Shimura Danzō had never shied away from assuming the worst malice of the Uchiha Clan.
"Making such a spectacle, with almost the entire clan acting together-are the Uchiha finally preparing to rebel?"
The Root ninja kneeling on one knee raised his head and answered cautiously.
"Lord Danzo, from what I've observed, these Uchiha Clan members operating under the banner of the 'Great Love Group' really are doing good deeds. One time, an Uchiha even helped me cross the street..."
"Someone drag this fellow away and brainwash him again! Ten times!"
Shimura Danzō waved a hand, signaling for his other subordinates to take the man away.
"Those inherently evil Uchiha actually dared to hypnotize my Root members with genjutsu! An utterly heinous crime!"
The Root ninja who had just delivered his report was taken away.
Still frowning, Shimura Danzō repeatedly reviewed the intelligence in his hands.
He read it for an entire night.
Not because he had figured it out.
But because dawn had arrived.
"Damn those Uchiha!"
Shimura Danzō's lone eye glowed red from the bloodshot veins caused by staying up too long.
"So they really are planning a rebellion!
"Even Uchiha Shisui isn't on their side now, yet they still dare to brazenly buy people's loyalty.
"Someone! Mobilize Root's Propaganda Machine! Expose every last bit of the Uchiha Clan's sinister ambitions!
"A mere Uchiha Clan, a bunch of red-eyed freaks running the Konoha Military Police Force, dreaming of winning people over through good deeds.
"In their dreams!"
Chapter 27: Master Minamoto, When Will You Be the Strongest Uchiha? (Please Keep Reading! Please Send Monthly Votes!)
The familiar Training Ground No. 7.
Root's darkness had yet to spread here.
The Second Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting began on schedule.
"Good morning, family!"
Master Minamoto held a megaphone, smiling broadly at the dense crowd before him.
Thanks to the solid foundation laid by the first Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting.
And Uchiha Minamoto's rapidly growing reputation within the clan lately.
The participants in the Second Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting far surpassed those of the first in both quantity and quality.
Nearly every available ninja in the Uchiha Clan had turned out, gathering at Training Ground No. 7.
There were quite a few children among them, too.
Sasuke Uchiha, for instance.
Apparently, Uchiha Itachi's injury had not affected Uchiha Minamoto's standing in Sasuke's heart.
Besides.
Big Brother Minamoto was a big brother, too!
Uchiha Minamoto's gaze swept across the faces, some familiar and some unfamiliar, and he continued with his smile unchanged.
"I know you're eager, but hold your horses.
"Our old friends have probably noticed that we have quite a few new friends at this Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting.
"Given that, I've decided to adjust the Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting's curriculum."
Ninja of different skill levels needed different instruction.
At Uchiha Minamoto's prompting.
The Uchiha Clan's ninja roughly divided themselves into three groups.
Chunin and above.
Genin.
Ninja Academy students.
Holding his megaphone, Uchiha Minamoto issued instructions.
"Children still attending school, please follow Izumi. She'll teach you the fundamentals, namely precise chakra control.
"Genin, please follow Yan. He attended the last Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting and has already perfectly mastered the single-seal version of the [Great Fireball Technique]. He'll handle today's ninjutsu instruction.
"As for our seniors ranked Chunin and above, you can stay here. We'll go straight to 'hands-on combat instruction'!
"Your opponent is me!
"Who's first?"
The Uchiha ninja who remained looked at one another.
Finally, a middle-aged ninja stepped out of the crowd.
Uchiha Hinotori, a veteran Chunin and one of the Fifth Division's squad leaders.
"Uncle Hinotori."
Uchiha Minamoto greeted him warmly by name while forming the "Seal of Confrontation."
"I won't go easy on you~"
"Minamoto! Don't underestimate me!!"
Uchiha Hinotori refused to concede verbally, but he did not forget to make the "Seal of Confrontation" gesture either.
"This uncle is really going to get angry."
The Seal of Confrontation was formed.
It all happened in an instant.
Uchiha Minamoto raised his left hand and brought it together with his right, forming the "Tiger" seal and launching straight into a live demonstration.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom!
The enormous fireball hurtled toward Uchiha Hinotori with terrifying heat, its scorching temperature warping the air along its path.
It really is the single-seal version of the [Great Fireball Technique]!
Uchiha Hinotori was startled, not daring to hesitate in his footwork.
He used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge swiftly to the enormous fireball's right, then immediately rushed forward and drew his Ninja Blade.
The silvery blade traced a streak of light through the air and pierced Uchiha Minamoto's body in the nick of time.
"Oh! I got him!"
Uchiha Hinotori was startled at first, then delighted.
But in the next instant.
The empty sensation from his blade made Uchiha Hinotori realize that what he had stabbed was merely a clone.
"Caw-caw-"
Amid a burst of loud cawing, the body Uchiha Minamoto had left standing there scattered into dozens of pitch-black crows.
[Crow Clone Technique]!
The crows took wing, their flapping black wings obscuring Uchiha Hinotori's vision.
"Omae wa mou shindeiru! (You are already dead.)"
"Nani?!"
Uchiha Minamoto's voice came from behind Uchiha Hinotori.
Along with it.
Came the chilling short blade [Electric Light Pill], held against his neck.
The icy blade pressed against his skin, raising goose bumps on Uchiha Hinotori.
He had lost!
A crushing defeat without any chance to fight back!
With a bitter expression, Uchiha Hinotori put away his Ninja Blade.
"Kids these days really are terrifyingly strong~"
Uchiha Hinotori left the field at lightning speed.
"Who's next?"
"I'll do it!"
In answer to Uchiha Minamoto's question, a figure flickered into the center of the field.
Black hair, a button nose, and a distinctive pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Who else could it be but Uchiha Shisui?
Uchiha Shisui formed the "Tiger" seal with both hands, took a deep breath, and exhaled fiercely.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The fiercely burning fireball was several sizes larger than the one Uchiha Minamoto had just unleashed.
Once the firelight faded.
Uchiha Shisui's gentle voice followed.
"The single-seal version of the [Great Fireball Technique] really is useful. Just what you'd expect from a Super Genius."
Ever since returning to Konoha and hearing about Uchiha Minamoto from Itachi, Uchiha Shisui had wanted to meet this rather unusual younger clansman, but he had never found a suitable opportunity.
After waiting patiently for a week, Uchiha Shisui finally got his chance at today's Ninjutsu Exchange Meeting.
"Interested in sparring with me, Minamoto?"
"In front of 'Body Flicker Shisui,' I can hardly call myself a 'genius.'"
Uchiha Minamoto's chest rose and fell slightly a few times as he reined in his restless feelings.
"But having the chance to challenge you, Senior Shisui, is an honor!"
Upon hearing their exchange, the Uchiha gathered nearby all stepped back some distance, making room for the two to fight.
Even the Uchiha Genin and Ninja Academy students who had just gone elsewhere to practice temporarily stopped their exercises at their seniors' prompting and ran over to watch the fight.
Uchiha Minamoto had defeated Uchiha Itachi head-on, establishing his reputation within the clan as a Super Genius.
But now his opponent was Uchiha Shisui!
Uchiha Itachi was strong.
But Uchiha Shisui was a ninja on another level.
Since Uchiha Shisui's return from the battlefield in the Land of Lightning, he had gained another title: "Strongest Genjutsu User of the Uchiha Clan."
In other words.
Uchiha Shisui was "the strongest Uchiha"!
The spectators burst into enthusiastic cheers.
"Shisui! Show that brat Minamoto what's what!"
"You can do it! Big brother from the Great Love Group!"
Before you continue