Chidori Thunderclap Formation

"Hm?"

Shinji frowned slightly and turned toward the clearing behind him.

Integrating the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline had further strengthened his sensory abilities, building on the Uchiha's already minute precision.

Even without using Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

"Was I imagining things?"

Hmm... no...

A smile suddenly appeared on Shinji's face. So it's you little cuties. Watching me on the battlefield was one thing, but you're actually doing it this brazenly inside Konoha, too.

What a devoted son you are.

You're not doing a great job leading your team, either.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked, puzzled by Shinji's expression.

"Oh, nothing, Kakashi. Where were we? Let's keep going... Now, about this Masked Man, tsk! That's a tricky subject!"

"..."

The two walked farther and farther away through the snow.

A long while later...

A little white thing emerged from the snow again. This time, its true appearance finally became clear. It was a... deathly pale...

Head?

He didn't look particularly bright.

His eyes were clear and utterly stupid.

His expression said he was happy to watch the fun, no matter how much trouble it caused.

"Oh my!!"

"That was dangerous. It's been ages since I felt such powerful strength from an Uchiha other than Lord Madara. He almost spotted me! Obito's in for a world of hurt!"

"Well! I suppose I'll be kind and tell him someone's got their eye on him. As for his identity being revealed to Kakashi, well, that probably doesn't matter..."

"After all, Kakashi is Obito's best friend!"

With that...

The head floating in the snow burrowed back underground.

The Uchiha Training Ground.

Word spread like wildfire that the Clan Head was going to face off against Kakashi of the ANBU.

The enormous training ground was packed solid with a sea of heads. Every clan member was brimming with enthusiasm, their faces flushed with excitement.

The reason was simple!

That damned Shimura Danzō had been beaten by the Clan Head into a literal "vegetative state" and now lay in the hospital, his fate unknown!

This was the best news the Uchiha had received in years!

Especially for those who had supported Shinji's rise to power only to feel betrayed by his "no coup" stance, the satisfaction they felt now was beyond words.

Kakashi stood in the center of the grounds, outwardly calm and steady as a mountain.

Inside, he was trembling and breaking into a cold sweat.

Being scrutinized and eyed with amusement by an entire clan of red-eyed maniacs... probably made him unique in the whole Shinobi World. There really was a first time for everything.

"Come on, Kakashi, don't be nervous. We Uchiha are a friendly clan. You can't believe those rumors out there. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Kakashi really wanted to shave this obnoxious brat's ironclad mouth right off with a Lightning Blade.

"Enough talk! Let's begin!"

"Oh!"

Shinji blinked. "Then here I come, Kakashi! But before we start... I have a rather presumptuous request."

"Hm?" Kakashi frowned.

"How about a wager? If I lose, I'll tell you a secret you'll absolutely want to know, one you couldn't possibly refuse!"

Kakashi frowned. "..."

Something I'll absolutely want to know and couldn't possibly refuse?

A secret?

"Hmm... and if you lose, you have to agree to do something for me!"

"What?"

"Pull down that second mask beneath your mask and let me see your real face. Come on! Don't look at me like that, and don't get any strange ideas. I'm just curious about what you look like, Kakashi."

Shinji smiled with his eyes narrowed.

His face full of anticipation, he asked gently, "What do you say, Kakashi?"

Kakashi awkwardly turned to look around. "..."

"Uh... don't worry about them. You only have to show me."

"Whew!"

Kakashi took a deep breath. "Fine!"

Outside the grounds...

Fugaku folded his arms and shook his head. "What a pointless match."

Uchiha Itachi said, "Kakashi is still very strong, but... he definitely won't be a match for the Clan Head."

Fugaku turned in astonishment and stared at Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi froze. Keenly noticing his father's strange gaze, he hurriedly suppressed the faint smile on his face.

"Is something wrong, Tou-san?"

Uchiha Fugaku smiled. A trace of warmth appeared on his stern face as he rubbed Itachi's head. "You're finally acting like a twelve-year-old..."

"Um..."

Itachi paused, then immediately grew wary.

No.

Have I grown so lax because Big Brother Shinji has shouldered all the Uchiha's responsibilities that even Father has noticed?

At that thought...

Itachi knitted his brows and lowered his head in contemplation.

Nearby...

The three Uchiha beauties had gathered together to whisper among themselves.

