Yashui wasn't very optimistic about the outcome of the fight. Although he'd shown excellent fundamentals in ninjutsu and tactical awareness, he hadn't used the Uchiha Clan's specialty, Fire Release. And when Asuma had raised the difficulty a little at the end, Yashui had been completely helpless. Those two things alone might be enough for the examiners to decide he couldn't graduate early.
After a long wait, Asuma finally spoke. "Your taijutsu seems different from what they teach at the Academy. It looks better suited to fighting in confined spaces. It's unlike most of Konoha's styles—the Akimichi Clan's Human Bullet Tank, the Sarutobi Clan's Sarutobi Style Taijutsu, and the Konoha Whirlwind series. Those are all better suited to the open battlefield."
"Your taijutsu, on the other hand, seems to have a lot in common with the Hyuga Style." Asuma didn't seem ready to announce Yashui's test results just yet. "If you're willing to hand it over, this style could fill a gap in Konoha's repertoire..."
"Asuma!" The Third Hokage gave him a pointed look, and Asuma stopped talking.
Compared with the people in the world of Naruto, Yashui's taijutsu was decidedly unconventional. It had been barely a hundred years since the world of Naruto emerged from the Warring States period, and there had already been three large-scale Shinobi World Wars. Smaller conflicts had continued without end. In a world like that, every form of taijutsu served the battlefield. To stand against ninjutsu, taijutsu had developed immense destructive power.
In the world Yashui came from, taijutsu didn't need to contend with ninjutsu. It wasn't meant to cause destruction or be used on the battlefield, but to restrain opponents and ensure people's safety. Naturally, the taijutsu that developed in that environment looked different from the styles in the world of Naruto.
Asuma was right about one thing: Yashui's taijutsu had a lot in common with the Hyuga Clan's. Neither style was suited to a large battlefield. But even the Hyuga Clan had developed techniques like Rotation and Air Palm that could be used in large-scale warfare. That showed just how frequent wars were in this world.
Asuma's words had clearly been an attempt to get Yashui to hand over his taijutsu so more shinobi could learn it. Having been born into a time of war, Asuma had a strong sense of danger.
"Asuma... he's still a child. You don't need to do that." The Third Hokage, known as the strongest shinobi of all time, had seen and experienced a great deal. Yashui's taijutsu was nothing special to him.
"Tell me, how did the boy do?" The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe. He'd watched the fight and already had a clear idea of Yashui's ability.
"I'll submit Sarutobi Yashui's application for early graduation to the Ninja Academy." Asuma sighed. He'd hoped to get something out of Yashui for the village, but he'd already acknowledged Yashui's strength.
"Great!" Yashui jumped up excitedly. All the hardships he'd faced that day seemed like a distant memory.
"Yashui, to be honest, your ability is already at the Genin level. Compared with the children graduating this year, you should rank among the best."
"But..." Asuma changed his tone. "You still aren't the strongest among this year's Genin. You were born into the prestigious Sarutobi Clan, so keep working hard to improve your strength."
Asuma had deliberately emphasized the words "prestigious Sarutobi Clan," as if reminding Yashui, You're Yashui of the Sarutobi Clan, not Yashui of the Uchiha Clan. Yashui hadn't thought much about his family before, but those words stirred a hint of anger in him.
Though he'd never personally experienced the Uchiha Clan massacre, Yashui suddenly felt as if he were watching the Uchiha being killed one by one right before his eyes.
Behind his sunglasses, a blood-red Tomoe slowly appeared in his pupil.
This was strange! Yashui's emotions were actually resonating with events in this world! He shouldn't be feeling this way!
"That fight took a lot out of me. I'm feeling tired, so I'd like to go back to my room and rest." Yashui made an excuse to leave early and go to bed. "Thanks, Uncle Asuma. Thanks, Grandpa. I'll head upstairs now."
Back in his room, Yashui locked the door and pulled the covers over himself.
"What's happening...? Thoughts that aren't mine are showing up in my head..." Yashui trembled.
Without him controlling it, his Sharingan had opened on its own. No matter what he did, he couldn't close it. Even hiding under the covers, Yashui didn't dare take off his sunglasses.
It was already late, but moonlight still illuminated the night sky.
"Danzo." An aged voice drew closer. Danzo remained seated, unmoved.
"Hiruzen, what do you want?" Danzo gave a quiet snort. "You know I can control you with my right eye at any time... Or do you think your old body can still break my genjutsu?"
"That isn't your genjutsu. It's Shisui's." The visitor was none other than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Besides, you wouldn't waste your limited ocular power on me."
"Heh, heh..."
"You sent Anbu to watch Yashui again." The Third Hokage spoke around a puff of smoke. "Are you really unwilling to leave Kagami Uchiha's last descendant alone?"
"He may not be Yashui anymore..." Danzo said slowly. "If his will wasn't strong enough, but he still craved power, then he may no longer be himself."
"What are you saying?!" The Third Hokage shouted, his voice old and harsh.
"Nothing..." Danzo smiled. "I'm watching him for the good of our village. He recently killed the Chunin who'd been watching him, and then started spending a lot of time with the Uchiha Clan. He also has a strange taijutsu we know nothing about. And he's awakened the Uchiha Clan's 'treasure.'"
"Is the treasure the Sharingan?" The Third Hokage hoped to hear him deny it.
"Yes. You noticed, didn't you? Yashui has awakened the Sharingan." Danzo used his cane to push himself to his feet. "But what about you? As Hokage, why are you taking such good care of a child from the Uchiha Clan? You gave him sunglasses to hide his Sharingan, allowed a dangerous Uchiha to graduate early, and didn't demand that he hand over his taijutsu... Aren't you taking your protection of him too far? Besides, Uchiha Shisui's ability just now was nowhere near good enough to make him a proper Genin!"
"He's a member of the Sarutobi Clan," the Third Hokage said firmly. "He's my grandson!"
"Heh, heh..." Danzo passed by the Third Hokage without giving him so much as a glance. "Do as you like. I'm only acting for Konoha."
"I know you sent people to assassinate Yashui twice. I let it go for the sake of Konoha. But it won't happen again. I'll have my Earth Clone stay by Yashui's side at all times!" The Third Hokage left the room in the opposite direction.
Two former partners left the same room in opposite directions.
Yashui got up—or rather, he hadn't slept at all.
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