Konoha.
Clang—clang!
Kunai, shuriken, and ninja swords kept striking as two figures broke apart on the training field.
"Ye, you've improved a lot recently."
Uchiha Mikoto sheathed her blade with a satisfied smile.
Uchiha Ye wiped the sweat from his brow and put his sword away. Indeed, Mikoto was a prodigy — right now, he really couldn't match her.
"Congratulations on becoming a special jōnin, Mikoto-senpai."
At fifteen, Mikoto Uchiha had just been promoted to special jōnin. She was a prodigy skilled in genjutsu, Fire Release, and swordsmanship; her Sharingan already had two tomoe — among the Uchiha, she ranked near the very top.
Mikoto returned Ye's compliment with a gentle smile.
"Ye, you've gotten very comfortable using your Sharingan."
The two sat on the soft grass and enjoyed the breeze as Mikoto patiently pointed out his weaknesses.
"Ye, when kekkei awaken in the ninja world, the body usually enjoys a brief explosion period — chakra and physical capability surge, though different users focus on different aspects. For us Uchiha, when the Sharingan opens, chakra becomes the focus. With the Sharingan's assistance, learning ninjutsu or genjutsu becomes a lot easier…"
Ye panted and listened as Mikoto elaborated on how mighty the Sharingan was. He couldn't help but feel awed. The Sharingan was truly game-changing — opening it turned someone into a prodigy.
From canon, he could see similar patterns: for example,Yuki clan gains enormous power the moment their kekkei awakens. And Uchiha Sasuke's power rose dramatically after opening his Sharingan and training with Kakashi for just a month.
A ninja's chakra and constitution normally build slowly — but for kekkei users, awakening or evolving is like a cheat code.
"For the Uchiha, the Sharingan is so powerful that many clan members lose themselves — trying to develop ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu all at once, turning from genius to ordinary. You've already opened your eyes; pick one path to focus on: ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu."
Ye nodded with a smile, internalizing her advice. Kekkei users should be the backbone of this world — and indeed, this world was sick.
Awakening or evolving a bloodline is a kind of evolutionary leap.
"Mikoto-senpai, I get it. Every great shinobi specializes; those who try to master everything usually waste their talents."
They rested on the tranquil training ground; Ye wiped his sweat and took a purple headband from his tool pouch.
"Congratulations, Special Jōnin Uchiha Mikoto!"
When Mikoto saw the gift, she giggled, and a hint of coquettishness showed.
"Thanks, Ye."
As the saying goes: if she's inexperienced, show her the world; if she's world-weary, take her on a carousel. Mikoto's status meant she never lacked tools or jutsu, so Ye wasn't going to give her anything frivolous.
Mikoto smiled, then pulled out a pair of black bracers and laughed:
"Congratulations to you too — Chūnin Uchiha Ye!"
Ye was stunned. Chūnin?
Seeing his expression, Mikoto laughed. "Of course. The chūnin orders have already been processed in the clan. You'll find your promotion notice when you go back."
No wonder the Uchiha were a great house — even Hokage paperwork had to go through the family first.
"Thanks, Mikoto-senpai."
Ye took the black bracers with a smile, but just as he was about to put them on, his pupils contracted.
"These are… incredibly valuable!"
Before he could finish, Mikoto chuckled and said gently, "Valuable? To me, Ye is more precious than any object."
Her warm smile hid that unique Uchiha intensity, and Ye, momentarily stunned, accepted the gift with a laugh.
The bracers bore the character for "sword" — they were sealing armguards, a compact, hidden design, extremely rare. Ye remembered seeing one used in the canon when Sasuke fought Itachi.
"Mikoto."
At that call, she turned and smiled at the newcomer; Ye smiled back.
"Kushina!"
A head of beautiful red hair fluttered in the sun. Uzumaki Kushina, wearing black thigh-high socks, waved over with a sincere smile.
"Ye-kun."
Kushina still kept a distance from Ye; the girl had an invisible barrier. In the original story, Kushina was warm-hearted later on, but at this stage, she hadn't yet felt belonging in Konoha.
"Kushina."
Mikoto greeted her with a smile.
"Congratulations on your promotion to special jōnin."
Kushina laughed and hugged Mikoto warmly — their affection was clear.
Ye could see Kushina's reserve toward him; at this stage, many people in Konoha kept a wall between them and the village. Ye didn't press it; he went to a corner of the training ground to get used to the sealing bracers Mikoto had given him.
…
At the edge of the field, Ye examined the bracer thoughtfully.
"Being reborn into this body really is an art."
The Uchiha shuriken techniques were famed across the ninja world, and with the Sharingan, they were even deadlier. Mikoto's present was cleverly concealed and could be devastatingly effective when used at the right moment.
As Ye reflected, the grass rustled, and a stiff voice called out.
"Mikoto's really partial — she gave you such an expensive gift."
Ye narrowed his eyes and glanced toward the figure. He saw, at a distance, a red-haired shadow chatting and laughing with Mikoto. It was a shadow clone — the Uzumaki had used a clone to approach, a telltale sign: the Uzumaki clan's skill with clones fit their name.
Kushina's real body was elsewhere, and the clone's voice carried a bit of jealousy.
"Kushina, or should I say: your shadow clone — the Uzumaki name suits you."
Ye joked while glancing toward the figure. Shadow Clone Technique is B-rank and requires a lot of chakra — no wonder many are daunted by it.
Kushina glared at Ye, clearly displeased. Her expression showed warning.
"Ye-kun, Mikoto already told me everything. I can agree to play along with this, but you'd better stay away from Mikoto."
In Konoha, Kushina, apart from Mito/older figures and Tsunade, had few peers her age she cherished — Mikoto was one. She treasured that friendship.
Ye looked at the scowling Kushina and smirked inwardly. Not yandere — more like a child clutching a favorite toy, unwilling to share. Or perhaps like a former country's princess who finally found a friend and can't bear to let anyone else have her.
This ninja world might be twisted — but he loved it all the same.
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