A Small Country Should Know Its Place

Black Zetsu was intimately familiar with Indra's Chakra. After all, he had spent more than a thousand years studying it.

He had studied nearly every reincarnation of Indra's Chakra and found that, before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, they merely had a colder Chakra presence and stronger Eye Power than other Uchiha of the same level.

Perhaps a reincarnation of Asura could sense a reincarnation of Indra, but Black Zetsu could not.

Uchiha Yi did resemble a reincarnation of Indra's Chakra in some ways. Black Zetsu soon dismissed the thought, though. Madara Uchiha was still alive. How could there be a second reincarnation of Indra's Chakra?

What, had Indra decided one reincarnation of his Chakra could not beat a reincarnation of Asura Chakra, so he had split his Chakra in two to give himself better odds?

If one could not win, send in two?

The idea was absurd. Besides, if Uchiha Yi really were a reincarnation of Indra's Chakra, he could never have awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age.

Yi might look like an extraordinary genius now, but at this rate, serious problems would emerge within three years.

Forget awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—whether he would even survive was in question. Even if he awakened it, his body could not withstand that terrifying Yin Release.

So Uchiha Yi could not possibly be a reincarnation of Indra's Chakra. No matter how monstrous his talent, he did not have long to live.

Black Zetsu promptly put Uchiha Yi out of his mind. However gifted he was, death would catch up with him.

Konoha would never give Uchiha Yi Hashirama Senju's Cells, either.

Of course, if Yi fell into despair one day, Black Zetsu might try to recruit him. He could offer the boy a second life then.

But that would have to wait until Uchiha Yi was desperate.

Black Zetsu then glanced at Tsunade, Kushina Uzumaki, and Hyuga Rinka. All three were talented Ninja, but none would affect the bigger picture.

If nothing unexpected happened, the spark that ignited the Second Shinobi World War would involve these people.

Die. Let even more of you die!

"You little brat!" The Rain Ninja grew anxious as Uchiha Yi fought with increasing ease. At first, he had thought his adult body would give him an advantage.

No matter how talented his opponent was, he still had a child's body. Yet the Rain Ninja quickly discovered that the boy was astonishingly strong—perhaps even stronger than himself. Worse was his speed. Apart from Lord Hanzō, he had never seen anyone faster than this Uchiha boy.

And Uchiha Yi was still a child!

Given more time, would Konoha produce another Kagami Uchiha?

By this era, Madara Uchiha's name had gradually faded from memory. Kagami Uchiha had taken his place as the clan's best-known figure, a famous Ninja of Konoha.

Fortunately, Kagami Uchiha was dead.

"That's just the howling of a loser. You're a Rain Ninja, aren't you?

"I never thought the Rain Ninja would dare provoke Konoha. Who gave you the nerve? Hanzō?

"A small country should know its place. You exist only as a source of missions for the major Ninja Villages and a strategic buffer between great countries.

"What gave you the delusion that you could challenge a great country?" Uchiha Yi taunted as he pressed his attack.

At first, Yi had tested his opponent's strength and treated him as a decent sparring partner. Now he had lost interest.

The man was a Jonin, perhaps even one of Hanzō's trusted lieutenants, but his strength had its limits. With the Land of Rain's resources, raising large numbers of powerful Ninja was difficult.

Uchiha Yi no longer found him interesting.

Before I knew it, ordinary Jonin stopped being a threat to me.

Next came Elite Jōnin, then Kage Level Ninja.

Yi did not know when the Second Shinobi World War would break out, but he had begun to look forward to it. War would let him grow stronger, earn prestige, and build his standing among the Uchiha and throughout Konoha.

For now, at least, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still willing to support him.

He needed to grow so quickly that Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mito Uzumaki, and the others would have no time to react and change their opinion of him.

Holding the Sword of the Thunder God in his right hand, Uchiha Yi knocked aside the Rain Ninja's attack. His left hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, rapidly formed one-handed Hand Seals. In an instant, lightning erupted along the sword, accompanied by countless birdlike cries.

Uchiha Yi's speed surged. At the same time, the tomoe in his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly.

The Rain Ninja, already beside himself with rage at Yi's taunts, froze for an instant. He had fallen under Yi's Genjutsu. Yi seized the opening and drove the Sword of the Thunder God through his heart.

"That was all?" Uchiha Yi murmured. "You didn't even know not to meet an Uchiha's eyes in battle. So much for the Land of Rain."

He felt as though he had been underestimated. He was an Uchiha!

Uchiha Yi then looked toward Kushina Uzumaki and Hyuga Rinka. The two worked together well, but they were outnumbered. They could only endure their opponents' attacks, with few chances to strike back.

Staying on the defensive, however, was no long-term solution.

Tsunade stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching the fight. When she saw Yi finish off his opponent, she gave him a small nod of approval.

His performance had clearly exceeded her expectations. Uchiha Yi really had killed a Jonin.

A Jonin from a small country was still a Jonin. Some were not even as strong as Konoha's Special Jōnin, but in certain small countries, a Jonin could become the leader of an entire village.

Uchiha Yi's performance was remarkable.

Unfortunately, to protect him, they could not let word of this get out. Otherwise, he would become famous overnight.

The child was only seven. Uchiha Yi seemed even more talented than Grandmother had said.

The Ninja fighting Kushina Uzumaki and Hyuga Rinka had also seen their leader die. They promptly chose to flee, scattering in every direction.