"Just you wait, Keigo Uchiha. I'll surpass you for sure. I've already found a way to rapidly increase my strength!"
Hyuga Ruri gave a delicate huff. Her pure Byakugan shimmered, and a hint of delight showed in her eyes.
But the next moment,
she let out a sudden, delicate gasp, her body going limp as she fell right into Keigo Uchiha's arms. Her proud, pretty face flushed crimson, as if... she'd come down with something. She was red as could be!
Her Byakugan snapped open!
The veins around her eyes bulged!
A faint blue glimmer flashed deep within her pupils.
"What's happening? Why did my Byakugan open on its own?"
Hyuga Ruri's lovely eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Keigo Uchiha's handsome, composed face, and her own cheeks grew even redder.
"Y-you're not to get the wrong idea! The way I said I'd get stronger definitely isn't developing my Byakugan like you suggested! I have another way to get stronger!"
Her lovely eyes darted about in panic. Bracing herself against the desk, she hurried back to her seat.
Only a faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air.
Keigo Uchiha looked puzzled. He hadn't said a thing. But... just now, a powerful ocular force burst from Hyuga Ruri's Byakugan. It wasn't like the power an ordinary Byakugan displayed.
It even had a kind of suppressive and repelling force!
He thoughtfully rubbed his chin. That power was just like the Byakugan Pressure Otsutsuki Kaguya had released before consuming the Chakra Fruit, along with the repulsive force of the Tenseigan!
That girl's ocular power has grown stronger. She must be secretly training her Byakugan. Could it be... that the Tenseigan is stirring?
At once,
Keigo Uchiha grinned.
Hyuga Ruri was more talented than either Hyuga Hanabi or Hyuga Hinata, so it wasn't surprising she could awaken some of the Tenseigan's power.
"Instead of developing a much more powerful Byakugan, she's working on the so-called Gentle Fist. It's ridiculous that a truly powerful Byakugan is treated as nothing more than an aid to the Gentle Fist."
He shook his head, his expression calm, light shifting in his dark eyes.
He just didn't know whether awakening the Byakugan came with some kind of side effect.
If the side effect of the Mangekyō Sharingan was blindness,
then... what was the side effect of an awakened Byakugan?
"Keigo, let's have a swordsmanship match!"
Just then, Gekko Yabu grinned and came over with a sword in hand, his eyes shining.
"Thanks to you, my swordsmanship has improved a lot, so I received my family's swordsmanship inheritance ahead of schedule. Even my father praised my skills! This time... I'll definitely beat you... Never mind..."
Gekko Yabu began his usual boast.
But the next moment, he paused and gave a wry smile. "You're just too much of a monster. I'll be happy if I can even land a hit!"
"And with how much stronger I've gotten, that shouldn't be hard!"
Keigo Uchiha stood up and casually accepted the sword Gekko Yabu handed him. "Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Good timing. I've got a few ideas about swordsmanship that I want to test out, too."
His Storm Release had grown even stronger.
Combined with a sword, it would surely let him unleash even greater power.
And he needed an opponent like the Moonlight Sword Dance!
"Hahaha, are we in for another good show?"
Nara Kano laughed.
What he liked most these days was watching Keigo Uchiha fight.
He learned a lot from Keigo Uchiha's attacks and evasions, and it had made his strength improve by leaps and bounds!
"Oh wow, Yabu's definitely the toughest among us. He's been beaten so many times, but he's never given up."
Yamanaka Asagao's pretty face was full of admiration.
She didn't even want to fight Keigo Uchiha.
There was no helping it. It was too humiliating!
"If Keigo got serious, I probably wouldn't last even a second."
She'd heard that Keigo already had the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. She had no desire to get beaten up.
"But are you sure you want to pass up this chance? Keigo keeps getting stronger. It won't be so easy to beat him later. This is our last chance."
Just then,
Kurama Shimotsuki walked over from the side, her long legs carrying her forward.
She gave a light laugh, her gentle face unconcerned. Her voice was soft, as though she were merely making a suggestion.
Keigo Uchiha glanced at the scheming girl and smiled. "Then how about you being the second to challenge me, Shimotsuki?"
At once,
Kurama Shimotsuki's pretty face stiffened.
"Forget it, forget it. You're impossible. I'll just keep quiet."
Keigo snorted.
Kurama Shimotsuki, heir to the Kurama Clan.
Her nickname was Scheming Girl!
Though she looked gentle, she loved stirring things up with seemingly offhand remarks. She was the classic type who loved to watch the drama unfold, much like Robin from One Piece.
