Body Flicker Shadow Clone

Meanwhile, Itachi took on a mission.

During the mission, Itachi encountered the Masked Man.

Obito killed two of Itachi's teammates.

Overcome with grief, Itachi awakened the Two-Tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan.

After returning home,

Itachi remained silent the whole way. Fugaku, however, had learned that Itachi had awakened the Two-Tomoe Mangekyō, and praised him happily. "Itachi, well done!"

Itachi's emotions continued to churn.

He said to his father, "But Father, my teammates died!"

Fugaku Uchiha said coldly, "So what? As a ninja, you must be prepared to die at any moment. Besides, their deaths allowed you to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. That was the value of their lives!"

Uchiha Itachi's chest heaved violently.

He felt exhausted to the core.

He was only ten years old himself. Why did he have to face so much?

His father's expectations.

The clan's ambition.

All of it wore Itachi down.

Especially the two friends he had just made on his mission, who had died right in front of him.

Yet his father didn't care about their deaths. He only cared that Itachi had awakened the Two-Tomoe.

He had awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan at just ten years old. His teammates had died, yet his father cared only about these eyes.

Was this what it meant to be a ninja?

Was this what it meant to belong to a clan?

Faced with all this, Itachi felt utterly disappointed in his father, in the life of a ninja, and in his clan.

In his eyes, two Tomoe spun and split apart, transforming into three.

But Itachi didn't tell Fugaku. He didn't think there was any need.

Back in his room,

Itachi managed to force a smile for Sasuke.

He said to Sasuke, "Sasuke, your big brother is tired. I can't play with you right now."

Sasuke asked, "Did your teammates die, Big Brother?"

Itachi froze in place. "Their deaths allowed me to awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Their deaths had meaning."

"But that's not true," Sasuke said. "They were your friends, Big Brother. When they died, they must have been scared and in pain."

Sasuke's words left Itachi stunned.

He had always wondered what he had gained power for.

Father said it was to bring the Uchiha back to the center of the village and reclaim political power for the Uchiha.

Shisui said power was meant to protect the peace of the village.

But Itachi had never known why he had gained power.

That was right. They must have been afraid when they died. They must have been terrified.

Their lives had only just begun. They could have become powerful ninja, but they had died.

Wasn't I supposed to use my power to protect them? The dead were already gone. Those still alive should be cherished.

I have to become stronger, strong enough to defeat the Masked Man. Then my friends won't die.

I have to become strong enough to protect my little brother...

Itachi suddenly saw things clearly.

He said to Sasuke, "Come on, Sasuke. I'll take you to see Shisui. He said he'd teach you the Body Flicker Technique."

The Body Flicker Technique was Shisui's signature skill.

During the Third and Second Shinobi World Wars, Konoha had three powerful ninja who struck fear into enemy villages.

The White Fang of the Leaf, Sakumo Hatake.

Body Flicker Shisui.

And the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.

The Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, died after sealing the Nine-Tails and was hailed as a hero of Konoha.

But Sakumo Hatake died a deeply frustrating death.

He died beneath the weight of public opinion in the village...

The Uchiha Training Ground.

Shisui had already been waiting there for a long time.

Seeing Itachi arrive with Sasuke, Shisui smiled and said, "You're here, Itachi. And Sasuke, it's been a long time. You've gotten so tall."

Itachi said, "Sasuke, Shisui's talent is even greater than mine. The Body Flicker Shadow Clone Technique is a forbidden technique of the Uchiha Clan. Even I haven't mastered it.

"And Shisui is someone who gained the Mangekyō at his age."

Shisui chuckled. "Hahaha, come on. I'll teach you the Body Flicker Technique."

"Any ninjutsu or taijutsu that lets you move instantly can be called the Body Flicker Technique."

"But the Body Flicker Technique of our Uchiha Clan is different. It's called the Body Flicker Shadow Clone. It's a space-time ninjutsu that combines the Body Flicker Technique and the Shadow Clone Technique."

Shisui formed Hand Seals, and three Tomoe appeared in his eyes.

Then four or five clones appeared around him. Shisui explained, "The Body Flicker Shadow Clone Technique lets you summon several shadow clones to attack an enemy alongside you. The clones are substantial enough that they won't be destroyed instantly, and you can switch places with them."

With that,

one of Shisui's shadow clones ran off, stopping ten meters away.

Then the four shadow clones in front of Sasuke and Itachi instantly vanished in clouds of smoke.

Shisui's real body appeared ten meters away.

Shisui said, "That's the Body Flicker Shadow Clone. The shadow clones can attack, but their attacks are nowhere near as powerful as the real body's.

"Sasuke, did you understand?"

Two Tomoe appeared in Sasuke's eyes.

An electronic voice sounded in his mind. [Ding, detected that the host is practicing the Body Flicker Shadow Clone Technique.]

[Simplifying...]

[Simplification successful. Body Flicker Shadow Clone Technique training method: walking.]

Sasuke: ...

So walking could train the Body Flicker Shadow Clone?

Why did this training method make me look like an idiot?

Breathing increases chakra.

Walking trains the Body Flicker Shadow Clone...

Sasuke took a few steps, copying what he'd seen, and quickly formed Hand Seals.

Then a shadow clone appeared beside Sasuke. With a thought, he switched places with it.

But as his real body appeared in the clone's place, the shadow clone fell apart during the switch.

Shisui was astonished. "Sasuke is the real genius. It took me a week to learn the Body Flicker Shadow Clone Technique.

"Sasuke saw it once and learned it!

"His shadow clone just isn't sturdy enough yet, which is why it fell apart. He'll be fine if he keeps practicing."

After taking Sasuke home, Itachi returned to the training ground.

But this time, both of them looked troubled.

Shisui said, "Four years ago, the clan leader proposed the [Project to Cultivate a Second Madara Uchiha]. Everyone in the clan saw Sasuke as their hope for a resurgence, but... some people in the clan can't wait any longer."

Itachi added, "That's right. The village has already started keeping the Uchiha under surveillance."