In the Hokage Office, an Anbu member bowed his head as he reported to Minato Namikaze.
"Lord Hokage, the target the Third Hokage told us to watch for has appeared on a street near the Uchiha Clan!"
"Oh?"
Minato Namikaze set aside the documents he had been working on, took the scroll, and read it.
The man depicted on the scroll was none other than the Konoha Dragon God.
Teacher Chen!
"Looks like I'll have to go there myself."
Tap, tap.
"No, Minato. Let me go instead."
Just as Minato Namikaze rolled up the scroll and prepared to stand, Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the door to the Hokage Office and spoke calmly.
"Since an old friend has emerged after so many years in seclusion, I should go meet him myself."
"All right. Thank you for the effort, Third Hokage."
Minato Namikaze answered with a sunny smile.
"Mm."
Whoosh!
A moment later, Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Hokage Office with several Anbu members.
An unusual light flickered in his eyes.
Old Chen, you've been in seclusion for so long, yet now you've suddenly appeared near the Uchiha Clan's grounds.
What exactly are you planning?
As Hiruzen Sarutobi and his men set out, Shisui Uchiha had already brought Uchiha Itachi to their agreed meeting place.
"Shisui, why have we stopped?"
"Because your teacher is already here."
Shisui Uchiha reached out and ruffled Uchiha Itachi's hair with a smile.
"He's here?"
Hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, Uchiha Itachi turned in confusion toward Teacher Chen a short distance ahead, his eyes full of disbelief.
This old man is my taijutsu teacher?
"What's wrong, little fellow? Do you doubt I'm qualified to teach you?"
Though he was old, Teacher Chen still had keen hearing as a taijutsu ninja.
Having his thoughts exposed so directly left Uchiha Itachi deeply embarrassed.
"Uh, I..."
If anyone else had introduced this old man as his taijutsu teacher, he would have fought the decision to the bitter end.
But since it was Shisui who had introduced him, he still had to show the man at least some basic respect.
With that thought, Uchiha Itachi gave Teacher Chen a slight bow.
"I'm sorry."
"Hahaha! What a polite little fellow!"
"But since you don't believe in my abilities, little fellow, let this big brother of yours test my strength."
Bam!
In the next instant, Teacher Chen's gaze sharpened. He surged forward, a spinning kick sweeping straight toward them.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
What an imposing presence!
Seeing the slightly stooped Teacher Chen suddenly radiate such power, Uchiha Itachi looked surprised.
But he soon raised a hand and shouted.
"Shisui, you can do it!"
Whoosh!
Rather than meet Teacher Chen head-on with Wood Release, Shisui Uchiha used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge his attack.
After all, his current identity was not "Senju Ye," but Shisui Uchiha.
Simply put, he had to defeat his opponent using the Uchiha Clan's power.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"That's more like it!"
Teacher Chen showed no fear at the enormous fireball spewing from Shisui Uchiha's mouth.
Instead, he grew more and more excited!
"Boy, a fireball like that won't stop me!"
"Konoha Sudden Gale!"
Boom!
Under everyone's eyes, Teacher Chen met Shisui Uchiha's fireball head-on and kicked it apart.
And his forward momentum still hadn't stopped!
But just as Shisui Uchiha was about to form more hand seals and Teacher Chen's kick was about to reach him, an earthen wall abruptly rose between them.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
After shattering the earthen wall with a kick, Teacher Chen landed firmly and turned toward one side of the street.
"This feeling... Hiruzen!"
The next moment, Teacher Chen threw back his head and laughed, then unleashed another kick.
This time, however, the entire ground began to shake violently.
"Hahaha, Hiruzen! It's been a long time! Come on, let's exchange a few moves!"
"Hah! Konoha Dragon God!"
Seeing Teacher Chen go all out, Uchiha Itachi, who had not thought him particularly strong, felt his eyes light up.
"This attack is so powerful!"
"You haven't changed a bit. Still so reckless."
Seeing Teacher Chen unleash such a powerful move right in the street, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head lightly and flung out a shuriken concealed in his sleeve.
At the same time, his hands flashed through hand seals before pressing together.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
In an instant, the single shuriken became a dense swarm that filled the sky and hurtled toward Teacher Chen's wind dragon.
Their sheer numbers were terrifying.
Yet Teacher Chen showed no fear, driving the wind dragon straight down.
"Come on, Hiruzen!"
"Here I come, old Chen!"
Rumble...
Before you continue