The Competition

Shisui walked into the classroom with a light step, the air inside thick with a mix of tension and anticipation.

A man wearing a Chunin vest stood by the podium, his expression stern as he held a clipboard. His gaze landed on Shisui, and he asked directly, "Name, age, and have you successfully refined chakra?"

The voice was crisp and clear, standing out sharply in the quiet classroom.

Shisui remained unhurried, his face calm as he responded in a steady tone, "Uchiha Shisui, 5 years old, I have already refined chakra."

Though brief, his words carried an undeniable confidence. After all, successfully refining chakra at this age was exceptionally rare, highlighting his extraordinary talent as a member of the Uchiha clan.

The Chunin nodded slightly, a flicker of imperceptible appreciation in his eyes, and continued, "That will do. Come back after the start of spring, and we will announce the admission list then."

Shisui bowed politely to the man and turned to walk out of the classroom.

He strolled along the campus path, feeling little concern about the upcoming results.

Just as Shisui lifted his foot to leave the bustling and expectant Ninja Academy, a series of rapid footsteps sounded behind him.

He instinctively looked back to see Kakashi striding toward him.

Kakashi stopped in front of Shisui, his eyes gleaming with eagerness as he said bluntly, "Uchiha Shisui, since we are both geniuses, how about we have a match?"

The tone was full of challenge, as if he couldn't wait to see exactly how much real skill Shisui possessed.

"Kakashi?" Shisui frowned slightly and turned around. As he looked at Kakashi, he made an unexpected discovery.

He was surprised to see that the scarf wrapped around Kakashi's neck was identical to his own. This strange coincidence stirred a peculiar feeling in his heart.

Shisui quickly regained his composure, looked at Kakashi, and asked with confusion, "A match for what?"

Although he was surprised by this sudden challenge, a competitive spirit quietly ignited deep within his eyes. After all, as a genius himself, he was curious to see who would come out on top when facing someone as talented as Kakashi.

"Follow me." Without another word, Kakashi performed the D-Rank Body Flicker Technique. His figure blurred into a phantom, and with a few agile leaps, he darted away like an arrow released from a bow. In the blink of an eye, he was already far off, leaving only a trail of afterimages behind.

"Starting already? Well, I'll play along for a bit." Despite his nonchalant words, a sharp glint flashed in Shisui's eyes; the competitive spirit hidden in his heart had been fully aroused.

He pushed off the ground with a surge of chakra and skillfully executed the D-Rank Body Flicker Technique to give chase.

Shisui's figure moved like a ghost, darting rapidly between the buildings and trees near the campus. He stirred up a light breeze, and the leaves rustled as he passed, as if cheering for the impending duel.

After only a moment, Shisui relied on his superior strength to catch up to Kakashi at lightning speed. Kakashi's gaze tightened, and he was secretly shocked.

Damn it, his Body Flicker Technique is actually faster than mine. Kakashi frowned, feeling unwilling to accept this. He kept his eyes locked on Shisui's back, pondering to himself.

He had been quite confident in his own speed, especially since none of his peers knew how to use this technique.

He hadn't expected to run into Shisui today, and for the boy to catch up so easily made Kakashi realize that this Uchiha genius was not to be underestimated. It seemed this match would be far trickier than he had anticipated.

Shisui moved like lightning. While performing the D-Rank Body Flicker Technique, a strange red glow flickered in his eyes, his gaze fixed on a virtual panel visible only to him.

Sharingan: One Tomoe (Unlocked)
D-Rank Body Replacement Technique (Unlocked)
D-Rank Body Flicker Technique (Unlocked)
C-Rank Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique (Unlocked)

Shisui looked at these and curled his lip slightly, muttering to himself, "These really are as basic as it gets. I wonder when I'll be able to unlock something new."

His words were filled with a longing for more powerful and mysterious ninjutsu. As a transmigrator, he wasn't content to rely solely on these basic techniques. He was eager to unlock more formidable skills to go further on this path of the ninja and handle any unknown dangers with ease.

Kakashi leaped down from a treetop with grace, landing steadily on the flat ground and kicking up a small cloud of dust. Before him stood a cliff over ten meters high, steep and rugged, its rock face covered in the weathered marks of time, as if silently testifying to its resilience and difficulty to scale.

Meanwhile, Shisui sat on the ground, leisurely chewing on a piece of foxtail grass. He looked relaxed and comfortable, exuding an air of indifference. He looked up at Kakashi standing before the cliff, the corners of his mouth curling up as he teased, "Kakashi, you're so slow. Are you even capable of this?"

Kakashi remained silent for a long moment. His signature dead-fish eyes narrowed slightly as he looked straight at Shisui, his gaze filled with undeniable seriousness.

"The match has only just begun; that was just a warm-up," Kakashi said unhurriedly, his voice steady and calm. "This time, we'll do what I'm best at: one-handed rock climbing without using chakra. The first to reach the top wins. How about it?"

As he spoke, he stared intently at the towering, steep cliff, his heart filled with the determination to win this contest.

In Kakashi's view, he practiced rock climbing often. Relying on his excellent physical fitness and skilled technique, he was confident he would come out on top and dampen Shisui's spirit.

"Kakashi, one-handed climbing is too much of a hassle. Isn't there a match that's both simple and intense?" Shisui looked at the cliff, feeling a bit helpless.

A sly smile suddenly appeared on Kakashi's usually indifferent face. The corners of his mouth lifted, a different kind of light flashing in his eyes as he chuckled at Shisui, teasing, "Heh, there is one—as long as you admit defeat, that's it!"

He looked as if he were certain Shisui wouldn't dare to continue, hoping to use this provocation to force his opponent's hand and secure an early advantage in this duel between geniuses.

"Winning or losing doesn't matter, but whoever wins the match has to treat the other to a meal!" Shisui's mouth curled slightly, a flash of subtle cunning in his eyes. He threw out the condition as if it were nothing, while secretly calculating that he would get a meal out of this regardless of the outcome.

"Of course!" Kakashi agreed without hesitation, patting his chest with full confidence. He acted as if victory were already in his pocket and treating someone to a meal was no big deal; his mind was entirely focused on winning the match.

"I admit defeat! Kakashi, you really are the number one genius of Konoha!" Shisui changed his tune, his face instantly dropping into a look of dejection, his shoulders slumping as if he had completely lost the will to fight.

Yet, in his slightly narrowed eyes, a hidden smile lingered, waiting to see how Kakashi would react.

Kakashi was stunned by Shisui's sudden surrender. However, seeing that Shisui had given him plenty of emotional satisfaction with that dejected, praising demeanor, he didn't know what else to say.

With no other choice, he had to bring out his best fishing skills to fulfill his promise of treating him to a meal.

Before long, Kakashi sat at the dining table in his home with Shisui and his father, Hatake Sakumo.

On the table lay a freshly prepared, delicious saury. The golden-grilled fish emitted an enticing aroma, the meat tender and fresh, each bite carrying a unique, savory flavor that left one wanting more.

"Shisui, I hope you take the challenge seriously next time." Kakashi set down the plate of grilled fish and stared directly at Uchiha Shisui.

Feeling the dissatisfied gaze, Uchiha Shisui quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, swallowed his food, and mumbled, "I know, I know. You're so naggy, Kakashi."

Hatake Sakumo looked at the two of them with a kind expression, thinking to himself, Kakashi, you have already found your own bonds.

The three sat together, laughing and enjoying the rare time spent over a good meal. The competitive atmosphere that had arisen from their match gradually dissipated in the warmth of the moment.