Naruto: Saving the Uchiha from the Plunder System Chapter 11

If he had not used a Lightning Release Clone as bait to numb his opponent's body, he would likely have been the one to lose now.

A faint smile appeared on Uchiha Mirai's face when he heard Kakashi's words.

At the sight of it, Kakashi's sense of danger surged.

Before he could react, Uchiha Mirai before him turned into a puff of smoke and vanished.

"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"

With a low shout, Uchiha Mirai seized Kakashi Hatake's legs.

The next second, his body was dragged underground, leaving only his head exposed.

Uchiha Mirai crouched in front of Kakashi Hatake and sheathed his blade.

"You're very good, but this is as far as you go."

Hearing his earlier words returned to him word for word, Kakashi Hatake's face beneath his mask flushed bright red.

He... had actually lost!

Most importantly, Kakashi Hatake believed he had not made a single mistake in the battle just now.

Yet he had still lost in the end.

His opponent... had anticipated from the start that he would use a Lightning Release Clone as bait?

That level of battle intelligence was terrifying, wasn't it?

"Sensei, the battle is over."

Uchiha Mirai turned his gaze toward Oiwa Kuniyama. Only then did Oiwa Kuniyama snap out of his stupor, his voice trembling slightly as he announced, "The winner: Uchiha Mirai!"

With the result announced, the crowd erupted completely.

"This is unbelievable. Kakashi actually lost."

"Has Uchiha Mirai really become this strong already?"

"That battle was incredible! This is what a duel between ninja should look like!"

"Compared to them, our fights feel like children playing house..."

"The title of Konoha's number one genius is about to change hands."

For these students who had yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, the battle between Uchiha Mirai and Kakashi Hatake had completely shattered their understanding.

A clash of taijutsu, a showdown of ninjutsu.

One used a Lightning Release Clone as bait, while the other used a Shadow Clone to turn the scheme against him...

Twist after twist—it had been unbelievably thrilling!

"Damn it, has that guy already grown to this level?"

Asuma Sarutobi, who had been feeling pleased with himself for mastering Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning, was overcome by a crushing sense of defeat.

The strength Uchiha Mirai had displayed just now was already far beyond his reach.

Obito Uchiha clenched his teeth as well.

Wasn't Uchiha Mirai's performance today exactly the person he dreamed of becoming?

Seeing Rin Nohara's cheeks flushed red with excitement beside him, Obito Uchiha could not help but start fantasizing.

If he had that kind of power too, Rin would definitely agree to be his girlfriend, right?

"So this is the strength of a genius? Looks like I still haven't worked hard enough. Today, I'll do a handstand all the way around the village!"

"This is youth!"

Might Guy's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

Unlike everyone else, Might Guy had been stunned by the taijutsu skill Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Mirai had displayed.

Taijutsu was the only thing he knew and the only thing he excelled at. If he could not succeed at the one thing he was best at, he had no idea what meaning his life would have.

Therefore, Might Guy decided that from now on, he would train his taijutsu even harder!

"Hehe... that little fellow really has given me quite a surprise."

Watching Kakashi Hatake's defeat, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled as he took a puff from his pipe.

Even he had been somewhat surprised by Uchiha Mirai's performance today.

It seemed that deciding not to assign Uchiha Mirai to the Konoha Military Police Force had truly been a wise choice.

A genius like this was more reassuring when kept under his own watch.

"Lord Third, Kakashi was merely careless this time. Otherwise, with his strength, it would have been impossible for him to lose to Uchiha Mirai."

Uchiha Fugaku forced himself to explain.

Of course, he knew why Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for Kakashi Hatake to take part in the graduation examination.

Now that Kakashi Hatake had been defeated by Uchiha Mirai, Uchiha Fugaku feared that Hiruzen Sarutobi would become dissatisfied with the Uchiha Clan because of it.

"Fugaku, a loss was a loss. There was no need to make excuses for Kakashi."

"I'm still very pleased that Konoha has produced such a genius."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

He had seen far too many geniuses.

Kagami Uchiha, Hatake Sakumo, Orochimaru, Tsunade...

Which one of them had not been a one-in-ten-thousand genius?

