Seeing that he still couldn't decide the outcome despite having the upper hand in Taijutsu, Uchiha Yo suddenly stopped and spoke.
"Uchiha Isamu, I'm a ninja. Ninjutsu is my real strength. This is where it ends for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately began forming hand seals.
Watching Yo's movements, Isamu didn't hesitate for even a second. He quickly formed his own hand seals while replying,
"You're right. A ninja should use Ninjutsu."
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The two techniques were released almost simultaneously.
Two massive fireballs shot forward and collided in midair, releasing a wave of scorching heat.
Heh. My Ninjutsu was directly granted by the system. My proficiency and technique are basically maxed out. You're just a Genin—competing with me is asking for trouble, Isamu thought to himself.
Gradually, Uchiha Yo began to lose ground in the Ninjutsu clash. His Great Fireball slowly shrank under the pressure.
Seeing his opponent falter, Isamu immediately poured more Chakra into his technique.
In the next moment, his Great Fireball completely overwhelmed Yo's attack and rushed straight toward him.
"How is this possible?!"
Uchiha Yo stared in disbelief as the blazing fireball came hurtling toward him, frozen in place.
At that moment, the ANBU monitoring the situation realized someone's life was in danger. They immediately stopped observing and used Body Flicker Technique to rush forward and save Yo.
The Great Fireball slammed into the trees behind him, blasting several of them apart.
"I… I… I actually lost?" Yo muttered blankly after being rescued.
"I lost to that piece of trash?"
"You two brats," the ANBU captain said coldly. "The Uchiha Clan is responsible for the Village's security, yet here you are breaking the law and fighting openly. I won't let you off easily this time."
"He started it—" Isamu began to explain.
But before he could finish, the captain tied both of them up.
Soon after, the two were thrown into separate cells inside a temporary Detention Center.
---
Hokage Office
Inside the Hokage Office, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was buried under a mountain of documents.
He sighed deeply.
"Ever since my big brother passed away, and the first-generation leaders of several villages died one after another, the second-generation Kage of the major ninja villages have started probing conflicts against Konoha."
"The Ninja World is about to lose its peace."
"Fortunately, Sunagakure hasn't joined the conflict."
While Tobirama was lost in thought, an ANBU suddenly appeared before him.
Seeing the kneeling figure—one of the operatives assigned to monitor Isamu—Tobirama asked directly,
"What is it? Did something happen with that kid?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. That boy had a major fight in the village with another Uchiha member. They even used Ninjutsu."
Tobirama rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"What a troublesome brat."
"With several ninja villages already stirring at the borders, he decides to cause trouble too."
"I wonder where he managed to steal those Ninjutsu from."
After a moment of silence, Tobirama spoke again.
"Oh well. This time I'll prove to my big brother that Madara was never a good person—and his son is no different."
"Since I can't stop him from growing stronger anyway, I might as well let him develop."
"I want to see just how much trouble he can cause."
After making his decision, Tobirama gave the order.
"From today onward, the ANBU no longer need to monitor that boy. Go to the borders and gather intelligence instead."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"And the two children being held?"
"Keep them locked up for two days. Let them learn their lesson."
"Yes."
With a soft whoosh, the ANBU disappeared.
Watching him leave, Tobirama felt another headache coming on.
"Simply letting that brat grow up freely won't work. I need to find someone extremely loyal to Konoha to guide him."
"Let me think… who would be suitable?"
Soon, he thought of someone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"This disciple of mine is extremely loyal to Konoha and strong enough for the job."
"Although he's still young and hasn't led anyone before, everyone has a first time."
"He's the most suitable candidate."
"No time like the present."
Tobirama immediately ordered someone to summon Hiruzen Sarutobi.
---
Detention Center
Meanwhile, inside the cell, Isamu summoned the system interface.
He opened the Shop and exchanged points for a One-Tomoe Sharingan.
[Ding! Exchange successful.]
Suddenly, Isamu's mind went blank, as if his consciousness had momentarily shut down.
Then two strange streams of energy flowed from his brain toward his eyes.
"Ahhh!!"
A sharp pain exploded in his head, and his eyes burned as if they were on fire.
He clenched his head tightly, trying to endure the pain.
After about a minute, the pain disappeared.
Isamu slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils, once black, had turned crimson, and within each eye rested a single black tomoe.
Even without a mirror, he knew exactly what he looked like.
The Sharingan had awakened.
At that moment, he noticed a fly buzzing inside the cell.
Its movements suddenly became incredibly clear.
Even the trajectory of its wings was visible.
Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Isamu's lips.
"Sharingan…"
"With you, I can finally walk the path of the strong."
---
Hokage Office
At the same time, Tobirama looked at the young man standing before him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still in his twenties, and his strength had not yet reached its peak.
"Monkey," Tobirama said calmly, "guess why I called you here."
Hiruzen thought for a moment.
"Is it related to the probing attacks from the major villages at the border?"
Tobirama shook his head.
"You don't need to worry about border matters. If war breaks out, those of us from the older generation will deal with it."
"This time, I called you here for a mission."
"A mission? What mission?"
"You know Uchiha Isamu, right?"
Hiruzen nodded.
The son of Uchiha Madara was famous throughout the village—it was impossible not to know him.
"Monkey, you've never led a newcomer before, correct?"
"I plan to have you guide that boy."
"You want me to take him as my disciple?" Hiruzen asked in surprise.
"That's not necessary," Tobirama replied.
"Just treat him as your teammate. Teach him and slowly guide him."
"I want to see whether, after gaining power, he becomes like Madara… or like Kagami."
Hiruzen hesitated.
"And if he turns out like Madara?"
Tobirama snorted coldly.
"If he becomes like Madara… then don't blame this old man for sending him to join Madara directly."
"Monkey, the boy is currently locked in the Detention Center. Go pick him up in two days."
"From now on, that boy is your responsibility."
"Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, Teacher."
---
Two Days Later
Two days later, only Isamu remained in the prison.
As for Uchiha Yo, he had already been bailed out by the Moderate Faction the day before.
No one from the Martial Faction came to retrieve Isamu.
"Damn it… still not out yet."
"This is definitely that old schemer Senju Tobirama's doing."
"You old fox… just wait."
"Let's see how long you can keep jumping around."
"When I grow stronger, I'll show up in front of you every single day just to remind you what it feels like to hate someone but be unable to get rid of them."
Just as he finished complaining, a figure appeared outside the cell, staring at him.
Isamu glanced over and said casually,
"If you're looking for someone, try somewhere else. I'm the only one here."
He assumed the man had simply come to find someone else.
After all, given his identity as Madara's son, who would bother visiting him?
However, the young man didn't move.
He simply stared at Isamu.
"Why hasn't he left?" Isamu muttered.
He walked closer and tilted his head, examining the man carefully.
He looked familiar…
Very familiar.
But Isamu couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
Then he waved his hand in front of the man's eyes.
"Eh? No reaction."
"Is he blind?"
"Or both deaf and blind? That's pretty pitiful."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly darkened.
"I am neither deaf nor blind," he said flatly.
"I'm here to take you out. Follow me."
After saying that, he unlocked the cell door and walked away.
"Here for me?"
"What the heck… did he get the wrong person?"
"Whatever. I'll worry about that later—first I'm getting out of here."
And so Isamu followed the young man out of the Detention Center.
As they walked, Isamu kept staring at him.
Who exactly was this guy?
He looked familiar.
His voice sounded familiar.
And somehow… he had just gotten him released from prison.