Shigeo Hyūga couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention, not even sparing him a glance.
Uchiha Itachi, sitting on Shigeo's left side, gave a cold snort at the sight and tilted his head toward Hyūga Hikaru:
"If you dare to mock him again, just try."
After saying this, his eyes narrowed, glaring directly at Hikaru.
Seeing this, Hikaru grimaced awkwardly and quickly turned his face away.
Over the past six months, even though Uchiha Itachi had not yet enrolled in the Academy, his reputation had already spread throughout Konoha. His taijutsu, the Uchiha clan's ninjutsu—all had produced remarkable results.
Even Hyūga Hikaru, arrogant as he was, did not dare provoke him!
Shigeo laughed lightly at the scene. Uchiha Itachi glanced sidelong at him and said softly:
"Tonight after school, meet me in the Nishiyama forest."
Shigeo nodded. He had to admit, aside from his younger brother, he was likely the only one Uchiha Itachi would step forward to protect.
At noon, a beaming Jiraiya was already waiting outside the Academy gates. Grabbing Shigeo up, he dashed straight back to Tsunade's home, where Shizune had already prepared lunch.
The three of them happily finished eating, when Jiraiya began pestering again:
"Hyūga Shigeo, just show me once, please? Just once—let me see it! I've never witnessed it before. Come on, let's head to Nishiyama! You can do it, right?"
"What are you two talking about?" Shizune asked as she packed her things—she had a mission that afternoon.
"Nothing, nothing! Kids shouldn't pry into everything!" Jiraiya quickly brushed her off, worried she would spoil the moment.
Shizune sighed helplessly. After reminding Shigeo to stay safe in the village and to seek out the Third Hokage if anything came up, she departed for her mission.
The moment she was gone, Jiraiya grew even more restless. Shigeo, unable to rest, turned to him:
"Fine, I'll show you. But on one condition—you must agree."
"What condition? As long as it's not against morals or conscience, I'll agree!" Jiraiya's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"From now on, you must never ask me why. No matter what happens—you can't ask. Can you do that?" Shigeo's expression was serious, his tone firm.
Jiraiya nodded, raising two fingers in oath:
"Fine! As long as you show me your shichisai menpū (Seven-Colored Face Mark). Even if I discover something strange about you later, I'll never question it again!"
"Good. I'll be waiting at Nishiyama."
With that, Shigeo vanished in an instant through a spatial transfer.
Jiraiya's jaw nearly hit the floor. He looked around the room in disbelief, touched the air where Shigeo had disappeared, and nearly leapt in shock.
"What the—? He… he just disappeared like that?! Nishiyama—I have to go!"
He rushed off immediately.
Atop the mountain, Shigeo sat calmly upon a large boulder, waiting. When Jiraiya arrived, he began to ask:
"How did you just disapp—"
But Shigeo raised his gaze. Though his pupils were unfocused, Jiraiya could still read the warning in his tightly furrowed brows.
"Alright, alright, I won't ask! Let's begin."
Rubbing his hands together in excitement, Jiraiya could hardly contain himself. Ever since he'd heard from the toad sage Fukasaku that a blind child in Konoha had, without a teacher, trained in senjutsu in just half a day—and that his face markings were seven-colored—he had rushed back without delay. He'd even dreamed of the sight along the way. Now, at last, he would witness it with his own eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya's expression was like that of a devout believer.
Shigeo closed his eyes and began drawing in the natural chakra of the world. From the mountains and rivers, the trees and grasses, the very air—tiny motes of chakra flowed toward him, merging into his body.
He felt refreshed, streams of cool energy coursing through every part of him. When he opened his eyes again, rainbow-hued chakra patterns appeared upon his eyelids.
Jiraiya gasped in awe.
"Incredible! No wonder Fukasaku said the world is full of wonders. This is a true miracle! Tell me, Shigeo—was this why Orochimaru tried to capture you?"
"Sensei, what did you promise me?" Shigeo asked sternly, releasing the Sennin Mōdo (Sage Mode) and returning to normal. Rising from the stone, he began walking down the mountain.
"Alright, alright! I won't ask!" Jiraiya chuckled, hurrying after him. Together, they returned to Shigeo's home.
That evening, Jiraiya personally picked him up from school. After dinner, he left. The moment Jiraiya was gone, Shigeo slipped away again, heading to Nishiyama—where Uchiha Itachi was already waiting.
Just as Shigeo was about to greet him, Itachi spun around and hurled a barrage of kunai. Shigeo leapt aside, dodging them skillfully. Suddenly, more kunai flew from above, below, and both sides.
This was the Uchiha clan's famed kunai ricochet technique, a tricky throwing method.
Shigeo twisted through the air, blocking some strikes with his feet, and vanished with a spin.
Itachi immediately gave chase into the trees.
The two exchanged rapid movements—dodge, throw, close combat—their battle fierce and exhilarating. After two hours, thirty li from Konoha, both stopped and broke into laughter.
"I didn't expect your progress to be this fast. Two hours, and I couldn't gain the slightest edge!" Itachi said with a grin.
"You're strong as well."
"Maybe just a little stronger than you…" Itachi teased, showing a tiny gap with his fingers before taking a drink from his water pouch.
"Tomorrow's the Academy lesson on chakra refining. Do you still plan to grow steadily? Sometimes… faster is better. Life is short—if we don't hurry, how will we protect the village?"
Shigeo looked up at the stars.
"I don't want to grow too quickly. I'd rather take it slow."
"Slow? If you're with me, how can it be slow?" Itachi said, then suddenly began weaving hand signs.
"Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique)!"
Seeing this, Shigeo quickly responded:
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)!"
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!..."
A massive surge of water clashed forward, extinguishing Itachi's fire instantly, then colliding with his own water technique head-on.
Itachi watched intently. Normally, his water technique was much stronger than the Water Dragon. Besides, Shigeo's dragon had already expended energy suppressing his fire. By all logic, the clash should have ended in his favor.
As he finished his calculations, the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile.
(End of Chapter)
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