"This time, I'm using the fine sword Dad gave me! Keigo, you're only using an ordinary sword. It's a bit underhanded, but as long as I can beat you, any means are fair!"
Gekko Yabu laughed loudly.
He looked thoroughly pleased with himself!
The long sword in his hands was a fine weapon from his father. It channeled chakra better and made it easier to release ninjutsu.
On the battlefield, it would be his trump card for survival!
"That's pretty underhanded, but I'd love to see you beat Keigo just once!"
Nara Kano grumbled, but he looked excited.
"Keigo's become the target we're all chasing. If anyone can beat him, it'll be like making the wish all of us share come true!"
Yuhi Kurenai's pretty face was serious.
Her long red hair made her face look even more beautiful.
"B-but we can't beat Keigo, can we? Keigo's so strong. Even if all of us fought him together, we might not win."
Inuzuka Mi spoke softly, her delicate, doll-like face tinged with red.
She seemed to be trying to persuade everyone.
"Okay, okay, Mi-chan. We know you like Keigo, all right? You're not even together yet, and you're already acting like a henpecked wife. What'll you be like once you are?"
Suddenly,
Yamanaka Asagao leaned in close to Inuzuka Mi. Her ample figure made everyone's hearts skip a beat.
Out of everyone,
the blonde Yamanaka Asagao had the best figure, the most stunning curves!
She was still young, yet she already had an hourglass shape!
She put an arm around Inuzuka Mi, looking as though she'd seen right through her!
Everyone nodded in unison, deeply agreeing!
"Huh!? I... I... How did you... how did you know?"
Inuzuka Mi's long lashes fluttered, and her face turned as red as a balloon!
"Come on, Mi-chan, you're not exactly subtle!"
"You'll definitely be henpecked once you're married!"
Everyone chimed in, teasing Inuzuka Mi as they watched her blush.
Meanwhile, on the field,
Gekko Yabu gave a sly grin. His usually listless eyes suddenly sharpened!
Like a cold blade!
"Keigo, the sword technique I'm about to use is hard even for me to control. Be careful!"
Gekko Yabu's gaze was sharp!
His usual carefree manner had vanished. A cold glint shone in his eyes, fixed solely on the sword in his hands!
The next moment, he shot forward!
"Draw-and-Slash!"
He shouted, and a flash of cold light appeared!
His long sword leaped from its sheath, releasing a terrifying gleam. Even in broad daylight, it made everyone's eyes go cold.
"So he's using chakra to move faster, then increasing the speed of his draw as well?"
Keigo Uchiha's eyes lit up.
This sword technique
had the momentum of a desperate last stand, as if it were meant to defeat him outright.
"If we'd fought a year ago, I might have lost to this technique of yours. You've improved quickly, Yabu."
As Keigo Uchiha spoke, the sword in his hand slowly slid from its sheath.
The next moment,
lightning spread across the sword!
But it didn't crackle with wild arcs. Instead, the lightning seemed restrained, like... a keen blade, fused completely with the sword.
Steel clashed!
Sparks burst where the two swords met!
The next second, the sword in Gekko Yabu's hands was knocked high into the air, spinning wildly. He hadn't even been able to hold on to it.
"How is that possible? I've trained in Draw-and-Slash for a whole year. I can crush even rocks in my hands. How could I have dropped my sword?!"
Gekko Yabu was shocked!
As a swordsman,
the one mistake he couldn't tolerate was letting go of his sword. He'd trained countless times to prevent it, yet now his blade had still flown from his grasp!
He blurred backward, then leaped up and caught the sword in midair. Looking down at Keigo Uchiha, he forced a smile. "Honestly, even after all this time, you're still so strong it feels impossible to catch up."
"I can't even see how strong you really are!"
"But for my next move, I'm using my strongest technique! Keigo, I hope you won't hold back either!"
Keigo Uchiha paused, then understood.
"The best way to show respect to a swordsman is to use your strongest power."
"I won't hold back this time. This will be the strongest strike in my swordsmanship."
His eyes shifted, showing his approval.
Yabu was absolutely devoted to swordsmanship.
He could accept losing, but he couldn't stand being treated without respect!
"Dance of the Three-Wheel Rotation!"
When Gekko Yabu landed, he was already in position. He shot forward, and the sword in his hands seemed to split into three, striking at Keigo Uchiha from different directions!
Keigo Uchiha remained calm.
He showed no intention of dodging.
The lightning around his sword had simply grown even quieter!
