They Were Only Eight Years Old!

At the Iwagakure training ground, the morning sun spilled across the rocky ground.

Ōnoki stood at the edge of the training ground, his gaze fixed on Jingxin.

Kurotsuchi stood beside her grandfather, curiously watching the two people in the field. Kitsuchi was watching too.

Akatsuchi stood in the middle of the training ground. He was tall and sturdy, with a warm smile on his face.

Across from him stood Jingxin.

Ōnoki's voice rang out. "Kintsuchi, you've beaten Deidara twice in a row, and it's made me curious about your true strength."

"Today, I'll have you spar with Akatsuchi so I can see how you measure up."

Jingxin nodded. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."

The atmosphere on the training ground grew tense.

Akatsuchi was an Iwagakure jōnin and one of Ōnoki's students. He possessed tremendous Chakra Enhanced Strength, and there was no doubt about his abilities.

This fight would be a real test for Jingxin.

Kurotsuchi furrowed her little brows and said to Ōnoki, "Grandpa, Akatsuchi is a jōnin, and Kintsuchi is only..."

Ōnoki raised a hand to stop Kurotsuchi. His eyes were deep, concealing a great deal of curiosity.

From the very beginning, Ōnoki had known that Jingxin was a genius.

But after his two challenges against Deidara, Ōnoki had realized Jingxin's strength might not quite match his initial assessment.

The spar began.

Jingxin moved first, ducking low as he charged at Akatsuchi. He was fast.

Akatsuchi raised his right hand.

The ground swelled into an earthen wall, blocking Jingxin's path.

Jingxin veered around it and flung three Shuriken at the same time.

The Shuriken flew straight toward three of Akatsuchi's vital points.

Akatsuchi had already seen how precise Jingxin's aim was, so he was prepared. He formed Hand Seals, and the earthen wall split into three sections, intercepting the Shuriken.

Jingxin was already closing in. His Taijutsu was fluid, his punches and kicks working in close coordination.

After blocking a few moves, Akatsuchi formed an assessment.

This boy's Taijutsu was almost at Chunin level.

More importantly, wasn't there something off about his physical strength?

After blocking him for a while, Akatsuchi began to feel sore, even though he hadn't used any chakra.

And Akatsuchi could clearly see the weighted iron bands strapped to Jingxin's calves and arms.

If the boy took those weights off, his speed and the power of his Taijutsu would increase even more.

You're telling me this damn kid is only eight?!

Akatsuchi started fighting back, his fist wrapped in rock as he swung a punch.

Jingxin barely dodged. The heavy gust of the punch skimmed his cheek, stinging him.

He quickly retreated and deftly formed Hand Seals. A stream of fire burst from his mouth, forming a fireball two meters in diameter.

Akatsuchi pressed both hands to the ground, and an earthen wall rose to block the fireball.

The flames burst against the wall, filling the air with smoke.

Amid the dust, a flash of red appeared.

Akatsuchi immediately looked away.

As a jōnin, he knew how dangerous the Sharingan was.

He couldn't look his opponent in the eyes, or he might fall under a genjutsu.

But that caution created a new problem.

Without looking at Jingxin's face, he couldn't predict where the Shuriken would go.

Jingxin seized the opportunity and hurled a series of Shuriken. Each one followed a different trajectory, yet every one was aimed precisely at Akatsuchi's vital points or likely escape routes.

Akatsuchi drew a kunai and could only rely on his hearing and instincts to dodge. The pressure on him increased sharply.

One Shuriken grazed his arm, slicing through his clothes.

Akatsuchi frowned. He couldn't let things go on like this.

"Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"

The ground shook violently, and a huge pit opened in the middle of the training ground.

Jingxin lost his footing and fell into it.

Ōnoki was about to call a stop.

This spar was meant to test Jingxin's strength, not fight to the death.

But just before he could speak, something unexpected happened.

Jingxin, falling through the air, suddenly dissolved into white smoke.

It was a Shadow Clone.

Akatsuchi immediately realized something was wrong, but Jingxin's real body appeared behind him.

Akatsuchi sensed danger and instinctively turned around.

Their eyes met.

Akatsuchi's body stiffened. His gaze went blank as he fell into an illusion.

In the illusion, he saw the training ground collapse, burying him beneath the rocks.

The feeling of suffocation was terrifyingly real.

Ōnoki's voice rang out. "The match is over."

Jingxin dispelled the genjutsu.

Akatsuchi came to and looked at Jingxin with a complicated expression.

The genjutsu had felt completely real. If Ōnoki hadn't called a stop, he might have been seriously injured.

Ōnoki walked onto the field, grinning like a blooming lotus.

He was secretly relieved.

This Uchiha genius now belonged to Iwagakure.

The Sharingan's advantage in battle was obvious. Combined with Jingxin's tactical mind, his potential was enormous.

Ōnoki was certain that old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi had noticed Jingxin's talent long ago.

But that man had hesitated over whether to nurture and protect him just because he was an Uchiha.

Well, look at that.

The boy had seen Konoha's ugly side for himself and chosen to leave the darkness for the light.

Ōnoki felt as though he'd won the lottery—one that had dropped right out of the sky.

Heh heh heh heh heh!

Akatsuchi rubbed his temples. "Kintsuchi, how much chakra do you have?"

"That fight went on for quite a while, and you were still able to use genjutsu to affect me."

Jingxin gave a tactful answer. "That only worked because Senior Akatsuchi held back, and because of how genjutsu works."

"If this had been a real fight to the death, I would've lost long ago."

"You don't have to spare my pride." Akatsuchi shook his head. "You didn't even take off your weights. Add in the genjutsu, your composure, and your careful tactical thinking, and you could absolutely fight a jōnin."

That was exceedingly high praise.

Kurotsuchi ran over to them, her eyes practically sparkling. "Kintsuchi, you're amazing!"

Watching Kurotsuchi's reaction, Ōnoki mused to himself.

His granddaughter's attitude toward Jingxin had clearly changed from curiosity to admiration.

"That's enough testing for today," Ōnoki announced. Then he smiled at Jingxin. "I know you're levelheaded, but I still have to remind you not to get conceited."

Jingxin replied respectfully, "I understand, Lord Tsuchikage."

After training, the four of them left the training ground.

Kurotsuchi walked beside Jingxin, peppering him with questions.

About the Sharingan, tactics, and training methods.

Jingxin answered patiently.

Walking behind them, Akatsuchi said quietly to Ōnoki, "His tactical thinking doesn't seem like that of an eight-year-old. He's far too mature."

"I know." Ōnoki's expression turned serious. "People who've weathered hardship tend to mature faster. Besides, he's one of our children now, and he'll become a pillar of the village in the future."

"The Uchiha tragedy must not be repeated. We shouldn't distrust him; we should give him a real home."

At those words, Kitsuchi, who had remained silent until now, instinctively looked ahead at his daughter walking beside Jingxin.

The admiration in Kurotsuchi's eyes was unmistakable, and she kept asking him one question after another.

And the boy didn't put on any airs about being a "master." He was as patient as a nanny.

For some reason, Kitsuchi felt an ache in his heart. "Isn't it a little too soon?"

Ōnoki had seen it too. He glared at Kitsuchi. "What are you thinking?! They're only eight years old! It's just friendship between children. Can't you stop being so cruel?"

"Why are you even more impatient than this old man?"

Kitsuchi: "..."