It had been some time since Mufeng Uchiha started using Shadow Clones to attend class. He had used that time to train in ninjutsu, and hadn't forgotten to share his power with himself in the other worlds.
In a clearing beside a small stream in Konoha, Mufeng Uchiha was practicing a combination technique.
"Water Style: Water Wave!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"
Centered on Mufeng Uchiha, a torrent of water surged outward in all directions. At the same time, the current released by Lightning Release: Earth Flash spread through the water, and a little rabbit passing nearby suffered the misfortune of getting caught in it.
Bzzzt—
The little rabbit twitched and collapsed in the grass. A faint scent of roasted meat wafted from its body. At least he had lunch sorted.
"The combination of Earth Flash and Water Wave is only good for hard crowd control over a wide area. And at my speed with Hand Seals, everyone would probably have run off before I finished. If only there were another me who could use several elements."
Mufeng Uchiha picked up the fallen rabbit. After cleaning it up, he skewered the meat on a sharpened wooden stick, got out some seasoning, and began roasting it over the campfire.
"Mm, not bad. You've been keeping this talent under wraps, Mufeng."
"Kakashi-sensei, how long have you been watching me? Now you're here to steal your student's lunch. It's settled—you're treating us tonight."
Kakashi Hatake gave a wry smile and swept his keen eyes over Mufeng Uchiha. He noticed me right from the start? What remarkable perception.
The truth was that Mufeng Uchiha usually had Soft & Wet keeping watch around him at all times, so he was aware of every movement.
As they ate the rabbit, Kakashi Hatake handed Mufeng Uchiha all the manuals on Water Style he had brought with him. One look at them was enough to draw Mufeng Uchiha in.
"Not bad, Kakashi-sensei. This research into Water Style is incredibly detailed. I'd wager you could train someone into a jonin with these alone, as long as you found the right person."
"Good eye. These are all notes by the Second. You'd better take good care of them."
These were notes by Tobirama Senju, the Second. The handwriting was still fresh; they had clearly been copied.
No wonder people in his previous life joked that Tobirama had signed a contract with the sea. He had simplified the Hand Seals for these Water Style techniques and boosted their power by several levels. Some of his ideas for modifying Water Style techniques were eye-opening. Maybe Mufeng could work ninjutsu into Water Breathing.
"I can help you train in these Water Style techniques."
There was no way Mufeng Uchiha would turn down such a good opportunity.
Kakashi Hatake had naturally studied these techniques before. With his deliberate demonstrations, Mufeng quickly copied and mastered them with his Sharingan.
Water Style: Water Wall, Water Style: Water Prison Technique, Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet.
As Kakashi Hatake watched over him, he saw Mufeng Uchiha not only master each technique instantly but also apply what he had learned to new situations. He even managed to reproduce the special techniques Tobirama Senju had written down.
A Water Dragon Bullet that required only three Hand Seals. A Water Wall that circled around its user.
Wait. An absurd talent for Water Style, keen perception, and the ability to learn a technique at a glance. What is this, a reincarnation of the Second? And he's an Uchiha. Am I crazy, or has the world gone crazy?
"Mufeng, big bro! You really are alive! Thank goodness, thank goodness! I thought you—I thought... Sniff, sniff."
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly burst out of the bushes and threw himself into Mufeng's arms, smearing snot and tears all over him. Hey!
"Mufeng, so this is where you were, sneaking off to get extra training from Kakashi. How underhanded," Sasuke Uchiha said indignantly.
The rest of the Konoha 12 had come along, emerging from the same bushes Naruto had. Mufeng understood what had happened through the memories transmitted by his Shadow Clone.
It had started when Naruto was fooling around with Kiba Inuzuka and accidentally bumped into Mufeng Uchiha's sleeping Shadow Clone. The clone burst apart, and Naruto thought he had killed Mufeng Uchiha. He had been bawling his eyes out ever since.
As for how they had found him, Shikamaru Nara, who had been sleeping, couldn't stand Naruto Uzumaki's racket and told him the truth. Naruto didn't believe him, so Kiba Inuzuka had Akamaru track Mufeng down. The others had tagged along out of sheer childish curiosity.
"Naruto, get off me."
Mufeng Uchiha pulled Naruto off him. When he looked up, Kakashi Hatake was already surrounded by Kiba Inuzuka and Sasuke Uchiha.