"Gasp!"
The young ninja squad was stunned.
"Has Yabu really gotten this strong? Even a Chunin would have to take him seriously, right? Is Keigo going to get hurt?"
Concern showed in Yamanaka Asagao's lovely eyes.
The sword energy in that attack felt terrifying even to them, watching from the sidelines!
"He won't. Even if all of us attacked him together, we still wouldn't be a match for Keigo."
Nara Kano shook his head, his gaze firm.
"I'm just curious how strong Keigo is now. Every time, we fight until we're exhausted and lose to him, but he never even looks tired."
"Where exactly is his limit?"
Everyone paused.
They were stunned.
That was right.
They lost to Keigo every time, yet he never showed the slightest sign of fatigue. Just how strong had he become?
On the field, everything changed in an instant!
The lightning on Keigo Uchiha's sword seemed to merge into the blade!
"What kind of power will come from infusing the lightning's cutting property into a sword? I'm curious too, Yabu."
A glint of excitement shone in Keigo Uchiha's dark eyes.
Cutting.
It was a powerful property, like the one behind Kakashi's Lightning Blade thrust!
The next moment!
The two clashed!
Their swords crashed together!
With a sharp crack, Gekko Yabu's sword broke. Everyone was stunned. Gekko Yabu stared blankly at the half-sword in his hands, unable to believe it.
"H-how is this possible? Dad gave me this sword, and now it's just... broken?!"
His face went deathly pale. He was on the verge of tears!
"It's over, it's over, I'm done for! Dad just gave me this sword, and I broke it messing around. Dad's going to kill me!"
He was at a loss for tears.
All I'd wanted was to show off. Who could've guessed I'd end up breaking the treasured sword Dad had given me?!
"Don't cry."
Keigo Uchiha looked at the sword, broken cleanly in two, and couldn't help feeling surprised.
He hadn't expected that incorporating Lightning Release's cutting property into his swordsmanship
could unleash such terrifying power!
After all, the sword in his hand was just an ordinary weapon.
But the weapon Gekko Yabu held was a genuine Ninja Sword!
"If it's broken, it's broken. The Uchiha Clan has smiths who can repair Chakra Metal weapons. I'll take it back after school and have the master fix it."
"Really?!"
Gekko Yabu immediately broke into a grin. He suddenly threw his arms around Keigo Uchiha, his face alight with excitement. "Keigo, you're a lifesaver!"
"But... how did you do that just now? How could an ordinary sword cut through the Ninja Sword in my hand? That's just ridiculous!"
He stared wide-eyed, unable to make sense of it.
Ordinary swords and Ninja Swords were vastly different.
The biggest difference was their materials!
One was made of iron, while the other was made of rare Chakra Metal that could conduct chakra!
Their prices were worlds apart, too!
Yet Keigo had used an iron sword to cut through the Ninja Sword in his hand. It was practically impossible!
The other young ninjas gathered around, all watching Keigo Uchiha with curious expressions.
"The weapon is one factor."
Keigo Uchiha remained calm, a slight smile on his handsome face as he explained, "Under normal circumstances, an ordinary iron sword couldn't do any damage to your Ninja Sword. But there are exceptions to everything!"
His eyes glimmered as he shared what he knew.
Gekko Yabu nodded repeatedly.
"An iron sword can't conduct chakra, but I covered mine in Lightning Release and used its cutting property to increase the sword's destructive power."
He spoke slowly and clearly. "So the iron sword in my hand gained Lightning Release's cutting property!"
"Your Ninja Sword is sharp, but it had no protection. It's like a powerful ninja who doesn't defend against an enemy's attack."
"That's why I was able to cut through the Ninja Sword in your hand so easily!"
Everyone was baffled.
More accurately, they had no idea what Keigo meant.
They couldn't understand his explanation.
"What is Lightning Release's cutting property? I don't think... I've ever heard of it."
Akimichi Lie's face was full of confusion. He scratched his head, looking up at Keigo with admiration.
"I don't know what it is, but Keigo seems amazing!"
"I think I've heard of something called nature transformation. It seems... only Elite Chunin are taught about it. If an Elite Chunin wants to advance to Jonin, they have to master nature transformation. So it might be an ability only Jonin can master!"
A look of shock appeared in Hyuga Ruri's beautiful eyes.
Even her usually aloof expression gave way to stunned disbelief.
How old was Keigo Uchiha, anyway?
And he'd already mastered nature transformation!
"What? An ability only Jonin can master?"
