
But unfortunately, being the orphanage director was only Nonō's official identity. She also had another role.
Yakushi Nonō—an elite Root operative. A spy who had completed countless dangerous missions, earning the title "Wandering Miko."
Most of the orphans in the orphanage possessed the potential to become shinobi, making them a valuable reserve force for Root.
Nonō was well aware of Danzō's ruthlessness. Yami was his last remaining relative, meaning she had to tread carefully. If she made a misstep and earned his resentment, her plans for retirement would be utterly ruined.
That was why she paid such close attention to his mood swings.
"It's nothing." Yami shook his head slightly, quickly finishing the food in his bowl. He then placed his chopsticks down and said, "Director Nonō, I have training this afternoon, so I won't stay much longer."
As he stood up, Shisui also stopped his conversation with the children.
Yami walked over and looked at the white-haired boy who had been chatting with Shisui earlier.
"What's your name?"
"Kabuto," the white-haired boy answered softly, gratitude evident in his eyes.
"Alright, Kabuto, I'll come to see you next time." Yami smiled, then left with Shisui and the shinobi who had accompanied him.
After spending half a day at the orphanage, Yami had interacted with nearly two hundred orphans. However, aside from Nonō, only twenty children had formed a bond with him and granted rewards.
No wonder he wasn't pleased.
Most of those twenty had basic Chakra, and only a few had unique Chakra attributes.
If the rewards from Nonō and Kabuto weren't decent, he would've been even more frustrated.
--
[Host has established a vigilance bond with Yakushi Nonō, obtaining 'Chakra Control Talent (Excellent).']
[Host has established a gratitude bond with Yakushi Kabuto, obtaining 'Chakra Control Talent (Genius).']
--
Chakra control talent might seem minor, but in reality, it was incredibly important.
Tree climbing and water walking were just the most basic training exercises. The real challenge lay in accurately regulating Chakra output during battle.
In game terms, Chakra was equivalent to mana. Having a large mana pool allowed for the use of more jutsu, but it didn't determine the strength of those techniques.
A jutsu's power depended on multiple factors:
The amount of Chakra infused into the technique.
The user's mastery of Nature Transformation.
The inherent strength of the jutsu itself.
Chakra control not only affected the maximum output of a single jutsu but also determined one's ability to learn high-level techniques.
Take Uzumaki Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, for example—it required exceptional Chakra control and advanced Nature Transformation mastery to even attempt.
After integrating these rewards, Yami's Chakra control talent hadn't reached the Ultimate level, but it had improved significantly.
Aside from Tsunade, his Chakra control talent was now likely the best in the entire shinobi world.
--
Yami returned to the Shimura clan estate to train with Shisui.
Since it was the first day, there was no structured training yet.
Shisui simply had Yami go all out against him, using every technique at his disposal, so he could assess his level.
Without revealing his hidden Nature Transformations, Yami displayed his full strength. This impressed Shisui repeatedly.
At Yami's age, Shisui himself had been much weaker. His rapid growth only began after awakening the Sharingan.
Especially in kenjutsu—no wonder Danzō had specifically asked him to mentor Yami.
--
As the sun set, the afternoon of training quickly came to an end.
Standing at the entrance, Shisui smiled at Yami. "Yami, I'll bring the Uchiha clan's kenjutsu scroll tomorrow. As for the Body Flicker Technique, I'll teach it to you once your swordsmanship reaches a bottleneck. What do you think?"
Yami nodded. "I'll follow your guidance, Shisui-senpai."
It was clear that Shisui was genuinely investing in him, not only was he willing to pass down Uchiha kenjutsu, but he also intended to teach him the signature Body Flicker Technique that had earned him fame.
After watching Shisui leave, Izumi—who had been starving, thought she could finally eat.
However, she was soon pulled along by Yami, who bought a massive quantity of green peppers from the market. He then had Aburame Seiji and Yamanaka Ryo carry them to the orphanage.
Under Nonō's puzzled gaze, Yami, acting like a spoiled young master, ordered the orphanage's chef to stop preparing dinner and instead serve an all-green pepper banquet.
--
In Konoha, green peppers were one of the most hated foods—both by children and many adults.
Not only did they have a strong, distinct smell, but many found their taste unbearable, similar to how some people despised cilantro.
To make matters worse, most of Konoha's cooking methods involved boiling or steaming them plainly. Even if someone could tolerate the smell, the taste was atrocious.
The green peppers Yami had bought were essentially the entire market's stock.
Dish after dish of green peppers was served.
As Nonō lectured the children about the nutritional benefits of green peppers, they forced themselves to swallow the bitter meal, their expressions filled with agony.
Seeing this, Yami grinned and announced loudly, "Don't worry! I'll bring even more green peppers next week! Eat them without hesitation!"
"Waaaah!"
Finally, a young child couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
It was like a chain reaction—soon, wails and cries echoed throughout the orphanage.
Nonō and the caregivers scrambled to comfort the distraught children, while Yamanaka Ryo and Aburame Seiji's faces twitched uncontrollably.
Their young master… was truly wicked.
As expected of Danzō's grandson.
--
Yami chuckled in satisfaction.
[Congratulations, Host...]
(To be continued.)
Chapter 12: Hatred Is the Way Foward
After the green pepper feast, the orphanage was in an uproar, and Yami achieved exactly what he wanted.
More than a hundred bonds reached the first stage instantly. The system notifications came so rapidly that he could barely keep up, and some even provided two rewards at once.
A realization dawned upon him.
People rarely remember kindness, but hatred? Hatred leaves a deep impression.
If he wanted to establish bonds with everyone, the fastest way wasn't by befriending them—that was impossible.
But… making them feel disgusted, fearful, or even hateful?
Only emotions like hatred could unite even the Five Great Nations in mutual understanding.
Yami suddenly felt a twinge of regret. If he had Danzō's reputation and the fear he commanded, not to mention his ability to shift blame, then the rewards he could obtain from these bonds might have already made him invincible in the ninja world.
Kabuto silently observed Yami. One moment, he was smiling; the next, his face returned to its usual indifference.
Kabuto felt a strange sense of unease.
This kid… was terrifyingly unpredictable.
--
[Host has reached the second stage of the bond with Yakushi Kabuto. Reward: Special Talent – 'Scientific Research Ability.']
Yami snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Kabuto.
What was this kid thinking about? How did he suddenly reach the second stage?
--
At the Ninja Academy, Kazama Shuichi stood before the class with a serious expression.
"Tomorrow, we will hold this year's final exam. This test will assess everything you've learned over the past year and consists of two parts: a written test in the morning and a practical test in the afternoon."
"The Third Hokage will also be present to observe your performance."
As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom erupted into chatter.
"The Hokage is coming?"
"I've only seen him at the entrance ceremony!"
"This is awesome! If I do well and get praised by the Hokage, my parents won't dare to scold me anymore!"
Although the ideological indoctrination wasn't as intense yet, the Third Hokage had ruled for over twenty years, and his prestige in the village was unmatched. The mere mention of his presence had the students excited.
Even Itachi straightened his posture subconsciously.
Kazama Shuichi remained patient, waiting for the excitement to die down before continuing.
"I hope all of you will perform your best. If anyone fails… their homework for next semester will be doubled!"
