Judging by Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, it seemed he wanted to test Shiyu and teach him some new jutsu. Shiyu naturally wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by.
"That's right. I've gotten quite proficient at using Compound Ninjutsu," Shiyu replied honestly.
"Looks like you're even more talented than I imagined. Your chakra reserves seem to be considerably greater than those of an ordinary Uchiha. In your hands, jutsu also seem to become much more powerful."
"I'm sure you've already guessed. Today, I want to teach you another skill."
Shiyu could almost sense what was coming.
"Ninja skills aren't limited to ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. There are many other paths, too."
"The Uchiha Clan has a so-called Uchiha Style of throwing weapons, but since you lost your parents, you never had the chance to learn it. So today, I'll teach you the shuriken techniques and jutsu that I know!"
"With your talent and understanding of jutsu, I'm sure today's lesson will help you, too. Well, this old man will get started with his rambling, then. Hahaha." The Third Hokage seemed to be in a good mood.
After speaking, the Third Hokage yanked off his red Hokage cloak and tossed it precisely onto the coat rack. Then he took a deep drag from his pipe and blew out a huge smoke ring. Reluctantly, he extinguished the pipe and set it on the table.
The Third Hokage—no, now he should be called Hiruzen Sarutobi! Hiruzen revealed the armor he always wore, then chuckled and coughed twice before saying, "Come on! Follow me!"
Then he disappeared with the Body Flicker Technique, showing none of the frailty of old age he had in the original story.
"The Third Hokage, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, really is powerful. If the Orochimaru of the future fought the Third Hokage as he is now, there'd be only one outcome: certain death!"
Shiyu thought this with conviction, then also vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Shiyu followed the Third Hokage to one of Konoha's large training grounds once again. The Third Hokage gave him a slight smile, then abruptly said, "Take this!"
Hiruzen drew shuriken from who knew where, and before Shiyu could react, a pair of them were already flying at him.
"Hmm! Is he testing my ability to react in the moment?" Shiyu's lips curled slightly as he used the Body Flicker Technique, swiftly dodging Hiruzen Sarutobi's shuriken attack.
"Not bad, but we're not done yet!" Hiruzen Sarutobi crossed his hands and pulled them apart. Countless shuriken came flying back toward Shiyu.
With a single thought, Shiyu activated his White Rinnegan. Through it, he could clearly see the threads wrapped around the shuriken.
"So that's how it works. He's using Chakra Threads to control the shuriken?"
"Without years of practice, there's no way to master this technique. As expected of you, Teacher Sarutobi!" Shiyu praised him.
"I didn't bring you here so you could praise me. Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The Third Hokage brought his palms together and used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu. In an instant, the shuriken flying toward Shiyu multiplied dramatically.
Neither the Byakugan nor the Sharingan could see through Shadow Clones, and Shiyu was no exception.
Seeing the shuriken turn into an area-wide attack, Shiyu quickly retreated several steps. At the same time, he rapidly finished forming his Hand Seals and called out, "Earth Release: Great Earth Wall!"
"So fast! Those Hand Seals!" Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected the boy before him to form them so quickly.
A thick earthen wall quickly rose all around Shiyu. Naturally, this was an enhanced version of the Earth Wall.
"Your talent really is greater than Orochimaru's! You use jutsu with far more power, but that alone still won't save you from my shuriken!" Hiruzen Sarutobi sent the shuriken swooping down from above Shiyu.
There was no denying that Hiruzen's shuriken control was among the best in the Shinobi World. Shuriken were small and nimble to begin with, and the ones Hiruzen controlled seemed almost alive as they attacked Shiyu once again.
"Needle Jizo!" In a desperate moment, Shiyu used Jiraiya's defensive jutsu. His hair rapidly grew longer and wrapped around his body, sprouting a dense layer of hard, sharp quills.
The shuriken struck the hard quills, ringing out with a crisp metallic clatter.
"Isn't that Jiraiya's jutsu? What an interesting kid! I can't believe you've mastered that, too!" the Third Hokage said with an intrigued smile.
"Not bad!" The Third Hokage praised him warmly. "Let's see how long you can hold out!"
Shiyu knew he couldn't keep blocking forever. Who knew whether the Third Hokage might suddenly unleash a powerful move?
"Lion Attack Technique!" Shiyu wrapped himself in his hair, then transformed it into a lion's head. It stretched right over his Great Earth Wall and snapped at the Third Hokage.
"Excellent! Another of Jiraiya's jutsu! And you can make it stretch this far! He even taught you this move?! Impressive!" The Third Hokage was forced to temporarily relinquish control of the shuriken.
Shiyu was completely unharmed. It was clear that the Third Hokage's shuriken weren't powerful enough to break through his defenses.
"Very good! Keep going! Take a look at this! Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!" The Third Hokage blasted Shiyu's Earth Wall apart with a jutsu. The attack was about to hit Shiyu, who was still behind his Needle Jizo.
"Body Flicker Technique!" Shiyu wasn't about to just sit there and take it. Inside his hair, his White Rinnegan had naturally seen the Third Hokage's attack.
The Third Hokage's jutsu missed Shiyu, but Hiruzen showed no change in expression.
"Giant Shuriken Technique!" A huge shuriken suddenly appeared in the Third Hokage's hand. He charged at Shiyu, calling out as he came, "Kid! Let's see how your close-quarters taijutsu is!"
Seeing that the Third Hokage was deliberately testing his abilities, Shiyu was more than happy to oblige.
He casually drew the Meteorite Iron Blade at his waist, Shiyu—the blade that shared his name.
The giant shuriken and Meteorite Blade - Shiyu collided with a strange sound.
"Hmm? So this must be the meteorite blade Hizashi mentioned. But it's obvious you don't know any sword techniques!" Hiruzen Sarutobi held up the giant shuriken, but still raised a foot to kick at Shiyu.
Shiyu immediately backed away, surprised. So Hiruzen was the kind of fighter who didn't stick to the rules, too.
"You're wide open!" In that instant, Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Body Flicker Technique and stuck a talisman on Shiyu.
"Sorry, Teacher Sarutobi. I lost." Shiyu felt a little dejected. The moment the talisman touched him, he had already lost.
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