Everyone was stunned. Yuhi Kurenai stammered, "Does that mean Keigo already counts as a Jonin?"
The young ninjas stared at Keigo Uchiha in disbelief.
They'd always known there was a gap between them, but they hadn't realized it was this enormous.
It was like the difference between heaven and earth!
"I've only started learning it."
Keigo Uchiha smiled as he explained, without any intention of bragging. "You'll all master nature transformation sooner or later. It's only a matter of time. Besides, becoming a Jonin takes more than mastering nature transformation. You also need more concentrated chakra and extensive combat experience."
"I have neither of those, so I can't be called a Jonin. The Jonin assessment is very strict."
The assessment to become a Konoha Jonin wasn't especially difficult at the moment.
But candidates still had to complete five A-Rank Missions, one hundred B-Rank Missions, and two hundred C-Rank Missions.
Aside from the difficult A-Rank Missions,
there were also plenty of tedious, ordinary ones. Becoming a Jonin meant making a significant contribution to Konoha, and C-Rank Missions were the best proof of that.
Of course, that system would inevitably change once war broke out!
"I'm so jealous of Yabu. He gets to spar with Keigo and improve his skills. Now Yabu and Shinnosuke are the strongest after Keigo and Ruri. The rest of us are like we've been forgotten."
Yamanaka Asagao sighed helplessly.
Her golden hair shone brilliantly, but her pretty face looked listless.
Being around someone like Keigo was just too discouraging.
Just then, Hyuga Ruri spoke up. Her chin lifted proudly as she turned her face away from Keigo Uchiha. "Honestly, Keigo's not all that, but he's pretty good."
"And those eyes of his seem to be able to spot other people's weaknesses and figure out how they should train. Maybe you could ask him how to improve faster!"
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Though she didn't want to admit it,
she had to acknowledge that Keigo Uchiha always gave her great advice.
She was clearly training her Byakugan,
yet she could feel herself growing stronger and stronger!
It was as though the Byakugan was activating other powers within her body. It was unbelievable. After asking around, she'd found that no one else in the Hyuga Clan trained this way.
No one had noticed how strange the Byakugan was!
What did that mean?
The Hyuga Clan itself didn't understand the Byakugan, yet Keigo Uchiha had recognized its remarkable nature at a glance and given her a sensible way to train!
Keigo Uchiha... was a complete monster!
"Right! Ruri, Yabu, and Shinnosuke have all gotten stronger with Keigo's help. We can ask him how to improve, too!"
Yamanaka Asagao's eyes lit up. She eagerly hurried over to Keigo.
She took his long-fingered hand in both of hers and pleaded, "Keigo, how should I train?"
"My chakra training is going too slowly, and I've already learned all the ordinary techniques in my clan. It's getting harder and harder to improve!"
Watching everyone around her grow stronger so quickly
made her anxious!
Keigo Uchiha looked Yamanaka Asagao up and down, rubbed his chin, and considered the question. "Actually, I've thought about how you should train before. I may be able to give you some advice, but you'll have to experiment with the specifics yourself."
He didn't know the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques,
so all he could do was offer suggestions.
Hyuga Ruri looked at him with admiration and approval. As expected... he always managed to surprise her by thinking of things no one else would!
"Go on, tell me! I'll do anything if it can make me stronger!"
Looking at Yamanaka Asagao, whose pretty face was brimming with excitement,
Keigo Uchiha smiled. "There's no need to rush the path to strength. Your Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques let you search memories and control bodies, so you'll need to develop your abilities based on those techniques."
He rubbed his chin and continued, "Controlling bodies has less room for development, so you could focus on searching memories!"
He'd always believed that many abilities in Naruto
could be developed into something even better!
Just look at One Piece: even though Luffy had an ordinary Rubber-Rubber Fruit, he'd still developed all kinds of abilities with it.
Even a weak ability could be put to use in different ways.
"Why not... try copying memories?"
Keigo Uchiha spoke slowly, a gentle smile at the corner of his mouth, like a teacher guiding a student.
At once,
Yamanaka Asagao froze, completely dumbfounded.
"Copy memories? Is... that possible?"
Everyone was stunned. What kind of idea was that?
If copying memories really was possible, Yamanaka Asagao would become an incredibly powerful ninja!
"It's just one possible direction, but I think it could work."
Keigo Uchiha smiled and said, "Your clan can search memories. Copying them would just mean adding another step to that process. It'll be difficult, but if you succeed, you'll be able to copy the memories of how powerful people train and fight!"
