Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

Chapter 16: NZNT: Chapter 16

Seeing someone approaching, Kabuto also jumped out of the ground, standing next to Izumi, and looked at the young ninja who wasn’t much older than him.

”Shisui, that name sounds familiar. I think I’ve heard it somewhere,” Kabuto murmured.

”Shisui-senpai is a genius ninja from our Uchiha clan. He recently became a Jonin. In terms of age, he became a Jonin two years earlier than the teacher,” Itachi introduced Shisui to Kabuto, his tone expressing great admiration for him.

During Yusuke’s absence, another genius ninja from the clan, Shisui, had also been promoted to Jonin.

Shisui had already shown remarkable strength during the Third Great Ninja War and had made many contributions. Logically, he was qualified to be promoted to Jonin, but because he was an Uchiha clan ninja, his promotion was obstructed by Danzō, who claimed he was ”too young and immature.”

Now that Danzō had been sent out of the village on a mission, the Third Hokage had taken this opportunity to complete Shisui’s promotion.

Because Shisui was a descendant of Uchiha Miruko, and the Uchiha clan members from this lineage had always supported the ”Will of Fire,” the Third Hokage trusted them. Shisui was also wholeheartedly dedicated to serving the Third Hokage.

With a Body Flicker Technique, Shisui appeared directly in front of the three children. He patted Itachi and Izumi on their heads and smiled, ”Don’t call me senpai. Just call me Shisui.”

Then, Shisui looked at Itachi with admiration, ”Itachi, your use of kunai just now was excellent, but I have even better ways to use ninja tools.”

”Shisui-senpai, Shisui, can you teach me?” Itachi had wanted to continue calling him ”Shisui-senpai,” but seeing Shisui’s gesture of encouragement to be less formal, Itachi changed his address.

”Of course. I only told you because I think you have talent in this area,” Shisui said with a smile.

”If you want to learn, come find me tonight.”

For some reason, Shisui felt a strong sense of closeness towards Itachi.

He had occasionally encountered Itachi in the clan before, but he hadn’t had the chance to interact with him.

Today, after finishing his mission, he saw the children practicing on the clan’s training ground and decided to come and take a look.

”Thank you,” Itachi nodded.

”Shisui-nii, can I learn too?” Izumi looked at Shisui with anticipation.

”You, little girl, can’t learn such precise kunai manipulation jutsu. You should stick with your brother and learn escape jutsu,” a voice came from afar.

But the next moment, the owner of the voice was already standing in front of them. It was Yusuke, who had just returned from his mission to Rain Village.

Shisui was slightly surprised by Yusuke’s Body Flicker Technique, which was almost as good as his own, but he didn’t show it on his face.

However, when it came to the application of the Body Flicker Technique, Shisui was confident that he was superior to Yusuke.

”Brother!” ”Teacher!” Izumi, Kabuto, and Itachi all exclaimed in surprise, seeing Yusuke suddenly appear.

Yusuke patted Izumi’s head. Izumi, who had just been smiling in delight, immediately stopped smiling and said with displeasure, ”I’m not too young to learn precise kunai manipulation jutsu. Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Although she said she wasn’t talking to Yusuke, the joy in her eyes betrayed her. It was clear that she was very happy that her brother had returned from his mission.

”Yusuke-senpai, hello,” Shisui greeted Yusuke politely.

”It’s Shisui. I heard you became a Jonin. Congratulations,” Yusuke said.

”I’ll need your guidance in the future, Yusuke-senpai,” Shisui said.

”Don’t be so modest. There aren’t many people who can teach ’Shisui of the Body Flicker’,” Yusuke said with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries with Shisui, Yusuke said to the three children, ”I can see you’ve all been training diligently. I’ll give you all the afternoon off. Go have some fun.”

”Really? Great!” Izumi said happily. Then she said to Yusuke, ”Brother, come with us.”

Yusuke was about to nod in agreement, but Shisui suddenly said apologetically, ”I’m very sorry to interrupt your fun. I have something I want to talk to Yusuke-senpai about privately. I’ll need to take up some of your time.”

Yusuke looked at Shisui in slight surprise, then smiled and said to Izumi, ”You guys go ahead and have fun. I’ll go with you next time.”