The noisy classroom instantly fell silent. The mischievous kids immediately sat up straight, and Shuichi dismissed the class.
As usual, Yami walked home with Izumi. He wasn't particularly concerned about the Third Hokage's visit.
Besides maintaining his presence and reinforcing his reputation, he knew that Hiruzen was most likely coming for Itachi.
Every Uchiha genius caused unease within the village. Itachi wasn't just a genius—he was also the clan leader's son. Of course, Hiruzen would take an interest in him.
"Izumi, I plan to graduate after this exam."
"Huh?"
The little girl, who was enjoying a box of Chibi Maruko snacks, froze in surprise before growing anxious.
"Graduate early? Then I want to graduate early too!"
Having trained with Yami every day, Izumi knew his strength well. Forget just graduating—he was already strong enough to be a Chūnin.
Even she had reached the level of a graduate.
For some reason, whenever she trained with Yami, her mind felt sharper, and her progress skyrocketed compared to practicing at home.
She had already mastered the Three Basic Techniques and learned two Fire Release jutsu.
Her only weakness was Chakra capacity.
Of course, that was only in comparison to adult shinobi.
As an Uchiha, even without awakening her Sharingan, Izumi's Chakra reserves far exceeded that of ordinary people, she was at least at the level of a Genin.
"Izumi, you can't graduate yet." Yami stopped and looked at her seriously. "The war isn't over. Even if you don't go to the battlefield, the missions you'd be assigned will still be dangerous."
"If you graduate in two years, things will be much better."
"Then stay in school with me!" Izumi pouted, tension in her expression at the mention of war. "We can graduate together after it's over."
"Izumi, I can't learn anything by staying in school, it would just be a waste of time. And don't worry about my safety. The village won't assign me anything too dangerous."
"..."
After much persuasion, Yami finally convinced Izumi to give up on graduating early.
Right now, he could barely protect himself; he had no extra energy to look after Izumi as well.
If he stayed in school, he wouldn't be able to interact with more shinobi or form new bonds.
He wouldn't be able to reach the second stage of his mother's legacy and elevate his talent.
So, he had to graduate.
Otherwise, he'd be stuck in the Academy, repeating grades until he eventually graduated with Hanabi.
--
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha district…
In a small forest, several large trees were lined with targets.
Uchiha Itachi, who had been practicing his shuriken techniques, suddenly stopped, as if processing some new information.
After a moment, he opened his eyes again.
"Final exam… the Third Hokage…"
After absorbing the knowledge from his Shadow Clone's report, Itachi showed no particular reaction and simply returned to training.
Only when the scent of dinner filled the air did he finally gather his ninja tools and head home.
--
"Brother! Brother!"
A small figure wobbled out of the house.
A gentle smile appeared on Uchiha Itachi's face as he took two quick steps forward and picked him up.
"Sasuke."
"Brother, hug me!"
"Alright, come here."
Holding little Sasuke, Itachi felt this was the happiest part of his day.
A gentle voice called from the kitchen.
"Itachi, you're back? Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner. And help Sasuke wash up too."
"Got it, Mom."
Carrying Sasuke, Itachi headed to the bathroom.
--
That evening, during dinner, Uchiha Fugaku brought up the final exam.
"I heard the Third Hokage will be visiting the school. Make sure you perform well and don't disgrace the Uchiha name."
"Yes."
Itachi gave a calm nod as he carefully removed the bones from his fish and placed small pieces into Sasuke's mouth.
That was the end of their conversation.
No one in the household considered a simple exam to be worth much attention.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 13: Shimura vs. Uchiha
The next day, the students arrived at the Academy, and the exams began shortly after.
In reality, students at the Ninja Academy worked quite hard. There was a lot to learn every day, even for first-years.
Basic Chakra refinement, shuriken practice twice a week, two taijutsu classes daily, and on top of that, at least four hours of academic lessons.
Compared to elementary schools in his previous life, this was already an intense workload.
The subjects covered in the academic courses were incredibly diverse—covering physics, chemistry, poisons, as well as the history and geography of various nations, creating an odd mishmash of disciplines.
Looking at the numbers and symbols on the test paper, Yami sighed before starting to answer the questions.
--
Question: There is a ninja 30 meters away in the southeast direction. The wind is blowing from north to south at a speed of 10 meters per second. Please calculate the trajectory and describe the approximate throwing force needed.
Answer: Tie an explosive tag to the shuriken and throw it however you want. If it doesn't explode, I lose.
--
Question: The assassination target is being guarded by three ninjas (positions shown in the diagram). Please design a route to complete the assassination and escape successfully.
Answer: Use the Flying Thunder God Technique to kill the three guards first, eliminate the target, and exit the same way.
--
Question: List three contributions the Third Hokage has made to Konoha.
Answer:
1. Banned casinos in the village.
2. No more contributions.
3. Still no more contributions.
--
Question: Write an essay about your feelings for the village.
Answer: My grandpa is the Hokage's advisor.
--
In less than an hour, Yami completed the entire test. He didn't hand it in early but waited until the time was up to submit it along with his classmates.
Just as he was about to leave with Izumi for lunch, Kazama Shuichi stopped him.
"Yami," Kazama Shuichi called out with a friendly expression. "There will be a shuriken-throwing test this afternoon. The Third Hokage wants to see your real abilities, not just your wealth."
"So, don't use explosive tags this time."
Ever since Yami had shocked the class by attaching explosive tags to his shuriken, he had made a habit of blowing up multiple targets during practice. Shuichi had no way to stop him.
But today was different. With the Third Hokage present, if Yami used explosive tags again, Shuichi would have no face left as a teacher.
"I won't use explosive tags, but in return, Kazama-sensei has to agree to one of my requests," Yami replied with a bright smile.
--
In the afternoon, the first-year students gathered at the testing grounds. They didn't have to wait long before Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, wearing his Hokage robe and hat, accompanied by his guards.
The students became excited and rushed forward eagerly.
Hiruzen waved off his guards and greeted the children with a kind smile. If not for his Hokage robe and hat, he would have seemed just like a friendly old man from the neighborhood.
Yami didn't join the crowd. Instead, he stood at a distance, quietly observing this so-called "Professor of Fire."
Even though Hiruzen had a deep bond with his grandfather, this was actually Yami's first time seeing him in person.
There were still ten years before the events of the main story. Hiruzen's face wasn't as wrinkled yet—he was still under sixty.
Suddenly, as if sensing his gaze, Hiruzen, who had been chatting with a chubby boy, looked up.
Their eyes met.
After a brief pause, Hiruzen quickly recalled who he was and walked toward him with a group of people following.
"You must be Yami," Hiruzen said with a smile.
"That's right," Yami nodded. "Hello, old monkey."
The surrounding students and teachers were stunned.
Kazama Shuichi's mouth hung open, with only one thought in his mind.
It's over. My teaching career is over.
"Old monkey?"
Surprisingly, Hiruzen wasn't as angry as everyone expected. He simply frowned, then smacked Yami lightly on the head.
"That old fool Danzō must have taught you that. Don't pick up bad habits from him."
Yami: "…"
This is bad. The biggest obstacle to farming bond rewards turns out to be my own grandfather.