"That would instantly make you an incredibly powerful ninja!"
Everyone watched Keigo Uchiha speak with such confidence and drew in a sharp breath.
"Copy memories? Can... that really be done?"
"If it is, Asagao will be able to acquire everyone's combat abilities. Becoming an Elite Jonin would only be a matter of time!"
"How did Keigo even come up with that? He's incredible!"
Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded.
Was this the reason Keigo was so powerful?
His imagination was beyond anything an ordinary person could match!
"And it wouldn't just make you stronger. You could even copy combat memories and training methods, then share them with your teammates. Asagao, you'd become an elite support ninja!"
Keigo Uchiha continued to expand on his idea of copying memories.
His dark eyes were like black holes, drawing people in. They seemed to hold a captivating power that made people believe him and want to follow his advice.
"Asagao, if you really manage to do this, you may become the most respected person in all of Konoha. Konoha's ninja might even be able to skip Genin and Chunin and become Elite Chunin or Jonin directly!"
Keigo Uchiha chuckled. "Konoha itself could change because of you."
It wasn't an exaggeration.
And Keigo Uchiha thought it was possible.
Orochimaru could steal other people's bodies, memories, and abilities. If the Yamanaka Clan could search memories, then they should be able to copy them, and even share them. It would just be very difficult!
"Of course, this ability could have side effects, so don't try it recklessly."
Keigo Uchiha furrowed his brows and warned her, "Along with someone else's memories, you'll also acquire their thoughts and even their will! If something goes wrong, you might even become someone else!"
"Too many memories could also make you lose yourself. So you'll need to be cautious, train patiently, and preserve your own identity—even if you have to leave out part of the other person's memories. You must erase the imprint of their memories and emotions!"
His gaze was stern and cautioning.
The soul was never a simple matter.
Even the genius Orochimaru had suffered because of the soul, leaving his own in tatters.
Even the Three-Tomoe Sharingan could barely resist it.
Let alone Yamanaka Asagao.
"I understand. I'll be cautious with this kind of training. But it's a great direction to pursue. I don't want to be a burden to my teammates!"
Yamanaka Asagao clenched her delicate hands.
Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, making her face look bright and cheerful.
"And me! And me!"
Yuhi Kixia raised her hand eagerly and said, "I want to get stronger, too. It's so frustrating being unable to improve!"
"Kixia, your strength lies in genjutsu, but its foundation is chakra sensitivity and perception. So you could change your approach: keep training in genjutsu while improving your perception, and become an excellent sensor ninja!"
Keigo Uchiha smiled as he made his suggestion. "You could also try infusing your perception with chakra and spreading it around you. Then you could use that to cast genjutsu!"
"That way, you could cast genjutsu from hundreds of meters away. The enemy wouldn't even see you, so they wouldn't be on guard at all!"
If she could develop this ability,
it would be incredibly overpowered.
Most genjutsu were cast through the eyes.
A powerful ninja like Uchiha Itachi could cast it through hand gestures and the environment. But what if she used a different method?
What if she cast genjutsu through the chakra she spread out?
You think I'm a sensor ninja?
I'm actually a genjutsu ninja!
This ability would make her impossible to guard against!
"That's right! If I can do that, I won't just become a powerful sensor ninja. I'll be able to control enemies from a distance and make them turn on each other!"
Yuhi Kixia's ruby-red eyes lit up at once!
Keigo Uchiha turned to Nara Kano, who was watching nervously.
He teased, "I never thought our usually unmotivated Kano would want to get stronger, too. That's rare."
"Honestly... I may be lazy, but I don't want to hold my teammates back on the battlefield."
Nara Kano scratched his head awkwardly.
He couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
He wasn't weak. He was just lazy...
"All right, I'm done teasing you. Your ability is one people would envy. Have you ever thought about splitting your shadow into a 'person' that could fight alongside you?"
Keigo Uchiha's eyes shimmered as he spoke slowly. "That would instantly make you a lot stronger."
"You could also practice chakra control and learn to use Hand Seals with one hand while controlling your shadow with the other. Then it'd be like two people fighting together. You wouldn't have to fear even a powerful enemy!"
"And... if shadows can attack, why not develop a defensive technique, too? Something like..."
His eyes shifted to Hyuga Ruri, and he smiled.
"Something like Ruri's Rotation, to protect yourself. Controlling your shadow would be as easy for you as moving your own arm. It wouldn't be difficult at all!"
The Nara Clan's secret techniques could be developed in many ways.
