Kagami Uchiha vs. the Four Young Ninjas!

Konoha's Fourth Training Ground.

The group arrived at the training ground. The broad field was level and strewn with gravel, and the surrounding area had been cleared. No one else was there to disturb them.

Kagami Uchiha stood with his hands behind his back, his presence subdued. He looked over the four before him from an ordinary, relaxed stance.

"In the world of ninjas, strength is what matters. Come at me together. Let me see what these years of training have done for you."

At his words, the four immediately spread out around him.

"Lord Hokage, you're taking on all four of us at once?" Jiraiya looked annoyed at being underestimated.

"Hmph, Big Brother Kagami, you're looking down on us too much. I won't hold back." Standing off to one side, Tsunade flexed slightly and gave a huff.

Orochimaru and Sakumo said nothing.

Orochimaru formed hand seals, his expression calm and his eyes fixed on Kagami Uchiha.

Hatake Sakumo stood to one side and slowly rested his right hand on his sword hilt.

Hmph. Don't make me laugh. We'll be lucky if all four of us survive this fight with our teacher.

How do you think Ginkaku of Kumogakure died?

We're only four ninjas at Jonin level. If our teacher gets serious, he could probably take us all out in one move.

Sakumo kept his face blank while grumbling to himself.

"Enough talk. Come at me! One last warning: I won't hold back!"

Kagami Uchiha immediately formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A blazing fireball dozens of meters wide flew toward Jiraiya.

Jiraiya didn't panic. Watching the fireball approach, he rapidly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A searing dragon of flame burst from his mouth and flew straight at Kagami Uchiha.

"Oh? Meeting fire with fire? Not bad. I admire your courage. But..."

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A sudden gale burst from Orochimaru's mouth and raced after the fire dragon. The wind fed the flames, and the once-slender dragon swelled at once, bearing down on Kagami Uchiha with devastating force.

"Very good. Combining Wind Release with Fire Release produced an impressive result. As expected of Orochimaru—you're a clever one," Kagami Uchiha praised.

"Hey, Orochimaru, I thought you'd forgotten how to work with others after spending so long in the research institute," Jiraiya teased.

"Hmph. Shut up, idiot. You're getting distracted in a fight?" Orochimaru snorted.

Kagami Uchiha watched the fire dragon draw closer. He formed hand seals and slammed both hands against the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"

An enormous wall of rock rose from nowhere, dozens of meters high and stretching far across the field. Its thick face blocked the fire dragon.

"You're still a long way off."

"Your guard's down, Big Brother Kagami!"

"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

Tsunade gathered Chakra in one foot and brought it crashing down toward Kagami Uchiha.

Looking at the foot about to land on him, Kagami Uchiha sighed inwardly. If that hits me, even Susanoo might not hold up!

He formed a seal with one hand. "Lightning Release: Lightning Flash Quick Step!"

"Heh, Tsunade, strength won't help if you can't hit your enemy." Lightning Release stimulated Kagami Uchiha's body, and he darted out of her attack range.

Boom! The ground beneath Tsunade's foot shattered.

"Hmph! Damn it, Big Brother Kagami, stop running!" she fumed as the dust cleared.

Kagami Uchiha couldn't help smiling at her puffed-up expression.

She's grown so much, but she's still as adorable as ever.

Whoosh—

The sound of something slicing through the air rang beside his ear.

Hatake Sakumo flashed into view, his short sword drawn. Lightning Release Chakra coated its blade, electricity curling around it as he slashed a fierce blade of lightning toward Kagami Uchiha.

"Oh? Sakumo, you really are a sneaky one." Kagami Uchiha calmly took a Kunai from the pouch behind him as the strike came down.

Clang! The Kunai met the blade, throwing off a blinding flash.

"I've told you before, Sakumo. Your lightning blade is too loud. It's hard to catch a true expert with it." Kagami Uchiha's expression turned stern, his voice cold.

Then he kicked Sakumo in the stomach, putting sudden force behind the blow.

Bang!

Sakumo flew backward like a kite with its string cut. He smashed through several trees before finally stopping.

"Sakumo!"

"Damn it, Big Brother Kagami! That was too harsh!"

