Second Target... Akatsuki!!

Konoha, On a large river not far from the "Uchiha Compound":

Clang---!

Clang---!

A [Wood Clone - Chen Yiban] was fighting [Sasuke Uchiha] on the surface of the large river. 💘🎈 ♨🐧

It seemed the Wood Clone was effortlessly defending, while Sasuke Uchiha struggled, holding a kunai and launching useless attacks.

"Fire Release, Great..."

During the exchange, the Second Uchiha prepared to unleash a ninjutsu on the Wood Clone Chen Yiban.

But:

Swish---

Bang---!

The Wood Clone Chen Yiban flashed and accelerated, kicking Sasuke Uchiha out with power he couldn't resist.

"So fast!"

"I just evolved my Sharingan to the Three Tomoe level, and I can still only catch glimpses of his movements..."

The Second Uchiha's abdomen was hit, and he was sent flying back seven or eight meters in shock before falling into the water.

The Fire Release ninjutsu he was about to use was also interrupted!

Soon, Sasuke Uchiha re-emerged from the water and stood on the surface using the "Chakra Enhanced Surface Walking" skill.

"Again!"

Seeing the drenched Second Uchiha, the Wood Clone Chen Yiban signaled him to continue his attack.

"Damn it!" Sasuke Uchiha couldn't help but marvel at Chen Yiban's strength.

Even a clone could easily suppress him!

But it made sense. After all, during the Konoha battle a few days ago, a single shadow clone of Chen Yiban could hold off countless Konoha ninja, including Tsunade Hime, the Fifth Hokage!

Although Chen Yiban using a clone to guide his training felt a bit like he was slacking off.

But the Second Uchiha only realized how powerful Chen Yiban's clones were after fighting him!

Even if it was just a clone, having such a powerful expert guide him...

He would definitely be able to get stronger quickly!

"Senior's Wood Clone, I'm about to use my strongest move right now."

"Please be careful!"

Sasuke Uchiha clasped his right wrist with his left hand, his right palm opening like a claw as he began to rapidly gather the chakra within his body.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle-----

It was Lightning Release: Chidori!!

This was shortly after the "Chunin Exams Begin" arc, the perfect time for Sasuke Uchiha to learn the Lightning Release: Chidori.

"Oh?" The Wood Clone Chen Yiban's lips curved slightly, a hint of interest appearing.

Then, the next second:

Whoosh-----

The Wood Clone Chen Yiban slowly raised his right hand, and pure, non-elemental chakra began to rapidly condense in his palm.

A spherical chakra ball quickly took shape, visible to the eye!

"That's... Naruto's..."

Sasuke Uchiha looked surprised, seeing that the Wood Clone Chen Yiban was currently forming Naruto Uzumaki's signature skill.

Rasengan!!

"Naruto..."

Gradually, Sasuke Uchiha found himself hallucinating, seeing the Wood Clone Chen Yiban opposite him as Naruto Uzumaki.

"This time, I won't be like I was on the rooftop that day."

The Second Uchiha recalled something, his Three Tomoe Sharingan eyes becoming fierce.

Whoosh-----

The next second, he charged towards the Wood Clone Chen Yiban, holding the [Chidori] with his Three Tomoe Sharingan eyes open, moving at great speed.

"Lightning Release: Chidori!!"

The Second Uchiha roared.

"Heh." The Wood Clone Chen Yiban smiled.

He tried to control the chakra circulating in the Rasengan to be similar to the Second Uchiha's!

Following that:

BOOM---!!

Chidori and Rasengan collided with each other.

"Ugh..." Sasuke Uchiha was sent flying backward.

Just then, a figure identical to Chen Yiban's Wood Clone appeared.

He caught the Second Uchiha who was flying backward!

It was the "Chen Yiban Main Body" who had arrived at this location at the opportune moment!

"Did... did I still lose?" Sasuke Uchiha's mouth bled, and he then fainted onto Chen Yiban.

"Is it ripe? Not necessarily!" Looking at the Second Uchiha on his body, who had a bleeding mouth and was unconscious, Chen Yiban's main body's gaze turned towards the Wood Clone in front.

He saw that, The Wood Clone, which had just matched the Second Uchiha's Chakra level as much as possible and exchanged a blow, now had a slightly damaged right hand.

"Rasengan and Chidori each have their merits. The killing power is just slightly different!"

