If anyone in the world understands the Uchiha clan best, and Senju Tobirama dares to call himself second, then not even the Sage of Six Paths would dare claim to be first.
His evaluation of the Uchiha was also spot on.
No clan cherishes love more deeply than the Uchiha. Once they truly experience love, the emotions that have been tightly bound are unleashed.
But such emotions are often too extreme and exclusive. Once stimulated to awaken the Sharingan, the pineal gland simultaneously secretes a mysterious substance that amplifies these emotions even further.
This creates a vicious cycle.
In other words, the stronger an Uchiha becomes, the more paranoid they tend to be.
Their love often causes greater harm to both themselves and those around them than love ever should.
For Uchiha Itachi, his emotional anchor was his beloved younger brother.
Even though Yami never showed any malicious intent toward Sasuke, Itachi was still affected, and a storm of anger brewed within his chest.
"Wait. You want to practice shuriken with Sasuke?"
Yami raised a hand. "Then agree to one condition, and I can go easy on you."
"I don't need your charity."
Itachi's response came with a barrage of shuriken from all directions.
"You asked for it…"
Yami's smile vanished. He flung out his own shuriken, colliding precisely with Itachi's.
The two of them threw shuriken wildly.
Itachi's Two Tomoe Sharingan was already activated, and the Uchiha clan's shuriken technique had been pushed to its peak by him.
Yami, relying on superior dynamic vision and physical ability, blocked every incoming projectile with accuracy.
But he still lost.
Because he didn't carry as many shuriken as Itachi.
Reaching into his pouch and finding only one shuriken left, Yami's mouth twitched. He threw it with one hand and formed a hand seal with the other.
"Ninjutsu: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The single shuriken instantly multiplied into more than ten, blocking Itachi's final barrage.
Then… Yami stopped and even gestured for Itachi to continue.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The two fireballs clashed and tangled for a moment before Itachi's was suppressed and forced him to dodge.
Yami once again stood still.
The noisy stadium gradually quieted, and Itachi's expression turned colder.
Many people realized what was happening.
Yami… was deliberately using the same moves to completely defeat Uchiha Itachi.
"Zaz…"
Shisui's eyes filled with worry—but not for Yami, for Itachi.
He didn't know what had happened between the two, but it was obvious that Yami had always disliked Itachi and was now toying with him.
Fortunately, Yami had never truly wanted to kill him.
But if he were to lose like this today, Itachi's character would take a serious blow, right?
Aside from Shisui's concern, the other spectators were simply enjoying the show, cheering, "Next move! Next move!"
On the highest platform.
Hiruzen initially smiled when Yami used his own ninjutsu. But now that smile faded.
He had supported suppressing the Uchiha.
But this wasn't suppression… this was humiliation.
Itachi was Fugaku's son. If he were humiliated like this, it would only enrage the other clansmen.
"Danzō…"
He felt that Yami's actions had to be the result of Danzō's influence.
"What was that?"
The daimyō beside him didn't catch Hiruzen's whisper and turned with excitement. "What did you say? That Shimura Yami kid is really good. Using the same moves to break his opponent's offense, he's clever!"
"Nothing," Hiruzen replied, forcing a smile. "I was just wondering what Danzō is up to."
"Ah, right."
The daimyō nodded. "He's Danzō's grandson, so why isn't Danzō here to watch? This match is great."
In the arena, Itachi began moving and weaving hand seals again.
No matter what he tried, Yami mirrored him like a shadow and countered with the exact same moves.
The traps Itachi had carefully prepared were overwritten by Yami's own traps. Even the newly mastered Forbidden Technique: Clone Explosion was intercepted by one of Yami's shadow clones.
It no longer felt like he was fighting Yami… but another version of himself.
One who could completely see through his thoughts.
"Then we can only compete in taijutsu."
One Tomoe Sharingan improves insight and chakra perception.
Two Tomoe enhances those abilities further and also allows copying techniques and a few genjutsu applications.
But he had just tried, and his current pupil strength wasn't enough to affect Yami with genjutsu.
His only chance to do damage was through close combat and finding an opening through reactions.
With his mind made up, Itachi activated his tactics and rushed straight at Yami.
Bang!
The two fists collided. Itachi's face twisted in pain, but his other hand still slashed downward with his short sword, leaving a silver arc.
The Kusanagi sword effortlessly blocked it, and the two engaged in a fast-paced swordfight, drawing cheers from the audience.
But Itachi himself felt no joy.
Only despair.
In ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu… he was inferior in every category. Completely suppressed. His strategies weren't working at all. He had no idea how to win.
"Hatred? Resentment?"
Yami's attacks were as fluid as mercury, and he added psychological pressure as well.
"So this is the so-called Uchiha? What's the ability of your Sharingan? Why can't I even feel it?"
Right now, the only thing missing to trigger a bond with Itachi was the final emotional stimulus. Yami guessed the reward would likely be one of his ocular abilities—Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, or maybe both.
You never know how weak you are until you're truly forced into a corner.
Perhaps in this moment of utter desperation, Itachi would trigger the final bond reward.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
Suddenly, Itachi's body turned into a murder of crows, but Yami remained calm. He killed several crows mid-flight.
The remaining ones regrouped in the distance, re-forming Itachi's body. He was now covered in multiple sword wounds and bleeding.
"Nii-san!"
Sasuke shouted from the stands, crying in panic. But the child's voice was too soft, drowned in the crowd's gasps. His brother didn't hear him.
"Pant… pant…"
Itachi was breathing heavily. His chakra and stamina were nearly depleted, but he still refused to admit defeat.
