Changing Faces

An eerie, deathly silence fell over the entire venue.

Ten seconds.

Counting from the moment Kamizuki formed the Seal of Reconciliation, only about ten seconds had passed.

Too fast...

In the eyes of Konoha's jonin, the battle had ended so quickly not because Fugaku was too weak.

It was because Kamizuki's very existence completely defied ninja common sense!

Even in battles between jonin, taijutsu was merely used for probing and as support for ninjutsu.

Kamizuki's fighting style more closely resembled Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu—swift, rapid, and lethal.

But how could someone without Chakra possibly do that?!

Even Fugaku, a member of his own clan, could not figure it out. How could they possibly understand?

"Cough, cough..."

Fugaku's eyes brimmed with resentment. "You were clearly this strong... Why... why did you pretend otherwise?!"

If he had known Kamizuki was so powerful, he would have gone all out from the start. He never would have suffered such a humiliating defeat!

"When did I ever pretend?"

Kamizuki pressed his knee against Fugaku's chest, flames still flickering across his body.

He lowered his head and leaned closer. "I've been telling everyone I was born freakishly strong since I was three. Did you think I was joking?"

"For the clan head's sake, I've been letting you off this whole time, and you still dared to provoke me!"

"How... how did I provoke you..."

Though he looked utterly miserable now and being pinned down by a junior was humiliating, the confusion in Fugaku's heart outweighed his anger.

Fugaku swore he had never mocked Kamizuki's physique—not even in his thoughts.

His father had even specifically told him to take better care of Kamizuki's family, since Kamizuki's parents had died early. He had done exactly that.

Every year, I personally handed you the clan's relief money! Whenever my family slaughtered a cow, I even gave you a whole side of beef!

Why do you hate me so much?!

If Fugaku had cursed him out, Kamizuki would not have felt so awkward.

But that aggrieved look...

No! I can't go soft!

Kamizuki's face turned ashen as he said coldly, "Don't worry about that. Just stay farther away from me from now on!"

He did not dare say, Stay farther away from Mikoto. That would sound far too much like a sister complex, and it was embarrassing.

He raised his fist.

"Brother! Stop!!"

Genuine anger filled Mikoto's face. "Brother Fugaku has always helped us, and this is how you treat him?!"

"A brother like you is too much!!"

Kamizuki suddenly realized that his previous approach might have been wrong.

Mikoto had a gentle personality that sympathized with the weak. Beating Fugaku down would not make her think he was weak and unreliable; it might even backfire.

Just like in dramas, if he fiercely tried to stop them, it would make Mikoto rebellious and push her into Fugaku's arms sooner.

So... what kind of man did girls hate most...

Kamizuki turned toward a tall white-haired man in the crowd who was watching the spectacle.

His mind raced. If one plan failed, he would come up with another.

The right approach was to become friends with Fugaku, dig up his dirty secrets, and tell Mikoto about them.

Once they got close enough, even if there was no dirt, he could make some!

No young girl would ever like a pervert who peeked into women's bathhouses!

That was the plan!

"I was too impulsive, Senior Fugaku."

Kamizuki unclenched his fist and stood, then reached down to pull up the bewildered Fugaku. His vicious grin transformed into a mild smile.

"I was too eager to prove myself to everyone. Sorry."

"And thank you for holding back. If you had used your Sharingan on me from the beginning, I definitely would have lost."

"I'll get a doctor for you."

How should he put it...

Fugaku could not follow Kamizuki's train of thought at all, just as Orochimaru had felt earlier.

The explanation was too reasonable, yet something still felt strange.

Fugaku wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "It's... it's fine. Not serious."

Only a few broken ribs. He should just go back and have the clan's doctors treat him.

As the Seal of Reconciliation formed, Mikoto's expression eased somewhat, and she handed Kamizuki his coat.

"Brother Fugaku, I'm truly sorry. My brother, he..."

Mikoto had repeated such words too many times already. They had become muscle memory.

With one hand pressed to his abdomen, Fugaku waved her off. "Something came up at home. Let's talk next time."

"If I'm not mistaken, Kamizuki, you were not born without Chakra, nor were you simply born with extraordinary strength..."

Orochimaru approached, a strange light gleaming in his eyes. "You converted all your Chakra into physical strength. That is how you achieved speed and power capable of breaking through ninjutsu!"

"An unprecedented... special Kekkei Genkai!!"

Kamizuki patted out the flames on his body, put on his coat, and smiled faintly. "I'm not certain, which is why I would like your guidance."

He had never intended to conceal the abilities granted by Heavenly Restriction. Any experienced ninja who saw him fight would reach the same conclusion as Orochimaru.

Besides, there were so many people in the village with white eyes. They could see that his physical strength was abnormal.

He could not pull off that useless-protagonist act of playing weak before overwhelming others, nor did he want to.

If he lacked even the courage to show his own strength and could only hide in the shadows...

Then how could he speak of surpassing his predecessors and becoming the strongest!

On the platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his small beard in thought.

He had reached the same conclusion as Orochimaru: Kamizuki possessed some kind of special Kekkei Genkai.

If this Kekkei Genkai had appeared among a minor ninja clan or civilian ninja, it would indeed have been a wonderful thing, but...

What made the Uchiha famous throughout the world was the Sharingan!

If all Chakra was converted into physical strength, leaving none to awaken the Sharingan, would that not be like picking up sesame seeds and losing a watermelon?

Uchiha Kamizuki's immediate combat power was indeed outstanding, but he could not possibly compare to clan members who had the potential to awaken the Mangekyo.

The lower limit of this Kekkei Genkai was high, but its upper limit was not much to speak of. No matter how strong a pure taijutsu ninja was, how strong could he really become?

Without Chakra, he could not even form a contract with a Summoning Beast or use Explosive Tags...

Unless he carried a Summoning Beast capable of using ninjutsu with him to assist in combat.

Or he could learn Sakumo's combat style and equip himself with a sufficiently powerful ninja tool, serving as a sharp blade to pierce enemy lines.

It had to be said that Sarutobi Hiruzen truly was an outstanding tactical master. In such a short time, he had analyzed most of the advantages and disadvantages of Kamizuki's abilities and even devised fitting tactics.

Konoha was, at its core, a military organization. A ninja's combat power was the most important measure of value.

As he thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly realized something, and his eyes lit up.

Teacher Tobirama had said that the Uchiha were unstable because of the Sharingan; the foreign Chakra within their brains stimulated their emotions and made them intensify.

Then an Uchiha who would never awaken the Sharingan yet still possessed promising combat power...

If he could grow strong, would that not be an opportunity for the village and the Uchiha to fully integrate at last?!

From another perspective,

If he spread his branches and leaves, then years from now, the Uchiha clan would naturally divide into two factions, posing even less of a threat to the village!

Thinking of how Kamizuki had been born shortly after Teacher Tobirama's death...

Teacher Tobirama's revelation!!

Could he be the result of your research in the Pure Land?!

Cough, cough... That was getting a little far-fetched, but this child truly...

No!

Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow. Judging from what had just happened...

Fugaku, with his Sharingan awakened, looked far more normal than Kamizuki without one!

With such an erratic personality, the hidden danger of this Kekkei Genkai might be even greater!