Simple and Old Fox

Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was indeed formidable, but it clearly couldn't reach the level of Minato Namikaze's unsolvable speed!

Otherwise, the slash Shiba Seika had landed around his body just now wouldn't have hit.

Shiba Seika had now fully grasped the true secret hidden beneath Shisui's illusory afterimages—

His Body Flicker Technique was actually used in tandem with the Sharingan's Genjutsu!

The afterimage Shiba Seika had cut with his first slash was the work of the Sharingan's Genjutsu.

Its purpose was to implant a piece of misleading information into his mind, making him mistakenly believe that Shisui's Body Flicker was incredibly fast—so fast it was unsolvable, so fast it could leave afterimages!

He figured those unlucky Kirigakure ninja from the original story probably died thinking the same thing, right? Believing they were up against a speedster who came and went without a trace, flickering without a shadow!

But in truth, as an Uchiha—one who would later awaken the Mangekyo—how could Shisui possibly abandon his strongest asset, the Sharingan, and rely solely on physical movement to fight?

Shisui's ocular power was among the top in his clan, and he would eventually grow to become the clan's strongest!

Clones, Body Flicker, ocular jutsu—three in one—that was the true "Body Flicker Shisui"!

This combat style gave Shiba Seika a lot of inspiration. He felt that he might be able to borrow such tactics in the future.

Indeed, sparring with a high-level opponent could bring plenty of insights and ideas!

This duel was well worth it! He thought with a cheerful mood.

But compared to his delight, Uchiha Shisui's mood was far more complicated.

Young Shisui had never had someone see through his combination technique so easily before.

That unique Uchiha pride of his had now been thoroughly stirred up, and the three tomoe in his pupils spun restlessly with unwillingness!

However, at this point, Uchiha Shisui clearly didn't have the Mangekyo yet.

He hadn't even been to the battlefield, let alone experienced the parting of life and death with comrades.

With just the Genjutsu misdirection of a pure three-tomoe Sharingan, Shiba Seika had ways to deal with it!

From the start of the battle, his gaze had never risen above Shisui's chin. When it came to understanding the Sharingan, Shiba Seika might even surpass the Uchiha themselves!

Shisui kept shifting, the three tomoe in his pupils spinning, throwing out one misleading Genjutsu after another.

But he still couldn't shake off Shiba Seika's pursuit!

"Clang! Clang! Shing!"

After two more crisp sounds of metal clashing, this time Uchiha Shisui was on guard. He leaped back immediately, midair, and recklessly flung out a large number of shuriken with both hands!

The gale arrived as expected!

This time, Shiba Seika reverted to the traditional upward Rising Dragon Slash. The rising whirlwind was summoned from the tip of his blade, advancing rapidly in a straight line.

It blew away all the shuriken Uchiha Shisui had thrown along the way!

But Shiba Seika, who had been constantly sensing the wind patterns, keenly noticed something off in the sound carried by the breeze even without looking up!

Sure enough, the next moment, Uchiha Shisui pulled both hands inward with force!

All the shuriken connected by steel wires in the air changed trajectory, flying back together, shooting at Shiba Seika from all directions again!

The Uchiha clan's signature Manipulated Shuriken Technique!

Sasuke had used this move in the original story during the Chunin Exams. For Shisui at this age to pull it off, his proficiency was no less than future Sasuke's!

But Shiba Seika just smiled slightly, showing no panic.

He immediately threw the tachi in his hand!

"Shing!"

The thrown blade cut through several steel wires, while forcing Shisui, who was not far away, to dodge sideways, slowing his shuriken manipulation by a beat.

So, as the rain of shuriken descended, Shiba Seika barely managed to complete his hand seals!

"Boom!"

The shuriken pierced through, and the steel wires coiled around their target, which ultimately turned into a withered wooden log.

Substitution Technique!

"Crap!" Uchiha Shisui cursed under his breath.

Before he could even feel regret, a thunderous roar suddenly exploded behind him!