The sheer power of the "Blame Kage" was terrifying, Hiruzen instantly assumed Yami's disrespect was Danzō's fault.
Yami had dared to speak like that because, first, his identity protected him, and second, because of Hiruzen's carefully maintained image, he was bound to let a child's words slide.
Unfortunately, not only did Hiruzen not take offense, but he also dismissed it entirely, meaning Yami didn't receive any bond rewards.
Seeing Yami's gloomy expression, Hiruzen ruffled his hair.
"I'll be paying attention to your performance today. If I'm not satisfied, I'll be sure to complain to your grandfather."
With that, he chuckled and walked away.
--
The test began.
One by one, students stepped forward for their shuriken-throwing assessment.
When it was Itachi's turn, Hiruzen, who had remained casual before, visibly straightened up.
Watching Itachi launch five shuriken simultaneously, all hitting the bullseye, Hiruzen stroked his beard and nodded in approval.
"As expected of the Uchiha clan. Their control over ninja tools is exceptional, even without the Sharingan."
To his surprise, Yami used the exact same throwing technique.
"This is… Uchiha shurikenjutsu?" Even Itachi was caught off guard.
As the son of the Uchiha clan leader, Itachi had access to classified information, and he had never heard of Yami receiving training in Uchiha techniques.
Unknown to him, Danzō had forbidden Shisui from mentioning that he was mentoring Yami.
Hiruzen whispered something to a nearby guard, his expression unreadable as he returned to his usual demeanor.
--
Soon, the shuriken test ended, and the next stage—taijutsu sparring—began.
"The students whose names I call will come forward, make the Seal of Confrontation, and only start fighting when I give the signal. After the match, you must perform the Seal of Reconciliation, just as I taught you in class," Kazama Shuichi instructed.
After announcing the rules, he called out the first pair.
"First match: Arakawa Kenta vs. Horikawa Kōichi."
The two boys stepped into the ring.
The first-year taijutsu fights weren't impressive. Their only advantage over regular children was their enhanced speed and strength due to Chakra, but their techniques were crude.
After just a few moves, Horikawa Kōichi gave up due to the pain. Rubbing his stomach, he left the field with teary eyes.
Kazama Shuichi shook his head helplessly and glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose face remained unreadable. Then he looked down at the match schedule, his gaze stopping at the final pairing.
"Second match: Shimura Yami vs. Uchiha Itachi!"
The crowd erupted in excitement.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 14: Let's Show Off Together! (BONUS)
Itachi and Yami were both recognized as geniuses—whether in their class or the entire Academy.
Itachi had the advantage of his prestigious surname and always scored perfectly on tests.
Yami, on the other hand, earned his reputation through sheer strength.
Even senior students had been beaten by him, making him somewhat of a school bully.
The two had never officially faced off, and their relative strength had been a topic of debate.
Most students believed Itachi was stronger—after all, the Uchiha name carried significant weight.
But today, they would finally see them fight. The entire class buzzed with excitement.
"Go, Yami! You have to win!"
"Take down that arrogant Uchiha!"
"..."
"They're both so cute… I can't decide! Whatever, Yami is cuter—go, Yami!"
The atmosphere was electric, and most students cheered for Yami, except for those who had been on the receiving end of his fists.
Although he looked down on most of these brats, Yami wasn't the type to act aloof when approached, which made him surprisingly popular.
Itachi, on the other hand, always seemed deep in thought—distant, unsociable.
He fit the stereotype of the Uchiha perfectly.
Even Hiruzen straightened in his seat, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
--
In the clearing, Yami and Itachi stood a few meters apart, facing each other.
At noon, Yami had specifically requested Kazama Shuichi to arrange this match.
Graduating with the title of "genius" would leave a lasting impression, making it easier to establish bonds in the future.
Of course, it also gave him an opportunity to beat up Itachi.
Kazama Shuichi stepped forward. "Both of you, make the Seal of Confrontation."
At his command, Yami and Itachi raised their hands and formed the seal.
Taking a few steps back, Shuichi then signaled the start.
Itachi immediately took a stance, but what puzzled him was that Yami didn't move.
Instead, Yami turned his head to Kazama Shuichi.
"Sensei, I don't think we'll be making the Seal of Reconciliation today."
Before Shuichi could ask why, Yami suddenly charged forward.
--
"So fast!"
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
The first-year students could only see a blur as Yami closed nearly ten meters in an instant, appearing right in front of Itachi.
Even Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly.
This Body Flicker Technique…
It's just like Uchiha Shisui's!
Itachi's instincts screamed danger. Seeing the incoming punch, he quickly raised his arms to block.
But Yami was too fast.
Before Itachi could fully react—
Bang!
A puff of smoke erupted.
Itachi was gone.
A Shadow Clone?!
Hiruzen shot to his feet. Even his guards were stunned.
Compared to Yami's speed and strength, what shocked them more was the fact that he had learned the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu in his first year and had even sent a clone to take his classes.
"Sensei, I told you we wouldn't need the Seal of Reconciliation today," Yami said casually.
"But it's fine. If Itachi comes to school tomorrow, we can fight again then."
With that, Yami formed a hand seal.
And vanished into a puff of smoke.
Another Shadow Clone?!
Hiruzen was completely speechless.
--
Outside the Academy, beneath the shade of a large tree, the real Yami lounged with his eyes closed, enjoying a nap.
If he had simply used a Shadow Clone to defeat Itachi with a single punch, it wouldn't have been shocking enough.
In the end, Itachi would still be the one standing in the spotlight, while Yami would become a mere stepping stone.
So, before the match even started, he had quietly switched himself with a Shadow Clone.
Now, he simply waited for the rewards to roll in.
--
[Host has established a bond with Yamanaka Jun. Reward: Earth Release Nature Transformation (Excellent).]
[Host has established a bond with Nara Shikaku. Reward: Yin Attribute Chakra (Ordinary).]
[Host has established a bond with Hiraashi Eiji. Reward: 0.5 Standard Jōnin Chakra.]
...
[Host has established a bond with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Reward: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning Attributes (Genius).]
--
Yami's eyes lit up.
Finally, Hiruzen had dropped a major reward.
The Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—was known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu."
Despite lacking a special bloodline limit, his mastery of all five elemental releases allowed him to combine them into powerful jutsu, making him a formidable Kage-level shinobi.
His strength during the fight with Orochimaru couldn't be taken at face value.
After all, he was an old man in his seventies, already stabbed before the battle even began. Expecting him to fight at full power was unrealistic.
In truth, the Third and Fourth Hokage represented the peak of "ordinary" shinobi.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was also comparable, but his Dust Release belonged to the rare "Kekkei Tōta" category, making it too unique to be a fair comparison.
For Yami to gain five Genius-level elemental affinities in just the first stage of his bond with Hiruzen…
What about the second stage?
Or the third?
"Tsk… Old man, look at Hiruzen, then look at yourself."
"No wonder you never became Hokage."
Yami chuckled, activated his Body Flicker Technique, and disappeared from the tree in a blur.
--
Meanwhile, back at the Academy, the entire school was in an uproar.
Kazama Shuichi was on the verge of fainting.
Both students used Shadow Clones for the exam… and I had no idea!
"Continue the test. I'll question Yami and Itachi later," Hiruzen ordered, regaining his composure.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
By the time all students finished their tests, Hiruzen gave a few words of encouragement before leaving in a hurry.
