When Kurenai Yuhi introduced the Yuhi Illusion, she looked so proud that her face practically said, "Come on, praise me!"
Kazuhiko looked at her and spared no compliments.
"Both of these illusions are precious techniques that can control and bewilder an enemy. And Kurenai-senpai even went out of her way to choose Mirror Flower Echo for me..."
He smiled warmly, his gaze settling on her eyes.
"That thoughtfulness means more to me than any illusion."
[Kurenai Yuhi's affection for you has increased]
Kurenai's cheeks flushed faintly, and her voice turned soft.
"I'm glad you're satisfied. You can try learning these two illusions now. If anything confuses you, just ask me."
Kazuhiko looked at Kurenai and marveled inwardly.
How was she anything like a scheming flirt? She was simply my gentle, kind big sister.
Not only was she considerate, she'd gone out of her way to give him two more B-rank illusions, and her affection was rising fast.
No matter what he praised her for, she always knew how to make him feel appreciated.
Woman, you've successfully caught my attention.
Kurenai had already picked up the scroll and begun today's illusion lesson.
"First, we'll learn Demonic Illusion: Mirror Flower Echo. Watch closely. This is the hand seal sequence..."
Kazuhiko's eyes suddenly changed as he looked at Kurenai. The next instant—
His pupils turned crimson, and two tomoe began to revolve slowly, an eerie light shimmering as his chakra flowed.
Kurenai was demonstrating the illusion. At the sight of this, her breath caught for a moment.
"A Two-Tomoe Sharingan!?"
She looked incredulous.
"But yesterday, you still had a One-Tomoe Sharingan!"
Kurenai had seen Kazuhiko's Sharingan yesterday.
She hadn't thought much of it then. It was no surprise for a Uchiha Genin to have a One-Tomoe Sharingan.
But to advance to Two-Tomoe in just one day? Wasn't that a little too much?
She couldn't understand it.
Did Uchiha awaken their Sharingan that casually?
Could they just decide to advance to the next tomoe?
Wasn't it a little too easy?
"I was lucky enough to make some progress yesterday and awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan."
Kazuhiko had no reason to hide that he'd awakened his Sharingan.
What good was wealth if you never returned home to show it off? It was like wearing fine clothes on a nighttime stroll.
Tomorrow, his newly awakened Two-Tomoe Sharingan would make a stunning debut at the Uchiha clan meeting.
For now, he could use its copying ability to master Mirror Flower Echo.
That would let him meet the conditions for permanently locking in his trait while making his eye-opening illusion more convincing.
A win.
"So, how about we change things up? Come on, Kurenai-senpai. Use an illusion on me. Let me see what you can do!"
Kurenai stared blankly at his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, evidently still reeling from the shock.
That sounded strangely familiar.
Then she remembered: she'd said the same thing when testing Kazuhiko's skill with illusions.
Thinking back to what had happened, her face instantly turned bright red.
"Kazuhiko! Are you laughing at me for bragging?"
"I'm just joking."
Kazuhiko raised his hands in surrender, but there was a hint of laughter in his eyes.
"Come on, senpai. With my Two-Tomoe Sharingan, teaching me should be a lot easier."
Kurenai glared at him and formed hand seals.
"Pay attention. I won't go easy on you!"
Kazuhiko's Sharingan began spinning rapidly. His eyes caught and copied every detail of Kurenai's hand seals and the flow of her chakra.
Kurenai demonstrated Demonic Illusion: Mirror Flower Echo only once, and he'd already learned most of the B-rank illusion.
"Demonic Illusion: Mirror Flower Echo!"
He formed the hand seals, and his chakra began to flow along a specific path.
The next moment, cherry blossoms sprouted from the office walls, their branches twisting as petals drifted through the air and formed several copies of Uchiha Kazuhiko.
But before the copies could attack, they split apart into petals and dissolved into a shower of blossoms.
Kazuhiko furrowed his brow.
"The hand seals and chakra flow were both exactly right. Why did it fail?"
Kurenai's pupils contracted. She couldn't describe what she was feeling.
Kazuhiko had only watched once, yet he'd completely copied her Yuhi Illusion. Even the rhythm of the chakra fluctuations had been exactly the same.
And that was only the copying ability of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan!
Would it be even more ridiculous with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan?
Could any secret technique remain secret in front of those eyes?
