Land of Hot Water

Swish, swish, swish—

Clang!

Deep in the forest, several kunai collided in mid-air, their trajectory shifting into a bizarre arc before piercing through a massive tree.

Sss—

The sound of tearing air whistled past Shisui's ear. He tilted his head just in time as a kunai sliced off a lock of his hair and slammed violently into another tree.

His pupils constricted as he spotted the explosive tag attached to the kunai's handle.

BOOM!!!

The roar of an explosion erupted!

Whoosh—

Shisui flickered to a distant spot, a single bead of cold sweat rolling down his face.

"Hey, hey... this is just a sparring match, there's no need to use explosive tags!"

"And that kind of force... if I hadn't dodged in time, it really would have pierced my skull!"

"Are you trying to kill me, Sora!"

Perched on the branch of another tree, Uchiha Sora held several kunai between his fingers and spoke indifferently.

"You're stronger than me, so it's only natural that I go all out."

"You are Body Flicker Shisui, after all; this level of intensity won't take your life."

Even so...

Shisui still felt a sense of alarm at the progress Uchiha Sora had made during this period.

On the journey to the Land of Fields, Uchiha Sora sought out Shisui for sparring whenever he had the time.

Shisui possessed extensive battlefield experience and was a genius Uchiha with maxed-out stats across the board; there was much to learn from him.

Over the past few days, he had mastered Shisui's kunai throwing technique.

This required not only the keen insight of the Sharingan but also exceptional reaction speed and the ability to calculate trajectories.

In a standard ninja confrontation, one relied on ninja tools and taijutsu, only unleashing ninjutsu to deliver the finishing blow once sufficient intelligence had been gathered.

No one started a fight by going all out.

On Uchiha Sora's exposed arms, clear muscle definition could be seen.

Through the tears in his clothing, numerous wounds were visible; many had faded, while others looked as though they had only recently scabbed over.

Judging by their appearance, they were likely puncture wounds from blades like kunai.

Shisui's gaze darkened as he muttered:

"Sora... you must have endured many hardships..."

Shisui rarely saw Uchiha Sora training in the clan's training grounds because, since the age of three, he had been training in the Cat Village.

He had no famous mentors, and his parents had left behind no high-level ninjutsu.

The most valuable scroll he possessed was a summoning contract with a ninja cat from the Cat Village.

That had been his father's ninja cat, which had died in battle alongside him.

Jialuo was the offspring of his father's ninja cat.

One man and one cat reaching this point today—one could only imagine how much effort they had expended and how much pain they had endured.

Uchiha Sora never felt sorry for himself.

Compared to his previous life, this one was already quite good, and he was sincerely grateful to the powers that be for giving him a chance to live again.

No matter what he had to go through in the future, or what price he had to pay, it didn't matter.

As long as he lived freely and brilliantly, that was enough.

Uchiha Sora grinned.

"Hey, I don't need your pity."

"Being able to tangibly feel the growth of my power is a truly joyful thing!"

Shisui held his blade horizontally before him and said slowly, "Sora, in terms of raw strength alone, you are above me."

"But speed and ninjutsu..."

"I am above you!"

Shisui had gotten serious.

Over a dozen of Shisui's figures appeared, appearing both real and illusory.

This was the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, the very art that earned him the title of Body Flicker Shisui and spread his fame across the battlefields of the Land of Water!

The Body Flicker Technique is a broad category of ninjutsu, essentially referring to any ninjutsu or taijutsu that achieves instantaneous movement.

Strictly speaking, the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God is also a type of Body Flicker Technique.

Shisui's version, however, is a complex, composite technique that integrates genjutsu.

Unlike shadow clones, his phantom clones do not dissipate when struck.

It is as if they turn intangible when attacked, only solidifying the moment they strike their opponent.

Even with Uchiha Sora's Sharingan activated, he could not discern which was the true body and which were the phantom clones.

There was absolutely no opening to be found...

When it came to talent for genjutsu, even Uchiha Itachi admitted he was inferior; one could only imagine how exquisite Shisui's genjutsu truly was.

