In the 26th year of Konoha, our protagonist Shen Uchiha finally turned six years old.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
After this shout echoed, the air seemed filled with a sound like a thousand birds chirping.
"So this is the Lightning Release technique you created by combining chakra nature transformation with shape transformation?"
"Yeah. By gathering lightning-natured chakra in my palm to create high-intensity electric currents and then charging at the target. Under my Sharingan, enemies won't be able to escape my speed."
The young prodigy Shen Uchiha had been coming to the Nama River almost daily with Nayou for "development" of new techniques recently. Unfortunately, this world had no concept of intellectual property, and techniques were easily copied.
Moreover, Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake, was already a ninja of the same generation as the Sannin—only around seventeen or eighteen years old right now. Kakashi's title as the true creator of Chidori might be about to disappear.
Looking at the pale blue electricity swirling around his right hand, Shen seemed slightly dissatisfied. He further compressed the lightning-natured chakra onto his upraised index and middle fingers.
"Nayou, if I do this, do you think I could actually summon real lightning from the sky?"
Seeing Shen looking so eager, Nayou felt helpless. "Don't joke around. What would even happen if you split the lightning?"
"Well then, this technique, Chidori, could be renamed Lightning Cutter! Think about it, Nayou—doesn't Lightning Cutter sound much better than Chidori?"
Nayou decided not to respond, walking away to start practicing her wooden post drills as if imitating a small person practicing martial arts.
"..."
Shen wordlessly retracted his pseudo Lightning Cutter from his fingertips. He looked at Nayou who was training with pride on his face.
Indeed, the young genius had introduced the concept of Wing Chun to Little Iceberg, who really liked the idea of quick, effective close-range fighting.
As for Wing Chun itself, Shen only had a rough understanding of it. After watching all those amazing martial arts moves in movies, he decided to bring this style into the ninja world.
Unfortunately, he knew absolutely nothing about martial arts forms, so he simply conveyed the core philosophy to Nayou and let her develop the specifics.
"What a peaceful day! Nayou, don't you think we'll soon be starting school?" Lying on the grass, Shen gazed at the blue sky and white clouds, muttering to himself.
"That's right. Didn't Lord Third, who's also the principal, already announce that we should report next Monday?" Nayou replied coldly without pausing her training.
"So what day is today?"
"Sunday!"
Shen immediately sat upright when he heard this, "So tomorrow is the first day of school? Nayou, should we blow up the school? Then we wouldn't have to go!"
Listening to Shen's outrageous suggestion, Nayou felt herself growing weaker. Entering her Little Iceberg persona, she stopped her training and approached that certain young genius, looking down at him from above. "Shen, what did you just say? I couldn't quite hear you just now?"
When Shen lifted his head and saw her expression, a chill ran through him. He quickly changed his suggestion. "Never mind. I said we should go to school together tomorrow."
"Together? But the Uchihas and the Hyūgas..." Nayou hesitated slightly.
"Don't worry. My old man said relations between our families have been harmonious recently. Anyway, our families are separated by only one Senju household."
As descendants of the Hyuga Clan who joined Konoha since the early days of the Land of Fire, it's only natural that our clan compound is located at the village center. There's nothing odd about walking to school together. Don't overthink it — it's simply on the way.
Nayou seemed pleased with his reasoning: "Okay then. I usually walk with my two older brothers. Meet me outside the clan compound at seven tomorrow."
"Don't worry. I'll be right on time."
After saying this, Shen gave her a reassuring hand gesture. He figured he'd make it on time, as long as he didn't run into that pain-in-the-neck kid Nawaki.
In the quiet confines of the Hokage Tower office, the Third Hokage sat deep in thought, scanning intelligence reports.
"So Hanzo dared to secretly send his men to collect information on the Five Great Nations? Is he trying to make Amegakure the sixth great nation?"
After rubbing his temples, he picked up his pen and wrote "Continue observation" on a blank scroll before placing it inside a specially encrypted small scroll.
"Go ahead, and give my regards to Xiang when you see him."
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure entered the office through the window, grabbed the scroll, and flipped back out the window, disappearing into thin air within seconds.
The Third Hokage stood up, gazing out the window in the direction where the figure had vanished, lost in thought for a moment. After a long silence, his unfocused eyes drifted toward the recently renovated ninja academy next door.
"Qing, do you think the ninja school might catch fire again this time?"
That emotionless voice from the corner broke the silence once more: "This renovation used the latest fireproof materials. Unless [Great Fireball] isn't enough anymore — unless he's developed something even stronger — then the renovations will hold just fine."
"??? "
The Third Hokage was completely confused. He was just expressing concern about the school's safety without specifically referring to any particular child. Pondering for a moment, he suddenly realized in shock: "That's right! Shen has mastered the [Dragon Fire Technique] too!"
"Lord Third," Qing continued, "I suggest prohibiting Shen Uchiha from using Ninjutsu or Taijutsu at school, that is unless you plan to expel him."
The suggestion made the Third Hokage feel horrified. Prohibit Ninjutsu and Taijutsu? What would there be left for him to practice then? Genjutsu? But members of the Uchiha Clan naturally develop strong genjutsu skills once they obtain the Three-tomoe Sharingan anyway.
"Qing, that's absolutely impossible. If we did that, what exactly would Shen have left to learn at school? The very purpose of the Ninja Academy is to nurture the future generation of Konoha. How could we call it education under these circumstances?"
Qing offered another suggestion after hearing the Third's refusal: "Then Lord Third, Shen Uchiha's abilities already exceed those of his peers by a large margin. His strength probably wouldn't even pose much of a challenge during the Chunin Exams. Why not fast-track his graduation?"
"No! We're currently in a period of peace, so there's no need for students to graduate ahead of schedule. The Ninja Academy was created with the sole purpose of grooming Konoha's next generation of ninja. How can we talk about proper cultivation if we abandon this principle?"
The Third Hokage rejected the proposal rather passionately, emphasizing the academy's fundamental purpose.
"I'm merely offering suggestions based on behavioral analysis regarding Shen Uchiha. Please don't take them too seriously, Hokage-sama."
"You mean to say that Anbu shouldn't interfere with the Hokage's decisions?"
The Third Hokage interrupted Qing's explanation helplessly. He'd heard that line — or some version of it — way too often lately.
Suddenly remembering something, he turned toward the corner and asked curiously, "Wait, Qing, what did you just mention earlier about behavioral analysis? Regarding Shen?"
"Yes, Lord Third," Qing replied tonelessly. "Recently Anbu has intercepted more conversations between Shen and his father at night near the Uchiha clan compound—often overheard using terms like 'kid' and 'old man.' Based on that, I suspect young Shen's heart is full of rebellion. Add in his usual flashy behavior, and it's clear his wild actions come from an arrogant nature."
Rebellious? Flashy? Arrogant? Lawless? The Third Hokage silently repeated the four words, lips tightening. "Isn't that exactly Madara Uchiha's personality?"
"Yes, Lord Third," Qing replied. "I believe he has great potential to become the next Madara Uchiha, and surpassing Madara might only be a matter of time."
"Madara Uchiha…" The Third Hokage gazed toward the direction of the Uchiha clan compound lost in thought. After a long pause, he finally commanded, "Qing, I need you to secretly protect young Shen. Remember—protection, not surveillance!"
"Yes, Lord Third!"
Qing accepted the order without hesitation. After all, questioning the Hokage's motives was not the Anbu way.
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