Two and a half years later.
In the morning light, the stream of the Naka River shimmered with ripples of golden brilliance, an entrancing sight.
Yet on the training grounds behind the Uchiha clan compound by the riverbank, an atmosphere of anxiety hung thick in the air.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke's fingers trembled slightly as he formed the hand seals.
He extended his right hand to his mouth. His chest swelled as scorching chakra gathered in his throat—
Then, with a puh sound, he expelled it with all his strength!
Puh—chi.
A flame no larger than a fist flew barely two meters before dispersing directly into the wind.
It didn't even raise the surrounding temperature.
"Failed again…"
Sasuke clenched his teeth. Self-blame and disappointment flickered through his eyes.
He had begun trying to learn Fire Release half a year ago.
And the Great Fireball Technique in front of him—he'd been practicing it for two whole months now, yet still couldn't quite grasp the诀窍.
It was difficult enough that he couldn't even use it properly to light a fire.
Nearby.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. "Perhaps I shouldn't have expected too much."
"Itachi is already a rare genius. Jin is an unprecedented prodigy within the clan. As for Sasuke… maybe being ordinary isn't such a bad thing."
In truth, mastering it in two months already counted as excellent talent. But compared to his brothers—who learned it instantly—it was still painfully inadequate.
Thinking this, Fugaku gently patted Sasuke on the shoulder in comfort.
"It's alright, Sasuke. Even when Itachi first learned the Great Fireball, he only spat it out about five meters."
Over the years, under Jin's influence, they'd all naturally started calling Itachi Itachi instead of using honorifics.
"Huh? Then… mine still went two meters…" Sasuke's little face suddenly brightened. "Then how long did Itachi-niisan take to learn it?"
"Uh…" Fugaku hesitated, unsure how to explain.
Tell the truth?
That would crush the kid's heart.
But if he didn't—
Just as he was wavering, a lazy voice drifted down from the courtyard wall.
"Oh, Itachi just watched Father perform it once and copied it. He succeeded on the first try."
"Oh right, Second Pillar," Jin waved his hand casually, speaking with complete honesty.
"When Father said five meters, he meant the diameter, not the length."
After speaking, Jin flipped over on the wall, grinning as he looked down at the two who hadn't chatted yet today.
That single sentence made Sasuke completely unable to lift his head.
Drip.
Drip.
Sweat trickled down from the bridge of his nose.
He bit down hard on his lower lip, his palms turning pale where his nails dug in.
For two whole months, he'd trained like a madman—yet he still couldn't compare to a single imitation by his brother!
But the more anxious he became, the more his chakra resembled a wild horse breaking loose, rampaging through his meridians.
There were even faint signs of losing control.
Fugaku patted him again, not knowing what else to say.
"Father, perhaps Sasuke simply isn't suited for Fire Release."
Uchiha Arata propped one leg against the wall, the other dangling outside as he swung it idly, speaking again.
This wasn't just to fulfill the requirement of ten minutes of conversation—it was the truth.
Sasuke's Fire Release really was rather average. Especially compared to his astonishing Lightning Release talent, it was utterly crushed.
At that stage in the future, Second Pillar would draw his sword with Chidori crackling over his entire body—special effects maxed out.
Once Kirin was unleashed, all Lightning Release in the shinobi world would be raised to an entirely new level.
So, for the sake of better "copying effects," Jin felt it necessary to set things right now.
After all these years, he hadn't managed to copy a single decent trait from Second Pillar!
"Nonsense!" Upon hearing Jin's words, Fugaku snorted coldly.
"The Uchiha clan has been famed for Fire Release since the Warring States Era—especially that legendary man, whose Fire Release could even burn away Lord Hashirama's Wood Release!"
"What incomparable glory!"
Yes, yes. Burned away Wood Release—and now he's lying underground, ready to crawl out and deal with you anytime.
Jin rolled his eyes and flipped down from the wall.
When he landed, the dust kicked up strangely curved around the edges of his clothes.
After two and a half years of "photosynthesis," the chakra surrounding him had long grown deep and solid like an abyssal pool.
At this moment, as he looked toward Sasuke, faint pale-blue veins suddenly surfaced around his right eye!
This—
Was the Byakugan of the Hyūga main family!
Over the past two and a half years, he'd grown increasingly proficient with it.
He could activate it at any time—and conceal it just as easily.
Within the main family's 360-degree, blind-spot-free vision, Sasuke's bodily meridians appeared clearly before him.
Inside, the interwoven blue-purple chakra pathways were revealed in minute detail.
Those restless arcs of electricity coursed along his meridians, violently colliding with the crimson chakra every time he attempted Fire Release.
"Lightning restrains Earth. Fire restrains Wind. But Lightning and Fire…" Jin raised two fingers.
"It's like throwing explosive tags into a bonfire—you just can't handle it."
As his words fell, blinding lightning suddenly burst from his fingertips!
Sasuke's pupils went completely rigid.
"Se–Se–Second Brother! When did you learn Lightning Release?!"
Beside them, Uchiha Fugaku was equally curious—
And even a little delighted.
In his memory, this second son had awakened the Sharingan very early, but otherwise seemed to do nothing but sleep.
So where did this Lightning Release come from?
Did it fall from the sky?
Subconsciously, a crimson glow flashed in Fugaku's eyes—the three-tomoe Sharingan spinning into view.
Vaguely, the tomoe even showed signs of changing.
As though they were about to merge into one—
At that moment, Jin's voice rang out again, cutting off the transformation.
"Father."
"The Uchiha Sharingan can predict the trajectory of lightning."
"And Lightning Release…" He turned to look at his stunned little brother.
"…can make lightning catch up to our eyes."
As the words ended, Jin clenched his lightning-wreathed right hand.
"Screee—!"
In an instant, the cry of Chidori echoed!
Countless high-density electric currents converged on his hand!
Dense, azure light spread outward, devouring everything around it!
"This is—!!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori?!!"
Uchiha Fugaku's pupils shook violently. The three tomoe instantly returned to normal, his eyes clearing slightly.
Lightning Release: Chidori.
Kakashi's signature technique.
Even he had heard of it.
But—
How could it reappear in the hands of his own second son?
Could Kakashi have taught Jin?
No—no—no, that shouldn't be possible.
At the very least, the Third Hokage would never allow such a thing.
Perhaps… it was time to launch the coup in advance!
In that instant, Fugaku's thoughts were in complete turmoil.
As for Sasuke—
Only a single word remained on his small face:
"Want."
He wanted it!
Loved it!
Such flashy, handsome, special-effects-overloaded techniques—he loved them to death!
But when did Jin, who lazed around all day, learn this?
Could it be he learned it by sunbathing again?
Or by being chased by dogs?
Even with genius-level talent, techniques of this tier required tremendous effort to control freely, didn't they?
Yet Jin seemed to use it effortlessly, without any sign of practice?!
At this moment, as Sasuke looked again at that unmotivated second brother who only knew how to bask in the sun, his face slowly flushed.
Even… with shame.
He'd trained bitterly, yet still couldn't match what Jin learned from sunbathing—faster and stronger!
A thought suddenly rose in his heart:
"So… there's the genius brother, the monstrous Jin—and… the foolish me!"
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