But Keigo was only suggesting some possibilities.
"That idea... really does sound possible! More than possible! But... learning to use Hand Seals with one hand would be incredibly difficult, wouldn't it?"
Nara Kano's usually listless expression froze.
"If I wanted to slack off from now on, I wouldn't have any time. Practicing one-handed hand seals would take up all my time, and then I'd have to develop Shadow Possession Jutsu too... Ah! I really shouldn't have asked you about this in the first place."
His face was full of sorrow and helplessness.
But there was a spark of determination in his eyes!
Keigo Uchiha smiled. Kano wasn't simply lazy. He was so clever that he thought many things didn't matter. If he could solve something with his brains, naturally he wouldn't bother using his body.
But now that he had a goal, he'd work harder than anyone!
"And you, Mi-chan."
Keigo turned to look at her, a gentle smile on his face. His refined, chiseled jawline came into Inuzuka Mi's view.
He casually pulled a scroll from his weapons pouch.
Seeing the lovely, hesitant look on Inuzuka Mi's face, he said, "This is the Summoning Scroll I found for you. You can use it to make a contract with cat ninja beasts. Once you do, you'll have a Ninja Cat of your own."
"Don't worry about falling behind. You have a lot of talent. A true genius won't go unnoticed."
He'd gotten the scroll from the Great Elder.
The Great Elder had readily granted such a simple request.
And, as luck would have it, the Uchiha Clan's storehouse had a Summoning Scroll for Ninja Cats. It was another reminder to Keigo of just how deep the Uchiha Clan's resources ran.
There was nothing the Uchiha Clan couldn't provide if he wanted it!
And if they didn't have it, they could find it for him!
"Thank you... Keigo. I'll take good care of it!"
Inuzuka Mi's beautiful eyes lit up, and her delicate lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, making her look utterly endearing.
If Hyuga Ruri was a proud, aloof young lady,
then Inuzuka Mi was a delicate, sweet little fairy, so charming that no one could bear to hurt her. Neither girl was more beautiful or graceful than the other; both were breathtaking!
"It's nothing."
Keigo smiled, then continued helping the others with their training.
By the time he was finished,
the school gates were crowded with parents who'd come to pick up their children.
The crowd was bustling.
One by one, they stared in astonishment!
"This is unbelievable. Could an eight-year-old really come up with ideas like that?"
One parent covered his head, unable to believe his eyes as he looked at Keigo's young face.
He drew in a sharp breath and slowly said, "I hate to admit it, but Keigo's advice makes sense. When I was young, I even thought along those lines myself!"
"But with no one to guide me, I gave up on the idea!"
Another man, who looked a lot like Nara Kano, stared at Keigo in amazement. "Changing how you use Shadow Possession Jutsu, developing your shadow into another version of yourself... You could even create a defensive ninjutsu like Rotation!"
"Why had I never thought of that?"
The other parents joined in the discussion.
Their faces were full of amazement!
It was a direction for development they'd never even considered.
Their children were always talking about how talented Keigo was, but they'd never really understood what that meant. After all, it wasn't exactly surprising for a child from the Uchiha Clan to be top of the class.
But the gap between them shouldn't have been that big.
Now, seeing Keigo surrounded by everyone, calmly offering guidance, they finally realized:
Keigo's talent was even greater than they'd imagined!
And he'd already earned the respect of all his classmates!
"I never thought someone from the Uchiha Clan could get along so peacefully with everyone else."
Someone sighed.
The others looked surprised as well.
After all, the Uchiha Clan had always been proud and aloof.
Students in every class were like that. It was rare to see one of them act warmly and get along with their classmates.
"Heh. I bet he's only pretending."
Senju Koichi sneered, looking at Keigo with disdain.
"The Uchiha Clan is full of treacherous schemers. Their evil eyes are proof enough. One day, he'll abandon Konoha and turn his blade against his comrades! That's just how the Uchiha Clan is!"
More than disdain,
his eyes were full of jealousy!
Why could someone from the Uchiha Clan be top of the class and steal all the attention?
And... it was because of the Uchiha Clan that Sarutobi Hiruzen had become Hokage!
After Sarutobi Hiruzen took office, the Senju Clan's standing had plummeted!
It was all because of the Uchiha Clan!
"What did you say?"
Kamimura Yanoi's expression stiffened.
He slowly turned around, staring at Senju Koichi in disbelief.
He looked him in the eye and corrected him seriously, word by word. "You may be stronger than me, but don't label a child like that or presume to know what kind of person he is!"