Chen Yiban's main body's mind stirred.

The next second, that Wood Clone turned into wood and fell into the river.

Approximately three hours later!

By the river, Sasuke Uchiha slowly woke up. He opened his eyes and saw a figure in red armor next to him grilling fish.

"Madara-senpai's Wood Clone," the Second Uchiha spoke.

"You're awake?!" Chen Yiban, who was grilling fish, glanced at the just-awakened Second Uchiha with his dark eyes.

At the same time:

"I've already dispelled the Wood Clone!"

Chen Yiban added.

"Huh?" The Second Uchiha's eyes widened, and then he said with unexpected surprise, "You're the real Madara-senpai now?"

"Ah!" Chen Yiban smiled faintly.

As he spoke, he handed a grilled fish to the Second Uchiha, "Have something to eat!"

"Th-thank you, Madara-senpai!" The Second Uchiha looked somewhat flattered again.

He quickly got up and took the grilled fish!

"Hiss...!" As soon as he sat up from the ground, Sasuke Uchiha felt a dull pain in his chest.

He then couldn't help but think of the moment his Rasengan clashed with Chen Yiban's Wood Clone's, and his eventual defeat.

Inevitably, the Second Uchiha's expression turned a bit dejected!

Seeing this, Chen Yiban, who had already eaten nearly half a fish, saw the kid's expression and knew what he was thinking:

"Didn't the person who taught you that Lightning Release technique tell you about its characteristics?"

Chen Yiban slowly chewed the fish meat and suddenly spoke.

"Madara-senpai..." Sasuke looked at Chen Yiban.

In response:

"Watch!"

Chen Yiban didn't say much more. He got up and walked to a cliff face nearby.

Then:

BOOM---!!

A Rasengan was quickly condensed and struck the cliff face.

Soon, a pit about four to five meters wide and over two meters deep appeared in the tall cliff.

"I controlled my Chakra to a level similar to yours when I used this so-called Rasengan."

"Now, use your Chidori to attack this cliff face and see the effect!"

He turned back to look at the Second Uchiha and said this.

After speaking, he didn't forget to take another bite of the grilled fish in his other hand!

"Yes, Madara-senpai." Sasuke seemed to understand something.

Soon:

Zzzzzzt---!!

Lightning Release: Chidori struck the same cliff face, but at a different spot.

In an instant, a hole more than two meters wide but nearly five meters deep was blasted out by the Second Uchiha.

The Second Uchiha was almost completely swallowed by the cliff face!

"Senior Madara, I... I understand what you mean!"

"Thank you!"

The next moment, the Second Uchiha, with a smile on his face, leaped out of the pit and returned to Chen Yiban's side.

Chen Yiban smiled without a word, turned, sat down, and continued eating the grilled fish in his hand.

"Naruto, that day on the rooftop... I didn't lose to you. As Senior Madara said, it's just that the destructive effects of Chidori and Rasengan are different!"

Thinking this, the Second Uchiha regained his confidence.

He felt like the dull ache in his chest was gone!

This was also the result Chen Yiban wanted. How could a growing ninja lose his confidence?

Time quickly passed for another three days!

On this day, at the Konoha cemetery, before a tombstone:

"Asuma..."

Kurenai Yuhi placed a bouquet of flowers before the tombstone, her eyes involuntarily welling up with reminiscence.

"Kurenai!" A voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Kurenai Yuhi turned and saw it was Shikaku Nara.

He also held a bouquet of flowers and placed it before Asuma's tombstone!

Seeing this:

"Shikaku, I heard Shikamaru also... Have you thought about seeking revenge on that man?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Shikaku Nara beside her and couldn't help but ask.

"I've thought about it," Shikaku Nara replied immediately.

"Then..." Kurenai Yuhi wanted to say more.

But:

"But I won't do it!"

Shikaku Nara suddenly added as if an afterthought.

"Why? Don't you want to avenge Shikamaru?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, confused.

Hearing Shikamaru's name...

A hint of sadness flickered in Shikaku Nara's eyes, but:

"We are no match for that person. Attacking him will only provoke him."

"You also don't want to see everyone in Konoha truly annihilated, do you?"

As he spoke, Shikaku Nara looked directly at Kurenai Yuhi.

If he could truly get revenge, Shikaku Nara would have loved nothing more.