"You're the teacher who helped them improve so fast, right? I want you to take me on as your student too. I have to beat that guy, Mufeng Uchiha."
"Hmph, dead last. You can't even beat Naruto, and you think you can beat Mufeng? Ridiculous."
Sakura Haruno tried to settle the two of them down. Choji Akimichi quietly ate his chips, Shikamaru Nara thought it was a drag and wanted to go back to sleep, and Ino Yamanaka and Naruto Uzumaki hovered around Mufeng Uchiha to check on him. Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga stood together as the silent pair, watching everything.
After the commotion died down, Kakashi Hatake came up behind Mufeng Uchiha and patted him on the shoulder.
"Look, everyone's worried about you. Life isn't all training and revenge. Take a breather and go back to the Ninja Academy."
"Kakashi-sensei, have you ever lost everyone close to you in a single night? The uncles and aunties who fussed over you, the adults who greeted you every day, the children laughing in the clan compound, the babies crying inside their homes—everything you cherished, wiped out in one night. Could you accept that?"
At that moment, Kakashi Hatake saw a raging fire rising from deep within Mufeng Uchiha's Sharingan. The boy had buried his hatred deep inside, like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Once it erupted, nothing could stop it.
"Everything I cherished was already lost long ago."
Kakashi Hatake's face filled with sorrow, as if Mufeng had struck a raw nerve. Memories flashed through his mind: Obito Uchiha beneath the boulder, killing Rin Nohara with his own hands, and the death of the Fourth Hokage. They tormented him relentlessly.
"Was White Fang really so simple a case of suicide? Kakashi-sensei, have you never doubted it?"
Mufeng Uchiha's words clearly caught Kakashi Hatake off guard. Had he never doubted it? He simply hadn't wanted to face the possibility.
After all, his father, whom he had admired since childhood—the White Fang of the Leaf, who had sent his enemies fleeing in defeat—had supposedly taken his own life.
"Ah, teaching really is a pain. I won't try to convince you to let go of your hatred anymore. When I have time, I'll teach you some ninjutsu."
"Kakashi, you said you were buying dinner, right?"
"What about it?"
Mufeng Uchiha turned and called out, "Kakashi-sensei is treating all of us to barbecue!"
Before Kakashi Hatake could cover Mufeng Uchiha's mouth, everyone was already cheering and pushing him along.
He had planted the seed of doubt in Kakashi Hatake's heart. That was enough.
Looking around, he saw the Konoha 12, the Hyuga Clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Aburame Clan, and the future Sixth and Seventh. This network of connections would be no small force in the future. With a little guidance, they might well be useful to him.
For now, he only needed to steadily improve his strength. Once he reached Kage Level, he could venture out early.
After the barbecue gathering, the combined efforts of Choji Akimichi and Hinata Hyuga left a gaping hole in Kakashi Hatake's savings.
Kakashi-sensei's smile looks even worse than a grimace. He must be really happy.
Exhausted after a long day, Mufeng Uchiha fell straight asleep. When he returned to the meeting room, another broad-shouldered Mufeng had appeared in one of the seats.
"I crossed into the world of One Piece and ended up as a low-ranking Marine. I just got word that Ace has been captured."
After sharing their knowledge and learning what had happened, Mufeng understood. One Piece Mufeng was about to be forced into battle as cannon fodder.
"A bunch of monsters are fighting, and what am I supposed to do as a low-ranking grunt? I haven't even mastered the Six Powers, and I can't use Haki. So I'm begging you, big brothers—I want to live!"
One Piece Mufeng was so worked up he nearly threw himself at their feet, his eyes full of desperate hope.
"Don't worry, brother. The four of us can handle the Paramount War if we work together. I'm about to find a lead on the Stand Arrow."
"That's right. I've learned all these ninjutsu and have the Sharingan now. I'm sure that'll be enough to help you survive the Paramount War."
Hokage Mufeng and JoJo Mufeng encouraged One Piece Mufeng, while Demon Slayer Mufeng had just arrived and immediately spoke up.
"Brothers, I'm about to take part in the Final Selection. I probably won't be coming to the meeting room for a while."
The other Mufengs gave Demon Slayer Mufeng a few words of advice and wished him luck cutting the Hand Demon into eight pieces during the Final Selection.
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