"The exercise will last for two days and one night, and the destination is quite far from here. Once you arrive at the designated location marked on the map, you'll find the intelligence scrolls hidden there."
"Whichever team returns with the scroll first within the specified time will be declared the winner."
From among the spectators, Uchiha Yun quietly observed the scene as Uchiha Itachi stepped forward to receive the map. Next to him stood a girl with twin ponytails, making a small cheering gesture in his direction.
Yun narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Their bond is getting deeper?'
He didn't say anything aloud, but that little flutter of unease in his chest annoyed him. Perhaps if nothing went wrong, this team would stabilize into a proper formation. And then—he wouldn't have to worry about catching a cold, metaphorically speaking.
"…Onii-chan, who's that girl with the twin-tails?" asked Izumi, tugging lightly at his sleeve.
Yun turned to look at her and smirked slightly. "That's probably Itachi's current teammate in the Genin squad. Why? Your reaction's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
Izumi pouted but said nothing.
Itachi returned shortly after, clutching the scroll in his hand. His face was as calm and unreadable as ever. "Let's move." he said quietly. "I'll be teaching you some useful knowledge along the way. If you're willing to listen, it might come in handy."
Without waiting for a response, he began walking ahead.
Tokuma, who stood behind Yun, leaned in and whispered, "So he's our captain now, huh? What do you think of that?"
Yun glanced sideways and replied with a dry smile, "Are you implying you want to graduate early too? You know—sewer patrols, catching cats, finding lost dogs?"
Tokuma laughed softly. "Well, we'll be doing all that once we become Genin anyway. And besides, the Byakugan doesn't only have to be used for battle."
That made Yun pause briefly. Then, he clapped Tokuma on the shoulder and said, "That's a healthy mindset. If everyone thought like you, peace might actually last forever."
Far ahead, Izumi's voice rang out.
"What are you two dawdling for? Let's go already!"
Tokuma chuckled. "Sometimes, fate's already decided. If you can't fight it… might as well enjoy the ride, right?"
The two boys walked forward side by side. Yun adjusted his headband as he moved, his fingers brushing over the cool metal plate.
"That thing—" he said quietly, "—it's protection for the weak. But for the strong? It's just a shackle. If you're powerful enough, Tokuma, you'll find it means nothing at all."
Tokuma hesitated for a moment at those words, but Yun didn't slow down.
How strong do you have to become… for something like that to be meaningless?
How far away is that?
…
"The twelve o'clock direction and the angle formed between the hour hand and the minute hand are halved. Then point that bisected direction at the sun. The line pointing to twelve o'clock at that point is most likely to be south."
"There are plenty of things to eat in the wild. But just as many are poisonous—"
Itachi's voice was calm and unhurried, repeating basic survival knowledge as they walked. Izumi listened attentively, even clapping her hands after certain explanations with sparkling eyes.
Yun and Tokuma didn't clap, but they didn't ignore the information either. Each committed it to memory, especially the bits they didn't already know.
Yun had to admit it—just as in his memories, Uchiha Itachi was a textbook ninja.
Even the most basic knowledge came to him effortlessly. Despite Yun's advantage of sending a shadow clone to class while training in secret, even he had to admit defeat in this particular arena.
Soon, night fell on the first day of the exercise. After setting up the tent, the group shared a quick meal and prepared to rest.
Once Tokuma and Izumi had settled down, Itachi, who had remained seated with his eyes closed, opened them again. He turned his gaze toward Yun and, with a subtle signal, exited the tent.
Yun followed.
Outside, beneath a quiet canopy of stars, he asked, "What's going on?"
Itachi's voice was lower than usual. "Danzo has instructed me to begin monitoring movements inside the Uchiha clan starting today."
Yun's expression darkened. 'So that old dog is already stirring?'
He frowned deeply. According to the original timeline in his mind, there were still more than four years before the massacre. With the Fourth Hokage still alive, Danzo's movements were even more puzzling.
Itachi, not receiving a response, continued, "What are you and Shisui planning?"
Yun looked at him quietly, then smirked. "What's this? Are you a double agent now? Or are you trying to join us?"
Itachi remained silent.
The words Danzo had once told him echoed in his ears.
'The Uchiha are dangerous. That Shisui… his Sharingan surpasses even yours. How can you trust someone who has endured such loss?'
But in stark contrast were the words of Shisui and Yun—about rebuilding the Uchiha's reputation, restoring their relationship with Konoha. And then, his father… the man who gave his life to support the Fourth Hokage.
Had his father not believed the same thing?
Shisui, who had stood beside his father back then—he could be trusted.
"I want to stand with you." Itachi said quietly.
Yun blinked in surprise, then shook his head. "You're not ready. Genius or not, even graduating the Academy in a year doesn't make you qualified for what's coming."
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly, and his Sharingan activated with a whoosh. The tomoe spun in a tight pattern—three in each eye.
"Isn't this power… enough?"
Yun looked closely. 'Three-tomoe already? So the emotional trigger hasn't happened yet. No true loss… no contact with Obito either.'
And Obito? Yun figured he was probably busy collecting corpses somewhere, brooding in the shadows of his plans.
"You're progressing quickly." Yun admitted. "But three-tomoe won't last a single exchange against the power you'll face in this game. Shisui and I… we're far beyond that now."
Itachi took out a kunai and leveled it across his chest.
"I've always acknowledged your strength, even before you awakened the Sharingan. But don't underestimate me. If I'm wrong, prove it!"
The tomoe in his eyes spun violently, heightening his perception to its peak.
But that… was all.
In a blink, Yun's form shimmered.
*Swish!*
A kunai embedded itself into a nearby tree as Itachi barely dodged. He prepared a counterattack—but the moment he moved, he felt cold steel against his neck.
Behind him stood Yun.
Fast.
Unrealistically fast.
It wasn't just Body Flicker Technique—it was like Yun had predicted his evasion path and cut him off mid-dodge. Even the shadow clone he had prepared was interrupted before it could form.
"You still think I was wrong?"
Yun's voice was quiet as he withdrew the kunai. The faint glow of the Mangekyō Sharingan faded from his eyes, reverting to normal.
Itachi turned, face grim. "So the gap… is already this wide?"
*****
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