"Summon Danzō and Uchiha Fugaku to my office."
"Understood!"
An Anbu hidden in the shadows flickered away.
Soon after, the two men arrived at the Hokage Building, exchanging glances as they met.
Uchiha Fugaku gave a slight bow.
Danzō, expressionless as ever, merely paused for two seconds before striding into the building.
--
That night…
After leaving the Hokage Building, Danzō returned home immediately.
"Yami, Yami, are you awake?"
"I'm up."
Yami opened his bedroom door and walked downstairs, holding a book.
Danzō nodded approvingly. "You did well today."
Watching the Uchiha suffer a setback always pleased him.
But seeing his own grandson deal the blow? Even better.
"It was just a Shadow Clone—no big deal," Yami replied casually.
"Yes, a single Shadow Clone isn't enough," Danzō agreed. "Which is why you'll fight again tomorrow."
"Hiruzen, I, and the two other Elders will be there. Uchiha Fugaku will also come to observe."
"Yami… do you have the confidence to defeat Uchiha Itachi?"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 15: Keep Calm And Blame Danzō
At the same time, within the Uchiha clan…
Fugaku and Itachi sat across from each other.
"I'm sorry, Father. I disappointed you," Itachi said softly, lowering his head.
Fugaku had been strict with Itachi since he was a child. At the age of four, he had taken him to the battlefield to teach him the harsh realities of the shinobi world.
Itachi understood his father's expectations and had trained diligently.
Yet today, he had been defeated in a single blow.
Yami's speed was overwhelming. Itachi's eyes could follow it, but his body couldn't keep up.
And… there was something else that troubled him.
"Don't apologize. Learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu at your age and using it to attend class the whole day is already impressive," Fugaku said in a low but satisfied tone, showing no disappointment.
Itachi's talent had exceeded his expectations.
"As per the Hokage's request, you will fight Shimura again tomorrow. If you perform well, you may be allowed to graduate early," Fugaku continued.
"Don't worry, Father. I will do my best to defeat him," Itachi said seriously.
"Tell me everything that happened today. I'll help you analyze it."
"Yes."
In truth, there wasn't much to say—he had been taken down in a single move. But he still voiced his doubts.
Fugaku frowned. "Uchiha shurikenjutsu… and Shisui's Body Flicker Technique?"
"Shisui is likely training Shimura."
Itachi couldn't help but ask, "Then why didn't Shisui tell me?"
"Foolish!" Fugaku scolded. "This is Shisui's mission. Shimura is Danzō's grandson, do you think information about him can be leaked so easily?"
"If Shisui had told you, it would have caused major trouble!"
"I understand, Father," Itachi said, bowing his head further.
"A shinobi must be careful with their words and actions. Always think before you speak," Fugaku admonished, then waved his hand dismissively.
"As for tomorrow's battle, your chances of winning are slim. But don't be discouraged, Uchiha's true strength doesn't lie in basic ninjutsu or taijutsu, but in the Sharingan."
"Speed alone isn't everything. Once you awaken your eyes, you will surpass Shimura Yami soon enough."
After listening to Itachi's description and making his own deductions, Fugaku knew the gap between them was too wide to be closed in a short time.
"Go rest. Even if you lose tomorrow, you must display your talent and strength to the village. That way, you can graduate early."
"Yes."
Returning to his room, Itachi lay in bed, replaying the memories sent back by his Shadow Clone.
Sleep did not come easily.
--
Hokage's Office
"Hokage-sama, these are the test papers of Uchiha Itachi and Shimura Yami," Kazama Shuichi said, placing the documents on the desk with a conflicted expression.
Hiruzen, busy reviewing other reports, didn't notice his troubled look. He simply nodded and gestured for Shuichi to leave.
Half an hour later, after finishing his paperwork, Hiruzen picked up the test papers, eager to assess the academic performance of the two students.
As expected, Uchiha Itachi's paper was flawless. His level far exceeded that of an average first-year student.
But when Hiruzen looked at Yami's test…
He froze.
What the hell is this?
Yami had answered all the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions correctly, earning full marks.
But the essay section…
Especially the last question…
BANG!
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk.
"I've been Hokage for twenty years, and my only accomplishment is banning casinos?!"
"Danzō, this is your fault! How did such a good child end up like this? You bastard!"
--
Meanwhile, in another location…
Danzō, in the middle of arranging a new round of secret missions, suddenly sneezed twice. His expression darkened.
"Damn Sarutobi Hiruzen… He must be jealous that I have such an outstanding grandson!"
--
The night passed quickly.
With the exams over, the Academy was about to enter a month-long break, and the once lively campus had become quiet.
Except for one place, the training grounds where the first-year students had tested the previous day.
A row of tables had been set up along the edge of the clearing. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzō, and the two other elders sat behind them.
A dozen shinobi stood around, including Uchiha Fugaku.
Word had spread, and many others had come to watch.
Konoha had never lacked geniuses, but this situation was different.
One was a member of the Uchiha clan.
The other was the grandson of Shimura Danzō.
With such a background, their match had instantly become the talk of the village.
Had it not been for many Jōnin being away on missions, the audience would have been twice as large.
--
At precisely nine o'clock, Yami and Itachi stood ten meters apart, just as they had yesterday.
But this time, both were here in person.
The referee had been changed from the rookie Chūnin Kazama Shuichi to an Anbu in a cat-masked disguise.
"The battle rules are as follows," the Anbu announced in a cold voice. "If one participant loses combat ability or the referee determines they can no longer continue, they will be declared the loser. Now, before we begin—"
"No need."
Yami interrupted him without hesitation.
The Anbu frowned, his gaze turning cold, but before he could speak, he suddenly felt multiple killing intents lock onto him.
His expression stiffened, and he quickly composed himself.
"This is the rule, Shimura."
"I already made the Seal of Confrontation with him yesterday. This is just a continuation of that fight—there's no need to be so formal."
"…Fine." The Anbu reluctantly stepped back.
--
Hiruzen smiled at Danzō. "Danzō, your grandson is quite… unique."
Danzō, however, didn't even look at Hiruzen.
"No, your Asuma is still better."
Hiruzen's smile vanished.
Recently, his youngest son had been in a rebellious phase, arguing with him at home almost daily. It had become a major source of frustration.
And now, Danzō had deliberately poked at his sore spot.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, seated nearby, struggled to hold back their laughter.
These two old men had been bickering since childhood. Some things never changed.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 16: Awakening the Sharingan?
Yami looked at Itachi with a solemn expression.
He not only needed to win this battle but had to do so without revealing too much of his true strength.
According to the experience of countless reincarnators, if he displayed too much talent, he would attract Danzō's attention. Then, the so-called "orthodox faction" would regret their oversight, and Danzō would secretly scheme against him.
No, wait—he was Danzō's grandson.
That was fine.
Yami's expression relaxed.
The culprit turned out to be himself. What was there to fear?
--
Itachi observed Yami's shifting expression with some confusion. However, before he could think further, the cat-masked Anbu announced the match.
"The battle begins!"
The Anbu's whistle sounded, and both moved simultaneously.
One advanced.
The other retreated.
Yami gave chase, while Itachi evaded.