She composed herself and began coaching Kazuhiko on his illusion.
"The chakra nature proportions are wrong. The Demonic Illusion series used by the Yūhi Clan requires a specific ratio. You can't use only Yin Release Chakra..."
Half an hour later.
The Uchiha Kazuhiko created from the flower petals had no flaws left. None of the copies looked unreal anymore; every one of them radiated a lifelike presence.
Kurenai opened her mouth, then could only shake her head helplessly.
"Uchiha really are all monsters!"
At that moment, the notification from Deep Blue appeared in Kazuhiko's mind:
[Sharingan: Perfect Double Tomoe (Deep Blue)]
[Permanent Lock-In Conditions: Master the Sharingan's abilities and copy one B-rank ninjutsu (Completed)]
[Trait Permanently Locked In]
Kazuhiko's heart stirred.
With his Sharingan trait permanently locked in, one equipment slot was now free.
That meant he could equip both purple traits at once.
A Sharingan that rivaled the Three-Tomoe, Shisui's ocular power, and Phantom Body Flicker—Kazuhiko felt like he was beginning to embody invincibility.
Bring on Hashirama!
After finishing the day's lesson, Kurenai took her leave.
Kazuhiko, meanwhile, skipped work and went home to rest and recover.
That morning's training had nearly killed him.
He urgently needed to recuperate for tomorrow's psychological treatment.
At Eri's Courtyard, Black Charcoal was already sprawled on the wall, sunning herself as her tail swished lazily.
"Hey, sis," Kazuhiko said in a low voice. "I need to ask you something."
Black Charcoal opened one eye and glanced at him with her amber slit pupil, but didn't move.
Kurenai had returned the illusions, foiling her "fish-hoarding" plan before it could get off the ground. She was in a terrible mood.
"It's about dried fish."
Black Charcoal's ears twitched. She opened both eyes.
Kazuhiko pulled out a small cloth pouch, and the pungent aroma of dried fish wafted from it.
Black Charcoal sniffed, and her eyes lit up at once.
Kazuhiko swung the pouch.
"A week's worth of dried fish for the answer to one question: where does Dad hide his private savings?"
Black Charcoal sat up and shook her head like a rattle drum.
"Hideki is my personal chef. I'd never tell you..."
"I'll throw in another week's worth of dried fish!"
Kazuhiko had expected that. He promptly pulled out the second bag of Ninja Cat treats he'd prepared.
Dad Hideki was worth exactly that much.
Sure enough, Black Charcoal immediately stretched out a paw and pointed toward the kitchen.
"This time, it's in the rice bag, meow~"
Kazuhiko nodded in satisfaction, tossed her the dried fish, and went back to his room to rest.
At dinner, Kazuhiko pushed the rice around in his bowl, then suddenly spoke.
"Dad."
"Hmm?" Hideki didn't even look up.
"Suppose you had a hundred thousand ryo. How much would you be willing to spend on Mom?"
Hideki answered without a moment's thought. "I'd give it all to my wife."
Eri's face remained expressionless.
Kazuhiko nodded and continued.
"Then what if you had a million ryo?"
"I'd give it all to my wife. I wouldn't keep a single coin."
Hideki declared righteously, "I'm at the Police Force every day. What would I need money for?"
The corners of Eri's mouth began to lift.
Kazuhiko sighed. "Dad really does love Mom most of all."
"I envy your relationship. So... what if you had five thousand six hundred and ninety-two ryo?"
"I'd give her a million ryo, so of course I'd—" Hideki suddenly froze. He frowned. "Wait a minute. What are you getting at, brat?"
He slowly turned to look at Black Charcoal, his eyes full of questions.
Black Charcoal froze. Her ears drooped, and she darted away.
Terror spread across Hideki's face. He got to his feet and strode toward the kitchen.
Kazuhiko kept eating, his expression calm.
The sound of someone rummaging through a rice bag came from the kitchen, followed by deathly silence.
"Dear!!!"
Hideki's voice was thick with tears. "I worked so hard to save that money! Please give it back! Waaaah..."
Eri kept her expression perfectly composed and answered coolly.
"You were willing to give me a million ryo. Why do a few thousand matter?"
"Dear..."
Hideki rushed back into the living room and began pleading with Eri.
Kazuhiko was in high spirits. That was what happened when Dad didn't believe him!
Before you continue