A few changes

Several plans had already formed in Uchiha Kiyoshi's mind for showing Uchiha Hui the gap between them.

He had joined the Konoha Military Police Force after becoming a Chunin.

He had even fought in a real war.

He was an entirely different breed from a sheltered Chunin like Uchiha Hui, who had barely ever left the village!

Uchiha Kiyoshi slowly raised his arm, finally resting his hand on the Ninja Blade at his shoulder.

After weighing his options.

He decided to use his swordsmanship to test this newly promoted Taijutsu Chunin.

Meanwhile.

Uchiha Hui watched him with a smile, seemingly unconcerned. He even took a moment to scratch his neck after settling into position, looking utterly confident.

That only made Uchiha Kiyoshi angrier.

"Here I come!"

In the darkness, the Uchiha's Sharingan stood out clearly, while the courtyard lights cast a bright sheen over him.

As he spoke.

He charged toward Uchiha Hui without hesitation.

Uchiha Hui activated his Sharingan.

Then stayed right where he was.

"You dare underestimate me!"

Clearly feeling slighted, Uchiha Kiyoshi swiftly drew his Ninja Blade, its keen edge flashing in the night.

Tap, tap, tap!

Uchiha Hui could tell that his opponent was fast.

He was considerably faster than the Chunin Hui had fought that afternoon, and even his movements and mindset were more decisive and formidable.

Though they were all Chunin.

This full-fledged member of the Konoha Military Police Force could probably also defeat the reserve members still training on the practice grounds.

But.

His opponent now was Uchiha Hui!

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"

Uchiha Hui unleashed his technique the moment Uchiha Kiyoshi came within two meters of him.

His powerful pupil power made the genjutsu he cast exceptionally difficult to break.

In an instant.

Uchiha Kiyoshi froze in place, still in the middle of his charge.

His face twisted as though he had encountered something terrifying, and shock filled his eyes as he stared at Uchiha Hui.

"How?!"

Uchiha Kiyoshi felt as though several enormous stakes had pinned him in place. Agonizing pain tore through his body as he growled at Uchiha Hui.

As he spoke, the tomoe in his eyes kept spinning while he tried with all his strength to break free of the genjutsu.

But it did not seem to be working very well.

His face flushed red, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot. Wave after wave of pain swept through him, forcing him to drop his Ninja Blade as his body began to tremble.

"Taijutsu isn't all I know."

Uchiha Hui watched the opponent he had subdued with a single move and gave a relaxed little shrug.

As his pupil power continued to grow, his genjutsu naturally grew stronger as well. This was also his first time using the Gakō Technique, and the results looked good.

After speaking.

He released the genjutsu.

Uchiha Kiyoshi, who had still been struggling, instantly collapsed to the ground and began gasping for breath.

"I'll head over first. We can spar again sometime. Let's call this one a sneak attack on my part."

Uchiha Hui scooped up the dropped reward as he headed outside.

Clearly, this extra reward was an unexpected bonus. He had thought he was done for the day, only for another "monster" to come right to his doorstep for him to farm.

Naturally, he could not pass that up.

He would have been crazy to miss it!

"Hah! Hah!"

Watching Uchiha Hui's retreating figure, Uchiha Kiyoshi finally gathered his wits. But the lingering pain in his body told him that everything that had just happened was real.

Uchiha Hui really had defeated him with a single move!

And he had done it with a genjutsu he had never used before. It was almost unbelievable!

This is the Uchiha Hui you said only had three tricks: the Great Fireball Technique, throwing kunai, and his fists?

At that moment.

Uchiha Kiyoshi finally understood why his opponent had been so confident.

Intel.

It was the key to a ninja's battles.

And without a clear grasp of his opponent's combat abilities, he naturally had no chance of winning.

As for Uchiha Hui calling it a "sneak attack."

Uchiha Kiyoshi was not foolish enough to take that seriously. Had this been a real battle, he would already be dead. No one would care whether he had been caught by a "sneak attack."

"He really isn't someone to underestimate!"

Uchiha Kiyoshi got back to his feet, sheathed the Ninja Blade from the ground behind his back, and followed Uchiha Hui.

With preparation next time.

He probably would not lose instantly. Aside from that, he still had confidence in his abilities, and naturally began looking forward to his second spar with Uchiha Hui.

Clack, clack, clack!

Uchiha Hui's footsteps rang clearly along the street.

The Uchiha Clan Compound was not particularly quiet at this hour. Across the courtyards, he could hear sounds coming from the surrounding rooms: conversations, scolding, and the very intimate sounds of married couples...

An atmosphere like this.

Honestly.

Felt rather peaceful.

This was also one of the few times Uchiha Hui had wandered around the compound at night.

So.

As he listened to the sounds around him.

A few inexplicable emotions seemed to stir within him.

The Uchiha Clan's fate.

Did it have anything to do with me?

I'm just a transmigrator who absorbed some of an Uchiha's memories.

During his first two days after arriving in this world.

That had been Uchiha Hui's most honest thought.

But now...

Not much had changed.

Just one thing: he felt that the Uchiha should not be wiped out.

Soon.

Uchiha Hui arrived at the gate to Uchiha Fugaku's courtyard.

Knock, knock!

He stepped forward and lightly knocked twice.

Before Uchiha Hui could say anything, the gate opened.

He looked down.

There was that familiar little boy again.

Uchiha Itachi.

His dear nephew!

"Hey! It's Itachi!"

Uchiha Hui could not help looking at Itachi, who had opened the gate. His voice held a teasing note, and his hand reached out wickedly.

"U-Uncle!"

Uchiha Itachi had already known that Uchiha Hui would be visiting, so he had hurried over to answer the moment he heard the knock.

He did not know why.

But he always felt that this uncle looked at him very differently from everyone else.

As though he could see right through him.

So.

Uchiha Itachi paid a little more attention to this uncle he could not claim to know particularly well.

As he spoke.

Uchiha Itachi tried to dodge Uchiha Hui's affectionate touch.

But Uchiha Hui had grown considerably stronger now.

You think you can get away?!

He caught him in one swift motion.

Then took control of that big, silky-haired head with one hand.

Rub!

Ruffle!

Squeeze!

Only after indulging himself.

Did Uchiha Hui slowly release Uchiha Itachi.

"Father is waiting for you in the study."

Uchiha Itachi dared to feel angry, but not to voice it.

Though he considered himself a ninja, he was simply too young to resist a "veteran" Chunin like Uchiha Hui. In the end, he could only speak in a somewhat aggrieved tone.

"All right! Go play, Itachi. Don't worry about me!"

Uchiha Hui was still quite familiar with everything here. After all, it had once been his home, too; he had merely chosen to move out later.

He made his way to the study with practiced ease.

He sensed Fugaku's presence inside, calm and steady, without a ripple, yet profoundly intimidating.

"I'm coming in!"

Uchiha Hui called out, then pushed the door open and walked straight in.

Uchiha Fugaku sat at the desk. Beside him, something resembling an incense burner was burning an unknown substance. Visible wisps of smoke slowly rose from it, seeming to soothe the mind in an instant.

Without ceremony, Hui sat down opposite him.

Uchiha Hui folded his arms and said nothing, simply beginning a staring contest.

"Captain!"

Uchiha Kiyoshi came in as well and knelt to one side. He looked at the two men in confusion, unsure what these brothers were trying to do.