Uchiha didn't know which of the two scrolls recorded ninjutsu and which contained illusion techniques, so he picked one at random and unfolded it.
"Illusion," Uchiha muttered to himself after glancing at the first few lines. "Just scroll down."
About five minutes in, his brows furrowed. Something felt off. Skipping the unfinished sections, he quickly scanned further down the scroll.
The more he read, the deeper his frown became. Finally, he whispered, "This... this isn't right."
From what he'd learned both in his past life and from Uchiha Shisui today, Hui could tell something was wrong with this illusion scroll.
Uchiha illusions followed a clear pattern — they relied heavily on visual cues to take advantage of the Sharingan's strengths. Typically, illusions were triggered by eye contact or making the target see a specific object. Exceptions existed, but those were rare techniques crafted by exceptional geniuses like Uchiha Shisui.
But this scroll... it was different. The illusions described were chaotic and inconsistent, activating by manipulating all five senses in a variety of ways. It read more like a disorganized collection of techniques rather than a systematic illusion style.
Hui sighed bitterly, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful glint. "Father mentioned that the forbidden arts Izanagi and Izanami were secretive and special... but this? This is completely different." He shook his head. "It's too complex to learn efficiently now, and I doubt I could even master it."
With that thought, Uchiha Hui activated his Sharingan. The crimson glow intensified as the tomoe spun. Using the Sharingan's copying ability, he memorized the text layout and illustrations on the scroll. Once satisfied, he turned his attention to the second scroll.
Hui spent the entire night immersed in study. By morning, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and the fatigue gnawed at his mind.
"You didn't sleep at all, did you?" Uchiha Hikaru sighed, pressing his palm to his forehead.
Hui gave a silent nod.
"You should take a break," Hikaru suggested softly. "Take a day off from training."
"I'm fine," Hui replied, slipping on his dark jade sunglasses to hide the fatigue in his eyes. His voice was calm, unwavering.
Hikaru stared at him with concern but didn't push further. "Just... write down the contents of that illusion scroll," he advised quietly. "Don't bother trying to learn it yet. And destroy the scroll afterward. There's no need to keep it."
Hui paused at the door, puzzlement flashing in his eyes. "Why?"
His father lowered his head. His half-black, half-white hair veiled his expression. After a moment's silence, Hikaru's voice, low and strained, broke the air. "When you become a shinobi... I'll tell you."
Hui lingered for a heartbeat longer but chose not to press for answers. "I'm heading out," he said flatly before leaving.
The following day, Hui followed his father's instructions and disposed of the illusion scroll. From then on, he devoted himself to mastering Fire Release techniques, setting a strict schedule with the goal of refining his skills within the month.
His time became a whirlwind of training — chakra control exercises, ninjutsu practice, and endless repetition of fire-style techniques. The relentless routine gave him little room for rest, yet Hui pushed himself harder, aware that his graduation exam loomed on the horizon.
The exam itself included the standard tests: the Three Basic Jutsu, ninja tool accuracy, and — as rumored — a special practical competition where students were paired randomly for one-on-one elimination matches.
Hui's first opponent turned out to be Evahi Dieshi, a classmate he barely remembered. Only recently had Hui recalled who Evahi was — a background character in the original events, the one who reported to Mitarashi Anko during the Chunin Exams about Gaara's lightning-fast progress through the Forest of Death.
Seeing Hui as his opponent, Evahi paled, clearly overwhelmed. His expression flickered between panic and forced determination. He clenched his fists, inhaled deeply, and muttered to himself, "At least... don't lose too badly."
Hui, of course, didn't hear him. Nor would he have cared. Apart from Uchiha Shisui, none of his classmates concerned him. To Hui, Evahi was just another obstacle — one he planned to cut down without a second thought.
The academy grounds bustled with energy that day, with teachers dedicating themselves entirely to the elimination matches. Students from all other grades enjoyed a rare day off — their presence deemed unnecessary for what would unfold.