9. Beating Senju Nawaki

Senju Nawaki stared at Keigo Uchiha with hostility, "I believe you will definitely lose at my hands. I will prove that your Uchiha Clan will never be a match for our Senju Clan!"

He spoke.

He let out a cold snort, his gaze filled with fighting spirit.

"I hope you achieve your dream of becoming Hokage soon."

After saying this, Keigo Uchiha couldn't be bothered to pay him any more mind. Is this guy seriously that brain-damaged?

It was already a foregone conclusion that Sarutobi Hiruzen would become Hokage; only the Senju Clan was still standing in the way, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was currently full of grievances toward the Senju Clan.

And yet, you go around shouting every day that you want to be Hokage?

Isn't the subtext of that just that when you grow up, you're going to snatch the Hokage seat right out of Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands?

If I were Sarutobi Hiruzen, I wouldn't let you live either!

How stupid do you have to be to say something like that? No wonder he died so young; with a personality like this, he's arrogant and obnoxious!

"Alright, since everyone has gotten to know each other, let's begin the sparring test. I need to understand your strength and level so I can formulate a teaching plan for you!"

Kamimura Yanoi clapped his hands, "Follow me to the training ground for the sparring. I will call out names, and those people will be paired up as sparring partners!"

Soon.

Everyone arrived at the training ground.

They began sparring according to the order. Keigo Uchiha was lost in thought, Matching people with similar affinities for sparring brings out the best in each other's strength. This opening sparring session is just to gauge everyone's capabilities.

Take Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Senju Nawaki, for example; both were skilled in using taijutsu to supplement their ninjutsu, so they were paired together.

But... why were Kurama Shimotsuki and Inuzuka Mi paired up?

One was skilled in genjutsu.

And the other, who hadn't even contracted a ninja hound yet, only had basic taijutsu. Could there be some other consideration?

"Even though we're good friends, I won't go easy on you!"

Yamanaka Asagao flashed a brilliant smile, "Kano, if you don't use your full strength, you're going to lose!"

She spoke.

She tied up her long golden hair; the high ponytail made her look sharp and spirited!

In a flash, she shot forward.

Nara Kano shook his head helplessly, "What a drag. I knew I'd get paired with you. No choice then!"

He spoke, suddenly throwing a kunai.

He then retreated backward.

But Yamanaka Asagao dodged quickly, like an agile cat. The two inevitably clashed, and in the end, Nara Kano lost as expected, with Yamanaka Asagao's kunai pressed against his neck, her smile as bright as a flower.

"Hmph, you guy, you're really boring. You won't even use your full strength in a spar."

"Ma, ma, ma, it's just a spar anyway, nothing important."

Nara Kano shook his head, unconcerned.

Following that, everyone sparred one by one.

But it was mostly a contest of taijutsu and kunai, with no one using ninjutsu.

"Now then, next up is Senju Nawaki and... Sarutobi Shinnosuke!"

Following the teacher's announcement, Senju Nawaki walked proudly onto the training ground, but his eyes remained fixed on Keigo Uchiha, "Hmph, it's lucky you didn't run into me, otherwise I would have made you look pathetic today!"

He then turned his gaze to the face of Sarutobi Shinnosuke in front of him, "And you, I advise you to admit defeat as soon as possible, or don't come crying home to your parents!"

"The Sarutobi Clan has no cowards, and there is no possibility of us admitting defeat!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression was serious, "You are very confident, but confidence does not equate to strength."

"Only when you defeat me will it be time for me to admit defeat!"

He assumed a fighting stance, his legs planted firmly on the ground like two tree roots!

Keigo Uchiha's eyes lit up, Such solid footwork. As expected of Sarutobi Hiruzen's son, to be able to achieve this level.

He himself also had a stable stance.

But that was due to the stimulation of Lightning Release.

It allowed his body to progress rapidly. It seems the Sarutobi Clan also has their own taijutsu training methods!

Meanwhile, Senju Nawaki across from him looked like he was on top of the world, yet he was full of openings.

I have to say, there is a real reason why the Senju Clan would eventually face near-extinction.

Not only were they stubborn and self-righteous, but they also gradually rotted away in the comfort of peace.

Such a massive clan, one that could vaguely suppress the Uchiha during the Warring States period.

Why, after the village was founded, was there not a single rising genius besides Tsunade?

Don't tell me it was just Sarutobi and Danzo playing politics, and don't tell me it was just the First and Second Hokage sending the Senju Clan to the front lines.

That is not the root cause.

Senju Hashirama might have allowed his clansmen to die, but what about Senju Tobirama? Was that his personality? Clearly not.

Then, in the twenty years since the village was founded, why did the generation of powerhouses simply vanish?

One must remember, Sarutobi Hiruzen had not even taken office yet at this time.

There is only one reason.

The members of the Senju Clan had grown complacent in peace and had fallen into decadence.

They were lazy in their training, yet remained confident—even arrogant.

Coupled with the First Hokage's insistence that the Senju Clan lead the charge and hold the rear against enemies, the number of powerhouses in the Senju Clan dwindled, with not a single one rising to take their place.

Senju Nawaki is the best example.

