Uchiha Setsuna stared intently at Shimizu with his scarlet Sharingan, as if watching for his reaction.
"It was just luck."
"Haha, perhaps that fellow Fugaku underestimated you. You have a real talent for sensing things, too."
A trace of approval flashed across Uchiha Setsuna's face.
He had once been a ninja commander, a rank from the Warring States Period.
In modern terms, he was a Jonin—one who had survived countless battles and years of bloodshed.
Though age had greatly diminished his strength, the fact that Shimizu had detected him was proof of his extraordinary talent in this area.
"Wouldn't it be a waste for you to become a medical ninja? Fugaku is too weak-willed. He still believes the clan can coexist with the village."
Anger colored Uchiha Setsuna's voice. Clearly, he had been dissatisfied with Uchiha Fugaku for a long time.
"Young man, come work for me. I have people who can teach you to master the Uchiha Clan's true power. I believe you have what it takes to awaken your eyes."
He held out a hand as bony as a skeleton's, as if inviting Shimizu to join him.
"Elder Setsuna, I'd still rather become a medical ninja."
Shimizu politely declined.
Uchiha Setsuna was simply trying to recruit him into the Hawk Faction to oppose Uchiha Fugaku and his Dove Faction.
Shimizu didn't want to be so radical. It would invite suspicion and suppression from Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
For now, Shimizu needed to quietly build up his strength, plant his own pieces in the Hidden Leaf Village, and establish a faction of his own.
The day his wings were strong enough would be the day Shimizu turned the table over.
"One day, you'll understand that I'm right. The Uchiha are being slowly boiled alive."
Uchiha Setsuna had been rejected by Shimizu, yet a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Young man, I believe you'll come around. My nose, sharpened by surviving the Warring States Period, tells me the Ninja World won't stay peaceful for long. When you've come to your senses, come find me."
Uchiha Setsuna turned away and merged into the wall. Where he went after that was anyone's guess.
"That's a pretty good technique."
Shimizu paid no mind to Uchiha Setsuna's cryptic words. The Ninja World truly wouldn't stay peaceful for long, which was why he planned to become a medical ninja.
The Third Shinobi World War would be a long one, lasting several years.
The longer it went on, the stronger Shimizu would become.
The final stretch of the Third Shinobi World War would be the best time for him to act.
If he actually listened to Uchiha Setsuna now, his name would probably be on the list of those sent to the front lines.
Instead, Shimizu was more interested in Uchiha Setsuna's technique.
He had merged into the wall. It was a form of Earth Release.
The Uchiha Clan's ninjutsu arsenal held mostly Fire Release techniques, followed by a number of Yin Release techniques.
They had few of the other elemental techniques, and few Uchiha had any nature transformations besides those.
Most people had two or three elemental affinities. They focused on Fire Release and used another element to support it.
"Now it's mine."
As Uchiha Setsuna turned away, Uchiha Shimizu quietly activated his Sharingan and copied the technique.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan's perceptive ability was already sharp enough to see the flow of chakra as Uchiha Setsuna used his technique.
And with the Byakugan further enhancing the Sharingan, his perceptive ability became even more fearsome.
Everything came into clear view before Shimizu's eyes.
"Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage."
Shimizu slipped into the wall without resistance, as though swimming through water.
This was a C-rank ninjutsu. It softened the earthen material touching the user's body, turning it liquid-like and allowing the user to swim through it at will.
Shimizu swam along the long, narrow wall, moving much faster than he could by walking or running.
Before long, he had returned home.
Two years ago, he hadn't had Earth Release chakra.
Later, after running simulations, he had acquired a few more chakra natures.
He had gained Water Release and Earth Release chakra.
That meant Shimizu could use even more elemental techniques.
The next day arrived in no time.
Shimizu stood in the middle of the vast training ground. Uchiha Taro faced him from across the field.
A few clan members watched from around the edges of the training ground, while Uchiha Fugaku observed the two of them from a raised platform.
Though Shimizu could work at Konoha Hospital, he still had to complete the basic duties required of a ninja. And with the Chunin Ninja Exams approaching, Uchiha Fugaku wanted to see just how strong Shimizu was.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Uchiha Taro used the Uchiha Clan's signature ninjutsu.
Boom!
A massive fireball burst from his mouth, radiating waves of scorching heat.
Shimizu dodged the technique with ease, moving deftly from side to side.
The Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique was flashy, but in the original story, it was practically a kindness of a technique: it had killed no one.
The real problem was its lengthy buildup, which made it easy to dodge and counter.
"I'm already a Chunin. You should just give up."
Uchiha Taro closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his Sharingan had two tomoe.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."
With his Sharingan activated, even the scorching fireball seemed to grow hotter and larger.
"Body Flicker Technique."
Shimizu pivoted and vanished from where he stood.
Uchiha Taro's pupils contracted. Even with his keen eyesight, he could barely make out a shadow.
Shimizu had vanished from his sight!
Uchiha Taro's Sharingan darted frantically in every direction as he tried to locate Shimizu.
"Damn it, where is he?"
A bead of sweat ran down Uchiha Taro's temple.
This was just a regular spar, meant to uphold the Uchiha Clan's fighting spirit.
When he'd learned that he was only facing a kid who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, he'd thought it would be an easy win.
He had gone all out from the beginning to impress Uchiha Fugaku. Now he'd even activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
If a single Body Flicker Technique beat him, how could he ever show his face among the Uchiha again?
As the two faced off tensely, Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brow slightly.
He had always believed that Shimizu's talent lay entirely in Medical Ninjutsu. He had only wanted Shimizu to reach the minimum level of strength he needed.
Once Shimizu had Chunin-level abilities, Fugaku planned to forbid him from wasting his energy on other, unrelated ninjutsu. He would have Shimizu focus entirely on finding a way to cure Kekkei Genkai illnesses, then use that breakthrough to train a group of medical ninja within the Uchiha Clan.
Geniuses always had areas where they excelled. A person's energy was limited; nobody could be perfect at everything. Shimizu's talent was too rare to waste.
"Does he have a talent for combat, too?"
Uchiha Fugaku murmured to himself.
If things continued this way, he would have to revise some of his plans for Uchiha Shimizu.
Could the Uchiha Clan perhaps raise a second Tsunade?
It seemed he would have to use that ocular technique.
Before you continue