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pull!"

Although Shiba Seika had learned new moves, he hadn't forgotten his old jutsu either.

But what shocked Uchiha Shisui even more was—how could someone use even the Substitution Technique offensively?!

Shiba Seika used the slight displacement from the Substitution Technique to reposition behind Shisui, hooked his foot, and kicked the tachi he had just thrown back into his hand.

Then, with a twist of his wrist, he immediately slashed out!

Both pressure and aggression were maxed out!

Uchiha Shisui felt a sharp killing intent rushing at him, giving him no chance to catch his breath!

"Clang!"

His kenjutsu remained as sharp and relentless as fangs, forcing Shisui to block with his kunai in great difficulty.

The pressure was overwhelming—one slash followed immediately by the next, never giving him a chance to form hand seals!

And his genjutsu misdirection sank like a stone into the sea, failing time and again.

"Clang!"

After blocking two more strikes in succession, Uchiha Shisui saw Shiba Seika suddenly retreat half a step, sheathing his blade at his waist and preparing to unleash another Rising Dragon Slash from below. In panic, Shisui's eyes nearly bulged to their limit!

"Shhh!"

But in the end, that blade stopped perilously just beneath Shisui's chin—the tip of the katana a mere fraction of a centimeter away.

Uchiha Shisui had no doubt; he instinctively felt that Shiba Seika had deliberately pulled back at the last moment. He immediately spoke up: "I concede."

Shiba Seika smiled faintly, a sly grin. "You yield gracefully, Shisui-kun."

What Uchiha Shisui didn't know was that he had been tricked!

Shiba Seika's "Wind Rest Three Flash" had only just been developed. With a single hand seal, he could summon at most two whirlwinds, enhancing a total of six slashes.

How to extend the technique's endurance further was still something he was figuring out—it would take some patient refinement.

He stopped not out of restraint, but because he had no wind left in his hands.

But Uchiha Shisui clearly had no knowledge of this; he knew nothing about Shiba Seika's self-created ninjutsu.

Earlier, Shiba Seika had deliberately suppressed him with overwhelming force, fighting with extreme ferocity—all to create a false impression, ensuring that Uchiha Shisui wouldn't realize his technique had long since run dry.

Who said only genjutsu could deceive?

And who would think that someone would hide so many schemes in a mere private sparring match?

The naive Uchiha Shisui was ultimately toyed with in the palm of the wily Shiba Seika.

Sheathing his blade, Shiba Seika extended his hand and said with gentlemanly grace, "Let's form the Reconciliation Seal, Shisui-kun."

Uchiha Shisui, without suspicion, reached out to form the seal with him, unable to help but sigh in admiration.

"Aizen-kun, you really are incredible."

After the spar, Shiba Seika could clearly feel that Uchiha Shisui's attitude toward him had grown warmer, with a sense of genuine respect.

He pressed the advantage while the iron was hot. "Shisui-kun is also impressive. Your strength at this age is already outstanding—you're not inferior to many renowned shinobi.

With your abilities, you shouldn't have any hesitation even on the battlefield. Is there something troubling you, causing you confusion?"

Uchiha Shisui lowered his head. The Sharingan, which had clearly been deactivated when they formed the Reconciliation Seal, now involuntarily activated again, revealing his unsettled heart.

After several moments of hesitation and inner struggle, he finally looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he gazed at Shiba Seika.

"Aizen-kun, with your strength and wisdom, I imagine you wouldn't have such worries. But lately... I've really been troubled."

At that moment, Shiba Seika smiled from the heart—a gentle, kind smile, coaxing and guiding.

"Shisui-kun, what is troubling you? Speak it out—perhaps I can offer some immature advice."

Indeed, dealing with the Uchiha clan required showing off one's strength appropriately!

After this battle, Shisui was finally willing to open his heart to him.

It was worth all the scheming he'd put into this mere private spar!

The naive Uchiha Shisui was, in the end, firmly grasped in the palm of the wily Shiba Seika.