But...

The enemy was the legendary ninja, Uchiha Madara!

So, was there really any possibility of success?

If he failed, what would be the consequences?

Would he really make all the civilians and ninja of Konoha pay for his failed revenge?

In response...

Under Shikaku Nara's direct gaze, Kurenai Yuhi eventually turned and left with a sense of disappointment.

"Sigh..." Afterward, looking at Asuma's tombstone, Shikaku Nara also lowered his head and sighed.

"Shikamaru, will you understand me?"

On the other side!

Still on the great river not far from the "Uchiha clan compound":

Clang—clang—

The sounds of clashing weapons continued to ring out!

It was still the Second Uchiha continuously dueling with Chen Yiban's Wood Clone.

Although he was still no match for Chen Yiban's clone, In just a few days, the Second Uchiha had made significant progress.

My newly awakened [Three Tomoe Sharingan] is becoming more and more proficient!

Also, these past few days have been spent fighting on the water's surface.

Sasuke Uchiha's Chakra control has also risen to another level!

Previously, under the fierce attacks of the Wood Clone, the Second Uchiha often couldn't control his Chakra well underfoot and would fall directly into the water.

Now, this situation rarely happens!

Meanwhile, While the Wood Clone and the Second Uchiha were fighting on the river...

Chen Yiban's main body sat cross-legged on the riverbank. Since his Rinnegan had only recently opened, the powers of Asura and Hashirama Senju were still taking effect within him.

The power within Chen Yiban grew stronger day by day!

Until today, Chen Yiban felt that his Rinnegan and the powers of Asura and Hashirama Senju within him had basically stabilized completely.

He felt...

that he could proceed with his other plans!

Konoha, Chen Yiban had initially dealt with it.

But, a mere Konoha. It wasn't enough!

Chen Yiban wanted to emulate the First Emperor of Qin from another world and unify the warring states!

Chen Yiban remembered seeing a comment while watching videos in another world:

[Originally, Uchiha Madara could have been the Hokage version of the First Emperor of Qin.]

Ha, why not?

Just imagine, unifying the entire ninja world!

What level of achievement would that be?

What level of lottery draw would the system give?

Chen Yiban stated: I will look forward to it!!

"Hoo..."

At this moment, Chen Yiban, who was by the riverbank, slowly exhaled. A pair of bright, ambitious black pupils appeared in his eye sockets as his eyelids slowly opened.

"Konoha, the first."

"Then for the second... the Akatsuki!"

Chen Yiban revealed a hint of ambitious, faint smile.

At this very moment:

"Lightning Release: Chidori!!" ×2

The Second Uchiha and Chen Yiban's Wood Clone simultaneously unleashed Chidori on the river's surface.

BOOM-----

In the end!

It didn't matter if the Wood Clone was slightly damaged.

But the Second Uchiha returned with a bleeding right hand to apply medicine!

"Ha." Chen Yiban couldn't help but smile faintly as he watched.

The Second Uchiha truly trained as if his life depended on it!

Was he eager to become stronger and get revenge on Uchiha Itachi?

Indeed, in this world, the power of hatred could not be overlooked!

Although Chen Yiban knew the truth about Uchiha Itachi, he felt it would be better for the Second Uchiha to find out a little later.

For now, let this hatred serve as motivation for his training!

"Sasuke, I might need to leave for a few days."

Looking at the Second Uchiha applying medicine, Chen Yiban suddenly spoke.

"Teacher, are you leaving Konoha?" Sasuke asked in surprise.

"Mhm, because what I want is more than just Konoha." Chen Yiban smiled.

"Teacher..." The Second Uchiha looked at Chen Yiban at this moment, seemingly not understanding his meaning for a moment.

"Teacher, can I leave with you then?"

Afterward, Sasuke looked at Chen Yiban before him with hopeful eyes.

"Leave with me?" Chen Yiban pondered for a moment.

"As for the Akatsuki... Uchiha Itachi is there!"

"Oh?"

"Saying goodbye, brother? Interesting!"

"Given Itachi Uchiha's personality, he'd definitely try to stop me. Perhaps Itachi's death then will allow Second Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyo!"

Thinking this, the very next second, Chen Yiban nodded to Sasuke Uchiha beside him.

Instantly, Second Uchiha displayed a rare smile, one not usually seen!