A pure-white room was filled with five elderly men of different shapes and temperaments, each holding a newspaper as they muttered to one another.
"This is a huge problem."
"The pirates locked away in Eternal Hell are supposed to be erased from history. They carry far too many secrets. They must be eliminated."
"Of course, but the immediate issue is filling the gaps in Impel Down's guard forces. We'll have to pull manpower from the Navy."
"Hm… but to think Impel Down actually had such a hidden layer… who created it?"
"It must be the work of a Devil Fruit user. But the biggest problem now is that this incident has completely humiliated the World Government. We need to restore our reputation."
"How exactly? The sea is stable right now. Who would we even target? Shanks? Or Charlotte Linlin?"
"Neither of them would accomplish much. In my opinion… it's better to start conscription."
"This incident proves that our lower-rank forces are still too weak. Go. Spread the word. The World Government is now recruiting. Those with strong abilities can be promoted directly to Vice Admiral level and considered for Admiral candidacy."
"In that case, let's revisit the Shichibukai seats as well. Not long ago, that D-named fellow killed the thin one. There's still one empty slot. Who do you think should fill it?"
"Why not let that newcomer take the position?"
"He refused."
"Is that so… A man with the initial D who rejects the World Government's offer… quite troublesome. If we can't find anyone suitable, then pick someone from the prisoners who escaped. Use pirates… to restrain pirates."
——————————
Within a dense forest, a five-man squad leapt swiftly from branch to branch.
Kakashi spoke. "Neji. Scout."
"Yes!"
"Byakugan!"
The veins around Neji's temples bulged. His Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan, swept across the surroundings.
He immediately reported, "No signs of movement. No one nearby."
Kakashi nodded. "We rest here."
"Yes!"
The group dropped to the ground. Among them, a man carrying a large bundle began setting up a tent.
Seeing this, Uchiha Yujin couldn't help complaining to Kakashi. "Kurama Yakumo… this young lady can't even go on a mission without bringing a personal guard and maid. Tell me, Kakashi-sensei — Neji is also a ninja clan member, so how did he end up like this?"
"Shh." Kakashi covered Uchiha Yujin's mouth. "Looks like before I teach you the Shadow Clone Technique, I should first teach you how to raise your emotional intelligence."
"No need to waste the effort. Kakashi-sensei's emotional intelligence isn't much higher than mine anyway."
Kakashi shook his head helplessly, unable to do anything about Uchiha Yujin.
Very soon, Kurama Yuzuki from the Kurama Clan finished setting up the tent. She even put up a small grill, preparing to roast skewers.
"Uh… this…" Kakashi could not help stepping forward to stop her. "If you light a fire, it will expose our position, so—"
Kurama Yuzuki explained, "This is a special type of smokeless charcoal. Rest assured, Captain Kakashi!"
"It will still have a smell, won't it?"
"Captain Kakashi." Kurama Yuzuki's expression turned solemn. "Lady Yakumo hasn't eaten a proper meal for three days. She's still in her growing phase. If she keeps eating nothing but military ration pills every day—those terrible things—she won't grow taller, her physique will fall behind, and for our Kurama Clan, which only has one heir in every generation, that would be a disastrous blow. If—"
Uchiha Yujin watched Kakashi's constipated expression as he listened patiently, and Yujin had to hold back his laughter. Finally, there was someone who could put Kakashi in his place.
He took out the small pouch at his waist, and just like Neji beside him, he started chewing on plain steamed buns.
"Want some?" Uchiha Yujin offered Neji a small piece of pickled vegetable he had brought.
Neji's face showed reluctance, but his eyes were honest. He stared at that tiny bit of pickle and swallowed hard.
He and Uchiha Yujin were the same—children nobody really looked after.
When they went on missions, they only carried a few buns with them. No one prepared meals for them.
"Hmph." Neji accepted the pickle, and just as he was about to take a bite, a wave of aroma drifted over from the grill.
"Lady Yakumo! The yakitori is ready!"
The two children chewing dry buns sighed at the same time and continued to gnaw without expression.
After filling his stomach, Uchiha Yujin walked over to Kakashi's side. "Can you start teaching me the Shadow Clone Technique now?"
Kakashi did not respond to the question. "Is something moving in the forest over there?"
Uchiha Yujin rolled his eyes. "If you're not going to teach me, I'll just go find another master. I heard Orochimaru knows lots of things. He's one of the Legendary Sannin. If he teaches me even a little—"
"Take it."
Without another word, Kakashi pulled out a scroll and handed it to Uchiha Yujin.
"I hope that after you learn this, you won't do anything foolish."
"I didn't do anything."
Kakashi didn't answer, but his mind was already spinning.
Uchiha Yujin… could he be something the Third Hokage is grooming as a counterbalance?
Or worse, a tool meant to slaughter the Uchiha clan?
Otherwise, how could this kid know nothing but jutsu perfectly tailored to counter the Uchiha?
If it wasn't Water Release, it was genjutsu reflection. If not that, then a shadow clone that even the Sharingan couldn't distinguish from a real body.
Every technique he learned seemed designed to deal with Uchihas.
It was basically screaming: I have a grudge against the Uchiha!
Kakashi, of course, had no way of knowing that in just over a hundred days, the Uchiha clan would face their extermination.
Uchiha Yujin toyed with the Shadow Clone scroll in his hand, feeling pleased.
There was a huge difference between a shadow clone and the basic clone technique.
Shadow clones had independent consciousness, solid bodies, and could move freely. And once they dispersed, their experiences would synchronize back to the user.
Naruto had once trained the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken using mass shadow clones, greatly boosting his efficiency.
Although Yujin didn't possess the monstrous chakra reserves of Naruto, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki…
He did have many "brothers."
If all versions of Yujin focused their clones on a single task, the efficiency would be terrifying.
Running his fingers along the carved patterns on the scroll, Yujin pulled off the binding rope.
When he saw the hand seal illustration, he froze.
"Just one seal?"
Kakashi nodded. "Otherwise how many were you expecting? Water Dragon Bullet is a special jutsu. I heard Lord Tobirama improved it, but I never learned that version."
Yujin tried copying the gesture shown on the scroll.
Index and middle fingers together. Hands crossed, ten fingers interlocked.
The Ram seal formed.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang!
A burst of white smoke exploded outward, startling Kakashi!
But when the smoke cleared, revealing a drooling clone with unfocused eyes lying flat on the ground, Kakashi finally relaxed.
He patted Yujin's shoulder. "Even with few seals, it's still a difficult technique. You'll need steady practice to master it. Keep trying."
****
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