Even as he moved to maintain distance, Itachi's hands remained active. His fingers trembled slightly, and in an instant, dozens of shuriken shot out. Each one was connected by nearly invisible silk threads.
With a precise tug, the trajectories of the shuriken changed. Some continued to block Yami from the front, while others curved around from both sides, forming a massive net designed to trap him completely.
The essence of the Body Flicker Technique was not true teleportation. Rather, it used chakra to enhance one's physical speed dramatically. Since Itachi had trained with Uchiha Shisui, he naturally knew how to counter it.
Many observing shinobi couldn't help but nod in approval.
It had appeared—
The Uchiha Clan's Shurikenjutsu!
With the precision granted by the Sharingan and the chakra control that came with advanced mental acuity, the Uchiha clan had elevated shuriken techniques to an art form. They could manipulate them mid-flight using silk threads, creating unpredictable and near-impossible-to-defend attacks.
But… this Itachi was still blind!
"Chief Fugaku has indeed raised an outstanding son," a Jōnin sighed.
"Yes, another Uchiha Shisui in the making. Who knows what name he'll carve for himself in the future?"
"As expected of Konoha's strongest clan, endless geniuses."
Hearing the Jōnin's praises, Fugaku almost smiled. He even used chakra to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling up.
However, he failed to notice the four elders led by Hiruzen. None of them smiled. They simply watched with expressionless faces.
--
On the battlefield, Yami and Itachi continued to maintain a certain distance. It seemed as if Itachi's strategy had worked, but.
Something was off.
Itachi's expression changed slightly.
Yami suddenly sprinted forward again. Itachi instinctively pulled his threads to intercept, only to realize
His kunai and shuriken had all been tangled together into a messy ball.
Recalling Yami's seemingly erratic movements from before, realization struck.
What had appeared to be random, aimless spinning was actually a deliberate strategy to entangle his threads.
"You think I let you jump around for so long because I was afraid?" Yami smirked. "I was just giving Shisui some face. But now, this farce ends."
Swish!
Yami activated the Body Flicker Technique and instantly closed the distance. He launched a straight punch. Itachi instinctively raised his arms to block, but—
Pain!
A sharp, piercing sensation shot through his arms as his entire body was sent flying.
The impact made Itachi feel as if he were facing a fully matured ninja, not a peer. Their physical strength wasn't even on the same level.
Using the force of the blow, he flipped backward to regain distance. Ignoring the pain, he quickly formed hand seals. By the time he landed, only two seals remained.
"Tiger Ram!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, rapidly expanding to five meters in diameter as it surged forward with intense heat waves.
However, Yami had already predicted his move. The moment Itachi began forming seals, Yami and his Shadow Clone started forming their own.
Boom! A cloud of smoke erupted as the clone appeared. However, its hand seals were different from Yami's.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The two jutsu merged—
"Explosion Wind Dance!"
In an instant, a powerful combination technique was formed.
The wind fueled the flames, and the flames empowered the wind, amplifying each other exponentially. A raging fire dragon spun violently, roaring toward Itachi's incoming fireball.
Boom!
The fireball exploded upon impact, yet the fire dragon continued to surge forward.
Itachi's pupils contracted sharply.
He hadn't expected his Great Fireball Technique to be overwhelmed so effortlessly.
Under the boost from Wind Release, the fire dragon's speed increased rather than decreased. Its size also expanded rapidly.
The roaring flames reflected in Itachi's eyes.
There was no time to dodge!
At the last moment—
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A sturdy wall of earth abruptly rose from the ground, blocking the flames.
When the fire dissipated, the earthen wall had crumbled into pieces, revealing the figure behind it.
Uchiha Fugaku.
The Uchiha clan leader stood with a solemn expression, gazing at Yami through the remnants of the wall.
"Itachi lost this battle, Shimura Yami."
"...No, Father! I haven't—"
"Shut up!"
Fugaku suddenly turned, but as he looked at his son, his eyes widened in shock.
Itachi's eyes were blood-red.
A single tomoe hung in each pupil.
"Itachi… have you awakened the Sharingan?"
Fugaku's anger instantly vanished, replaced by astonishment.
Before he could say another word, Itachi collapsed to the ground.
Ding!
[The host's rival bond with Uchiha Itachi has reached the second stage. Reward: Uchiha Bloodline (Rich).]
Fugaku swiftly picked up his son and turned toward the Hokage's table.
"Hokage-sama, I need to take Itachi for medical treatment. I'll take my leave."
"Go, Fugaku," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, still shrouded beneath his bamboo hat. His expression remained unreadable. "When he wakes, congratulate him on becoming a Genin for me."
Danzō remained silent, his lowered head casting a shadow over his face.
"...Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Fugaku bowed slightly before vanishing with a Body Flicker Technique, rushing toward Konoha Hospital.
Watching them leave, Yami exhaled softly.
"It seems I won't have a chance to complete the reconciliation seal after all..."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 17: Hiruzen's Defense Is Broken
As Fugaku left, the battle was officially declared over.
Hiruzen turned to leave, and the observing shinobi gradually dispersed. Meanwhile, Danzō approached Yami, patted his shoulder, and, unable to contain his joy, let a smile slip.
Though, on his face, it looked a bit unsettling.
"Yami, you did well, but don't get complacent. The cursed Uchiha awakened his Sharingan at this moment… Uchiha Itachi's strength will soon surge. You must continue working hard, or he'll catch up to you."
Yami waved his hand dismissively. "So what if he has the Sharingan? He thinks he can surpass me after losing to me?"
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. He'll only be chasing my back for the rest of his life."
Danzō's eye twitched.
Where did this arrogant personality of his grandson come from? Shouldn't he be more like himself—reserved, cautious… a scheming old man?
Danzō wanted to warn him about the terror of the Mangekyō Sharingan, but this wasn't the time or place to discuss such things.
Instead, he simply instructed Yami to wait for him at home that evening before hurriedly setting off after Sarutobi Hiruzen.
--
At the Hokage's Office, Danzō didn't bother knocking. He pushed the door open and strode inside.
Hiruzen stood by the window, gazing over the village.
"Drop the act. There's no one else here," Danzō sneered as he took a seat across from the Hokage's desk.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hiruzen replied without even turning around.
"A child of seven… you and I both know what he'll become in the future. With Uchiha Shisui and now Uchiha Itachi—tell me, Hiruzen, is this still our Konoha, or will it become Uchiha's Konoha?"
Hiruzen's eyes darkened, and silence filled the office.
A long, heavy sigh eventually broke the stillness.
"Danzō, the war isn't over yet. We need the Uchiha's strength."
Danzō sneered again.
Hiruzen, you never change. Decades have passed, yet you still cling to the same old tactics.
You want both honor and results.
But that's fine. Your indecisiveness allows Root to grow. And one day, my roots will break through the ground and take over the entire tree.
"Enough about Uchiha," Danzō said. "Let's talk about Yami."
Hiruzen returned to his seat, his expression softening into that of the benevolent Hokage he portrayed before the public.
"Even with Uchiha Itachi's talent, your Yami defeated him effortlessly. His mastery of Fire and Wind Release—impressive."
Hiruzen's keen eyes had caught many details from Yami's battle.
