In a clean and tidy courtyard surrounded by evergreen trees, Kageyama Kogetsu, dressed in a black robe with blood-red cloud patterns and silver trim, stood with his hands behind his back...
The two little ones stood obediently in front of their master, their small faces more solemn than the other.
"You two, go change into training clothes. Sasuke, take your senior brother."
"Yes, Teacher."
Soon, the two had changed into training clothes suitable for activity, with ninja tool pouches hanging from their waists.
"Spar with your senior brother. Don't hold back."
"Your senior brother started training earlier than you, and I'll be watching."
Kageyama Kogetsu did not give any instructions to Neji because Neji knew his limits and would not strike too hard.
"Yes, Master."
Sasuke and Neji bowed and then began to fight.
Although Sasuke was only five years old, he had received the standard training of a great ninja clan, and his first moves were quite impressive.
Sasuke's left hand quickly drew and threw three shuriken, while his right hand drew a kunai and charged forward. The kunai spun at his fingertips, and he held it in a standard grip.
Neji's body swayed from side to side, easily dodging the shuriken. He then sidestepped the kunai attack and struck back at Sasuke's wrist.
Sasuke quickly withdrew his move, narrowly avoiding the attack, and retreated.
Neji did not pursue, but assumed the Gentle Fist stance, waiting for Sasuke to attack.
Sasuke's black eyes transformed into a one-tomoe Sharingan, and he charged forward again.
The two little ones fought back and forth in the courtyard, evenly matched for a time.
After a while, seeing that Sasuke had no new moves, Neji increased the intensity.
Although Sasuke's eyes could follow Neji's movements and he could react, his body's speed could not quite keep up.
After struggling for three rounds, Neji found an opening and sent him flying with a single palm strike.
Kageyama Kogetsu waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind swept out, supporting Sasuke's back and helping him stabilize his body for a smooth landing.
"Alright."
The two stopped. Neji's expression was calm, while Sasuke's was a little unwilling.
Kageyama Kogetsu walked over to Sasuke, patted his head, and comforted him, "Don't be discouraged."
"If your senior brother could be defeated by you, who have just started, wouldn't that prove that my judgment is poor and my teaching skills are lacking?"
"Sasuke, you are already very strong for your age. I was no better at your age," Neji said with an encouraging smile.
"Thank you, Master, Senior Brother." Sasuke's spirits lifted, and he showed a sunny smile.
"Sasuke, at your age, it's the time to build a foundation. Focus on improving your physical fitness and taijutsu skills, with other things as a supplement."
"Tomorrow, I will bring you a training plan tailored for you. After you complete it, we will move on to the next plan."
"Thank you, Teacher." Sasuke bowed, and after straightening up, he hesitated, "Master, if I follow your training plan, will I be able to defeat and kill Itachi?"
This was the ninja world. A five-year-old child not only understood the meaning of "kill" but also had no reservations about it.
In the original story, when Team 7 went on a mission to the Land of Waves, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi discussed killing and dismemberment without any discomfort.
In the ninja world, the mission was paramount. As long as it was the mission target, anyone could be killed.
"Yes, as long as you complete the training plan with both quality and quantity," Kageyama Kogetsu said with ironclad determination.
In the original story, Uchiha Itachi himself said that a three-tomoe Sharingan had the power to resist a Mangekyo Sharingan.
Orochimaru's targeted training could allow Sasuke to fight with Itachi for so long. With his personal training, and his full knowledge of Itachi's various techniques, how could Sasuke not win?
With his personal training, there was no need for Itachi to go easy on him at all.
Although the Mangekyo Sharingan was strong, it was not invincible.
"Yes, I will work hard!" Sasuke said with a solemn expression.
Sasuke was unaware of the inside story of that night. He only knew that Itachi had killed his father and many of his clansmen. It was normal for him to hate Itachi.
"You'll have to work hard starting tomorrow. Relax well today."
"Hmm... are you two interested in taking a look outside the village?"
The two of them's eyes lit up, and they nodded eagerly.
