The Shadow of War

Time flew by like an arrow.

Two years passed in a flash like sand slipping through fingers as Uchiha Tokimitsu devoted himself tirelessly to training.

Konoha Year 30.

It was early summer, warm and humid, yet Konoha—and indeed the entire Ninja World—felt exceptionally restless.

Nine years had barely passed since the First Great Ninja War ended in Konoha Year 21. Those nine years had also been the years of Konoha's golden generation.

In Konoha Year 22, the wife of the Hyuga Clan head, another great bloodline family of Konoha, gave birth to twin sons named Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga;

In August of Konoha Year 23, the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan's arch-rival, welcomed a son into its main line descended from Senju Hashirama. He was named Senju Nawaki.

In January of Konoha Year 26, the wife of the Yamanaka Clan head gave birth to a son named Yamanaka Inoichi;

In April of Konoha Year 26, the wife of the Akimichi Clan head gave birth to a son named Akimichi Choza;

In July of Konoha Year 26, the wife of the Nara Clan head gave birth to a son named Nara Shikaku;

There was also a figure who had not appeared much in the original story but would have far-reaching influence: Namikaze Minato, born in January of Year 27.

The Three Ninja who would one day shake the world—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—had all been born in Konoha Year 17. They were now thirteen years old and had all become disciples of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

As for the tragic clan head from the original story, Uchiha Fugaku, who had been born in Konoha Year 15, he was still a Chunin in the Konoha Military Police Force. However, it was said that during a desperate battle on a special mission, his Sharingan had evolved into Three-Tomoe. He would likely be promoted to Jonin before long.

After following Elder Setsuna for two years, Uchiha Tokimitsu had not only mastered the various Fire Style Ninjutsu passed down by his clan, but had also achieved modest results with Lightning Style and Wind Style Ninjutsu. Beyond ninjutsu, his Uchiha Swordsmanship had become quite impressive as well. According to his father, Uchiha Nakagen, setting aside the gap in physical stamina and Chakra caused by age, Tokimitsu's swordsmanship alone was already Not Inferior To that of Senior Chunin who specialized in clan sword techniques. Among those of his age, none could rival him.

At the very least, when Uchiha Tokimitsu had once impulsively sparred in swordsmanship with his cousin Uchiha Chimei, he had beaten the Konoha Military Police Force Chunin—who had been full of confidence and intent on guiding a junior—into doubting his entire life with nothing more than a Wakizashi. Under the combined effects of existential doubt, self-denial, unbearable grief, and countless other tangled emotions, Uchiha Chimei had forcibly driven his Two-Tomoe Sharingan to evolve into Three-Tomoe during the spar. Among the Uchiha Clan, he was perhaps the second strangest case of Sharingan awakening and evolution, surpassed only by Uchiha Tokimitsu.

From then on, Uchiha Chimei gained an absurd nickname within the clan: "Chimei the Thousand-Cuts."

However, Uchiha Tokimitsu strictly followed a ninja's code of secrecy and had never revealed his true strength outside the clan grounds. Those within the clan who knew of it had also kept silent at Elder Setsuna's request. To outsiders, he was merely a somewhat mature-looking Uchiha child.

As always, Uchiha Tokimitsu rose early in the morning, washed up, changed clothes, and went downstairs.

Uchiha Nakagen had been secretly dispatched on a special clan mission today, while his mother, Emiko, had prepared breakfast as usual and watched her beloved son with a beaming smile.

Uchiha Tokimitsu chatted with Emiko while eating breakfast, but regarding Uchiha Nakagen's departure and clan affairs, they tacitly agreed that one would not speak and the other would not ask.

After all, the fewer people who knew about a highly confidential mission, the safer it was.

After finishing breakfast, Uchiha Tokimitsu helped wash the dishes. Just as he was about to head out, his mother smilingly handed him a small ninja tool bag.

"This is...?"

"These are Mom's specially made Explosive Tags. They're twice as powerful as ordinary Explosive Tags~"

Emiko still wore that smiling expression.

"I won't need them in the clan grounds..."

Uchiha Tokimitsu muttered softly, accepting the ninja tool bag and casually opening it. Inside were nearly a hundred specially made Explosive Tags, stacked densely together...

"This many Explosive Tags would be enough to fight a small-scale war..."

"Mhm~ The clan's arms business has been booming lately. Not only is the village buying in bulk, but plenty of mysterious wealthy customers have been clearing out stock too. Little Tokimitsu, keep them with you. Better safe than sorry~"

There was meaning behind Emiko's words, and she believed her precocious, intelligent son would understand.

"War..."

Something stirred within Uchiha Tokimitsu. He said no more, carefully stored the Explosive Tags on his person, then bid Emiko farewell and left.

Today was also a rather special day.

The Uchiha Clan Tournament for the new generation would begin today...

It was a pity that his father was away on a mission, while his mother, as an unaffiliated faction ninja, could not attend.

Uchiha Tokimitsu first went to Elder Setsuna's Mansion. As usual, he greeted the Elder and waited for him to arrange the day's lessons and sparring opponent.

Today's exercise simulated an encounter battle in the forest, and his training opponent was the Shadow Clone of Uchiha Kamon, one of Elder Setsuna's trusted followers.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three Shuriken shot from Uchiha Tokimitsu's palm in an instant, without the slightest hesitation. They traced strange arcs through the air and attacked Uchiha Kamon from different angles.

