Uchiha Tekka wasn't incapable of accepting that someone younger than him could be more talented.
But when it came to Genjutsu... The Uchiha Clan was second to none in the Ninja World. Who would dare claim to be first?
Oh, the Kurama Clan's Genjutsu was pretty good too.
Too bad they were a spent force.
Uchiha Tekka could have accepted being defeated by Shita Genichi's Water Release.
But getting taken down instantly by Genjutsu left him rooted to the spot in shock. For a moment, he even forgot to dispel it.
He didn't snap out of it until Shita Genichi's blade pricked the skin on his neck, making it sting.
The examiner immediately announced, "Shita Genichi wins!"
Uchiha Tekka dispelled the Genjutsu and turned to look at Shita Genichi. "Shita Genichi, I'll remember you!"
"Next time, I'll show you that the Uchiha's Genjutsu is the strongest!"
As he finished speaking, Shita Genichi saw another Tomoe appear in Uchiha Tekka's eye.
The Two-Tomoe Sharingan!
Damn!
He'd already awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan?
That was cheating!
Someone was cheating!
This time, it was Shita Genichi's turn to stare in shock. Uchiha Tekka deactivated his Sharingan and bounded away.
Watching Uchiha Tekka's retreating figure, Shita Genichi felt the urge to pluck out his eyeballs for the first time.
He had to admit it: he was jealous.
This was even more overpowered than his own cheat!
Back in the stands, Shita Genichi couldn't help asking Uchiha Langyi, "Langyi, is it really that easy for your clan's Sharingan to advance?"
He'd advanced after losing just one match.
This was even more ridiculous than Uchiha Obito!
How could Uchiha Sasuke live with that?
Uchiha Langyi shook his head. "Tekka's a genius."
He had the Two-Tomoe Sharingan now because several of his comrades had died.
Hatake Sakumo wasn't the teacher who'd led him after graduation.
He'd graduated at ten, become a Chunin at thirteen, and was now sixteen.
Uchiha Tekka, on the other hand, was only ten. He'd awakened his Sharingan last year, at nine.
Shita Genichi had already calmed down.
So what if Tekka had the Two-Tomoe Sharingan?
As long as he didn't have the Mangekyō Sharingan, Genjutsu didn't scare him much!
He'd just have to watch out for the Uchiha Clan's Mirror Heaven and Earth Change, which reflected Genjutsu.
But that technique probably required the Three Tomoe and an exceptional mastery of Genjutsu.
"I still need to study Genjutsu carefully... Mastering it has a lot of advantages."
Shita Genichi mused to himself.
With the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, simply depriving an enemy of their sight could finish off anyone who was slow to react.
However, most of the powerful Genjutsu he could remember belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
Especially the Mangekyō Sharingan's Genjutsu.
As for the Genjutsu used by ordinary ninja... Even with the A-rank Temple of Nirvana Technique, Jonin like Kakashi and Might Guy were completely unaffected.
Even Haruno Sakura, a Genin, could break it quickly.
It simply wasn't powerful enough.
But when someone fell victim to a Sharingan Genjutsu, they usually needed another person to release them.
Of course, the Kurama Clan's ability to manipulate the five senses was formidable too.
Unfortunately, the clan hadn't produced a Kekkei Genkai ninja in a long time.
"Manipulating the five senses..."
Shita Genichi pondered.
Seeing this, Kakashi and the others stopped interrupting him.
"The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique deprives someone of one of their five senses—their sight. So, can I keep exploring in that direction?"
"Manipulating all five senses is undoubtedly difficult, but I have the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique as a reference. Maybe I can try developing Genjutsu that deprives people of their hearing and sense of smell."
The more Shita Genichi thought about it, the more promising it seemed.
Besides, he'd finally found that he had a talent for Genjutsu. He couldn't waste it.
Training in Wind Release had made him realize just how important talent was.
Wasting talent was downright shameful!