For the honor of the Uchiha clan, he'd rather fall in battle than surrender.
Besides, he didn't sense any killing intent from Yami.
This was all… mockery.
A glint of madness flashed through his red Sharingan. Itachi once again charged forward.
Bang!
Yami easily dodged the weak lunge and struck Itachi's arm, knocking the sword from his hand before sending him flying with a kick.
Itachi hit the ground and passed out.
The special jōnin proctor counted to ten and announced the final winner.
"The winner—Shimura Yami!"
The crowd erupted in one last wave of thunderous applause.
Only Yami shook his head in disappointment.
The emotions weren't enough…
Itachi only seemed desperate and suicidal, but in reality, he had already accepted the outcome.
Killing a fellow Konoha shinobi in this setting was impossible. Knowing that, he chose to fight honorably and fall with dignity.
With that mindset, he was never going to experience the emotional extremes required to trigger anything deeper.
So Yami ended it cleanly.
After the exam, the Chūnin promotion results wouldn't be announced immediately. That would come in three days.
Yami wanted to find Sasuke and see if he could obtain the second-stage bond reward, but Shisui had already taken him to visit Itachi in the hospital.
Helpless, Yami brought Kurenai and Yugao home to celebrate instead.
The next morning.
"Yami, time to get up! Pack what you need, we're ready to go!"
Pakura's excited voice woke Yami.
"On my way!"
Yami yawned and changed into casual clothes.
Today was moving day. Pakura was more excited than him, the actual property owner. She had spent the night thinking about what to bring.
After another morning of preparation, everything was packed, and a few members of the Shimura family helped move it all in one go.
However, Pakura insisted on arranging everything herself so it'd be easier to use.
At that time, Kurenai and Yugao also arrived to help. They each picked a bedroom for themselves.
Their reasoning was that if they stayed too late in the future, they could just sleep there.
With a shopping list in hand, Yami was sent out.
"Get lost, brat!"
"I won't sell to you!"
In the shopping district, a thin boy was shoved out of a grocery store and fell to the ground. The people nearby were indifferent, even avoiding him like he was infected with a disease.
The boy's blue eyes welled up with tears. The whisker-like marks on his cheeks twitched.
Why…
Why did the people in the village hate him so much? What had he done wrong?
Why did they all call him a demon fox?
He was just a normal child.
"Hey… there's actually someone in Konoha more arrogant than me?"
A surprised voice sounded above him. He looked up to see a slightly older boy standing there.
"…Shimura Yami?"
The grocery store owner who had just pushed the boy recognized him immediately.
He had no choice. Thanks to Danzō's promotion and Hiruzen's tacit approval, Yami was now the hottest genius in the village.
"You refused to sell to this kid and threw him out?" Yami asked, pointing at the boy on the ground.
"He's the demon fox! He brings disaster!" the owner shouted. "I can sell to whoever I want!"
"Impressive. You've got guts to try that excuse on me."
Yami nodded, pocketed the shopping list…
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom!
A blazing flame surged over the stunned store owner and roared into the shop, instantly igniting it.
"My store!"
"It's not your store anymore," Yami said coldly. "From today, you can find some other job in Konoha. If you survive, start by writing my name upside down."
"This village won't allow anyone more arrogant than me."
He swept a cold gaze across the watching crowd, including nearby shopkeepers.
Everyone panicked and backed away in fear.
"Same goes for the rest of you. If anyone dares discriminate in business again, don't bother staying in Konoha."
Half an hour later.
Leaving the shopping district, Yami brought the boy to a dam within the village. They sat together on the embankment.
"Big bro, you're amazing!"
The boy's eyes were full of admiration. He even mimicked Yami's hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sadly, nothing happened.
Yami waved him off. "It's just decent. Fire Release doesn't kill people, but it's good for lighting fires."
"I'll learn ninjutsu one day!" the boy shouted in encouragement.
"By the way, big bro, what's your name?"
"You didn't hear them just now?" Yami looked at him in surprise. This kid's been a clueless fool since birth?
"Hehe…" the boy scratched his head, embarrassed. He had been so amazed by the fireball, he didn't catch it.
"My name is Shimura Yami," Yami said slowly.
"What about you?"
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto." The boy beamed, as if it was the first time someone had ever asked for his name.
"Big bro Yami, are you a ninja?" He pointed to the forehead protector hanging from Yami's waist.
"Yep."
Yami nodded. "I just passed the Chūnin Exam. In two days, I'll officially be a Chūnin. Know how strong Chūnin are?"
Naruto shook his head blankly. "I don't know."
"Exactly."
Yami snapped his fingers. "It's hard to explain. But with how dumb you look, you'll never become a Chūnin in your life."
"Damn it!"
Naruto yelled in frustration and clenched his fists.
"Gramps Hokage is the strongest! I'm gonna be Hokage one day! Stronger than any Chūnin!"
"Chūnin can use ninjutsu. Have you seen Hokage use any?"
"No…" Naruto hesitated. He had only heard stories from Gramps Hokage but had never seen him fight.
"But Gramps Hokage definitely knows ninjutsu!"
"Chūnin can lead Genin squads. Can Hokage?"
"Gramps Hokage can lead them too!"
"Chūnin dare to eat poop. Does Hokage dare?"
"Gramps Hokage—"
"Ahem!"
An awkward cough cut the argument short.
"Yami, don't teach kids nonsense."
The Third Hokage appeared before them, face full of wrinkles and embarrassment.
(To be continued.)
Junkdog's Note: I swear, Yami really is a menace lol.
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