His foundation was poor, he lacked the innate Yang Release constitution, and his talent was mediocre, yet he was blindly confident, shouting every day that he would become Hokage.

He was both incompetent and arrogant.

How could someone like that not die quickly?

Clearly, those Senju clansmen who blocked Sarutobi Hiruzen from taking power were the same.

Clearly not as strong as Sarutobi Hiruzen, yet they clamored that he was unworthy.

It was truly like lighting a lantern in a latrine—looking for sh*t.

"Give up! This young master is the strongest!"

Senju Nawaki charged forward viciously.

"Your stance is unstable!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke shook his head.

At home, his father had specifically instructed him to handle Senju Hashirama's grandson, Senju Nawaki, with a heavy hand.

He had originally thought this would be a difficult task, as the opponent was the grandson of the God of Shinobi.

But looking at it now, he was nothing but a straw bag!

His taijutsu foundation was clearly weak, yet he chose to clash head-on with an enemy; he was truly both incompetent and brainless!

If he had fought with evasive maneuvers, it might have taken a while to finish him off.

Unfortunately...

Sarutobi Shinnosuke unleashed a fierce sweeping kick, and Senju Nawaki's body lost control, his head slamming into the dirt with a thud!

There was no hesitation.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke often sparred with his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, so his technique was clean and seasoned, swiftly and accurately pressing his palm against Senju Nawaki's neck!

"You lost!"

A total defeat.

There was no room for resistance.

Senju Nawaki's level could only be described as that of a typical brat ninja.

While Sarutobi Shinnosuke clearly possessed the strength of a Genin.

Evidently, the side effects of Senju Hashirama's "happy education" for his descendants were already manifesting.

Senju Hashirama respected his son's choice to live as an ordinary person.

He taught his granddaughter to gamble.

He let his grandson grow up happily without the need for arduous training.

Senju Hashirama believed that becoming strong was a natural occurrence that required no grueling effort.

Unfortunately, he was the reincarnation of Asura, but his descendants were not.

This resulted in Senju Nawaki, who originally had the potential to reach Elite Jonin, now struggling to even reach the level of an ordinary Jonin.

"This is impossible!"

Senju Nawaki's face was ghastly, and he lashed out in a sudden counterattack, only to be knocked to the ground once more.

"Your foundation is too weak. Becoming Hokage is not just a slogan; it requires arduous training. Otherwise, anyone could become Hokage through daydreams. You are still far from it."

Sarutobi Shinnosuke shook his head.

He turned and walked away.

The talent of a powerhouse, the mindset of a powerhouse. I just wonder how Sarutobi Shinnosuke actually died in the original story?

Keigo Uchiha thought thoughtfully.

Based on Sarutobi Shinnosuke's performance, it was only a matter of time before he became an Elite Jonin.

He would absolutely be stronger than Sarutobi Asuma!

Immediately after, he raised his head and cast an inadvertent glance at the sky, That guy Sarutobi Hiruzen... is he peeping again?

On the other side.

Inside the Hokage office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the crystal ball, his eyes filled with admiration, "Well done. Shinnosuke's taijutsu has now completely surpassed his peers!"

Although he had not yet become Hokage.

He had been acting as Hokage for many years, so he had always worked in the Hokage office.

As for Senju Nawaki, who had been defeated in the crystal ball.

He did not even spare him a single glance.

Clearly weak to the point of pity, yet he shouted about becoming Hokage every single day.

There was no need for him to resort to any schemes; he would die on the battlefield sooner or later.

Following that, he stroked his chin, and the view in the crystal ball shifted to Keigo Uchiha, "Kagami and I were as close as brothers, and now that I have ties with the Uchiha Clan, why not start with Keigo Uchiha and bring him into my Hokage faction?"

A sharp glint flickered in the depths of Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, "Kyo Uchiha's intentions yesterday were already very clear; Keigo Uchiha will definitely become the head of the Uchiha Clan. If I take Keigo Uchiha under my command, wouldn't that be equivalent to incorporating the entire Uchiha Clan!?"

His gaze was burning with fervor.

What was the Uchiha Clan?

They were a founding clan of Konoha, capable of rivaling the Senju Clan. If he could bring the Uchiha Clan under his command, then from this day forward, the entire Konoha could be considered his to command!

"It seems that matter must be pushed forward as soon as possible!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze turned solemn as he picked up a pen from the desk and wrote four characters heavily onto a book.

Will of Fire!

Only by fabricating textbooks could he begin to subtly change the concepts of all ninjas from a young age!

Every ninja who graduated from the Ninja Academy would, to a greater or lesser extent, become a pillar of his Hokage faction!

"Next, let's see exactly what kind of capacity Keigo Uchiha possesses. My chess pieces aren't something just anyone can become!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently at the crystal ball, his face full of anticipation.

He never once considered that Keigo's strength would surpass his own.

After all, in his view, Keigo would at most grow to the level of Kagami Uchiha.

And he was very confident that he could defeat Kagami Uchiha.

It was just a pity that he did not know that Keigo was a cheater!

One day, he would discover just how ridiculous his current thoughts truly were!