Genius

Every move an opponent makes can reveal a wealth of information. Since arriving in this world, Mirai had not been idle; he had purchased and studied numerous books on ninjas sold at the ninja tool shops. While this left his finances a bit tight, he had managed to build a solid foundation. This was his first real fight, and Mirai felt a slight tension, his palms damp with sweat.

He observed Uchiha Itachi's movements constantly. A single subtle shift could reveal what the opponent intended to do next, allowing for a better response.

Neither of them moved. Uchiha Fugaku nodded slightly from the sidelines, realizing that Mirai was indeed a talent worth molding.

Finally, Uchiha Itachi made the first move. Two shuriken flew directly from his hand, tracing an arc through the air as they shot toward Mirai from both sides. Compared to the technique of the child from this morning, this was worlds apart.

Mirai did not try to block them head-on. Instead of retreating, he surged forward, pulling a kunai from his pouch. Uchiha Itachi quickly drew his own kunai, and the two began to clash.

"Clang! Clang!" The sound of clashing kunai rang out repeatedly. Mirai's attacks were completely parried by Uchiha Itachi, and as time passed, Uchiha Itachi gradually gained the upper hand. It was clear that Uchiha Itachi's combat skills were a cut above, a fact Mirai felt keenly.

Eventually, Mirai left an opening while defending against an attack, and Uchiha Itachi kicked him away, forcing the intense skirmish to a temporary halt.

Mirai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Uchiha Itachi with a smile. "As expected, when it comes to raw skill, I'm still no match for you, Itachi." Mirai had anticipated this; he lacked the guidance of a Jonin, and while he had studied much, combat technique could not be learned through books alone.

"Cousin Mirai, let's stop here. I have Father's guidance; this fight isn't fair to you," Uchiha Itachi said to him.

Mirai chuckled. "Where in this world is there such a thing as fairness? Strength is strength; there is no need for excuses." Uchiha Fugaku truly looked at Mirai with new eyes now. To have such a mindset at such a young age—Mirai was a piece of raw jade. With proper carving, he would surely become a powerhouse in the future.

"But..." Uchiha Itachi still wanted to persuade him.

Mirai waved a hand to stop him, smiling. "Fighting you is a great boost for me. Improving my strength now is far better than losing my life on the battlefield later. Besides, don't think I've lost yet. I haven't conceded, so be ready for what comes next."

Mirai pulled two shuriken from his pouch and threw them at Uchiha Itachi with a technique identical to the one Itachi had used earlier.

After throwing the shuriken, Mirai charged at Uchiha Itachi with his kunai. With two sharp "clangs," Uchiha Itachi deflected the shuriken and met Mirai's charge head-on.

Just as he was about to clash with Uchiha Itachi, Mirai suddenly activated his Sharingan. His eyes turned blood-red, and a single black tomoe appeared in the outer ring of each pupil.

In an instant, Mirai seemed to see what was about to happen. Uchiha Itachi's movements played out before his eyes like a film. Was this the power of the Sharingan? As he felt it firsthand, Mirai was incredibly excited. It was truly a formidable Kekkei Genkai.

Knowing exactly what Uchiha Itachi would do next, Mirai shifted his attack trajectory in a split second, dodging the strike and interrupting Itachi's next move. Uchiha Itachi was momentarily stunned by the sight of Mirai's eyes, and the fight, which he thought would last much longer, ended in an instant.

Mirai gripped Uchiha Itachi's wrist with his left hand and held his kunai to Itachi's throat. The sudden turn of events left Uchiha Fugaku stunned. Clearly, this was not a move a child like Mirai should have been capable of. Although they had seemed evenly matched, anyone with a discerning eye could see the clear gap between them.

Yet, Mirai had suddenly erupted with power, his movements swift and unhesitating, as if he had known exactly what Itachi would do before the fight even began.

Ding! Task completed: Defeat Uchiha Itachi. Reward: 10 points!

Hearing the system prompt, Mirai breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled the kunai away from Uchiha Itachi's throat and said, "Sorry, Itachi. I used such a despicable method to beat you."

Uchiha Itachi recovered from his shock and, hearing Mirai's words, shook his head quickly. "No, this is Cousin Mirai's own strength; it wasn't despicable at all. Your eyes..." Uchiha Itachi was deeply astonished. He knew exactly what they were: the Sharingan, the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan. It was because of these eyes that the Uchiha clan was renowned throughout the ninja world, known to all.

"These? I awakened them a few days ago."

Uchiha Fugaku also noticed Mirai's eyes, and his expression shifted violently. He never expected that a child as young as Mirai would have awakened the Sharingan. He himself had been in his teens when he awakened his, and even then, he was called a genius. But Mirai was only four years old. Aside from the ancestors of the Uchiha clan, he had never heard of anyone awakening the Sharingan at four. Could Mirai be the most gifted genius the Uchiha clan had seen in a century?

Uchiha Fugaku called out, "Itachi, Mirai, come here!"

Mirai and Uchiha Itachi walked over to Uchiha Fugaku. Fugaku glanced at Mirai's eyes—it was indeed the Sharingan.

"Very good. To awaken the Uchiha clan's Sharingan at such a young age—defeating Itachi is only natural. This is your own strength; it is not despicable. You are still young, and perhaps your parents haven't told you about the Sharingan yet. Come inside."