In general, a ninjutsu clash was determined by chakra output and Nature Transformation proficiency.
Judging by the scale of the jutsu used, Yami hadn't expended much chakra. His Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique and Wind Release: Great Breakthrough together barely exceeded the chakra cost of a Great Fireball Technique.
Yet, he had overpowered Itachi's Great Fireball Technique and nearly shattered Fugaku's Earth-Style Wall.
This was purely due to Nature Transformation, the technique's quality was exceptionally high.
What pleased Hiruzen even more was Yami's fighting style.
Combination Ninjutsu—wasn't that his specialty?
Hiruzen possessed no Kekkei Genkai, nor did he wield Yin-Yang Release techniques. Instead, he had mastered all five elemental releases, refining his Nature Transformation to the absolute limit and developing an array of Combination Jutsu.
If the timing had been more appropriate, Hiruzen might have slammed the table, stood up, and declared.
"This kid is just like me!"
Once his desire for talent took root, it became unstoppable.
Hiruzen finally revealed his true intentions.
"Danzō, Yami is an exceptional talent."
"You can't train him properly."
"Let me train him. I guarantee he'll become the backbone of Konoha."
"In your dreams!"
Danzō's expression twisted in anger as he slammed the table.
The loud impact echoed outside the office.
"Yami is my grandson! I will handle his future myself. You don't need to meddle with your false benevolence!"
They had known each other for decades, Danzō understood Hiruzen's ways.
This was brainwashing. If Yami fell for it, he'd turn into one of those Will of Fire fanatics, constantly chanting about Konoha's "bright future."
That was unacceptable.
Hiruzen frowned. "Danzō, your nature is too… dark. A talent like Yami mustn't be ruined by your twisted ideology."
"He is still a child. He needs proper guidance. If he stays with me, I will teach him how to become an excellent shinobi."
Danzō was so infuriated that he cursed outright.
"Excellent shinobi? None of your three disciples have turned out right! One indulges in women, one is a gambler, and the last is addicted to drugs. Two of them have even abandoned Konoha! And you expect me to entrust Yami to you?"
Hiruzen's face turned red.
Lies could be ignored. But the truth?
The truth cut deep.
His three disciples were his greatest failure. And Danzō had struck precisely at his weakest point.
And worse—
Danzō had insulted his intelligence.
For years, Hiruzen had always prided himself on outmaneuvering Danzō with wit.
But today—
The roles were reversed.
"You really won't hand over Yami to me?" Hiruzen asked.
"Hiruzen, I am his grandfather!"
"Danzō, you'll regret this!"
Bang!
Hiruzen stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut.
He didn't realize what had happened until he was halfway down the hallway.
Wait.
This is my office.
Danzō should be the one leaving!
Realizing this, he quickly turned around, pushed the door open, and glared at Danzō.
"Danzō! This is my office. You should be the one leaving!"
Inside, Danzō was trying not to laugh.
For years, he was always the one storming out.
But today—
Hiruzen was the one who lost his temper.
Of course, on the surface, Danzō remained composed, the ever-calculating leader of Root.
Had he laughed now, Hiruzen might have truly snapped.
"You don't need to worry about Yami's future," Danzō said calmly as he finally stood to leave.
Hiruzen sighed heavily.
He envied Danzō.
At least Danzō had a grandson.
Meanwhile, his own son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, had been married for years but still had no children.
Always off on missions with his wife. And as for his youngest son—still single.
No.
This couldn't go on.
"Shinnosuke!" Hiruzen called.
Moments later, an Anbu in a dog-masked uniform entered the office.
Hiruzen locked eyes with him and issued a command in an undeniable tone.
"Starting today, you're on leave. Go home and work on giving me a grandson. Until you do, don't bother returning to Anbu!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke: "???"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 18: Not His Match
Inside a private room at Konoha Hospital.
Itachi had regained consciousness.
He hadn't suffered any serious injuries; only his fist had been fractured from striking Yami.
The reason he fainted was that his body couldn't withstand the sudden surge in mental power caused by awakening the Sharingan. It was a natural self-protection mechanism.
After resting for a while, he had woken up.
At that moment, Shisui arrived.
The day before, Shisui had heard about the duel between Itachi and Yami, but an urgent mission had suddenly come up. He had hurriedly completed it and rushed back.
Yet, he was still too late.
He had chased all the way to Konoha Hospital, only to find Itachi lying in bed.
When Itachi opened his eyes, the first thing he saw were two familiar faces—both filled with concern.
"Father, Brother Shisui..."
"Itachi, you're awake."
Shisui smiled. "I did my best to rush back, but I was still a step too late. I heard it was an exciting match. Don't be discouraged—it's normal to lose to Yami-kun. If you keep working hard, you'll definitely catch up to him one day."
"That's right," Uchiha Fugaku nodded approvingly. "Winning or losing at this stage doesn't matter. More importantly—you've awakened the Sharingan. That alone is a remarkable achievement."
Awakening the Sharingan at seven years old was extremely rare in the post-Sengoku era. The last person to do so had been Shisui himself.
And, Itachi was even half a year younger than Shisui had been at the time.
As expected of his son.
Yet, despite their words of encouragement, Itachi remained silent, his expression somewhat blank.
Fugaku considered this for a moment before excusing himself from the room.
Although his son was usually calm and mature, Fugaku knew that, deep down, Itachi was still an Uchiha—proud and ambitious. Losing to a shinobi from outside the clan was undoubtedly a heavy blow.
There was nothing more he could say. Perhaps Shisui, who was closer in age, could get through to him.
--
With Fugaku gone, the atmosphere in the ward lightened slightly.
At least, Itachi finally spoke.
"Brother Shisui… did you teach Shimura Yami the Uchiha shuriken technique and Body Flicker Technique?"
Shisui blinked in surprise.
He hadn't expected that to be Itachi's first question.
Still, he nodded.
"Yes."
Itachi's expression changed slightly. He sat up in bed.
"Since you're his teacher… how big is the gap between us?"
Shisui smiled wryly.
He didn't answer.
He simply shook his head.
Itachi clenched his fists. "Now that I've awakened the Sharingan… do I still not have a chance to win?"
With the Sharingan, his mental strength had increased drastically. And since chakra was a combination of physical and mental energy, his overall chakra reserves had also improved.
Itachi even wanted to challenge Yami again.
Yet, Shisui still believed he would lose?
"Itachi…" Shisui sighed. "The Sharingan is not omnipotent."
Seeing the stubborn determination in Itachi's gaze, Shisui softened his voice.
"You've only just awakened your Sharingan. You haven't mastered it yet."
"Besides, a one-tomoe Sharingan isn't all that powerful—it simply enhances perception. Even without the Sharingan, Yami's dynamic vision is already terrifying."
"You still have no chance of winning."
Itachi's eyes darkened.
"Is Shimura Yami really that strong?"
At the age of four, he had followed his father to the battlefield and killed enemy shinobi with his own hands.
And Shimura Yami?
A spoiled clan heir, notorious for lazing around the village, eating and drinking at restaurants without paying.
Yes, without paying.
Yet—Shisui still thought Itachi couldn't win?
"Itachi…"
Shisui looked directly at him and spoke in a serious tone.
"Yami-kun is far more terrifying than you think."
