Chapter 7: The Uchiha's Gaze
Akatsurugi hadn't expected those to be the first words he heard upon entering. It seemed the time had come for the Third Hokage to assume power in Konoha. Recalling the Naruto he'd seen, the Second Hokage had been gravely injured by Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Although he returned to the village alive, he was also wounded by a Tailed Beast Ball and died not long after.
To be honest, Akatsurugi had always been confused about this. The Second Hokage was renowned as the fastest shinobi of his era thanks to the Flying Thunder God Technique. With such speed, how could he not have escaped?
That wasn't the main point, however. The main point was that he was the Hokage. While Hiruzen and the others were his students, they were also his subordinates. What was the purpose of having subordinates if not to share the burden and avert disaster at critical moments? Yet in the end, it was the Hokage himself who covered their retreat, letting his subordinates escape.
A similarly baffling operation was performed by the Third Raikage. Such a powerful ninja, possessing the strongest spear and shield, actually fought ten thousand Iwagakure ninja to the death just to allow his subordinates to escape.
Didn't they understand that the village's leader was its most vital asset?
Look at the Third Hokage; he handled this aspect very well, never taking unnecessary risks, which was why he lived the longest.
Soon, the clan leaders and elders followed Hiruzen Sarutobi out. The ward fell completely silent. The Second Hokage looked at Akatsurugi and smiled. "I didn't think you'd actually find the camp. It was just an attempt on my part. It seems you are quite lucky."
Akatsurugi forced a grin. Even if he hadn't delivered the message for the Second Hokage, he probably wouldn't have survived long in that place. On the contrary, it was precisely because he had undertaken this task that he had managed to survive.
The Second Hokage continued, "Your information was delivered very promptly. Otherwise, I wouldn't have held on for long after returning. Now, at least I can cling on for a while longer and make some arrangements."
Akatsurugi was momentarily speechless. Was he supposed to say, "You're welcome?"
He could only smile awkwardly without a word.
The Second Hokage coughed several times, his face pale. The medical-nin beside him hurriedly stepped forward to check on him, but the Second Hokage waved a hand. "It's fine. Your name is Akatsurugi, correct? Have you tested your chakra affinity?"
Akatsurugi quickly replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage. I have a Fire affinity."
The Second Hokage nodded. "You have aided Konoha. The reward of two ninjutsu I gave you was somewhat meager. My own ninjutsu are primarily Water Release and some forbidden techniques, which are unsuitable for you. As for Fire Release, the shinobi of the Uchiha clan are exceptionally skilled. One of my subordinates, Uchiha Kagami, is particularly proficient. Are you willing to become his student?"
Akatsurugi was stunned. Become a student of an Uchiha? Damn, wouldn't that make him a target later on?
But considering his current situation—with no one to guide him, he'd likely die even faster on the battlefield—Akatsurugi quickly said, "I will follow the Second Hokage's arrangement. I only hope I can meet Lord Kagami's standards."
Although the Uchiha meant future trouble, he was too weak now to worry about such things. Once he became strong, why fear trouble?
"You have helped Konoha and me. I believe Kagami will teach you well," the Second Hokage said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly materialized in the ward. He had black hair and was exceptionally handsome. Upon appearing, the man glanced at Akatsurugi and nodded to the Second Hokage.
The Second Hokage said, "Proceed."
The handsome ninja stated, "I am Uchiha Kagami. Follow me." He then turned and walked out.
Akatsurugi hastily bowed to the Second Hokage and left the ward.
Uchiha Kagami walked ahead, Akatsurugi following behind, his emotions in turmoil. He didn't know if this was good or bad. After all, Uchiha Kagami seemed to have died relatively early. While the exact timing wasn't specified, the man had descendants, so he probably had at least a few years left.
Following someone with an uncertain future was risky. Akatsurugi had hoped to become a student of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Although the old man became misguided and confused later, he was genuinely good to his students.
However, since the Second Hokage had arranged for him to study under Uchiha Kagami, making a request otherwise would be presumptuous and leave a poor impression. Thus, Akatsurugi had no real choice from the start.
Soon, they arrived at a training ground. The figure ahead stopped, turned, and looked Akatsurugi over before nodding. "To achieve this level of strength after just three months of training shows significant talent. Since you will be my student from now on, I will teach you to the best of my ability."
"Thank you, Sensei!" Akatsurugi said promptly.
Uchiha Kagami acknowledged with a hum, then said, "Now, attack me with everything you have. Let me first gauge your current capabilities."
Akatsurugi quickly leaped back, drawing the sealed Ryūjin Jakka from his back. His current repertoire was limited: the Three Basic Jutsu, some standard kunai throwing, and the Crescent Moon Dance.
As for the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, that was far beyond his current chakra reserves. Not everyone was Naruto, with his monstrous chakra pool.
"Sensei, here I come!" Akatsurugi announced.
Uchiha Kagami gave a slight nod. Akatsurugi drew several kunai from his tool pouch and hurled them. In response, Uchiha Kagami merely tossed a single shuriken, which deflected all of Akatsurugi's kunai with precise, ringing clashes—a display of the Uchiha clan's renowned shurikenjutsu.
Before Akatsurugi could process it, the deflected kunai were already arcing back towards him. While dodging, he slashed out with his Ryūjin Jakka. Uchiha Kagami stood his ground, evading with minimal movement. Against an elite Jōnin like him, Akatsurugi's current skill level was utterly insufficient.
Seeing how effortlessly Uchiha Kagami handled his attacks, Akatsurugi leaped into the air, executing the Crescent Moon Dance. Instantly, Uchiha Kagami's eyes flashed a bloody red. Akatsurugi's mind wavered, and in the next moment, he saw Uchiha Kagami standing far away. Disoriented for a second, Akatsurugi quickly realized he was under a genjutsu and began disrupting the chakra flow within his body.
Uchiha Kagami's eyes widened slightly in surprise as Akatsurugi broke free. Although it was only a minor illusion, it had been cast using the Sharingan. For someone like Akatsurugi, who wasn't even a Genin, to break free so quickly was unheard of; even a Chūnin would have struggled.
The reason Akatsurugi could break free lay in his origins. As a soul that had traversed worlds and consumed the original occupant's spirit, his soul was naturally far more robust than an ordinary person's, granting him a high innate resistance to illusions.