Guidance Match from His Cousin Uchiha Madara

Ever since he had accompanied the group on a supply run and encountered a squad of rogue ninja on the way back, killing more than ten of them with nothing but Uchiha-Style Shurikenjutsu, Uchiha Jobu had rapidly risen to fame within the Uchiha Clan. Many elders believed that Uchiha Jobu was qualified to become one of the next generation's leaders.

So far, besides Uchiha Jobu, who had only just earned that distinction, Uchiha Madara was the only other person deemed by the older Uchiha clansmen to be qualified as one of the next generation's leaders.

Training ground.

Uchiha Kuwajima, who was responsible for training the younger generation, looked over the spirited young faces and pointed at the two figures standing at the front. "Madara! You'll guide Jobu."

Uchiha Madara said excitedly, "Great! I'd been planning to do that already. Cousin Jobu, come at me. As your older cousin, I'll go easy on you—and let you know that besides shurikenjutsu, the Uchiha have powerful taijutsu and ninjutsu as well."

Seeing the fear in the other young Uchiha's eyes, there was no need to ask. It was easy to guess that many of them had been guided by Uchiha Madara before. That was why they all looked terrified when they saw him stride forward.

Thankfully, the one called out hadn't been them.

That was probably the most genuine thought shared by every little Uchiha other than Uchiha Jobu.

Izuna Uchiha said, "Jobu, watch out for my brother's taijutsu. Among our generation, his taijutsu is the strongest. Don't ever let him get close, or the fight will end in an instant!"

As for why he did not mention ninjutsu, it seemed that in Izuna Uchiha's eyes, Uchiha Jobu was not yet qualified to make Uchiha Madara use ninjutsu.

Uchiha Jobu nodded. "I understand."

He stepped out of the line and stood opposite Uchiha Madara. "Please instruct me, Cousin."

Uchiha Kuwajima slowly stepped back, clearing the battlefield. Then he shouted, "Begin!"

"Take this!"

His movement speed was unbelievably fast. It was a technique that attached chakra to the soles of one's feet to increase speed while running.

If developed to a higher level, this technique could be called the Body Flicker Technique.

"So fast!"

Faced with a fist that had charged in instantly, like a flash of light, he did not even have time to see the face of the laughing figure before him. He could only barely raise both arms to block the explosive force.

Bang!

Sent flying several meters by that punch, he slammed heavily into the ground. Only then did he understand just how terrifying the strength contained in Uchiha Madara's fist was.

That was nothing like a fist an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy should have possessed. It felt like a crazed wild boar had lowered its head and rammed straight into him.

Now he understood why Izuna Uchiha had said never to give Uchiha Madara a chance to get close. Once he got into close combat, the battle would be over.

"Uchiha-Style Shurikenjutsu!"

Uchiha Jobu's hands moved so fast they left afterimages. In an instant, he threw countless shuriken, sealing off nearly every route Uchiha Madara could take. He had even predicted where Uchiha Madara would land behind him.

If they had not been standing far too close together at the start, Uchiha Jobu would not have been struck so easily. Fortunately, Uchiha Madara had held back some of his strength and had not aimed to kill. Otherwise, Uchiha Jobu would not merely have been sent flying.

"How could mere ninja tools stop me in my tracks!"

The barrage of ninja tools looked intimidating, but in Uchiha Madara's eyes, they were little more than toys. Even without the Uchiha Clan's divine weapon in hand, he could knock them all down using only the kunai in his hand.

"Fire Release! Great Fireball Technique!"

However.

Compared to knocking them down one by one with a kunai, ninjutsu was simpler and more direct.

A blazing mass of flames surged into the sky full of kunai and shuriken. The scorching wave of fire was like an iron wall, blocking every ninja tool outside its barrier.

Clang, clang, clang.

Listening to the ninja tools being knocked down onto the ground, Uchiha Jobu realized that none of his attacks had worked. His methods were still far too limited.

But was throwing ninja tools really his only form of attack?

Uchiha Jobu began forming hand seals. Though his movements were slow as a snail's crawl, his hand seals were exceptionally precise. Even Uchiha Kuwajima, an elder expert, found his eyes lighting up.

"Is that Fire Release? No, two of those seals aren't needed for Fire Release ninjutsu. It's more like..."

Every type of ninjutsu had a corresponding sequence and rhythm of hand seals. An experienced ninja could roughly determine what kind of ninjutsu an opponent was using simply by watching their hand movements.

Uchiha Kuwajima's brow sank, but then he seemed to think of something. His intimidating frown slowly relaxed, like flowers blooming in spring.

"Earth Release! Earth-Style: Earth Spear!"

It was the only ninjutsu Uchiha Jobu had learned. Although it was not the Fire Release the Uchiha Clan excelled at, and its power was not as immediately apparent as Fire Release, any ninjutsu that could harm the enemy in battle was the most useful kind.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

The chakra beneath Uchiha Madara's feet burst forth. His body vanished from where he stood at a speed like a thrown kunai, almost as if he had teleported.

Rumble!

The ground churned in a violent surge, as though the earth itself had become enraged. It felt like an earthquake.

Rows upon rows of sharp rocks erupted from the ground in irregular formations.

"That nearly took me out. I didn't expect you to have a move like that, brat. But I remember the clan doesn't have any scrolls on Earth Release ninjutsu. Where did you learn this technique? How come I never saw you practice it?"

"Earth Release? I learned it from those rogue ninja last time. One of the rogue ninja I killed happened to have a scroll about Earth Release ninjutsu on him."

"Indeed, I remember that several of those rogue ninja were skilled in Earth Release ninjutsu. Their strength was far inferior to ours in the Uchiha Clan, but judging by how they used ninjutsu, they were at least proficient in it."

"Only a few days have passed, and he's already learned a ninjutsu technique—and without anyone to guide or teach him. This child's talent truly doesn't fall short of Madara's. Perhaps in Madara's generation, they can defeat those bastards of the Senju Clan."

Uchiha Kuwajima's gaze flickered constantly. He could see the hope of the Uchiha Clan's next generation in Uchiha Jobu. With both Uchiha Jobu and Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha Clan would surely be able to defeat their old rivals, the Senju Clan of the Forest.

Then he needed to report this to the clan leader quickly. Within the clan, more resources had to be allocated to Uchiha Jobu, and even his authority to speak should be increased accordingly.

Age was not important at all in the Warring States Era, because one might die tomorrow. But as long as someone displayed enough talent, they could receive the clan's cultivation and a greater share of resources.