"And to be honest, I have nothing left to teach him."
Itachi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"…That's impossible."
To Itachi, Shisui was the strongest shinobi he knew, stronger even than his father.
Shisui had mastered numerous ninjutsu, was a prodigy in taijutsu, and possessed the strongest three-tomoe Sharingan.
And yet, even he claimed he was no longer qualified to teach Yami?
If even Shisui wasn't qualified, then who in the village was?
The Hokage?
"It's not that Yami-kun's strength has surpassed mine," Shisui clarified.
"It's his talent and his learning speed."
"Some things… I probably shouldn't tell you."
"But, as an exception, I'll share them with you. You mustn't tell anyone not even Clan Leader Fugaku."
Shisui's face grew serious.
Itachi straightened. "I understand, Shisui. I won't tell anyone."
Shisui exhaled.
"He learns too fast."
"In just one week, he mastered the Uchiha shuriken technique."
"In a single month, he learned all my Fire Release ninjutsu."
"One month after that, he completely mastered the Body Flicker Technique."
"After six months…"
"In a pure kenjutsu duel, we fought to a draw."
"From that day on, I never taught him again."
"Yami doesn't need skills or jutsu. He only needs time to grow."
Silence.
"…Shimura Yami knows swordsmanship?" Itachi's voice was hollow.
He knew how strong Shisui's kenjutsu was.
With Body Flicker and genjutsu, Shisui could eliminate an enemy with a single strike.
Yet—Yami held his own?
"No."
Shisui corrected him.
"Swordsmanship isn't just something he knows."
"It's his strongest weapon."
Complete silence.
Itachi sat motionless.
Did this mean—
He wasn't even worthy of Yami taking him seriously?
Shisui looked at his expression and sighed.
Itachi was extraordinarily talented. Among his peers, no one could match him.
But—
Fate had put him in the same generation as Shimura Yami.
Fortunately, with the Sharingan, Itachi still had hope of catching up.
--
After a long silence, seeing that Itachi had finally processed everything, Shisui spoke again.
"Itachi, even though you've awakened the Sharingan, there's something very important you need to remember."
His voice was more serious than before.
Itachi frowned. "What is it?"
Shisui met his gaze.
"Until your body is fully developed—"
"Use the Sharingan as little as possible."
"Otherwise…"
"It will cause irreversible damage to your body."
--
Elsewhere, in the village.
On a quiet, grassy field, two figures lay side by side, gazing at the sky.
The young man murmured softly.
"Honestly… awakening the Sharingan too early isn't necessarily a good thing."
(To be continued.)
Chapter 19: Ōtsutsuki Teuchi?
"Why?" Izumi asked curiously.
She had also been present at the duel that morning. However, upon seeing so many Jōnin and even the Hokage in attendance, she had hesitated to approach and instead hid under a large tree, quietly watching from afar.
The two of them had been discussing Itachi awakening his Sharingan, and Izumi had spoken with clear envy.
For any Uchiha, awakening the Sharingan was always an important milestone.
But looking at Shimura Yami, it seemed like she didn't think it was such a good thing.
"Because it's too early," Yami replied, reaching out to ruffle Izumi's soft black hair. Izumi had been growing her hair since childhood—it was long, smooth, and had a wonderful texture.
Izumi pouted and swatted Yami's hand away.
She had spent so much time caring for her hair that morning, and in an instant, it was ruined.
Yami chuckled and continued explaining, "There are many benefits to awakening the Sharingan, but we're still kids. Our bodies haven't fully developed yet, and we're in a period of rapid growth."
"If the Sharingan is awakened too early, it disrupts the balance between mind and body, essentially forcing our bodies to endure unnecessary strain. Overuse can lead to serious consequences, even illness."
Yami strongly suspected that Uchiha Itachi's frail health in the future was directly related to awakening the Sharingan and later the Mangekyō too early.
The human cells in this world were three times more active than in his previous life, leading to faster development, but even so, awakening the Sharingan at six or seven years old was simply too extreme. It was an undeniable overload.
Throughout his time at the Ninja Academy, Yami had observed that Itachi was quite strong and didn't seem sickly at all.
It must have been that, as a child, he didn't understand the importance of preserving his pupil power, so he used it recklessly and paid the price as he got older.
Hearing his serious words, Izumi shrank back slightly, curling up into a small ball. Her envy of Uchiha Itachi disappeared instantly.
Then, her curiosity returned. "Yami, how do you know so much? The elders in the clan never mentioned anything like this. In fact, they always tell us to awaken our Sharingan as soon as possible."
Shimura Yami answered calmly, "Because my old man said so. He's the Hokage's advisor—he knows things."
"I see," Izumi said, nodding as if everything made perfect sense.
After a while, lunchtime arrived. Yami took Izumi to the famous Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha.
Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku? That was just a joke.
Teuchi was simply an ordinary old man who made ramen. Well, calling him an "old man" might not be accurate, there were still more than ten years before the main story began. At most, he was in his thirties.
But his cooking skills were truly top-notch.
The Shimura and Uchiha clans were both frequent customers at Ichiraku Ramen. Every time, Yami would order a large bowl of chashu ramen with two extra croquettes.
Izumi, having a much smaller appetite, would be satisfied with a regular bowl.
But this time, Yami noticed something interesting.
A girl about their age was in the kitchen, kneading dough by hand. When adding water, she carefully poured it in little by little, afraid of overdoing it.
Teuchi, turning around unintentionally, noticed Yami watching his daughter. Smiling, he introduced her, "This is my daughter, Ayame. She doesn't have the talent to become a ninja like you two, so she didn't attend the Academy. Instead, she's learning the family trade here in the shop."
Ayame shyly hid behind Teuchi, nodding slightly at Yami and Izumi.
In her mind, she was thinking—This boy is really handsome.
Truth be told, Yami's parents had excellent genes. His mother had a classic oval-shaped face.
As for his father…
Don't let Danzō's current appearance fool you—his face looking like a battlefield was the result of countless injuries.
Back in his youth, he had been one of the most handsome boys in the nearby villages.
He could even make Tsunade and Shizune blush.
So naturally, Yami's father had been quite good-looking.
With the best features from both parents, optimized and refined, Yami was destined to be a "walking disaster" once he grew up.
--
After finishing their meal, Yami escorted Izumi back to the Uchiha compound before heading home to reflect on the day's gains.
Defeating Itachi in such a decisive manner had brought him considerable benefits, especially since most of the spectators had been elite Jōnin or high-ranking shinobi. Their strong impressions of him had resulted in highly valuable rewards.
[Host has established a bond with Gekkō Hayate. Reward: Three Standard Chūnin Chakras.]
[Host has established a bond with Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: Fire Chakra Nature Transformation (Excellent).]
[Host has established a bond with Raidō Namiashi. Reward: Space Ninjutsu Talent (1/3).]
[...]
More than ten people had been present as bystanders, each providing first-stage rewards.
But the most precious one was undoubtedly the Space Ninjutsu Talent. This was the second space talent fragment he had obtained.
The first fragment—also one-third—had come as a second-stage reward from his bond with Uchiha Izumi.
Raidō Namiashi…
Shimura Yami recalled that he was a special Jōnin in the village, known for serving as one of the Fourth Hokage's personal guards alongside Shiranui Genma and Iwashi Tatami.