"Keigo is the most accepting child I've ever met. The students in this class have made rapid progress in their grades and strength, and Keigo is a big part of that. In a way, he's practically taken my place as their teacher!"
"Thanks to Keigo's example, this whole class is even stronger than last year's!"
He glared at Senju Koichi, his eyes blazing with anger!
"You're a member of the kindhearted Senju Clan. What gives you the right to judge a child like that?"
"If Keigo ever does become the sort of person you described, it'll be because people like you pushed him away, scolded him, and looked at him with jealous eyes. When it comes down to it... aren't you just jealous of his talent?"
Kamimura Yanoi stood like an enraged lion, protecting his student.
The crowd fell silent.
Everyone looked at Kamimura Yanoi, visibly moved.
"You!"
Senju Koichi's expression changed. The next moment, he laughed angrily. "Well, well! So now even Ninja Academy teachers can talk to the Senju Clan like that?"
"You've got quite a lot of nerve!"
The frowns around him made him feel impatient!
As if he'd really done something wrong.
"Hmph! I won't stoop to arguing with you, but there's no need to say any more about the Uchiha Clan's evil nature!"
He gave a cold snort and barked, "Nawaki, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and let's go!"
With that,
he turned without hesitation and pushed through the crowd.
Senju Nawaki froze, looking awkward.
As he passed Keigo, he lowered his head and said quietly, "Sorry. My family elders said some things they shouldn't have, and I apologize for them. Don't take it to heart."
Then,
he hurried after Senju Koichi, following him down the long, dark corridor.
They disappeared into the darkness.
"Though the Senju Clan is too arrogant these days, and Senju Nawaki can be a bit of a pain, he's not a bad person at heart."
Keigo's gaze shifted, but he didn't take what had just happened to heart.
The Senju Clan would disappear sooner or later.
Sarutobi Hiruzen alone was enough to give them a hard time. There was no need to pick a fight with a clan that would soon be gone.
"Thanks for looking after my child today, Keigo. I'll take them home now."
One by one, the parents politely thanked Keigo.
Their faces were full of warmth and gratitude.
The closer they got to Keigo, the more amazed they became!
This boy was far too composed for an eight-year-old.
His words and actions set him apart from the other children. His calm, unruffled bearing made him seem more like a mature adult!
"Once we set out, we may not be able to return to the village for a long time. I only hope peace comes back soon."
One parent sighed and shook his head.
His face was touched with worry.
"There's nothing we can do. The Shinobi World won't know peace. The other villages have their eyes on our Land of Fire's fertile soil, especially Kumogakure. Our relations have been terrible ever since the Second incident!"
"Amegakure is a major threat too. Hanzo of the Salamander is far too powerful!"
The parents were all ninja themselves.
And at least all of them were jonin.
They were talking among themselves when Keigo furrowed his brow. "The Shinobi World won't know peace?"
"Does that mean the Second Shinobi World War is about to begin?"
A glint flashed in his eyes!
Keigo smiled faintly, anticipation in his gaze. "Jiraiya and the other two should soon make a name for themselves and become the famous Sannin. From then on, they'll become the pillars of Konoha!"
"The birth of these three fighters on the verge of Kage Level will let Konoha develop at a rapid pace!"
It was the Sannin's emergence
that made the other villages wary.
They also gave Konoha more time to recover. The three of them had crushed countless conflicts that might otherwise have erupted, using decisive, thunderous force. That was why the Sannin were rarely in the village.
Their reputation, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen and other powerful ninja such as the White Fang of the Leaf, kept the other villages from acting rashly!
"But the Second Shinobi World War will be brief. The strongest fighters will play a huge role in the conflict."
A glint flashed in Keigo's eyes.
If things got desperate, as they would during the Third Shinobi World War, even he would go to the battlefield.
But this was the Second Shinobi World War, a conflict fought on a limited scale.
So he probably wouldn't get the chance to take part!
"No wonder I've noticed so many ninja hurrying around Konoha lately. It's because of this. I need to get stronger faster."
Keigo gazed calmly at the ninja darting across the rooftops as they passed along the road.
His eyes held a little more caution and urgency.
The Second Shinobi World War might not last long, but even within Konoha, there would still be some danger!
The other villages knew about his extraordinary talent. They would surely arrange an assassination or try to kidnap him!
Just like Kushina, who'd been kidnapped in the original story!
Time passed.
Keigo's training grew more intense. Under his guidance, Lightning Release and Water Release kept taking on new properties and unleashing ever greater power!
