Chapter 9

He lunged forward, his blade flashing like a waterfall!

Slash!

The substitution log split in two beneath the lightning-coated blade, while the real body had already retreated in disarray.

But this time, there was no chance to form hand seals—

The unbroken curtain of blades drove the chunin into a corner. A feint kick followed by a diagonal slash completely tore through his defense!

The chunin retreated again.

"Hah!"

This time, Saitama did not pursue. Instead, he stopped where he stood.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

A blazing fireball roared forth. The chunin dodged hastily, leaving scorched black marks on his robes.

Saitama's chakra remained abundant. The lightning on his blade had never faded, and his ninjutsu flowed without the slightest delay.

Sensing that his opponent had yet to shake off the paralysis from the Lightning Release, Saitama tightened his grip on the hilt and prepared to charge again—

"Stop! I surrender!"

The chunin raised his hand with a wry smile and signaled to the examiner. The brat before him was simply unbelievable. At such a young age, he could already wield Lightning Release nature transformation and wrap chakra around his blade.

With every clash of weapons, tiny arcs of lightning silently crept into his opponent's limbs. This insidious tactic was like a slow-acting poison; by the time the enemy noticed, they were already trapped in the mire.

The chunin rubbed his still-numb arm and stared deeply at Saitama—he had fallen victim to that hidden trick himself.

"Uchiha Saitama, pass!"

When the examiner loudly announced the result, the training ground fell silent. Who could have imagined that this unknown boy would force a chunin to concede? The early graduation assessment was already stringent enough; earlier, Uchiha Shisui lasting ten minutes had been considered remarkable.

After forming the Seal of Reconciliation, Saitama nodded respectfully to his opponent. If the other side had gone all out from the beginning, even with his hidden cards, the outcome might not have been certain.

"The Uchiha Clan has gained another outstanding talent."

The chunin sighed as he flexed his stiff joints. Once the matter of receiving their forehead protectors had been settled, the two boys left the training ground side by side.

"All of them passed?!"

Shimokawa's cry exploded through the office.

The examiner reported every detail of the match, focusing especially on Saitama's lightning-wreathed blade.

"In that case, I must report to Lord Hokage immediately. You can return to your duties."

Shimokawa believed the situation had to be reported, even if the Hokage was busy with official matters.

"Saitama, how did you pull off that move just now?"

"You mean the technique that numbed that chunin's body?"

"What else would I mean?"

Shisui caught a familiar hint of teasing in Saitama's deliberately puzzled tone.

"It was the result of research during the New Year. It concerns Lightning Release chakra shape transformation. I still haven't mastered it well enough."

As Saitama spoke, he showed Shisui his charred right palm.

"This is—"

Shisui's brows immediately drew together.

"You should consult the clan elders before attempting something so dangerous."

"Don't worry. I will next time."

Saitama heard the concern in his words. He had not planned to use Lightning Release in actual combat so early, but today's fight had been intense, leaving him no choice but to reveal either his Sharingan or his nature transformation—Lightning Release talent was easier to accept, after all.

Fortunately, only the skin on his palm had been burned. He could feel it after rubbing it a few times, and an injury of this degree would heal in a few days.

Walking beside Shisui, Saitama gazed at the setting sun. Officially graduating meant becoming a reserve member of the Uchiha Guard. He only hoped his performance in the assessment had not drawn too much attention.

The situation in Year 45 of Konoha was already like a bowstring drawn taut. The disappearance of the Third Kazekage had opened the curtain on the Third Shinobi World War. Sand Village had pointed its spear directly at Konoha, massing troops at the border in an attempt to seize resources. The other hidden villages were also waiting for their chance. The entire shinobi world was like a cage piled high with dry firewood, needing only a single spark to ignite a towering inferno.

After night fell, Saitama sat in his courtyard and sorted through the situation in the shinobi world. Granny Xiang had already returned to her room to rest, and the paper door was so still that not a sound could be heard beyond it.

Creak—

The courtyard gate opened softly. Uchiha Mori strolled in wearing clan attire, with no blade at his waist.