Although Izumi was slightly disappointed, she still nodded obediently and invited Itachi, ”Let’s go buy some three-colored dango. I know a great place.”

Itachi politely accepted the invitation. After all, his favorite food was three-colored dango.

Kabuto, on the other hand, looked bitter. He was a savory food person, but his younger brother and sister both loved sweets. What was he supposed to do?

In Kabuto’s heart, he already considered Itachi and Izumi, who were two years younger than him, as his younger brother and sister.

Looking at Kabuto’s wrinkled face, which was furrowed in thought, Izumi giggled and said, ”Don’t worry. I specially picked this place. There’s a snack shop next door that sells your favorite salted grilled mackerel.”

Looking at the three small figures laughing and talking as they walked away, Yusuke smiled in relief. Then he glanced at Shisui beside him, who was staring intently at Itachi in the distance.

”This is terrifying. I really don’t understand the world of brother-complexes!” Yusuke thought to himself.

”Ahem.” Yusuke coughed twice, reminding Shisui beside him.

Shisui was startled and realized what he was doing. He said apologetically, ”Sorry, I was just spacing out thinking about Itachi.”

This time, it was Yusuke who was stunned. He had always thought that Shisui was a reserved type. He hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward.

”I don’t know why, but I feel like I have a strong connection with Itachi. It’s as if he’s my own little brother,” Shisui continued.

Yusuke nodded expressionlessly, ”I understand. I understand. You’ve felt the bond with Itachi.” Go ahead, as long as you’re happy.

”Right, it’s a bond. As expected of Yusuke-senpai! You saw right through what I was thinking,” Shisui smiled, then continued, ”Itachi’s talent is very high. He far surpasses me. Although I’m not a particularly outstanding ninja, I do have some experience and skills that I’m good at. I hope I can teach them to Itachi. You’re Itachi’s teacher. I hope you’ll agree.”

”Excessive modesty is arrogance. I don’t think Itachi’s talent necessarily surpasses yours. You want to teach him. I have no objections,” Yusuke said with a smile.

Although he said that, Yusuke was actually on his guard. After all, Shisui had played a major role in establishing Itachi’s philosophy of sacrificing himself and the clan to protect Konoha.

”Thank you, senpai,” Shisui said.

Yusuke waved his hand, ”That’s not what you wanted to talk about, right?”

Shisui nodded, reaching out to catch a leaf falling from a tree, and gently reciting, ”Where the leaves dance, fire also flourishes. The flames will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout.”

”Yusuke-senpai, do you believe in the ’Will of Fire’?” Shisui looked at Yusuke, his gaze serious and determined.

Yusuke didn’t answer Shisui’s question. He remained silent for a while, then said with a sigh, ”The Will of Fire, what a beautiful meaning it holds.”

”But are the countless people who silently burn themselves truly illuminating the village, truly causing new leaves to sprout?” This thought stayed in Yusuke’s heart, but he didn’t say it out loud.

How many ninjas had fallen in the struggle for power? How many of the current high-ranking officials in Konoha truly embodied the ”Will of Fire”?

”Shisui-kun, just tell me what you want to say,” Yusuke said.

Shisui nodded, ”Yusuke-senpai, the Third Hokage asked me if there was anyone in the clan I could recommend to join Root. I admire your strength very much. Moreover, the village and the clan both need someone who can serve as a point of communication. I hope you’ll consider it.”

”You might be disappointed. I have no intention of joining Root.” Yusuke shook his head.

”Yusuke-senpai, please reconsider,” Shisui urged.

Yusuke waved his hand, ”Don’t say anymore. I’ve never considered joining Root.”

Seeing Yusuke’s resolute refusal, Shisui could only leave with a disappointed expression.

After seeing Shisui off, Yusuke decided to go to the teahouse he frequented. Besides training and developing jutsu, Yusuke’s only hobby now was probably going to the teahouse to have a cup of tea.

”You know, I heard that Orochimaru-sama is doing human experiments.” A young man with a blue cloth wrapped around his head and a pointed goatee on his chin said in the teahouse.

The young man was wearing a Konoha ninja uniform. He was about the same age as Yusuke, but the goatee on his chin made him look a little greasy.