So long as they did not reach the heights of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, he was confident he could keep them under his control.

"Alright, today's examination is over. It's time for us to leave as well."

After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and walked down from the platform.

Uchiha Fugaku, Minato Namikaze, Shinku Yuhi, and the others followed closely behind.

Only Orochimaru remained where he was, his gaze fixed on Uchiha Mirai with curiosity.

As though sensing his gaze, Uchiha Mirai looked over from afar.

"What keen senses."

Orochimaru excitedly stretched out his long tongue and licked his face.

What an excellent body.

Once his research into Living Corpse Reincarnation succeeded, he would use him as the first vessel.

Watching Orochimaru turn and leave, Uchiha Mirai silently withdrew his gaze.

Although Orochimaru was extremely dangerous, at this stage, he should only be targeting orphans and death-row prisoners.

Before Living Corpse Reincarnation was completed, he probably did not need to worry too much.

After some time, once he had grown strong enough, Orochimaru would no longer be a concern.

Uchiha Mirai was quite confident about that.

In just over a month, he had already been able to defeat Kakashi Hatake.

Given a little more time, even a Kage-level powerhouse like Orochimaru would find it difficult to pose any threat to him.

That was the power of cheats.

The crowd dispersed.

Kurenai Yuhi skipped over to Uchiha Mirai's side.

"Mirai, you were really amazing."

"You even defeated Kakashi."

Kurenai Yuhi said excitedly.

"Why do you seem even more excited than I am? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one who defeated Kakashi."

Uchiha Mirai said, pinching Kurenai Yuhi's slightly baby-fat cheeks.

"Hehe... it's pretty much the same."

"Tomorrow, we'll be assigned to squads. Remember not to be late!"

In the Hokage's office.

After finalizing the ninja squads and their Jonin instructors, Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed Minato Namikaze, Shinku Yuhi, and the others.

Once everyone had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi held his pipe and fell into thought.

To be honest, Uchiha Mirai's performance today had somewhat exceeded his expectations.

Many believed Uchiha Mirai had won by a narrow margin, but Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Kakashi Hatake had been completely outclassed by Uchiha Mirai in both swordsmanship and ninjutsu.

In other words...

Uchiha Mirai had already surpassed Kakashi Hatake in every aspect.

That performance reminded him of his old teammate—Kagami Uchiha.

That fellow had also been extraordinarily gifted, appearing out of nowhere and being exceptionally accepted by his teacher into the personal guard unit.

It was precisely because of that that the Uchiha Clan, which had been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Hokage's faction, had remained stable for quite some time.

Perhaps...

Like his teacher, he should cultivate Uchiha Mirai as a future elite guard.

Of course, that was on the condition that the boy could withstand his tests.

"Hiruzen!"

"I request that Uchiha Mirai be allowed to join Root."

The office door was pushed open, and Shimura Danzō swaggered inside.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned in displeasure. "Danzō, I've told you many times—knock before you come in!"

Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi's reprimand, Shimura Danzō looked utterly unconcerned. "Hmph! If you spent less time using that crystal ball of yours to spy on the women's bathhouse, there'd be no need to make such a rule."

Shimura Danzō's words made Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turn livid.

Slander!

This was blatant slander!

"Of this year's newly promoted Genin, I only want Uchiha Mirai."

Shimura Danzō had not forgotten the purpose of his visit and repeated his demand.

"No. I have other arrangements for Uchiha Mirai."

Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively rejected Shimura Danzō's proposal.

"You saw Uchiha Mirai's performance yourself. Even Kakashi was no match for him. A dangerous person like that is safest only if he remains in my Root."

"You wouldn't want another Uchiha Madara to appear in the village someday, would you?"

Shimura Danzō said coldly.

"Danzō, your hostility toward the Uchiha is too great."

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied flatly.

"The Uchiha are evil by nature..." In response to Hiruzen Sarutobi's rebuttal, Shimura Danzō snorted. "That was what our teacher personally taught us back then!"

"Sigh... Times have changed." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "The Shinobi World is extremely unsettled right now. If we target the Uchiha Clan too harshly, it could very well provoke unrest within the village."