Chidori Thunderclap Formation

"Hm?"

Big Brother Shinji frowned and looked back at the empty ground behind him.

The Uzumaki Clan's bloodline had further sharpened his senses, building on the Uchiha's already keen perception.

Even without using Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Was I imagining it?

Hm... no...

A smile suddenly spread across Big Brother Shinji's face. So it's you little pests. Watching me on the battlefield was one thing, but you're this brazen even inside Konoha?

Some devoted son you are.

You really need to get your team in line.

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked, puzzled by Big Brother Shinji's expression.

"Oh, nothing, Kakashi. Where were we? Let's keep going... About that Masked Man, well! It's hard to say!"

"..."

The two walked farther and farther through the snow.

A long while later...

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

Head?

It didn't look particularly bright.

Its eyes were clear and vacant.

It wore the look of someone eager to watch trouble unfold.

"Well, well!!"

"That was dangerous. It's been a long time since I felt power that strong from an Uchiha other than Lord Madara. I nearly got caught! Obito's in for a rough time!"

"Well! I should be nice and tell him someone's onto him. As for letting Kakashi know his identity, well, that probably doesn't matter..."

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

With that, the head floating above the snow sank back into the ground.

At the Uchiha Training Ground.

Word had spread that the Clan Head was going to fight ANBU's Kakashi.

The vast training ground was packed with people. The clansmen were fired up, every face flushed with excitement.

And no wonder!

The Clan Head had beaten that damned Shimura Danzō into a literal vegetative state. He lay in the hospital now, his fate uncertain!

It was the best news the Uchiha had heard in years!

Those who had supported Big Brother Shinji taking over, only to feel betrayed by his refusal to stage a coup, were especially pleased. Their satisfaction was beyond words.

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

Inside, he was trembling, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Being sized up and mocked by an entire clan of Sharingan users was probably a first in the whole shinobi world. It was certainly a first for him.

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

Kakashi wanted nothing more than to flatten the mouth of this infuriating brat with a Lightning Blade.

"Enough talk! Let's begin!"

"Okay!"

Big Brother Shinji blinked. "Here I come, Kakashi! But before we start... I have a favor to ask."

"Hm?" Kakashi frowned.

"How about a bet? If I lose, I'll tell you a secret you'll definitely want to know. One you couldn't possibly turn down!"

Kakashi frowned. "..."

Something he would definitely want to know? Something he couldn't turn down?

A secret?

"Mm... If you lose, you have to do something for me!"

"What?"

"Pull down the second mask under your first one and let me see your face. Hey, don't look at me like that, and don't get any strange ideas. I'm just curious what you look like, Kakashi."

Big Brother Shinji narrowed his eyes and smiled.

His face full of anticipation, he asked gently, "Well, Kakashi?"

Kakashi turned his head and glanced awkwardly around the field. "..."

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

"Whew!"

Kakashi took a deep breath. "Fine!"

Outside the field.

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

Uchiha Itachi said, "Kakashi is strong, but... he's no match for the Clan Head."

Fugaku turned to stare at Itachi in surprise.

Itachi paused. Catching the strange look in his father's eyes, he hurriedly wiped the faint smile from his face.

"Is something wrong, Father?"

Fugaku smiled. His stern face softened as he patted Itachi's head. "You finally look like a twelve-year-old..."

"Uh..."

Itachi froze, then grew wary.

No.

Because Big Brother Shinji has taken on all the Uchiha's burdens, I've let my guard down this much. Even Father noticed?

At that thought.

Itachi knitted his brows and lowered his head in contemplation.

Nearby.

Three Uchiha beauties were whispering together.

Kika stood with her hands on her hips and her feet apart. "Strange. Why is Big Brother Shinji always so interested in Kakashi's face? He's been asking about it since we were kids..."

The icy beauty Uchiha Shigetsu folded her arms beneath her ample chest and said coolly, "It's probably just some pointless little obsession..."

The ladylike Shusui held her long, slender legs together and blinked. "It's not like Big Brother Shinji could be interested in Kakashi as a man, right?"

Huh?!

Kika and Shigetsu whipped around and stared at Shusui, whose cheeks had somehow gone bright red.

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

Mortified, she covered her eyes. Steam seemed to rise from her head, and she could say no more.

The other Uchiha were following the match with keen interest.

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

"I'd say... three at most?"

"Hey, don't go too far. Kakashi's a genius too. He graduated early from the Ninja Academy and fought on the battlefield..."

"Come on! The clan leader graduated early and went to war too. He beat the entire Land of Lightning into hiding. Don't you know what it means to be called the Fire God, Big Brother Shinji?"

A young Uchiha sneered. "Hmph! It's just empty praise meant to set him up for a fall. I wasn't at the Clan Meeting, but from what I know, Clan Leader Fugaku was exhausted in body and mind and wanted to step down. And Big Brother Shinji has some curious connection to his family... Heh. Who knows what went on there?"

"...Hey! Shingan, what are you getting at?!"

"I'm just telling the truth."

"You brat! You want a fight?!"

"..."

In the field.

Big Brother Shinji ignored the voices outside and smiled, his eyes narrowing. "Here I come, Kakashi!"

Kakashi lowered himself slightly, holding a Kunai in a reverse grip. He watched Big Brother Shinji sharply, ready for battle. "All right!"

Big Brother Shinji raised an arm with a faint smile and formed the ram hand seal with one hand. "You're fired up, Kakashi!"

"Hm?"

Kakashi froze. What... jutsu is that?

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

Whoosh!

Crackle, crackle, crackle—!

"What?!!!"

Thunder roared through the entire training ground, so loud Kakashi thought he had fallen under Genjutsu...

His eyes went wide. He instinctively activated his Sharingan and looked from side to side in shock at the seventeen Shinji Uchihas surrounding him.

Every one of them stood still with a Chidori blazing blue in his hand, all seventeen smiling warmly at Kakashi.

"Here we come, Kakashi!"

"W-wait a sec—!"

Before Kakashi could finish, one Big Brother Shinji drove his Lightning Blade through Kakashi's body!

But...

With a pop.

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

Big Brother Shinji wasn't surprised. The corner of his mouth lifted. "Of course. The Substitution Technique is what you're best at..."

Having narrowly escaped with the Substitution Technique, Kakashi landed on a tree trunk at the edge of the field and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "A-are you kidding me?!!!"

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

Crackle!

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

Rumble—!

Four earth walls carved with dog heads rose around Kakashi.

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

Crunch!

Four identical sounds rang out at once.

All four Earth-Style Walls were pierced simultaneously.

"Lightning Release: Shadow Clone Technique!"

Crackle!

Three Kakashis appeared on the field. Big Brother Shinji didn't bother telling them apart. Three phantoms charged straight in, Lightning Blades thrust forward. "Lightning Blade!"

Pop! Crunch!

Two Lightning Release: Shadow Clones were destroyed, but the current they released had no effect on Big Brother Shinji's phantoms...

Kakashi didn't panic in the slightest.

Because...

"Well, I give up!"

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