Having grown up without ever leaving the village, how could they not be curious about the outside world?
"Sasuke, go and tell your mother. You two, go change your clothes, and we'll meet at the gate."
"Yes." The two were very excited and ran off in a flash.
...
Konoha 57. Most of the Konoha 12 entered the Ninja Academy, taking the first step to becoming ninja.
Kageyama Kogetsu lived a routine yet flavorful life in Konoha, occasionally leaving the village to have a tender moment with Pakura.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. It was quite interesting.
Sometimes, he also took the time to go to the moon to see Nohara Rin and Otsutsuki Toneri.
It was worth mentioning that Uchiha Itachi, Kakuzu, and Pakura had all joined the Akatsuki.
Uchiha Itachi was recruited by Obito, while Kakuzu and Pakura were recruited by Nagato, who sent Konan.
Compared to the original story, Kakuzu joined the Akatsuki a few years earlier. In the original story, Kakuzu was one of the later members to join, with Hidan being the one who joined for the shortest time.
To prevent Kakuzu, Pakura, and Uchiha Itachi from fighting, Kageyama Kogetsu mentioned once that Uchiha Itachi was a spy.
He might not like Uchiha Itachi, but that didn't stop him, as an outsider and a high-ranking official of Konoha, from using him.
From the perspective of a Konoha high-ranking official, Uchiha Itachi was a very useful tool.
A year passed peacefully, and at the end of the year, the wind began to stir again.
...
Konoha's back mountain, Root base, Root Commander's office.
The large room was lit by a single candle. In the dim environment, Danzō sat in a wooden office chair, his expression gloomy, as if someone owed him several hundred million.
Danzō had been very depressed recently. After obtaining Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, he had been joyfully developing it...
He was preparing to master the ability of Kotoamatsukami and then, at a public occasion, have Sarutobi Hiruzen himself announce his intention to retire and elect the Fifth Hokage.
As long as he said such words, unless Sarutobi Hiruzen was completely shameless, he would have no choice but to grit his teeth and step down.
However, the difficulty of developing the Mangekyo Sharingan far exceeded Danzō's estimates...
Even without doing anything, the chakra consumption far exceeded that of a three-tomoe Sharingan. Even with Hashirama cells to balance it, the burden on his body was not small.
The most difficult part was the use of the exclusive Dojutsu!
Danzō had spent a year, ignoring the basic abilities of the Sharingan and focusing on researching the exclusive Dojutsu, yet he hadn't even scratched the surface...
At a normal estimate, it would take at least a few years to be able to barely use it.
This snail-like progress directly caused Danzō's mentality to explode!
Wait?
If there were no other way, he would grit his teeth and wait. But Danzō was not willing to wait for several more years now!
After sitting alone in his office for half a day, Danzō gradually made up his mind, his eyes becoming more and more ruthless...
He would learn from his previous experience and carry out another assassination!
"Torune!" Danzō's eyes were half-closed as he called out in a low voice.
"What are your orders, Lord Danzō?" Aburame Torune appeared in the office, kneeling on one knee.
"I have three things for you to do."
"First, leave the basic operating funds for Root. Take the rest of the money and hire bounty ninja and wandering ninja for me."
"Don't just take anyone. At the very least, they must have Chunin-level strength. The stronger, the better."
"Do this matter alone, and do not leak a single detail!" Danzō sat up straight, his expression serious.
"Yes, Lord Danzō," Aburame Torune said in an indifferent tone.
"Second, the special training for the former members of the Twelve Guardian Ninja is now over. Go and activate them."
"Before they leave the special training base, have them kill everyone except you. Then, take them to a concealed location outside of Konoha."
Aburame Torune's tone was still indifferent. "Yes, Lord Danzō."
"Finally, go to the Daimyo's residence and find out the specific arrangements for the Land of Fire's year-end conference. Dismissed."
"Yes, Lord Danzō."
Aburame Torune was like an emotionless machine. After speaking, he vanished in a flash...
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