Uchiha Itama really wanted to know.
Itachi was the perfect point of reference.
Only with power beyond Uchiha Itachi could he hope to change the Uchiha clan's fate by his own strength.
Uchiha Fugaku fell silent for a moment.
"In terms of current strength, Itachi is certainly stronger than you."
"After all, he has studied as a ninja far longer than you."
"But if we speak of talent, when Itachi had just begun training, he was not your equal. Whether it is chakra extraction or the speed of learning jutsu, you are a little faster."
"Also, Itachi cannot use ninjutsu without seals."
"He only forms seals very quickly."
"But he still needs seals."
Itama nodded.
Fugaku's words gave him some confidence.
He was a genius more remarkable than Uchiha Itachi.
If he trained hard, surpassing Itachi would not be impossible.
What separated him from Itachi was time.
And the Sharingan.
But talent exists to catch up with time.
As for the Sharingan, since he was a genius, his ceiling should not stop at three tomoe. He should be able to awaken the Mangekyo.
There was no reason Itachi, whose talent was inferior to his, could open it while he could not.
"However, do not grow arrogant."
"Talent is only part of it. Effort afterward is just as important."
"And remember what I told you about using jutsu without seals. Do not expose it to any outsider."
Fugaku paused, then continued, "Since you already mastered yesterday's techniques, today I will teach you another."
"It is also highly practical."
"It is called the Shadow Clone Technique."
Ordinary clones were only illusions, phantoms with no real combat ability.
Only higher level clone techniques, such as Earth Clone, Water Clone, and Shadow Clone, had real combat power.
He finished speaking and formed seals.
BANG!
A shadow clone appeared at Fugaku's side.
"Itama, your turn."
Itama nodded.
Then he lifted a hand and brought it down.
BANG!
A shadow clone appeared.
Intense envy flickered in Fugaku's eyes.
Learning the Shadow Clone Technique at once was indeed impressive.
But Itachi had already shown him that much.
What Fugaku envied even more was the use of ninjutsu without seals.
The advantage was enormous.
No matter how fast you formed seals, it still took time.
And the opponent could read your seals to guess what jutsu was coming.
That man named Kakashi did exactly this.
From who knew where he had learned that perverse habit, copying others' jutsu mid-battle by tracking their seals with the Sharingan's dynamic vision.
He had earned the title Copy Ninja.
But Itama did not need seals at all.
Facing an enemy, he could clap his hands and produce whatever he wanted.
It was faster, and the opponent could not tell which jutsu he intended to use.
"Not bad."
Fugaku nodded.
"That is enough for today, Itama. When I get home, I will draft a study route for you. Starting tomorrow, follow it step by step."
"Continue until the Academy opens."
"All right."
When Fugaku returned home, he could not hide his wild joy.
"What is it now?"
Seeing his expression, Uchiha Mikoto could not help asking.
"It is still about Itama."
Fugaku glanced around, lowered his voice, and said, "Mikoto, you cannot imagine the extent of Itama's genius."
"Didn't you just say yesterday that Itama's talent is a bit stronger than Itachi's?"
"More than a bit."
Fugaku lowered his voice even further.
"Beyond learning jutsu faster than Itachi, Itama has a special gift that belongs only to him. He does not need hand seals for any jutsu."
"No hand seals?"
Mikoto's eyes widened.
As a kunoichi, she understood perfectly what that meant.
"Exactly."
Fugaku nodded heavily.
"I have never seen any ninja achieve this. Only in the legends of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, is there such a rumor."
"Itama is far more gifted than I realized yesterday."
"Our Uchiha are destined to become the strongest shinobi clan in the entire world."
Fugaku's eyes shone with longing.
Mikoto was just as happy for Itama.
After the joy, worry crept in.
"Fugaku, no one can know that Itama uses ninjutsu without seals."
"I know."
Fugaku nodded. "I already told Itama not to reveal it to anyone."
"Good."
"If possible," Fugaku said, "I would not even send him to the Academy. I would teach him myself. With his talent, it would not take much time."
"In truth, the Academy was meaningless for Itachi."
"He applied for early graduation after a year."