"I heard you passed the graduation assessment today."

He sat beside Saitama, moonlight edging his smile in silver.

"Rest for a few days, then come report in. Shisui knows the exact location. You can go together."

Uchiha Mori watched Saitama with a solemn expression, his gaze carrying an unspoken meaning.

"Understood."

Saitama nodded gravely. He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

"Lin has already informed Shisui."

Uchiha Mori added this before leaving.

With that, he did not linger and simply departed from Saitama's home.

He had come today only to relay the reporting arrangements. Since he and Saitama were not particularly familiar with each other, there was naturally little to say.

Saitama fell into deep thought.

More than three days had passed since the graduation assessment. Saitama had spent those days resting at home, his newly received ninja forehead protector gleaming faintly beneath the sunlight.

"Granny, I'm heading out!"

Today was the day he had agreed to report in with Shisui.

Once he had finished preparing and tied his forehead protector neatly around his brow, Saitama bid Uchiha Kaori farewell and stepped out of the house.

The spring breeze was gentle, and the morning sun was just right. Saitama walked briskly, as though he were heading toward a brand-new future.

"Shisui!"

At the crossroads, Saitama called out to his companion, who was looking around in every direction.

"Saitama." Shisui came over at once, and the two walked side by side.

This was the main road through the Uchiha compound. They were heading to report at the Guard's training ground in the eastern district.

Their figures gradually receded into the morning light.

The clan grounds were vast. Even at an unhurried pace, it took them half an hour to reach their destination.

The building in the distance was particularly conspicuous.

The weathered gray-brown two-story structure was surrounded by open ground on three sides, with lush woods at its back.

Though old, it gave off a steady, weighty air.

This was the Uchiha Guard's headquarters, adjacent to the offices of the Konoha Police Force.

Before they could approach, two figures flashed over.

They were the familiar Uchiha Mori and Uchiha Rin.

"You're early." Uchiha Mori spoke, while Uchiha Rin beside him remained silently standing.

"Once we'd rested enough, it was time to come."

Saitama's serious answer carried a faint hint of childishness.

Uchiha Mori, however, showed no change in expression and gave a slight nod.

"Come with me to meet the captain."

"Yes."

Saitama exchanged a glance with Shisui, then silently followed the two forward.

Although Uchiha Mori and Uchiha Rin were only in their early twenties, Saitama could sense the abundant chakra fluctuations within them. Their strength was at least at the jonin level. Among the Uchiha Clan, such strength already placed them among the backbone of the clan. What was more, they were still young and had room to grow.

The two were clearly core members of the Guard.

"Captain, Saitama and Shisui have arrived." Uchiha Mori led the pair to an office on the second floor. A figure inside was bent over a desk reviewing documents. Hearing the knock, he looked up and gestured for them to enter. The moment Saitama saw his face, he recognized the captain as the current head of the Uchiha Clan.

"Shisui, you've come." Uchiha Fugaku set down the scroll and greeted the familiar boy first. He had a deep impression of this junior who had once trained in the Guard—his talent was outstanding, and he was diligent and disciplined.

Then his gaze shifted to the unfamiliar face. "You must be Saitama?"

"Yes, Clan Head." Saitama bowed crisply.

"Call me Captain here." The corners of Fugaku's mouth lifted slightly. He vaguely recalled meeting him once in the streets during the New Year. Skipping the pleasantries, he went straight to the point. "Welcome. I hope this place will help you achieve what you seek."

"It is our honor to serve the clan." Saitama showed a rare emotional side.

"Mori." Fugaku turned to his subordinate waiting nearby. "Show them around. You and Rin will be responsible for guiding them in the near future."

With that, he lowered his head over the documents again. Saitama and the others tacitly withdrew from the room.

"Including the two of you, there are only seventeen people in the Guard now." Mori paused briefly, waiting for a response.

"So few?" Saitama was slightly surprised. Given the Uchiha Clan's standing in Konoha, forming a much larger guard force would not have been difficult.

