The new year started with a bang as the tensions in Kirigakure turned into a full civil war between the Kekkei genkai faction and the mizukage's faction. The other great villages took a 'wait and see' stance as they kept each other in check.
The last thing desired was a full-blown all-out war, it had been about a decade and no one was ready for another war. Anbu moved in the dark, hunting for information in the blood mist village.
Kudo was in his second year, and he had dialed back on his competitive streak, maintaining a steady 4th place in all rankings. This year, they started learning taijutsu, the academy's taijutsu style. Some of the kids like the Uchiha, Hyuga etc., prioritized their own clan taijustu. In the academy ground, Kudo listened to Iruka as he instructed about the forms, "We will also hold mock battles during the quarterly tests. A ninja doesn't solely rely on ninjutsu; taijutsu will allow you to conserve chakra for necessary adversaries." Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji were looking lethargic as they performed the forms, a subtle but growing distance had formed between Kudo and Naruto along with the rest of his classmates. Gone was his lively nature, he wasn't cold just a bit distant and more in pursuit, but he made sure to tone it down. "Another activity for today is shuriken throwing and kunai combat. This sear will be more physical than last year so focus and give it your all. Remember you can still be demoted." Iruka's words weren't deemed a threat, as no one had dropped a class yet. The taijustu classes were on Mondays and Tuesdays with shuriken throwing on Thursdays and kunai training on Fridays.
Returning home Kudo's body felt sore but he grits his teeth went to the backyard except this time a training ground separated from the garden had been made. With a slight surprise, he went into training. Unlike a row of poles, this time he set up multiple columns of ten poles. For the next hour, several water bullets pierced through the poles. The longest had been 8 poles consecutively. After resting, he started on his taijustu forms, engraining the motions into his body's subconscious. A week quickly went by, and at dinner time, he saw less of his father as he went back to work. He spent some of his time keeping his mother company. When Kudo no longer saw visible progress in the water bullet jutsu, he started on the basic 3 jutsus, he started with the clone jutsu. It had 4 basic seals (Tiger→ Boar→ Ox→ Dog). Due to his time practicing the water bullet jutsu, the chakra manipulation and shaping were easier, but the clones needed massive improvement. 'I can't even fool a child with this.' His face grimaced at the clones but he kept at it with each try the clones looked better .During the 2nd and 3rd month he focused on the three basic justu, the substitution jutsu was the hardest given that he was practicing by himself. He added another 2 months to mastering those justu.
Hundreds of miles from the leaf, "You truly are fast," Obito said as he appeared nearly having severely wounded Shisui."Who are you?" Shisui grimly asked his left arm to cross over his right side. He was bleeding, but the wound wasn't deep. "Why does it matter? You are gonna die anyway." Obito flickered, a long black rod sailing at Shisui. "Disperse!" Shisui shouted, urging his teammates to run. Although he didn't agree with the clan's point of view, he didn't want his clanmates dying needlessly. It was clear that the masked assailant was after him; he had long flickered as his afterimages weaved through the trees, his true self hidden.
Several Shuriken made their way towards Obito, "Useless." He just phased through, weaving a hand seal, "Fire style: Majestic destroyer flame." A desert of fire fell upon the woods, Shisui rushed out his serious. 'He is strong, very strong. I need to withdraw.' His thoughts were stopped by thorns of wood sailing at him. "Woods style: Penetrating thorns."
"Is that?" Shusui was shocked, genuinely shocked. A wood style user something the world thought impossible to exist since the first hokage. "Fire style: Phoenix fire sage jutsu" the fire met the wood, the fire enhanced with yang chakra burnt the wood into crisps. Obito disappeared instantly, appearing behind Shisui to grab onto him, but Shisui was alert, flickering before Obito made contact.'I don't think I can withdraw very easily. Then I will go all out!' The 3 tomoe pattern of his sharingan changed, and a Mangekyo pattern emerged. Obito was surprised, but his urge to kill Shisui deepened. A green susanoo defending Shisui from the hive of thorns on surging from the ground. "Wood style: Deep Forest bloom." Tree trunks surged aiming to crush Shisui but his visage fizzled out, Obito instantly disrupted his chakra. When he broke the ninjutsu, the forest was till his woods style jutsu nowhere. He chuckled a bit, "I will get him next time. What a terrifying genjutsu. If it weren't for the rinnegan, I wouldn't have noticed. Uchiha, what are you plotting?"Shisui's mangekyo was a huge surprise, but now he was wary of the other Uchiha clan members. He vanished from the forest.
Shisui flickered at an insane speed, rushing towards the village. Upon arriving, he headed towards root. 'I don't know what the clan leader would do, but I know Danzo won't let such a threat exist.'Arriving at root, he requested to meet with Danzo. Underground, Danzo, upon hearing this gave commands and a massive hall within root was arranged. 'If Danzo doesn't move, then I will force him to. That man must be killed for the safety of the village.'"Lord Danzo." Shisui bowed slightly,"Why are you here? Fugaku has been protecting you like chicks. So, what made you step out of your coup?" Danzo, arm bandaged, asked; he was curious but vigilant against the sharingan."Lor-"Shisui was about to speak but felt movement flickering backwards, "I came in good faith. This matter is vital to the survival of the village!" "Winds style: Serial vacuum waves", "The Uchiha is a greater threat," Danzo said closing in on Shisui, but Shisui's sharingan changed a mangekyo pattern. Immediately, Shisui cast the Kotoamatsukami. 'This is for the best.' His thoughts were stopped by a tearing sensation as Danzo yanked out his right eye, and Shisui flickered, but the eye was lost. "A mangekyo? Vile Uchiha. Torune chase him down." Danzo immediately sealed the eye.'Uchiha Fugaku, you have no idea what's coming.' Thinking about having two eyes of the Mangekyo Sharingan, his plans to crush the Uchiha could be realized.