Chapter 5 – The Silent Eye
The arena was quiet. He liked it that way.
Itachi stood alone in a clearing surrounded by white birch trees. No birds. No breeze. Just silence. He didn't need noise to focus.
Across from him, his opponent adjusted their weapon belt.
Karui of the Hidden Cloud.
Young. Hot-headed. A skilled kenjutsu user with a curved blade and a short temper. She stared him down like he was prey.
Itachi didn't speak.
The system buzzed gently.
"Match Start: Itachi Uchiha vs. Karui. Early Stage. No Death Allowed. Chakra Transfer Active."
Karui didn't wait.
She rushed forward, blade gleaming.
He didn't move.
At the last second, Itachi sidestepped. Karui's blade sliced through his cloak.
He turned, expression flat.
She spun and slashed again, faster.
Itachi backstepped once, then dropped a single smoke pellet.
Karui darted through it—confident.
And that was her mistake.
Her foot stopped mid-swing.
Her vision blurred.
The birch trees twisted.
Then there were five Itachis, surrounding her.
Her breath hitched.
"What…?"
She swung blindly. Steel hit nothing.
She blinked—and the illusions vanished.
Only one Itachi stood behind her now.
She turned to strike.
Too late.
He touched her wrist with two fingers.
"Genjutsu: Pressure Pulse."
Her body froze.
No pain. Just numb fear.
Sweat poured from her face.
"Your mind is fast," Itachi said softly. "But your spirit is louder than your blade."
She fell to her knees, still gripping the sword.
The system chimed.
"Victory: Itachi Uchiha."
"Chakra Absorbed: +6% Kenjutsu Skill | +Pressure Pulse (Illusion Binding)"
"Opponent Status: Conscious. Transferred. Reset."
Karui disappeared in a shimmer of white.
Itachi exhaled quietly. Not from effort, but from memory.
He didn't come here to win.
He came to observe.
And so far, the world still had nothing new to offer him.