"We follow an elite selection system," Mori explained. "Besides, expanding too much would draw the vigilance of certain forces."

Saitama nodded in understanding. Shisui did not fully grasp the deeper meaning behind those words, but he remained silent and did not ask.

"Other than Rin and me, the rest are around your age, though all of them are a little older."

"Come on, Saitama. Let's meet them first. Shisui has already met them."

Saitama and Shisui followed Uchiha Mori to the training ground behind the two-story building.

A few boys stood scattered across the field, most of them around ten years old.

"Everyone, stop for a moment. We have new members."

Uchiha Mori clapped his hands, interrupting their training.

The boys seemed to have only recently begun practicing. They all stopped and gathered around.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Uchiha Saitama. Please take care of me!"

Before Mori could introduce him, Saitama spoke first.

The children around ten years old studied him curiously—after all, Saitama looked much younger than them.

The last person to join at such an age had been Shisui.

And everyone had witnessed Shisui's strength firsthand.

"Starting today, Saitama and Shisui are officially joining us. I hope you'll all get along."

As Saitama looked around at the young faces, he suddenly felt a trace of responsibility.

Was the Uchiha Clan's future entrusted to these boys?

There was no unnecessary small talk. The boys dispersed and resumed their training. As for introductions? They would naturally get to know one another later.

"Saitama. Shisui."

Uchiha Mori led them aside, his expression turning solemn.

"Although you are more mature than others your age, it may be too early to say this. But you must work hard to become stronger—for the clan!"

He spoke each word with emphasis.

Saitama's expression sharpened, and Shisui grew solemn as well.

"We will never disappoint the clan's expectations!" Saitama answered seriously. Since he had chosen the Uchiha Clan, there was no turning back.

"Good. Remember your promise."

Through Uchiha Mori, Saitama learned the details of the Guard.

Though they belonged to the Konoha Police Force, they did not need to perform police duties. Just as Saitama had expected, that identity was merely a cover.

After joining the Guard, the clan would provide ninjutsu, ninja tools, and training resources to help them grow quickly.

As Konoha's foremost great clan, it naturally possessed such resources.

On the first morning after reporting in, Saitama did not stay to train.

Since Shisui was familiar with the place, he remained behind to spar and interact with the other boys.

Saitama needed to return first to explain the situation to Granny Xiang, collect some necessities, and then come back.

With the clan at his back, Saitama's path of training would no longer be lonely. He no longer had to rely solely on his talent to explore alone, and that filled him with delight.

Here, his strength would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

That afternoon, Saitama returned to the Guard's training ground.

The boys were still practicing in a sweat. He did not disturb them and found a quiet corner to practice his swordsmanship alone.

"You're Saitama, right?"

A voice interrupted his movements. Saitama sheathed his blade and looked over. The speaker was a boy with a curious expression.

"That's me. And you are?" Saitama calmly watched the boy, who seemed vaguely familiar.

"Uchiha Nagisa." The boy stepped closer and held out his hand.

Saitama took the hand with slight surprise.

"Please take care of me."

"You use a sword like Shisui?"

"More or less. I learned my swordsmanship from him."

"Shisui's swordsmanship is among the best in the clan. It seems you aren't bad either."

Uchiha Nagisa smiled. "In a few days, the Guard will hold a new member test. You should be prepared."

"I felt awful for several days afterward, so good luck."

Something strange flashed across Nagisa's childish face, making the expression seem somewhat out of place.

Saitama watched Nagisa leave without giving it much thought.

No test could stump him.

The tedious training continued until evening. Dinner was handled at the Guard, where the clan provided a rich variety of balanced, nutritious food.

The treatment was comparable to that of a national-level athlete, perhaps even better.

Uchiha Mori had said that as long as he earned Captain Uchiha Fugaku's approval, he could learn every clan ninjutsu that could be taught.

That condition tempted Saitama greatly.

It was nearly eight when he returned home. Granny Xiang had long since gone to bed; Saitama had told her beforehand not to wait for him.