The three of them were capable of jointly activating the Flying Thunder God Formation, so it made sense that he possessed spatial talent.
Still, Yami was surprised to receive a space-related reward at the first stage of their bond. It seemed today was truly his lucky day.
With just one more fragment, he would finally be able to attempt the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Without the power of the Six Paths, almost no one could threaten a shinobi who had mastered Flying Thunder God, except through highly specific countermeasures.
--
[Status Panel]
Name: Shimura Yami
Gender: Male
Age: 7 years old
Date of Birth: April 1, Year 46 (Konoha Calendar)
[Chakra Attributes: Fire (Ultimate), Wind (Ultimate), Earth (Genius), Water (Genius), Thunder (Genius), Yin (Genius), Yang (Genius)]
[Total Chakra: 5 Cards (1 Card 5 Standard Jōnin Chakras)]
[Chakra Control Talent: Genius]
[Mastered Ninjutsu: Three Basic Techniques (Proficient), Five Basic Nature Releases (Various Levels)]
[Nature Transformation: Wind Release (Mastery), Fire Release (Proficient), Earth Release (Proficient), Water Release (Proficient)]
[Special Talents:Father's Expectations, Mother's Love, Senju Bloodline (Thin, Under Development), Swordsmanship Genius, Stealth Mastery, Ninja World Darkness, Mother-in-Law's Expectation, Space Ninjutsu Talent (2/3), Uchiha Bloodline (Rich)]
[Evaluation: "Jōnin-level with weaknesses, focus on leveraging your strengths in battle."]
Yami was admiring the impressive status panel he had built up over the past year when.
There was a sudden noise at the gate.
Danzō stepped into the courtyard, holding a ninja forehead protector in his hand.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 20: Rewards
"Yami, congratulations."
Danzō handed the forehead protector to Yami's small hands, his smile unwavering since stepping into the room.
"From today onward, you're officially a ninja."
Danzō encouraged him, "Although you're not the youngest Chūnin, times are different now.
You have the potential to become the youngest Jōnin in the village. Keep working hard."
The youngest Jōnin in Konoha's history was Hatake Kakashi, who achieved the rank at just twelve years old. However, Yami had both the talent and background to surpass him.
Yami held the Konoha forehead protector, contemplating where to wear it.
His forehead wasn't particularly wide, so he didn't want to wear it on his head and ruin his appearance.
Just then, the system prompt chimed in at the perfect moment:
[Host has established a bond with Konoha Village, acquired organization status (Genin), and obtained the special state: "Leaning Against a Big Tree."]
[Effect: Within the Land of Fire, training speed increases by 20%, and chakra recovery speed increases by 20%. The effect strengthens as rank advances.]
[Congratulations, Host, for becoming a Konoha Genin and reaching the first stage of 'Mother's Love.' Do you wish to claim your reward? (Note: Rewards expire after 24 hours.)]
"Not yet."
Silently responding in his mind, Yami looked up at Danzō and grinned.
"Old man, what's the point of being the youngest Jōnin? If I'm aiming for something, it should be to become the youngest Hokage."
Originally, he hadn't cared much about formal affiliation. As the true prince of Konoha, even Jōnin wouldn't dare act arrogantly around him, lest they be targeted by Danzō.
But upon receiving the system's notification, Yami immediately changed his stance.
No one in this world could be completely trusted, only his own strength was truly reliable.
"Good!" Danzō's lone eye gleamed with excitement. "You have ambition, as expected of my grandson. The position of Hokage should have belonged to our Shimura clan. Don't worry, I'll become Hokage as soon as possible to pave the way for you."
Danzō calculated that he could still work for another twenty years. By then, Yami would be under thirty, at the peak of his career, just the right age to assume the role of Hokage.
Then Yami would have children and grandchildren.
With proper grooming, perhaps Hokage could become a hereditary position, much like the daimyō.
The thought ignited a fire in Danzō's heart, making him want to overthrow Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately.
But that was merely a fantasy.
For now, the most pressing matter was arranging Yami's next steps.
Danzō calmed his excitement and spoke in a serious tone:
"Now that you're a Genin, Konoha's tradition dictates that a Jōnin instructor and two teammates must be assigned to you."
"But your situation—and Uchiha Itachi's—is unique. Only the two of you graduated early, and all the teams for this year's graduates have already been formed..."
"I'm not teaming up with Uchiha Itachi."
Yami immediately shook his head like a rattle.
That would be a disaster.
In the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi had awakened his Sharingan a year later than this, and the catalyst had been the death of his teammate.
"Then you won't team up with him."
Danzō nodded slightly.
"Let Hiruzen deal with Uchiha Itachi. You'll train at Root for a while, and I'll arrange your Jōnin instructor and teammates later."
"Fine by me."
Yami agreed without hesitation.
It was the perfect opportunity to farm rewards from the members of Root.
--
After finalizing the plan, Yami and Danzō had dinner together. Later, using an excuse, Yami retreated to his room to claim his rewards.
It was a shame the system only gave a 24-hour window. Otherwise, he would have saved up all his attributes and maxed them out before claiming them, potentially reaching the Limit Break threshold in one go.
And what was Limit Break?
At the very least, it meant standing at the level of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
Unfortunately, the system was too well-designed and wouldn't allow such an exploit.
In fact, Yami had considered staying in the Academy until he maxed out all his attributes before leaving, but after careful thought, he dismissed the idea.
He couldn't limit himself just because of a single talent effect.
The Academy had too few people to interact with—only by stepping into the real world as a shinobi could he truly build connections and advance his strength.
That was why he chose to graduate now.
What did talent matter? With enough effort, he could still reach the Limit Break level.
"System, claim rewards."
Yami muttered in his heart.
The system didn't respond,it wasn't particularly intelligent, only capable of answering basic rules-related questions.
Instead, the rewards were quietly distributed.
A wave of warmth spread through Yami's body. His cell activity and chakra vitality surged by an entire level.
And his total chakra began increasing rapidly.
Checking his system panel, he watched as the numbers climbed:
5.2 cards… 5.7 cards… 6.2 cards… 6.5 cards… 7 cards…
After about ten minutes, the numbers finally settled at 9 cards.
Meanwhile, in his Special Talents, his Senju Bloodline (Thin, Under Development) had changed to Senju Bloodline (Normal).
But as for Wood Release…
There wasn't a trace of it.
Many people mistakenly believed that Wood Release and the Senju bloodline were inherently linked. But in reality, that wasn't true.
The Senju were the Senju, and Wood Release was Wood Release.
Across thousands of years of history, the only shinobi to naturally awaken Wood Release had been Senju Hashirama.
Even whether the Sage of Six Paths could use Wood Release was debatable.
It wasn't the Senju who were special, it was Hashirama himself.
No one knew exactly how that monster had created such an absurd kekkei genkai, one that even connected to the God Tree itself.
Suddenly.
A sharp pain shot through Yami's eyes, making him instinctively cover them with his hands.
A warm liquid trickled down his face.
When he pulled his hands away, he saw streaks of blood tears staining his arms.
And when he opened his eyes again.
Yami's pupils had turned a deep, blood-red color.
Within each eye, a single tomoe had appeared.
(To be continued.)
...
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