Uchiha Kika stood with her feet apart and her hands on her hips, as outspoken as ever. "It's strange. Why is Shinji always so interested in what Kakashi looks like? He's been asking about it since he was little..."

The icy beauty Uchiha Shigetsu folded her arms, supporting her overwhelmingly heavy bosom, and said coolly, "Just some pointless, odd little hobby, probably..."

The ladylike Uchiha Shusui held her long, slender legs together and blinked. "Well, surely Shinji couldn't be interested in Kakashi, another man, right?"

Hm?!

Kika and Shigetsu whipped their heads around and stared straight at Uchiha Shusui, whose face had turned bright red at some point.

"Ah! I... I only..."

Thoroughly embarrassed, she abruptly covered her eyes. Steam practically rose from her head, and she couldn't get the rest of the words out.

The other Uchiha watched with keen interest.

"Hey! How many moves do you think the Clan Head will need to beat Kakashi?"

"I'd say... no more than three?"

"Hey! Don't go overboard. Kakashi's a genius, after all. He graduated early from the Ninja Academy and fought on the battlefield..."

"Well! The Clan Head graduated early and went to war, too. He beat the entire Land of Lightning into hiding in its shell. Don't you understand what the name Fire God Shinji means?"

A young Uchiha sneered. "Hmph! It's just pointless flattery meant to set him up for a fall. I wasn't at the Clan Meeting, but as far as I know, Clan Head Fugaku was already exhausted, physically and mentally, and thinking about stepping down. And Shinji's relationship with their family is rather unclear... heh, who knows what really happened?"

"...Hey! Shingan, what are you trying to say?!"

"I'm only telling the truth."

"You little punk! Want a fight?!"

"..."

On the field...

Shinji ignored the voices outside the grounds and smiled with narrowed eyes. "Kakashi, here I come!"

Kakashi leaned forward slightly, gripping a kunai backhanded. He fixed his sharp gaze on Shinji, fully prepared for battle. "Right!"

Shinji raised his arm and smiled, forming the ram hand seal with one hand. "You're certainly fired up, Kakashi!"

"Hm?"

Kakashi froze. What... ninjutsu is this?

"Phantom Body Flicker: Chidori Thunderclap Formation!!!"

Whoosh!

Bzzzzzzzz—!

"What?!!!"

The deafening thunder that reverberated throughout the training ground made Kakashi think he had fallen under some sort of genjutsu...

His clear eyes widened, and he instinctively activated his Sharingan. His gaze darted from side to side as he stared in utter shock at the seventeen Shinji Uchihas surrounding him.

Each stood quietly, holding a Chidori that shone with brilliant blue lightning, giving Kakashi seventeen friendly smiles.

"Kakashi, here we come!"

"W-wait a second!"

The moment Kakashi finished speaking, one of the Shinjis drove the Lightning Blade in his hand straight through his body!

However...

With a puff...

The Kakashi impaled on the Lightning Blade turned into a piece of dead wood.

Entirely unsurprised, Shinji curled his lips. "As expected, the Substitution Technique is your specialty..."

Having barely escaped with the Substitution Technique, Kakashi landed on a tree trunk beside the training ground and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "Y-you've got to be kidding!!!"

"Kakashi, don't let your guard down!"

Bzzzt!

A Lightning Blade flashed past Kakashi's mask. He backflipped onto the ground and hurriedly formed hand seals. "Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!"

Rumble—!

Four earthen walls carved with dog heads rose from the ground, enclosing Kakashi on all sides.

Shinji glanced at those lifelike dog heads and couldn't help laughing. "Kakashi, do you have so much chakra that you don't know what to do with it?"

Shhk!

Four identical sounds rang out at the same instant.

All four Earth-Style Walls were pierced simultaneously.

"Lightning Release: Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bzzzt!

Three Kakashis appeared on the field. Shinji didn't even need to distinguish between them. Three phantoms charged straight in with Lightning Blades at the ready. "Lightning Blade!"

Bzzk! Shhk!

The two Lightning Release: Shadow Clones were destroyed, but the electrical current they released had no effect whatsoever on Shinji's "phantoms"...

Yet Kakashi didn't panic at all.

Because...

"Oh, well. I surrender!"

Kakashi relaxed his stance and raised a hand to yawn, looking utterly lazy and unmotivated.