This young man was named Idate Morino. He was currently a Chunin. He was at the same table with two other Chunin companions — Shikaku Nara and Shizune.

Shikaku Nara also had a blue headband on his head and a senbon in his mouth. He looked very carefree.

Shizune had short brown hair and a scar on his left cheek, from his eye to his jaw.

The three of them were ninjas from the same generation as Yusuke, Kakashi, and Asuma. They were now Chunin. According to the plot of the original story, Shikaku Nara and Shizune would become special Jonin. The three of them would later become the exclusive bodyguards of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Yusuke and Shikaku Nara had carried out missions together during the Third Great Ninja War, so they had some connection. But seeing him chatting with his other friends, Yusuke, who had entered the teahouse, didn’t go over to greet him. Instead, he quietly found a seat in a corner and enjoyed his moment of peace.

”Hey, hey, you’re going to get yourself killed, kid. Keep your voice down. If it gets back to Orochimaru-sama’s ears, we might not see you tomorrow.” Shizune said quietly.

Shikaku Nara nodded in agreement. ”I’ll never forget the first time I met Orochimaru-sama. When he looked at me, it was like I was covered in snakes.”

”I was terrified!” Shikaku Nara wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, as if he were reliving the first time he met Orochimaru.

Sitting in a corner, Yusuke listened to the three of them and frowned. ”Orochimaru is already so reckless with his human experiments that even Chunin are talking about it. It seems like he’s not far from defecting.”

”It’s a pity. The village will lose another person to exchange ninjutsu with.” Yusuke thought to himself with a sigh.

This time at the teahouse, Yusuke didn’t see the girl who had claimed to be from the Ninja Academy last time. He guessed that she might have focused on her ninja career and was no longer working at the teahouse. He felt a little sad. After all, chatting with this energetic girl last time had made him feel much better.

”Yusuke-kun, you’re here!” A voice interrupted Yusuke’s thoughts.

Yusuke looked towards the voice. It was Uchiha Souichiro.

”What a coincidence. Every time I see you, it’s at this teahouse,” Yusuke said with a smile.

Souichiro sat down opposite Yusuke and shook his head with a smile, ”It’s not a coincidence. I came here specifically to find you. The clan leader heard that the delegation to Rain Village had returned to the village, so he immediately asked me to find you. He said he had something important to discuss with you.”

Souichiro had always been Fugaku’s trusted subordinate. Since he had heard from Fugaku that Yusuke wasn’t someone who didn’t care about the clan, and Fugaku had already reached a certain consensus with Yusuke, Souichiro was very happy.

He was a moderate in the clan. Seeing that Yusuke, the clan’s genius, hadn’t had a conflict with the clan leader but had instead cooperated further, he was naturally very relieved.

Hearing Souichiro’s words, Yusuke was delighted. He thought to himself, ”Could it be that Fugaku has found the reason why I’m unable to awaken my Sharingan?”

”Since the clan leader has something to talk to me about, then let’s not delay. I’ll go see the clan leader now.” Yusuke nodded. He and Souichiro went to Fugaku’s mansion together.

When Fugaku saw Yusuke, he took him to a secret chamber, clearly wanting to have a private conversation.

After looking Yusuke up and down, Fugaku said, ”I’m relieved to see that you’re okay. Although you’re very strong, I was still worried that Danzō might attack you.”

”He did try, but he couldn’t do anything to me.” Yusuke didn’t hide anything and briefly explained how Danzō had ordered his subordinates to attack him.

Fugaku snorted coldly, ”That old scoundrel! He’s really pushing it. I’ve been making concessions, and he’s still targeting my Uchiha clan.” There was no one else around, so Fugaku didn’t hide his anger towards Danzō.

”Clan leader, you’re so eager to see me. Could it be that you’ve found something about my Sharingan?” Yusuke didn’t want to dwell on Danzō for too long, so he got straight to the point.

Fugaku nodded. ”Yes, I’ve looked through a lot of clan records on this matter. Logically speaking, with your current strength, you shouldn’t be unable to awaken the Sharingan. Therefore, I deduce...”

”It must be a problem with your mind!”

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