Tool Manipulation Technique had always been one of the Uchiha Clan's specialties.

Uchiha Tokimitsu had naturally put considerable effort into training in this area, but he was hardly arrogant enough to believe that two years of training could make him Comparable to the Senior Jonin Uchiha Kamon, even if this was only a Shadow Clone.

Yet, over the past two years, he had sparred with Elder Setsuna's guards more times than he could count. Though he did not have to fear death, he had still suffered plenty of major and minor injuries even with his opponents consciously restraining their strength. He had come to understand ninja combat thoroughly.

Uchiha Kamon swiftly drew a Kunai to block, deflecting the Shuriken One by one. Sparks burst from the clashing blades, glaring brightly amid the dim forest.

Then six more Shuriken came flying.

Uchiha Kamon did not allow even a single Shuriken from the second wave to approach him, knocking them all away with his blade. Uchiha Tokimitsu gripped his Wakizashi tightly with both hands and used the momentum to flash forward, closing the distance and launching into close-quarters combat.

Both moved their ninja tools with lightning-like speed, tearing through the air as their blades collided in a fierce exchange.

Uchiha Kamon's weapon was, after all, a Kunai he had casually Took out. Its material and sharpness were far inferior to the Wakizashi in Uchiha Tokimitsu's hands.

After exchanging blows for a while, Uchiha Tokimitsu leaped and struck downward. With a clang, Uchiha Kamon's Kunai Broke with a sound. The Wakizashi did not lose any momentum as it Chopped Towards Uchiha Kamon with savage sharpness.

At the critical moment, Uchiha Kamon's body suddenly contracted before he sprang backward like a compressed spring.

Uchiha Style: Sword Flame Slash!

Uchiha Tokimitsu frantically mobilized the Chakra within his body, gathering it, shaping it, releasing it, and slashing out a sword aura formed from Fire Style Chakra.

Caught off guard in midair, Uchiha Kamon was struck head-on by the sword aura.

Bang!

The Shadow Clone dissolved into a cloud of smoke.

He got him...

Uchiha Tokimitsu was overjoyed. Though he had only fought a Shadow Clone, it was still the Shadow Clone of a Jonin. Its strength might not equal the original, but its experience and skill were no less refined.

Just as a smile appeared on his face, another bang! rang out. Two Wooden Stakes that had been cut apart emerged from the smoke.

"This..."

It was the Substitution Technique.

A dull Kunai silently rested against Uchiha Tokimitsu's neck. Its cold, sharp edge touched his skin, raising goosebumps all over him.

"Little Tokimitsu, I still won~"

Only then did Uchiha Tokimitsu realize that what he had struck was merely a Wooden Stake disguised by Uchiha Kamon's Shadow Clone using the Clone Technique.

"Little Tokimitsu, why didn't you use your Sharingan just now?"

Though the Sharingan's perception was inferior to the Byakugan, its enhancement of personal combat power far surpassed that of the Byakugan. If Uchiha Tokimitsu had activated his Sharingan, he would Not to the extent of failing to notice Uchiha Kamon's deception.

"I... my Chakra can't sustain it for long..."

Uchiha Kamon slapped his forehead, realizing he had asked a stupid question. Perhaps because they had spent so much time together and because Tokimitsu was so gifted, he had unconsciously forgotten that Uchiha Tokimitsu was only six this year...

Standing outside the forest with his Sharingan active as he watched the fight, Elder Setsuna was, as always, very pleased with Uchiha Tokimitsu's performance today.

However, Uchiha Tokimitsu, the junior Elder Setsuna valued most and had invested the most resources in cultivating, was clearly more solitary by nature. He usually went everywhere alone, rarely interacted with children his own age, and had almost no contact with others in the village. The Uchiha were indeed rather proud by temperament, but someone as withdrawn as Uchiha Tokimitsu was truly rare.

Nakagen and Emiko don't care either. They just dump all the worrying on this old man.

Elder Setsuna grumbled inwardly.

"Little Tokimitsu performed quite well today."

Elder Setsuna gave Uchiha Tokimitsu his post-training evaluation in an apparently calm tone, yet the satisfaction in his eyes could not be concealed.

After all, such an outstanding junior could not be found a second time in the Uchiha Clan—or even throughout all of Konoha.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll have three days off. Rest properly."

The smiling Elder Setsuna appeared exceptionally kind and approachable.

"Elder... I don't want to rest. How about tomorrow, Qianzhang and I—"

Before Uchiha Tokimitsu could finish protesting, Elder Setsuna interrupted him.

"The clan tournament is four days from now. You'll be participating this time, so rest well."

"Oh..."

Upon hearing that, Uchiha Tokimitsu stopped insisting.

The Uchiha Clan Tournament was a centralized competitive event for clan ninja of every age group, similar to the Chunin Exams. The difference was that the warlike Uchiha Clan Tournament did not include written examinations.

"You've trained under me for two years, yet you remain unknown within the clan. It is time to show everyone what you can do."

Elder Setsuna said calmly.

As the Great Elder of the Uchiha, he naturally had his own sources of intelligence. Judging by the recent boom in the arms market, after nearly ten years of preparing for war, the restless ninja villages were beginning to stir once more. Another Ninja World War was not far away.