The sun shone brightly over the Land of Fire. Konoha's streets bustled with people, vendors called out their wares, and the villagers wore peaceful smiles born of a stable life.
It was already the latter half of Konoha Year 32. In a forest, a handsome boy with short blond hair practiced throwing concealed weapons.
A figure appeared without a sound in the great tree behind him.
"That's not how you throw a kunai."
The sudden voice made the boy jump. He turned and saw someone of sixteen or seventeen in a Uchiha uniform, with an air that set him apart.
The newcomer's sharp eyes held an unfathomable depth. Eight kunai appeared in his hand, and he flung them all at once. They struck one another repeatedly in midair, changing course again and again.
Wood rang out with a series of sharp thuds. All eight kunai struck the centers of the targets.
The boy stared in shock. "Senior, that was incredible! I've never seen anyone throw them like that. Did you come up with it yourself?"
"It's nothing special. Most skilled Uchiha ninja know how to do it."
Envy flashed through the boy's eyes, but he did not ask to be taught. Techniques like that were often secrets a clan never shared with outsiders.
He had heard of the Uchiha, Konoha's foremost clan, powerful and influential. For a child from an ordinary family like him, learning their techniques would be nearly impossible.
"Want to learn?"
The voice sounded beside the blond boy's ear. The figure was no longer in the tree, and the boy felt a large hand settle on his head.
"Senior, isn't this a secret Uchiha technique? Am I allowed to learn it?"
"Haha! It's hardly a secret technique. Just a little trick. Against experts, it's only good for