What Is Your Ninja Way, Kaze?

Thinking of the task the Third Hokage had entrusted to him, Shisui suddenly felt inspired.

No time like the present.

There were still a few hours until the Clan Meeting that evening.

More than enough time for him to assess whether Kaze possessed the strength of a Jonin.

Of course...

Shisui had always acted openly and honorably.

He could easily be candid with the Konoha leadership even about something like Kotoamatsukami.

Let alone something as simple as assessing Kaze.

Thus, Shisui got straight to the point. "Lord Hokage hopes that I can conduct your Jonin Exam."

"If you pass this assessment, you will officially become a Jonin of Konoha."

"And serve the village."

As he spoke, Shisui met Kaze's eyes. His tone was sincere, and his gaze brimmed with expectation.

In his view, this was a rare opportunity for Kaze.

But Kaze had a different thought in mind.

At a time like this, they want to give me a Jonin Exam...

Kaze raised an eyebrow.

He had already wiped out a Cloud Ninja squad and killed Aburame Ryoma in retaliation.

Anyone with eyes could see whether he had the strength of a Jonin.

Besides, the conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure had yet to settle.

Promoting him to Jonin at this moment...

Was tantamount to announcing to the rest of the Konoha leadership...

That Hiruzen had no intention of handing over the culprit—him.

At the same time, Hiruzen could use Shisui to probe his true strength.

Kaze mused inwardly.

The Shisui before him naturally became a gun in the Third Hokage's hand.

"Still, this is a good opportunity for me too."

Kaze looked deeply into the expectation in Shisui's eyes.

A test had never been a one-sided affair.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to use Shisui to test his strength, he could use this opportunity as well.

To see just how wide the gap between himself and Shisui truly was.

"Sure."

With that thought, Kaze's lips curled upward, and a sharp light flashed through his eyes.

Boom!

The next second, visible blue lightning burst from Kaze's body, constantly coursing across his haori.

"Let's do it here, Shisui."

As he spoke, Kaze took a step forward and closed in on Shisui.

In an instant, Shisui's pupils contracted sharply, and the muscles throughout his body tensed.

Just moments ago, Kaze had seemed completely harmless standing there.

Yet in the blink of an eye, the aura radiating from him had become that of a Fierce Beast.

An astonishing oppressive force swept in every direction.

Startling the birds in the forest into fleeing in panic!

"What a terrifying presence..."

Shisui drew in a faint breath through his teeth.

Thinking back to the Third Shinobi World War, he had encountered no shortage of powerful ninja.

Yet very few had made him feel such overwhelming pressure.

"So Kaze's Lightning Release is this frightening."

Meanwhile...

Inside the Hokage's Office at Konoha's center.

Ever since Shisui left the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi had used the Clairvoyance Jutsu.

To Observe in Secret Shisui's conversation with Fugaku.

Fugaku's mention of the Clan Meeting had piqued his interest.

So he simply set aside his routine work and focused entirely on observing Shisui's movements within the Uchiha Compound.

What he had not expected was...

That Shisui would encounter Kaze at the Training ground near the Naka River and directly propose a Jonin Exam.

And Kaze had readily accepted.

Releasing his Lightning Release...

"When did this Uchiha Kazekage begin mastering such formidable Lightning Release?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi half-squinted as he carefully scrutinized Kaze in the center of the Crystal Ball.

Especially after the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

Danzo and he had reached an agreement to monitor the Uchiha Clan.

Not only had he persuaded Shisui to act as a Double Agent, he had also dispatched Anbu ninja.

Danzo had deployed some Root ninja as well.

Logically, Kaze, having mastered such exquisite Lightning Release Ninjutsu, should have long since entered their sights.

Yet neither the Anbu nor Root had noticed Kaze's true strength beforehand!

"Now that I think about it, this brat Kaze is truly remarkable."

However...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not the only one hidden in the shadows observing this clash between Kaze and Shisui.

Within the Forest near the Naka River, several Root ninja were concealed, staring fixedly at Kaze.

When they saw Kaze reveal his Lightning Release, shock inevitably surged into their eyes.

None of them had seen Kaze raise a hand or form any seals.

It looked as though Kaze had merely willed it, producing such awe-inspiring power!

If they were any closer to Kaze, even breathing normally would likely have been affected.

But what these Root ninja did not know was...

The move Kaze used was not Lightning Release at all.

It was the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

As he entered this state, the characteristics of his Electric Wave also came into play.

In only an instant, Kaze sensed that someone was hiding in the small woods.

Danzo's people?

Kaze guessed inwardly.

If they were other members of the Uchiha Clan, they would not need to be so sneaky.

And since the Third Hokage had already sent Shisui to test him...

There was no need to dispatch Anbu ninja as well.

Root under Danzo was far more likely.

Still, Kaze could not be bothered to expose their little trick.

"Are you ready, Brother Shisui?"

Kaze faced Shisui directly, ready to strike at any moment.

"Kaze, your Lightning Release truly is unlike any other."

Shisui spoke slowly, showing no hurry to make a move.

"Among all the Lightning Release ninja I have encountered, I have never met an opponent like you."

"However..."

"Before we formally fight, I have one question."

"I want to ask you."

Shisui let his hands hang naturally at his sides and spoke with narrowed eyes.

Kaze nodded, indicating that Shisui could ask whatever he wished.

As long as it was not too outrageous, he could answer it.

Only after receiving Kaze's permission did Shisui voice the question that had troubled him.

"I want to know—what is your Ninja Way?"

The Ninja Way was, in essence, the spiritual anchor a ninja developed while cultivating Ninjutsu.

It could also be understood as a kind of belief.

Every outstanding ninja had his own Ninja Way.

Shisui spread his hands, with no confusion in his eyes. "Ninja are nameless people who uphold peace in the darkness. But forcing others to submit with weapons, maintaining order through violence—that is not peace at all."

"This is my Ninja Way."

In truth, Shisui's words were not only meant to state his stance and resolve to Kaze.

They were also a rebuttal to Kaze's earlier words: "Seek peace through struggle, and peace survives; seek peace through compromise, and peace dies."

Peace won through armed struggle could not be considered true peace.

And that was also why Shisui had never approved of the Uchiha Clan's nationalism.