Yet at that moment, Shisui was even more shaken than Itachi.
No one understood the level of his genjutsu better than he did. It was no exaggeration to say that even a Hokage-level opponent would fall victim to it with a moment's carelessness!
And yet Uchiha Sora had awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan under his genjutsu! He had even broken free of it!
It was simply unbelievable!
Even among those with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, there were differences in strength. Quite a few of their clansmen possessed it, but not one of them could match him in genjutsu!
Yet Sora had proved to be an exception.
Could Sora's talent for genjutsu be greater than mine?
Shisui Uchiha could only explain it that way.
"Thank you for the lesson, Shisui," Uchiha Sora said as he stood up, smiling gratefully.
Under the pressure of Shisui's genjutsu, his Sharingan had evolved just as he had expected. He had even awakened Genjutsu Immunity.
This ability is an absolute cheat!
It meant he no longer had to worry about anyone subduing him with genjutsu.
"Sora, I never imagined you'd awaken your Sharingan-and with three tomoe, too! This is incredible!" Itachi couldn't help saying from beside him.
Even the reserved Itachi made no effort to hide his astonishment.
"All right. As his fellow clansmen, we should be happy that Sora has awakened his Sharingan!" Shisui Uchiha said with a smile, having already reined in his surprise.
"Right. Congratulations, Sora!" Itachi always listened to Shisui, and he nodded as he congratulated Uchiha Sora.
Shisui laughed. "As your senior, I'll give you some of my notes on genjutsu to celebrate!"
He took out a scroll and handed it to Uchiha Sora.
Delighted, Uchiha Sora quickly accepted it. "Thank you, Shisui!"
These were Shisui's insights into genjutsu. To a genjutsu specialist, they were absolutely priceless.
"Sora, I don't really have anything to give you, so I'll treat you to a meal instead," Itachi added.
"Sounds good!" Uchiha Sora said with a smile.
The three of them went out for a meal together. During it, Uchiha Sora asked Itachi and Shisui to keep his Three-Tomoe Sharingan a secret.
Naturally, both nodded in agreement.
Over the following days, Uchiha Sora devoted himself to studying Shisui's notes on genjutsu.
They actually contained only two genjutsu.
One was Genjutsu: Shiranui, a visual genjutsu cast through the Sharingan that made an opponent experience the agony of their body burning within an illusion.
The other was Genjutsu: Binding Technique, which rendered its target immobile, as though paralyzed.
Both genjutsu soon entered automatic training, and with the Sharingan's enhancement, he quickly mastered them through that training.
Aside from these two genjutsu, the scroll contained many of Shisui's insights into the art. This knowledge could never be learned from textbooks; it was the sort of thing only a true mentor would impart.
The end of the year soon arrived, and Konoha prepared to hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the signing of the Peace Treaty.
At last, the moment Uchiha Sora had been waiting for had come: it was time to put his plan into action.
His strength had also improved tremendously over the past three months.
He now had no weaknesses in ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu. He could truly be called a well-rounded ninja.
Yet he was still only eight years old, not even nine.
That day, Konoha was decked out in festive lights and decorations. Civilians and ninja alike wore smiles on their faces.
The signing of the Peace Treaty meant that the war between Konoha and Kumogakure had finally ended, ushering in a period of complete peace for Konoha.
That day was also the birthday of Hinata Hyuga, the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter. The clan grounds were similarly decorated, brimming with festivity.
During the day, Uchiha Izumi and her daughter invited Uchiha Sora to go shopping with them.
In secret, however, Uchiha Sora had already sent out shadow clones to investigate Konoha's security arrangements.
That afternoon, the shadow clones sent back their findings.
Most of the village's security forces were concentrated near the Hokage Building, while some patrolled the various security posts.
The Konoha Military Police Force was responsible for security around the village's perimeter.
Some of Konoha's key areas were guarded by the Hokage's personal ANBU and the forces of Root.
Uchiha Sora discovered that at least ten ANBU members had been stationed near the Third Hokage's home.
These ANBU were all the Third's trusted subordinates, but they were not particularly strong. The truly formidable ones were all at the Third Hokage's side.
Kakashi, for instance, would undoubtedly be accompanying the Third at this time.
That evening, Uchiha Sora specifically dispatched several shadow clones to hide near the Hyuga Estate.
He was waiting for his opening: for Hinata to be abducted and Hyuga Hiashi to take down her kidnapper.
Once that happened, it would undoubtedly alert the entire Konoha High Command and throw the village into some degree of chaos.
That would be his best opportunity to steal the Scroll of Seals!
Time ticked steadily by. Without anyone noticing, the real Uchiha Sora accompanying Uchiha Izumi and her daughter had been replaced by a clone.
Sora's real body had long since slipped into the vicinity of the Third Hokage's home.
Meanwhile, inside the Hyuga Estate, three-year-old Hinata stood in the courtyard in an exquisite outfit, waiting for her birthday banquet to begin with a carefree smile on her face.
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind her like lightning, knocked her unconscious with a chop to the neck, and leaped out of the Hyuga Estate carrying her.
Hyuga Hiashi, who was preparing to greet the guests, seemed not to have noticed anything amiss.
But Uchiha Sora's shadow clone, hiding outside the Hyuga Estate, immediately spotted the enemy fleeing with Hinata tucked under his arm.
Why hasn't Hiashi come after him yet? Watching the man rapidly retreat, the shadow clone grew anxious.
After a moment's thought, the shadow clone hurried after him.
The chase soon brought them both to Konoha's outskirts.
Seeing that Hiashi still hadn't caught up, the shadow clone had no choice but to leap out and block the Kumogakure ninja's path.
"Put that girl down!" the shadow clone shouted.
The Kumogakure ninja sneered. "So I've been spotted? But you're alone. How do you expect to stop me?"
The shadow clone instantly formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth and swept toward the Kumogakure ninja.
"This is Konoha. Even if I can't stop you, what does it matter? You won't get away!" The fireball unleashed a wave of heat, and the Kumogakure ninja nimbly evaded the attack. Watching him, Uchiha Sora merely smiled.
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