In class, Keigo trained his chakra, making it denser!
With the same amount of chakra, its density could determine the power of a ninjutsu!
"Keigo, is being handsome really that great? Your reputation has already spread to the lower grades. Look at all those girls—they've all come to see you!"
Nara Kano shook his head helplessly, propping his left arm on the desk as he looked out the window. "Honestly, who'd have thought a handsome face could attract so many girls?"
"Someone as clever as me, and not a single girl's fallen for me."
"Truly tragic."
As he spoke,
his listless eyes turned into the eyes of a dead fish.
Keigo couldn't be bothered to indulge the lazybones.
Nara Kano was a lot like Nara Shikamaru in the original story. But unlike Nara Shikamaru, this guy seemed... to like chasing women—in other words, he wanted to date.
And he was the sort who'd never make the first move.
He'd just wait for someone else to come to him.
"Kano, if you want a girlfriend, sometimes you have to make the first move. If you don't, you might end up alone for the rest of your life."
Keigo raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
Kano's expression stiffened. He slowly turned to Keigo and gave him a strained smile. "Come on, Keigo, you can't be serious. I'm the only child in the family. Dad wants me to carry on the family line!"
"If I end up alone, my old man will kill me!"
He was already starting to panic.
His face twisted with indecision. Should he... try to pursue a girl he liked?
What if he really did end up alone for the rest of his life?
"But you don't need to rush."
Keigo raised an eyebrow and spoke slowly.
At once,
Kano looked at Keigo expectantly. "Got any good ideas for making girls chase me? You must have lots of experience with this, Keigo!"
That was right!
Keigo was top of the class, and he'd never chased anyone. People always chased him!
He had to have special insight into this stuff!
"Kano, you know, there are tricks to pursuing girls. And the key is two words!"
Keigo looked at Nara Kano with a perfectly serious expression, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
The other young prodigies couldn't help staring.
There were tricks to winning a girl over?
The boys and girls all turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Nara Kano's eyes widened even more.
Could I finally stop being single?
Keigo was going to teach him the real secret to finding a girlfriend!
"It all comes down to two words: being handsome!"
Keigo Uchiha flashed a radiant smile. His features were impossibly handsome, and the warmth in his smile made people want to draw closer.
His sharply defined features and smile made the girls at the windows shriek!
"Keigo! Keigo!"
"Please accept my love, Keigo!"
"Keigo, here's my contact information. Please get in touch!"
"Oh my god, I'm going to faint!"
The girls around them shrieked one after another, like crazed fans at a celebrity appearance.
Nara Kano was dumbfounded. "..."
He should have realized sooner!
Keigo's appeal wasn't just his incredible talent—he also had a face that girls adored!
"Can the difference between people really be that huge?"
The twelve of them chatted as they left the classroom.
School was over, so of course they were heading home.
Today, though, Keigo had a new idea: he was going to train in Lightning Release!
He wanted to make his Storm Release even more concentrated!
He wanted to see if he could shape his Storm Release into something like a laser. That way, it could become a weapon in his hand, and he wouldn't have to look for a Ninja Sword.
The Storm Release weapon in his hand would be the best one!
It would also be the perfect match for his abilities, and it couldn't be cut in half!
When he fought Gekko Yabu, he had noticed this. If an enemy cut the weapon in his hand, it would seriously weaken his fighting ability!
"If I can condense Storm Release into a weapon, it'll greatly increase my strength!"
As far as Keigo Uchiha's memories went,
no one had ever been able to conjure a weapon out of thin air.
"He's just from a big clan. What's so impressive about him? So what if he's a little stronger? I'll surpass him and become Konoha's first female Hokage!"
As Keigo Uchiha reached the doorway, he heard a girl's voice.
There was frustration in her voice, and... envy?
Keigo Uchiha froze and glanced over. She had red hair and a slightly round, adorable face.
Memories surfaced in his mind at once.
His eyes narrowed slightly. In a voice only he could hear, he said, "Uzumaki Kushina?"
He had met Kushina before.
About three months ago.
He just hadn't expected to run into Kushina again—and she didn't seem to think very highly of him.
Did she hear me?
Uzumaki Kushina's face tightened, and panic filled her eyes!
Grandma Mito was already dead.
Before she died, Grandma Mito had told her to take good care of herself and not cause trouble. Instinctively, she lowered her head!
She didn't dare meet Keigo Uchiha's gaze.
He was a genius of the Uchiha Clan.
I can't cause trouble!
Before you continue