"Shisui, slow. Too slow."
Uchiha Kamito blocked every one of Shisui's attacks with the hilt of his blade.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu."
Kamito stepped aside, and in the same instant Shisui appeared behind him, slashing down.
Clang.
Kamito pressed his ninja sword against his back and deflected the strike with its scabbard.
"If this is all you've got, Shisui, you're really disappointing me."
Shisui said nothing.
He retreated at high speed, three kunai appearing in his hands, each attached to a thin wire.
Kamito casually knocked all three kunai away.
"Is that the smell of oil? Interesting idea."
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique."
Intense flames raced along the wires, roaring forward and engulfing Kamito completely.
Seeing this, Shisui finally let out a long breath.
"In battle, if you don't see the enemy's corpse, you must never let your guard down. Do you understand?"
Kamito's voice suddenly came from behind Shisui.
"Not good."
Shisui was about to draw his blade to counterattack when he suddenly felt a cold sensation against his neck.
He smiled bitterly.
"Sensei, you're really strong. I lost completely."
"Good. With that sentence alone, you pass today's evaluation. Release the substitution seal on your left hand. In a life-or-death situation, being willing to use words to mislead your enemy—that's very good."
Shisui's expression grew even more pained.
He released the hand sign. In that one second required to perform the substitution, his sensei would have had countless ways to subdue him instantly.
"Sensei, how did you detect it? When I spar with Itachi, I've used this many times, and it worked every time. Did I still have some flaw?"
There was one more thought Shisui didn't say out loud.
Was Itachi just too weak?
(Itachi: What kind of talk is that? Who knew you fought so dirty—pretending to admit defeat and then ambushing at the last second. That's too dirty. Completely dirty.)
"In terms of fundamentals, there's nothing major wrong. You concealed yourself well, keeping your hand signs outside the enemy's field of vision. But chakra can't truly be hidden. Especially in your sensei's case—when I'm focusing, the chakra gathered in your left hand is like a beam of light in the dark. It stands out too clearly."
Shisui suddenly understood.
So it was the flow of chakra that exposed him.
"Good. Since we still have time today, I'll take you to meet a new opponent. You've encountered too few enemies. Your attacks lack fluidity. They feel too formulaic."
"Alright… wait, Sensei, you're not taking me to see Guy again, are you?"
Shisui immediately remembered an unpleasant past experience. If he fought Guy again, he would definitely lose. And that feeling of standing at death's edge—he really didn't want to experience it again anytime soon.
"Relax. Not him. Besides, in the Hidden Leaf Village, someone at Guy's level isn't the only one."
"That's good… Wait, someone at Guy's level?"
"Hey, little Sasuke, if you don't come out, I'm leaving without you."
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Little Sasuke quickly climbed down from the treetop.
"Seriously? I thought I hid pretty well. Didn't expect you'd still find me."
"Hahaha. At your age, if you could evade my perception, you'd already be stronger than your brother."
"Really? As long as you can't find me, I'll be stronger than my brother?"
Sasuke widened his eyes.
Is it really that simple to surpass his brother?
Shisui facepalmed in silence.
Here we go again.
He remembered when Itachi first trained with them.
"Uncle, really? If I can dodge your forehead flick, I'll be stronger than Shisui?"
"That's right."
That scene and this one were identical.
"Yes, Sasuke. If you can trick your uncle, you'll definitely be stronger than your brother."
"But that's for the future. Let's go. Uncle will take you somewhere fun."
Uchiha Kamito picked up Sasuke, and Shisui followed behind.
...
After a while, they arrived at a location.
Sasuke looked at the three large characters in front of him:
"Hatake Residence."
"Sakumo-san, I'm here. Are you home?"
The door creaked open.
Hmm.
This chakra…
It didn't feel like Sakumo-san. And not like Kakashi either.
Then who could it be?
"Are you Department Head Kamito? Please come in."
It was a girl's voice.
And very young.
Suddenly, Kamito had a flash of insight.
Sakumo-san was still as sharp as ever. Poor Kakashi—suddenly gaining a stepmother at this age must be hard to adjust to.
Sakumo-san, I look down on you.
(Hatake Sakumo: Spreading rumors comes at a price. And that price is your life. Understand?)
"Kamito, you're here. Please sit."
"Rin, bring some tea."
"Yes, Sakumo-san."
"Rin?"
"Yes. She's a trainee medical ninja from the Ninja Hospital, Nohara Rin. Do you know her, Kamito?"
Not just know her—
Her name was practically thunderous in reputation.
Wait.
Why is Rin at Sakumo-san's house?
Kakashi, Rin, Obito…
No, no. My brain is too messy right now.
Your relationships are too complicated—I can't figure it out at all.
(Kakashi, Rin, Obito: ?????)
"And she's staying here because?"
"The little girl sees that I'm an old man living alone, so she often comes to take care of me. Is that a problem?"
"No problem."
Kamito felt something was strange but couldn't pinpoint it.
Forget it. I'll ask Shiken to think it over with me.
Even if he's busy lately, he won't refuse gossip.
"Is Kakashi home? Not here? Then he must be on a mission."
"A mission?"
Kamito quickly sent a communication message to Minato Namikaze.
Minato immediately replied:
"Kakashi has no mission today."
After confirming this, Kamito notified the Heavenly Net personnel in charge.
"Locate Hatake Kakashi's whereabouts."
(The Heavenly Net: We finally get a chance to appear, and it's for something like this? At least make it something dramatic… A case of infidelity would be more interesting. Isn't this a bit of overkill just to find someone?)
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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