"Who?!"
Fugaku Uchiha shuddered and swiftly turned around, his Sharingan scanning every corner of the hidden room. "Sneaking around like this—come out!"
Under his anxious gaze, a straw-hatted stranger emerged from the wall.
It was Black Zetsu.
"Who are you?"
Fugaku naturally had no idea who Black Zetsu really was. He frowned and asked.
This hidden chamber was known only to an elite few within the Uchiha clan. Yet this mysterious man in the straw hat acted as if he had been coming and going here freely for a long time.
No matter—he would just capture him and interrogate later.
Not wanting to waste any more time talking, Fugaku didn't wait for a reply. His crimson Sharingan spun rapidly, immediately launching a Genjutsu at the opponent.
Surprisingly, however, something happened that had never occurred before—the Genjutsu, which he had always taken pride in and had never failed him…
Failed.
His opponent had resisted it completely.
And what Black Zetsu said next sent shockwaves through Fugaku's mind.
"You want to control me with your Genjutsu? Too bad. If that had been cast using the Mangekyo Sharingan, maybe it would have worked."
Black Zetsu patted his chest dramatically, acting as though he were shaken by the close call.
He'd been dealing with the Uchiha clan since Indra's time over a thousand years ago, so it was only natural that he'd developed countermeasures against their illusions.
"Just who exactly are you, and why do you know about the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Fugaku lost his composure, his heart racing violently.
"I'm not important. You only need to know—I'm here to help you."
Black Zetsu's eyes grew deep and meaningful.
Over a month ago, Fugaku had killed Kurokawa, one of Madara Uchiha's men. That was when both Madara and Black Zetsu took notice of him.
Ever since then, Black Zetsu had secretly observed Fugaku, thoroughly analyzing everything about him: his potential, habits, and interpersonal relationships.
Today marked the moment he chose to reveal himself directly and make contact with Fugaku Uchiha.
Suddenly—
Several chakra pulses approached from outside the hidden room. A group of elite Uchiha ninja arrived for their meeting.
"Nice to meet you. Here's a small gift—please accept it, won't you?"
Spotting the interruption, Black Zetsu didn't stay any longer. His body melted into the wall. Before disappearing completely, he tossed a jutsu scroll straight toward Fugaku.
Clap!
Fugaku caught the scroll firmly. A range of emotions flashed across his face, but curiosity eventually got the better of him, and he opened it.
"It's actually… [Uchiha Flame Formation]."
Shock registered again. This B-rank sealing technique was unmistakably one of the secret arts Madara Uchiha had once taken away from the clan.
For a moment, the identity and motives of the straw-hatted stranger became even more enigmatic in Fugaku's mind.
Just then, the door to the hidden room swung open, and the Uchiha clan head along with several high-ranking elders entered.
"Fugaku, you came early today."
They looked at him with approval and warmth, all convinced that this newly risen genius could restore the Uchiha to greatness.
"Clan leader," Fugaku paused momentarily before suddenly speaking up, "I want to know… more about Madara Uchiha."
An hour later, the secret meeting ended. After parting ways with the others, Fugaku returned home.
Although he had encountered the mysterious straw-hatted stranger, Fugaku's plans remained unaffected.
His current goal was singular—to defeat Heiyan.
However, before challenging Heiyan, he decided to spend some time mastering the newly acquired sealing technique [Uchiha Flame Formation].
This would further enhance his strength and ensure victory.
Three days later.
In a small villa by Konoha River, near the Hot Spring District.
Inside the study, Heiyan spread out a scroll on the table and studied it carefully.
This scroll, gifted to him by Hanzo, contained knowledge about the Kekkei Genkai known as Storm Release.
In the ninja world, Kekkei Genkai can generally be divided into two categories.
The first type is physique-based, such as Sharingan, Byakugan, and Shikotsumyaku, all inherited from ancestors through bloodlines across generations.
For example, the Sharingan originated from the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo; while the Byakugan was passed down from his younger brother, Hamura, to the Hyūga clan.
The characteristic of this kind of Kekkei Genkai is that outsiders cannot learn them through training—it can only be forcibly taken and then transplanted via organ replacement.
The second type is escape-style techniques, including Storm Release, Lava Release, Scorch Release, Magnet Release, and so on.
Though these Kekkei Genkai can also be inherited across generations through bloodlines, they are not exclusive to specific lineages.
For example, in the original records, both Madara Uchiha and Tarui could use Storm Release; both the Five-Tails and Mei Terumi could use Boil Release; and there were even more people who could use Lava Release and Magnet Release.
Ultimately, the principle behind escape-style Kekkei Genkai was combining two types of Chakra Natures simultaneously. Once successful, a Kekkei Genkai would be born.
Such escape-style bloodline limits could be inherited genetically, developed independently by different ninja—or even learned by those with the right aptitude.
In any ninja village, Kekkei Genkai were closely guarded secrets.
Therefore, the scroll Hanzo gave Heiyan didn't contain the complete Storm Release inheritance. Instead, it only included basic cultivation methods and notes compiled by previous users.
Heiyan's objective was to refer to the content and attempt to fuse his Water Release and Lightning Release into his own version of the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai.
Yet just as he immersed himself deeply in researching Storm Release, an important event occurred within the Hidden Leaf.
This major incident inevitably involved Heiyan as well.
The Chunin Exams had begun.
Held twice each year, this time Konoha was hosting the exams, inviting Sunagakure—one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries—as well as minor villages like Takigakure, Yugakure, and Kusagakure to participate.
It wasn't because Heiyan had entered the exam that he got dragged into it, but rather because the competing teams from several villages were going to stay at his family's "Four Seasons Hotel."
After all, this large boutique hotel under his ownership was a flagship enterprise of the family business. Its facilities and service were unmatched anywhere in the ninja world.
With such distinguished guests arriving soon, Heiyan naturally needed to personally step forward and manage arrangements accordingly.
The next morning, around mid-morning.
Heiyan arrived with a large group of staff at the entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel, waiting for the guests to arrive.
Standing side by side in the crowd, Tsunade crossed her arms and yawned repeatedly, clearly bored out of her mind.
She had been assigned as Konoha's representative to greet delegations from various ninja villages.
"How about it, little Heiyan? Are you planning to sign up for the Chunin Exams?"
Tsunade casually asked out of boredom.
"No."
Heiyan replied curtly.
Yet, he was already fourteen years old, and she was only twenty—just six years his senior. Why must she always add that "little" before his name?
In the spirit of reciprocity, maybe he should start calling her "Big Sis Tsunade"?
Though, she really was quite... big.
As for why Heiyan wasn't preparing for the Chunin Exams, there were two reasons.
Why wasn't Heiyan preparing for the Chunin Exams? There were two reasons.
First, he had been busy researching Storm Release lately and simply didn't have the time.
Secondly, after fighting someone on Hanzo's level, it was naturally difficult to get excited about battles typical of the Chunin Exams.
He had no interest in picking on kids.
Besides, what was wrong with being a Genin anyway? After all, everyone knows that Konoha's Genin are the strongest combat force, aren't they?
"Hmm…"
Tsunade nodded upon hearing his answer, completely unaware of Heiyan's thoughts. She thought he lacked confidence.
Thus, she gently pat his shoulder and comforted him:
"Don't lose heart. You're still recovering from that serious illness. Your lack of strength and experience is only temporary. Once you make some allies and take on a few missions, your abilities will naturally improve."
Indeed, the Chunin Exams tested a ninja's overall capabilities—asking Heiyan to take part might be asking too much.
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