Genjutsu requires innate talent. Uchiha Sora was not a genjutsu prodigy; his ability to defeat Danzo with genjutsu relied entirely on the massive energy reserves provided by Rayquaza.

If one had to categorize him, he was the type of Uchiha who leaned toward ninjutsu and taijutsu, much like Madara Uchiha and Sasuke.

Realizing immediately that he could not see through the technique, Uchiha Sora closed his eyes and rapidly formed hand seals, violently exhaling a mass of high-temperature flames and scorching dust.

Fire Style: Dust Hiding Technique!

BOOM!!

The flames ignited the dust, exploding outward and obscuring all vision.

--

--

About half an hour later.

A panting Shisui looked around, unable to find any trace of Uchiha Sora.

Click—

A crisp sound of cracking rock echoed. The ground beneath his feet split open, and a fist burst from the soil, aiming straight for his face.

Swish—

Shisui flicked his wrist, turning the hilt of his blade downward.

The tip of the blade rested against Uchiha Sora's brow, while the fist remained two inches from Shisui's face.

Clatter...

Uchiha Sora shook the dirt and stone from his body and said calmly, "You win."

Shisui took a deep breath and sheathed his blade. "The training intensity is too high. I don't like sparring with you; it's much more relaxing playing with Itachi."

"Is that so..."

Uchiha Sora gave an inexplicable smile. "Then next time we head out, let's bring Itachi along."

Shisui's eyes brightened. "Sounds good!"

After packing up, the two continued on their journey.

From the Land of Whirlpools to the Land of Fields, the direct route would take them through the Land of Fire.

However, the two chose to travel along the border of the Land of Fire, moving through the territories of various smaller nations.

Subjugating the Fuma Clan was only one of their goals; the most important objective was to open up trade routes.

The Uchiha had nothing that could truly be called a specialty product—if one had to name something, it would be their overwhelming individual strength.

Uchiha Sora intended to follow the example of Orochimaru in establishing Otogakure, starting by gaining the support of the daimyo of smaller nations.

But as for gaining that support... he could learn from Obito's methods in the Land of Water.

Negotiation, intimidation, brainwashing, explaining the pros and cons?

There was no need for such trouble; only someone without talent like Orochimaru would do that.

Those of us with the Sharingan can just hit them with a genjutsu and take control.

Controlling the Kage of a Great Nation was difficult and currently unrealistic. But controlling the daimyo of a small nation was far too simple for someone with Shisui's abilities.

Uchiha Sora had never understood how the Uchiha clan, possessing the genjutsu ability to manipulate hearts, could have spent the Warring States period thinking only of becoming the blades for those pig-like nobles.

In modern society, this was a ruler's skill set, plain and simple.

It should probably be blamed on their low level of cultural education, combined with the fact that the Uchiha clan's mental state was just a bit too "unique."

Passing through the forest, the number of people on the road began to increase. Travelers noticed the ninja attire of the two and deliberately kept their distance.

Compared to the vast number of ordinary people, ninjas were rare.

Just imagine, a few tens of thousands of ninjas were enough to serve as the defensive force for a Great Nation; one could easily grasp the scarcity of ninjas.

The first small nation the two arrived at was the Land of Hot Water.

The Land of Hot Water was filled with hot springs, which was also the origin of its name.

Abundant geothermal resources made the hot spring industry in the Land of Hot Water extremely developed, attracting many foreign tourists.

Among them were fellows with impure motives like Jiraiya.

The so-called holy land prototype for Icha Icha Paradise seemed to be in the Land of Hot Water, right?

The Land of Hot Water was ruled by a Daimyo, and its military strength was relatively weak.

Because it was situated between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, the nobles of the Land of Hot Water basically chose the two Great Nations for their mission requests, making the existence of Yugakure seem dispensable.

Gazing into the distance at the many hot spring hotels nestled between the mountain ravines, as well as the caravans coming and going...

Uchiha Sora looked as if he were seeing future benefactors.

No...

It should be said that he was looking at a piece of fat meat.