Chapter 4: Small-scale Shock, Initial Fame
The news of Uchiha Akira instantly killing Uchiha Shigeru with one move and easily defeating Uchiha Shigeru caused quite a stir within a small circle.
Of course, after the shock, there were various speculations and doubts. After all, a "waste" who had been bullied for years suddenly erupted with strength far exceeding his past, so the truthfulness of the matter remained to be seen.
As for Akira himself, he ignored other people's discussions and continued to maintain a low profile. He was well aware that although his current strength was vastly different from the past, it was still not enough in front of true powerhouses. Not to mention those high-ranking Kage-level powerhouses, even a random Jonin, or an Elite Chunin, could easily suppress him completely now.
What's more, Uchiha Shigeru, whom he had injured earlier, had parents who were both Jonin of the Konoha Police Force. And he, Uchiha Akira, was merely an orphan who lost both parents in the war. He had to guard against the situation of beating the younger ones and attracting the older ones.
Therefore, for Akira, the most important task at present was to quickly improve his strength. He went to the clan's public training ground every day without fail, engaging in boring basic training: shuriken throwing, taijutsu sparring, and Chakra control.
Although Akira wanted to keep a low profile, trouble still came knocking on his door.
At the Uchiha training ground, Akira was practicing shuriken throwing. He did not use his Sharingan. Relying solely on his improved physical fitness and Chakra control, seven or eight out of ten shuriken could hit the bullseye. This achievement was unimaginable for the former Uchiha Akira.
"I heard your strength has greatly increased recently; even Shigeru was beaten down by you?"
Akira turned his head. The person leading the group was someone he had some impression of, Uchiha Isamu, Shigeru's cousin, whose strength was close to Chunin.
"Are you here to get back at Shigeru?" Akira thought to himself.
Uchiha Isamu stood with his arms crossed, a hint of provocation in his eyes.
"It was just a fluke," Akira responded indifferently.
"A fluke?" Uchiha Isamu sneered. "Being able to easily defeat Shigeru and the others isn't something that can be explained by just a 'fluke.' How about we have a spar and let me see how much strength this so-called 'fluke' of yours really has?"
Despite hearing about Akira's victory, Uchiha Isamu still believed deep down that it was merely Shigeru and the others being careless for a moment, which allowed this brat to exploit a loophole.
"Alright," Akira said, readily agreeing to the challenge. He understood that if he shied away from the fight, endless troubles would follow.
Keeping a low profile is for those who cannot be rivaled. Before possessing absolute strength, one does need to endure in the face of powerhouses. But for these weaker individuals who actively seek trouble, using the most direct force to deter them is the best choice to avoid subsequent harassment.
In the center of the training ground, the two stood facing each other. Uchiha Isamu attacked first, forming hand signs and shouting, "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Several fist-sized fireballs, like scattered flowers, shot towards Akira from different angles. This technique, in terms of both speed and accuracy, far exceeded the level of an ordinary Genin.
Akira's eyes instantly sharpened, and a crimson glow flashed as his One-Tomoe Sharingan quietly activated. Choosing not to directly block, Akira pushed off with his feet, his body moving like a ghost through the gaps between the fireballs. His movements were fluid and seamless, and all the fireballs brushed past his clothes without hitting him.
"What?!" Uchiha Isamu's pupils contracted, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face. He didn't expect Akira's body movements to be so agile. Before he could react, Akira had already closed in.
He didn't use any advanced taijutsu, just a simple straight punch, but its speed was astonishingly fast. In a hurry, Uchiha Isamu could only raise his arm to block.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Uchiha Isamu felt a huge force from his arm, and his entire body involuntarily retreated seven or eight steps. His arm went numb.
"Such strong power!" Uchiha Isamu was shocked. "This power is much stronger than mine; it's not on the same level at all."
Akira, having landed a blow, did not press his advantage but stood in place, looking at him indifferently. "Do you want to continue?"
Uchiha Isamu's face alternated between green and pale. With just one punch, his proud strength was completely crushed. His arms were aching unbearably, almost unable to be lifted. This was enough to prove that the opponent's strength was already completely above his own. If they continued, the result would only be self-humiliation.
The Uchiha Akira in front of him was no longer the useless person who used to be manipulated at will.
"Hmph, you've got some skill!" Uchiha Isamu gritted his teeth, threw out a face-saving remark, and scurried away with his two followers.
After dealing with Uchiha Isamu, Akira continued his training. Such tests might still occur in the future. But that's fine; through these "tests," he could gradually solidify his "persona" as an "awakened Uchiha genius."
Akira understood that to truly change the Uchiha's predicament, he needed to gradually accumulate prestige, gain recognition, and ultimately seize power. His next goal was to join the Guard Team, using it as a stepping stone to gradually gain higher status and position.
[Uchiha Akira Attribute Panel]
Strength: Early Chunin
Skills Mastered: Three Body Technique (Proficient), Great Fireball Technique (Proficient), Sharingan (One-Tomoe)
Clan Status: Regular Genin
Clan Honor Points: 75 points [Repelled Uchiha Isamu and other provocateurs, slightly increased clan prestige +25]
Overall Clan Strength Assessment: Genin Level (Early)