Frightened Back a Step

In the bustling central district of Konoha, within the Sarutobi Clan Estate.

Swish, swish...

Two figures raced purposefully through the night using the Body Flicker Technique. Before long, they arrived at an open courtyard within a large residence.

"What is it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in pajamas, hurried out from the courtyard. His sharp gaze fell upon the two Anbu before him, and that single glance was enough to make them tense up, fine beads of sweat appearing beneath their masks.

This was Konoha's current Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi!

He was in the prime of his life. Not only did he hold a position of great authority, but his strength had also reached its peak. Every word and gesture carried the imposing presence and dignity of the "Professor."

"Lord Hokage, Chunin from the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans have clashed deep within the outskirts of the Forest of Death..."

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, one of the Anbu hurriedly spoke.

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi heard it involved the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans, he furrowed his brow and quickly said, "Tell me the important details immediately!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

After replying, the Anbu swiftly gave a brief report on the intelligence regarding the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans in the Forest of Death, then waited for Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision.

After listening, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. In less than a minute, he had returned to his room and changed into casual clothes. After giving the two Anbu a few instructions, he vanished into the silent night sky. He activated the Body Flicker Technique so quickly that the two Anbu could not react before Hiruzen Sarutobi had already disappeared from their sight.

The two Anbu exchanged a glance and helplessly shook their heads. They had thought that becoming elite Chunin would bring them one step closer to Kage-level strength, but the gulf between them still seemed impossibly far away...

"All right, since the sparring is over, I should head back too. Wouldn't want you Hyuga to be sore losers and run to the Hokage to complain about us Uchiha..."

After clapping his hands and delivering that mocking remark, Uchiha Shinji ignored whatever reaction the two Hyuga Chunin might have and turned to leave. The two Hyuga Chunin were furious, yet helpless. They did want to report Uchiha Shinji to the Hokage, but doing so would be tantamount to admitting that the Hyuga Clan was inferior to the Uchiha Clan. This matter could not be allowed to spread, as it concerned the honor of the entire Hyuga Clan.

Thus, whenever the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans secretly clashed, both sides tacitly agreed never to let it become public. Instead, they held back their frustration and waited for the "next" "match." That was why Shinji dared to so openly attack fellow villagers from the Hyuga Clan...

Once the two Hyuga Chunin saw that Uchiha Shinji had truly left, they could only take several deep breaths to calm their anger. It took them quite a while to settle down.

"We should go find Lord Yuzuru!"

One of the Hyuga spoke.

"Mm."

The other Hyuga nodded, then immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, heading toward the Hyuga Clan Estate. Although they had not delayed Uchiha Shinji for long, Yuzuru's speed with the Body Flicker Technique was enough for him to leave the Forest of Death and return to the Hyuga Clan Estate.

That was why the two Hyuga Chunin were not particularly anxious after seeing Uchiha Shinji leave...

"Brat, I've finally caught you!"

At that moment, Uchiha Shinji landed in front of Yuzuru, blocking his path out of the Forest of Death.

Yuzuru instinctively frowned, a trace of surprise appearing on his face. The two Chunin assigned by the clan head to protect him were not particularly strong, but they should not have failed to hold him off for even a few minutes, right?

"Don't worry, my Shadow Clone is keeping them occupied. We have plenty of time to 'play' now..."

Shinji seemed to have seen through Yuzuru's thoughts and explained. When he had used the Great Fireball Technique earlier, stirring up a wave of heat and dust, he had taken the opportunity to use the Shadow Clone Technique for a "cicada shedding its shell." His Shadow Clone had confronted the two Hyuga Chunin while his real body had quietly followed after Yuzuru.

"There are hidden cameras set up by the village here."

Yuzuru did not respond to Shinji's topic. Instead, he pointed at the trees nearby and spoke calmly.

The Forest of Death was often used by the village as a training ground for the Chunin Exams. In order to observe the examinees' actions and reactions in real time, many cameras had naturally been installed as surveillance tools.

"..."

Shinji's words caught in his throat. He had never expected Yuzuru to say something like that.

"Don't think that just because your Byakugan spotted those hidden cameras, you can use them to escape this."

As Shinji slowly walked toward Yuzuru, he spoke in a low voice. "Unless you can withstand the genjutsu of my Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

Uchiha Shinji had never harbored any malicious intent toward Yuzuru. He had only one purpose in seeking him out: to give him a proper "lesson." Of course, it was not merely to avenge Akeshi. He also wanted to learn more about Yuzuru's strength.

As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you would win every battle.

If Akeshi was to surpass this boy from the Hyuga Clan in the future, he first had to know the limits of Yuzuru's strength!

Naturally, giving him a little "lesson" along the way was only to be expected...

A scarlet glow burst from Shinji's pupils and instantly sank into Yuzuru's eyes, enveloping him in Sharingan genjutsu and leaving him completely dazed.

"How could a mere six-year-old brat possibly withstand my Three-Tomoe Sharingan's genju—"

Before Shinji could finish the word "genjutsu," he saw a flash of sapphire-blue light pass through Yuzuru's Byakugan. Yuzuru instantly regained consciousness, then stared at him with a gaze so cold that it seemed devoid of all human emotion. That heart-palpitating look made Shinji subconsciously take a small step back!

Uchiha Shinji possessed Jonin-level strength, so he was naturally no novice ninja. He was an elite ninja tempered by blood and war. If Konoha's higher-ups had not sought to control the number of Jonin in the Uchiha Clan, he would have been promoted to Jonin long ago instead of retaining the title of "Chunin."

Yet this elite ninja, tempered by blood and war, had just been frightened back by the gaze of a six-year-old first-year Ninja Academy student, even if it was only a single small step!

"How is this possible?"

Uchiha Shinji felt humiliated. The three tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly as Dōjutsu Power surged forth wildly, and he once again launched Sharingan genjutsu at Yuzuru...

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