Uchiha Kagami

Li Yi hadn't expected to hear that the moment he arrived. It seemed Konoha was about to enter the era when the Third Hokage would take power. Thinking back to the Naruto story he'd read, the Second Hokage had been gravely wounded by Kinkaku and Ginkaku at this point. Although he made it back to the village alive, he'd also taken a Tailed Beast Bomb and was badly injured. He died not long after returning to Konoha.

To be honest, Li Yi had always found it baffling. The Second Hokage was known as the Flash Goddess of the Shinobi World, after all. Thanks to the Flying Thunder God, his speed was unquestionably among the best in the world. How could someone that fast not escape?

That wasn't even the main point. He was the Second Hokage! Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others might have been his students, but they were also his subordinates. What were subordinates for? To take the hit in a crisis, of course. Yet the Second Hokage had stayed behind himself and let his subordinates escape.

The Third Raikage pulled off the same baffling move later on. A shinobi that powerful, with the Strongest Spear and the Strongest Shield, actually fought to the death against ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi just to buy time for his subordinates to flee.

Didn't they know that the most important person in a village was its Kage?

Just look at how the Third Hokage handled things later. He never took risks, which was why he lived the longest.

Before long, the clan heads and elders all left with Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the hospital room fell completely quiet. The Second Hokage looked at Li Yi and smiled. "I never thought you'd be able to find the camp. I was only hoping you might manage it. It seems you've got good fortune on your side."

Hearing the Second Hokage's words, Li Yi could only grin. Still, even if he hadn't delivered the intel to the Second Hokage, he probably wouldn't have survived much longer where he'd been. In fact, delivering the intel was what had saved him.

The Second Hokage continued, "You brought the intel at just the right time. Otherwise, I doubt I could've held on much longer after returning. At least now I can cling to life a little longer and make some arrangements!"

Li Yi had no idea how to respond to that. Was he supposed to say, "Then hurry up and thank me"?

All he could do was smile and say nothing.

The Second Hokage coughed a few times, his face paling slightly. The medical shinobi beside him hurried to examine him, but the Second Hokage waved him off. "I'm fine. Your name is Li Yi, right? Have you had your chakra nature tested?"

Li Yi quickly replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage. I have a Fire nature."

The Second Hokage nodded. "You've helped Konoha, so the two techniques I gave you weren't much of a reward. My techniques are mostly Water Release and forbidden jutsu, which don't suit you. The Uchiha Clan's shinobi are skilled in Fire Style. One of my subordinates, Kagami Uchiha, is particularly good at it. Would you be willing to take him as your teacher?"

Li Yi froze. The Second Hokage wanted him to apprentice under an Uchiha? Damn it, wouldn't that make him a target later?

But when he considered his current situation, he knew that without anyone to teach him, he'd die even faster once he went to the battlefield. With that in mind, Li Yi quickly said, "I'll leave it to the Second Hokage to decide. I don't know if I'm worthy of Lord Kagami's attention."

The Uchiha might become a problem later, but right now he was too weak to even worry about that. Once he got stronger, what was there to fear?

"You helped Konoha, and you helped me. I'm sure Kagami will teach you well," the Second Hokage said with a smile.

As soon as the Second Hokage finished speaking, a figure appeared in the hospital room. He had black hair and delicate features. After appearing, he looked at Li Yi, then nodded to the Second Hokage.

"Then you two can go," said the Second Hokage.

The delicate-looking shinobi said, "I'm Kagami Uchiha. Follow me."

With that, he headed outside. Li Yi quickly bowed to the Second Hokage before leaving the room.

Kagami Uchiha walked ahead the whole way, with Li Yi following behind. Li Yi's thoughts were in turmoil. He couldn't tell whether this was a good thing or a bad one. Kagami Uchiha seemed to have died quite young. The story hadn't said exactly when, but he had descendants, so he probably had a few years left.

Following someone whose future was so uncertain was risky. Li Yi wished he could've apprenticed under Sarutobi Hiruzen instead. That old man might become rotten and confused later, but he still treated his students well.

Still, since the Second Hokage had assigned him to Kagami Uchiha, making demands would only leave a bad impression. Li Yi had never had a choice in the matter.

Before long, they reached a training ground. The figure ahead stopped, turned to look at Li Yi, and nodded. "You've only been training for three months and already have this much ability. You're quite talented. Since you'll be my student from now on, I'll teach you everything I can."

"Thank you, sensei!" Li Yi said quickly.

Kagami Uchiha gave a quiet hum. "Now, attack me with everything you've got. I want to see what you can do."

Li Yi quickly jumped back and drew Ryujin Jakka from behind him. He didn't know many techniques yet: the Three Body Technique, some basic Kunai throwing, and the Dance of the Crescent Moon.

As for the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, that wasn't something Li Yi could use yet.

Not everyone was Naruto, with his enormous reserves of chakra.

"Sensei, here I come!" Li Yi called.

Kagami Uchiha gave a slight nod. Li Yi pulled several Kunai from his ninja pouch and threw them. Kagami Uchiha casually tossed a single shuriken, knocking all of Li Yi's Kunai out of the air. That was the Uchiha Clan's Kunai-throwing technique.

Li Yi hadn't paid it much mind at first, but he soon noticed that the Kunai had turned around and were flying toward him again. He dodged as he swung Ryujin Jakka. Kagami Uchiha only stood where he was and dodged. With Li Yi's current skill, he was no match for an elite Jonin like Kagami Uchiha.

Seeing how easily Kagami Uchiha handled him, Li Yi leapt into the air and launched the Dance of the Crescent Moon. Kagami Uchiha's eyes turned blood-red in an instant. Li Yi's vision blurred. When he looked again, Kagami Uchiha had appeared far away. Confused, Li Yi soon realized he'd been caught in a genjutsu. He began disrupting the chakra within his body.

He broke free of the genjutsu. Kagami Uchiha was surprised. He'd only used a minor illusion, but it had been cast with the Sharingan. Even a Chunin shouldn't have been able to break free so quickly, let alone someone like Li Yi, who wasn't even a Genin.

Li Yi had escaped because his soul had crossed over and devoured the original soul. His soul was naturally stronger than an ordinary person's, so he was highly resistant to genjutsu.