Fighting Shisui

The next day.

Deep in the Uchiha Compound lay an open clearing surrounded by trees.

Hayato and Seiichi made their way there at an unhurried pace.

"Seiichi, don't look so grim."

Hayato glanced at Seiichi beside him and spoke. The kid was willing to listen to him, but he wore a look of deep resentment all day long.

"Do you know why the clan head asked us to come?"

Seiichi raised his eyes slightly and asked in a quiet voice.

"No idea. Probably has something to tell us." Hayato didn't think much of it.

They were both still on leave. Today, the clan elders had summoned them, saying the clan head and elders had something to discuss.

At that, Seiichi fell silent again.

Seeing this, Hayato said no more. That was just how he was.

Still, when would Shisui be recruited into Anbu?

There were few precedents to go by. Uchiha Itachi was only a little over six now, so he should soon be on track to graduate from the Ninja Academy at seven.

"We're here."

Just as Hayato's thoughts began to wander, Seiichi's voice rang out.

Hayato came back to himself and saw more than a dozen Uchiha gathered in the clearing. Every one of them had awakened the Sharingan within the past year.

They were all around their mid-teens.

"Hayato, Seiichi."

A voice called out, and Hayato and Seiichi immediately turned to look.

It was Shisui, carrying a Kodachi on his back. The moment Seiichi saw him, he froze. Then his expression turned even colder.

Hayato could only nod helplessly at Shisui. "Hi, Shisui."

"I just got back, and I heard about the mission..." Shisui said, looking sorrowfully at Hayato and Seiichi. He'd heard that both of them had awakened the Sharingan.

They must have been devastated that day, right?

"I'm so sorry about Rin's death. I understand your pain. Please accept my condolences."

Shisui's voice trembled.

"Don't bother," Seiichi said, his expression dark.

He'd always resented Shisui, especially the things he said.

"Seiichi..." Shisui began, but before he could continue—

Seiichi cut him off. "Enough!"

"My teammate died, and you stand here saying you understand my pain?!"

Smack!

Hayato reached out and gripped Seiichi's shoulder. "Seiichi, calm down."

Then he looked at Shisui. "Sorry. Seiichi's in a bad place. Please don't upset him any further."

Hayato felt helpless. Seiichi was a true-blooded Uchiha, and these past few days he'd been like a powder keg. Shisui genuinely cared, but some things just weren't appropriate to say right now.

Shisui's eyes were full of sadness. He knew how extreme his clanmates could be, which was why he'd come to try to comfort them.

"It's fine."

With that, Shisui turned and walked off to one side.

The surrounding clan members watched everything unfold in silence.

"Clan head!"

"Elders!"

Some sharp-eyed members spotted Fugaku and the elders, who had just arrived, and called out to them.

"Is everyone here?"

Fugaku's voice rang out. Everyone turned and bowed to them.

Fugaku nodded and swept his gaze over the group, lingering a little longer on two people.

One was Shisui. The other was Hayato.

"I've called you here so that from now on, you'll come here for a group training session once every week," Fugaku said. "You'll learn a range of things, including but not limited to developing the Sharingan, using genjutsu, and advanced Fire Style techniques."

"Yes, clan head!"

Everyone answered excitedly.

Hayato's gaze held a trace of confusion, but he didn't ask any questions. Now wasn't the time.

At Fugaku's nod, Uchiha Yashiro stepped forward. "To plan the training sessions, I need to assess each of your abilities. Shisui."

Yashiro looked at Shisui. "You'll test the clan members and see where they stand."

Shisui nodded and stepped forward to face the group.

It wasn't that Fugaku and the elders couldn't conduct the tests themselves. They were simply too powerful, and might leave the clan members intimidated. Having Shisui, who had awakened the Three-Tomoe, conduct the tests was the best option.

Besides, they could assess everyone from the sidelines.

"Who wants to go first?"

Shisui looked at the clan members and asked.

They exchanged glances. Shisui's reputation as a genius was well known throughout the clan.

Hayato glanced at Fugaku and the elders, then stepped forward. "Me."

Since he'd already made up his mind, he needed to show his strength and draw more of Fugaku and the elders' attention.

This was his chance.

Shisui nodded. He also wanted to see just how strong Hayato was. Hayato had been capable even before awakening his Sharingan, so now that he had, he probably wouldn't disappoint.

Fugaku and the others didn't object. They all made room for the two of them.

Shisui stopped directly opposite Hayato and said, "Come on."

Seeing Shisui act as though he was inviting Hayato to attack without holding back, Hayato couldn't help saying, "Shisui, I suggest you get ready."

"Hm?"

Shisui froze, not quite understanding what Hayato meant.

The next moment, everyone in the clearing was stunned.

"Three-Tomoe!"

Hayato had already drawn his Ninja Blade. His eyes had changed from black to scarlet, with three tomoe spinning in each.

Only then did Shisui understand what Hayato had meant.

So that was it. You're already on the same starting line as me?

After a brief reflection, Shisui didn't let up. He drew the Kodachi from his back and gripped it tightly.

Fugaku raised a hand to silence the others. His gaze rested on Hayato for a moment. "All right, begin!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shisui threw two Kunai at Hayato to launch his attack.

Hayato raised his Ninja Blade and knocked them away.

Clang!

Shisui didn't hesitate. In an instant, he vanished from where he stood.

Hayato felt a chill at his back. He swung his blade around and slashed hard.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The ring of clashing steel sounded as Hayato's Ninja Blade and Shisui's Kodachi met several times in rapid succession.

Their eyes met, both of them surprised by the other's speed.

"Hayato, you've really gotten strong."

After a few brief exchanges, Shisui realized how difficult Hayato was to deal with.

Hayato might not yet have earned the title of Body Flicker Shisui, but he was certainly no slouch.

Shisui had complete confidence in his swordsmanship and Body Flicker Technique, yet Hayato had blocked every attack.

And from the looks of it, Hayato wasn't even struggling.

In that case—

Shisui's Sharingan began to spin rapidly.