In the distance, Tsunade and the other two stared at Sakumo's battered form, all of them anxious.

Even Orochimaru, usually so detached, showed a flicker of concern in his eyes.

"Hmph! If this were a real battlefield, you'd have died several times over already!"

"Focus! Fight me as if you mean to kill me!"

"Otherwise, you'll end up just like Sakumo!"

Kagami Uchiha cut off their wandering thoughts with a sharp shout.

"And don't underestimate Sakumo. He's my student. He can take an injury like that!"

Before he had finished speaking, Sakumo struggled to his feet from where he had been leaning against a tree. He gripped the White Fang Short Sword and looked steadily at Kagami Uchiha.

Tsunade and the other two exchanged glances and nodded. Then Tsunade turned to Kagami Uchiha, her expression grave. "You're right, Big Brother Kagami. We can only save our companion by defeating you."

The three bit their fingers and rapidly formed hand seals. "Boar—Dog—Rooster—Monkey—Ram!"

With the seals complete, they pressed their bloodied hands to the ground and poured in Chakra. "Summoning Technique!" they shouted in unison.

Bang—

As the smoke cleared, three towering figures stood beneath them.

A snake, a toad, and a slug.

Gamabunta, the boss toad, held a pipe in his mouth and looked as defiant as ever. He swept his gaze around the field. "Jiraiya, you little brat. You called me out to work again?"

"Boss, I have my reasons. I need your help," Jiraiya said seriously.

"Oh? Let's see who dares bully my little brother." Gamabunta turned toward Kagami Uchiha.

Manda's scales gleamed coldly. He narrowed his slit-pupiled eyes, proud and unruly, and spoke with mocking sharpness. "Orochimaru. You again."

"You know my services don't come cheap!"

Orochimaru snorted and gave no reply.

Katsuyu slowly appeared beside them. Her gentle voice sounded as her vast body rested quietly, a soothing, healing presence spreading from her.

"Lady Tsunade."

"Katsuyu, go treat Sakumo at once." Tsunade pointed toward Hatake Sakumo in the distance and gave the order in a low voice.

The three great Summoning Beasts had gathered at the training ground. Unlike Katsuyu, the young Gamabunta and Manda had yet to develop the battle-hardened resilience they would possess in later years, but both were formidable fighters already.

Seeing all three summon their Summoning Beasts, Sakumo couldn't help grumbling inwardly:

They're so ugly...

“If it were my Summoning Beast, I'd never choose one like that...”

The Ninja Cats from our teacher's clan aren't bad, but they're a little too rowdy.

Hmm... Maybe a dog. Fluffy, cute, and obedient.

He took a deep breath, pushed the Lightning Release Chakra in his body to its limit, and poured it all into the Chakra Metal short sword at his waist. Lightning flared, engulfing the blade in a fierce glow.

Kagami Uchiha looked at the four of them and their three great Summoning Beasts. At last, a faint smile entered his eyes.

He knew these youngsters had revealed every card they held.

He had no intention of using conventional ninjutsu or Swordsmanship against them. Those might injure them, and they were all his companions.

Instead, he struck a stance particular to the Uchiha, folding his arms and gazing over the field with calm disdain. He spoke slowly:

"Good. Since you've given this everything you have..."

"Then I, Kagami Uchiha, will give it my all too!"

"Consider it a sign of respect."

Hum—

A faint sound, like thin ice cracking, rang out as the Sharingan slowly appeared in his eyes. Crimson spread across them, and the Tomoe circled faster and faster, weaving themselves into an intricate Mangekyo pattern.

Pale Murasaki Chakra surged outward through his limbs and body, rising and swirling around him as it gradually traced a shape that climbed higher and higher.

First, a jagged framework of bone expanded outward. Vein-like strands of Chakra spread across it, gradually filling in flesh and form. Then a complete torso and legs took shape. Before long, a giant made of pale Murasaki Chakra stood before them.

Sturdy bone armor covered his body. His shoulders and spine were sharply defined, and he stood straight and tall. A simple mask covered the giant's face, while his crushing presence blanketed the entire Fourth Training Ground like a mountain falling upon it.