Pupil Power

The flames had yet to die away.

The two figures clashed again.

Uchiha Hui kept trying to find more openings with the kunai in his hand, but his every move was under the scrutiny of those Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Even the surrounding mist did little to help.

Uchiha Fugaku had extensive combat experience.

And so...

As the battle continued, he discovered something frightening: his younger brother's instincts in combat were far too sharp.

He might have seemed able to block every attack with ease.

But each time, he had to bring more of his strength to bear.

Why?

Because Uchiha Hui was still growing!

This was a detail even Uchiha Hui himself had overlooked.

Members of the Uchiha Clan possessed an innate talent for combat, and he had also integrated Shikotsumyaku, a power born even more specifically for slaughter.

Its influence on his combat instincts was enormous!

"Hah!"

Seizing an opening in Uchiha Fugaku's guard, Uchiha Hui sent his kunai dancing through his hand like a fluttering butterfly.

Slash!

A faint sound rang out.

The next second...

A barely visible bloody scratch appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's face.

Uchiha Hui lit up with delight.

He quickly sprang back, saluted Uchiha Fugaku, and formed a very casual Seal of Reconciliation.

"Looks like you're not that strong after all! You actually let a Chunin like me hurt you!"

Uchiha Hui looked smug.

He knew he had only managed to wound his brother because that last attack had been rather sneaky, and, more importantly, because Fugaku hadn't been using his full strength.

But damage was damage.

It was infinitely better than all those earlier misses.

Uchiha Fugaku watched the sly Uchiha Hui stop fighting the moment he scored a hit and shook his head helplessly. Then he wiped the scratch on his face, leaving a faint trace of blood on his palm.

Shock flashed in his eyes.

He might not have seemed serious just now, but the strength he had displayed was definitely around the level of an Elite Chunin.

Yet he hadn't been able to completely suppress Uchiha Hui.

Instead, his brother had kept him occupied with basic ninjutsu like the Substitution Technique and Clone Technique, techniques taught at the Ninja Academy. In the end, a moment of carelessness had even gotten him wounded by a kunai.

"That just shows how much you've grown, Hui!"

Uchiha Fugaku smiled as he answered Uchiha Hui's seemingly mocking remark.

At that...

Uchiha Hui clicked his tongue in irritation.

This guy!

He's not even ten years older than me, yet he keeps putting on this act and praising me like I'm a little kid.

He honestly found it hard to take.

Sure, I'm only a Chunin now, but I never backed down from anyone in the arena in my last life. Hell, even Super Kage wasn't my limit! I was damn good with the three basic techniques, and I learned my skill combos from streamers!

Uchiha Hui really wanted to send Uchiha Fugaku a screenshot of his rank and show him just how good he was.

But after thinking it over, he decided not to put that kind of pressure on his dear big brother.

After all, Uchiha Hui was only a virtual Super Kage, while the Uchiha Clan leader before him was a genuine Kage.

Throwing punches online is enough. Better to keep my head down in real life!

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Have something with me. I was just about to make dinner."

Uchiha Hui walked over and casually swept his arm, seemingly inviting Uchiha Fugaku to follow him home.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded slightly.

Their fight had been brief, but he had essentially gauged his younger brother's strength. Hui truly had the combat ability of an Elite Chunin, and even an ordinary ninja at that level would be no match for him.

Most importantly, Hui seemed to have pushed his One-Tomoe Sharingan to its absolute limit as a member of the Uchiha Clan. He chained together basic ninjutsu in a relentless stream of attacks so fluid that it was hard to believe, constantly making Fugaku wonder whether he was still holding something back.

Of course, anyone else using that fighting style would never have been nearly as formidable.

There was only one reason.

The Sharingan!

Anticipating the next move.

That ability was simply too important in a fight between ordinary ninja!

After "inviting" Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Hui quickly headed home.

With his back turned...

A flicker of delight crossed his face.

His gesture had seemed like an invitation for his big brother to come inside, but he had actually used it to scoop the dropped reward into his temporary space.

Once Uchiha Fugaku spoke, their sparring match had officially ended. That was also when a black orb of light appeared in Uchiha Hui's vision.

[Trace Pupil Power x1]

That was what the orb he had just picked up contained.

Uchiha Hui hadn't expected this to drop, but on second thought, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

In their previous fight, Uchiha Fugaku had used the Great Fireball Technique once, then gained proficiency in the corresponding Ninjutsu. He had used Ninjutsu today too, but surely the same thing couldn't drop every single time.

So...

A Pupil Power drop this time made perfect sense!

At least, Uchiha Hui wholeheartedly approved!

"Today's a good day..."

Uchiha Hui stepped briskly into the house, with Uchiha Fugaku close behind.

But once inside, Fugaku looked surprised again.

As he remembered it...

His younger brother wasn't someone who liked keeping things tidy. Or rather, single men tended to be a little slovenly. His own house had been a mess before he and Mikoto officially got together, and after their marriage, she had handled everything at home.

But looking around the clean, tidy house now...

Uchiha Fugaku was still a little dazed.

"Hui..."

He couldn't help calling out to Uchiha Hui as his brother was about to enter the kitchen.

Uchiha Hui turned toward his "cash cow" with a puzzled expression, unsure what he wanted. Was he trying to request a dish? That wouldn't do. This was Hui's house, and what he cooked was entirely up to him.

"Have... have you found a girl you like?"

Rather than believe Uchiha Hui had changed his ways and started cleaning the house himself, Uchiha Fugaku found it much easier to believe that this home would soon have a lady of the house.

After all, even he hadn't managed to do housework voluntarily when he was single!

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Uchiha Hui couldn't resist scoffing. Then he walked into the kitchen without looking back, leaving Uchiha Fugaku staring at his back.

Uchiha Fugaku didn't take offense at his brother's words, so he had no choice but to believe Hui really had tidied the house himself.

Taking in everything pleasant around him, he thought of the Ninjutsu and taijutsu sparring he had just enjoyed with his brother, and the hot meal they would soon share. A remark slipped from his lips unbidden:

"If only everyone in the Uchiha Clan could live like this someday..."

"What?!"

In the kitchen...

Uchiha Hui faintly heard a voice and leaned halfway out to ask.

Uchiha Fugaku waved a hand to indicate it was nothing.

"What a naive guy!"

In the kitchen, Uchiha Hui murmured those words, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

Of course he had heard what Fugaku said.

The ideal was a good one.

But the man was a little foolish!

A good life wasn't something that came easily just by waiting.

Only hard work, only struggle, could create it for oneself and one's clan!