The third round of the exam continued.
Winners would face off against other winners.
Uchiha Langyi and Kakashi both took their turns in the arena.
Unfortunately, Shita Genichi had lost interest in the rest of the matches. Uchiha Tekka's awakening had turned his thoughts entirely to Genjutsu.
Genjutsu couldn't compare to the Sharingan?
Who said he couldn't get a cheat of his own?
If ten years weren't enough, then he'd take a hundred!
Without talent, no amount of time could make up for it.
But with talent, the story was different.
Before long, Shita Genichi heard his name called.
He stepped into the arena again.
His opponent this time was a Hyuga ninja.
Genjutsu wouldn't work, and Shita Genichi didn't use Water Release either. He went straight into close combat.
He started barehanded, but he was no match for the Hyuga ninja and soon fell behind.
Shita Genichi switched to Kenjutsu, and only then did he win.
There was no denying that the Hyuga's Gentle Fist was formidable in unarmed combat. It was easy to get hit in the chakra points, blocking the flow of chakra.
And when chakra couldn't flow, one's strength plummeted.
The ability to withstand attacks also took a major hit.
Besides, Shita Genichi was only average at fighting barehanded, so getting beaten up was to be expected.
After winning that match, the final one soon arrived.
The ultimate showdown.
Shita Genichi versus Kakashi.
They were the only two who had won every match from the start, so they were set to face off in the final bout.
"Kakashi, go all out!" Shita Genichi said with a smile.
"Okay!"
Kakashi nodded.
The next moment, lightning crackled in his hands.
Shita Genichi immediately formed Hand Seals and used the Soldier Mantra.
The two charged at each other, sprinting at incredible speed and leaving afterimages in their wake.
"So fast!"
Gasps rose one after another from the stands.
Even Uchiha Tekka was surprised. "That guy was holding back before."
On the other side, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Shita Genichi's speed visibly increase and asked, "Sakumo, is that a Body Flicker Technique Genichi developed himself?"
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Yes. It's a secret technique with great potential."
He said no more.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, fully trusting Hatake Sakumo's judgment.
In the arena, Shita Genichi and Kakashi were already locked in a fierce exchange.
They knew each other well, and for a while, neither could gain the upper hand.
The spectators watched without blinking.
Uchiha Tekka activated his Sharingan without even realizing it. "I didn't know his Kenjutsu was pretty good too."
If he didn't activate his Sharingan...
"With the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, he's no match for me."
Uchiha Tekka thought.
Suddenly, the short blade in Shita Genichi's hand flew free and spun through the air.
Kakashi's eyes followed it. Shita Genichi drew the Ninja Blade at his waist with his left hand and slashed in one smooth motion.
Clang!
Kakashi barely blocked the blow, but the tremendous force sent him flying backward.
Shita Genichi caught the short blade with his right hand, then sprang forward, power surging through his legs.
His long and short blades struck in an alternating flurry.
Unable to defend against both at once, Kakashi took a kick from Shita Genichi. Just as he bounced back to his feet, Shita Genichi was already in front of him, both blades sheathed and ready to be drawn at the same time.
His left hand drew the long blade at his left hip, while his right hand pulled the short blade from behind his waist.
Double Draw-Sword Strike!
Kakashi's pupils contracted. One blade streaked toward his chest, while the other aimed for his abdomen.
He could only block one!
Clang!
Kakashi's body rocked backward. Once he landed, he looked down and saw that his shirt had been cut open over his abdomen, though he wasn't hurt.
Shita Genichi had already sheathed his blades.
Kakashi had no choice but to concede. Shita Genichi had somehow learned to fight with two blades, catching him completely off guard.
In the stands, Uchiha Tekka was also secretly taken aback.
With the dynamic vision of his Sharingan, he was confident he could block both of Shita Genichi's strikes with his long blade. But that didn't mean he could fully withstand the force behind them.
This guy really was something!
Before you continue