Sarutobi Hiruzen's presence radiated a calm authority that made Shigure's heart burn with anticipation. Judging from the Hokage's expression, it wasn't a routine lecture—he was about to test him. And not just test, but teach. This was an opportunity Uchiha Shigure would not let pass.
"Yes," Shigure answered with measured confidence. "I've already mastered the use of compound ninjutsu."
A warm glimmer appeared in Hiruzen's eyes. "It seems you are even more talented than I imagined… Your chakra capacity far exceeds that of an average Uchiha. In your hands, ninjutsu carries an even greater force."
Shigure's breath caught. Was this going where he thought it was going?
"As you already know," Hiruzen continued, "a shinobi's path lies not only in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. There are many other techniques—many ways to survive." His tone grew softer. "The Uchiha clan possesses its own unique throwing style, but… after losing your parents, you never had the chance to learn it. Today, I will teach you the shuriken techniques I know, along with a few other teachings."
Shigure straightened with quiet determination. This was more than mere training; it was a gift of legacy.
"Your abilities are exceptional," Hiruzen chuckled, exhaling smoke as he lifted his pipe from his lips. "I believe today's lesson will be of real value to you. Now then, be prepared to hear an old man nag."
The Hokage slipped off his ornate red cloak, tossing it with unerring precision onto a hanger. Crushing the tobacco embers out, he brushed off his armor and stood as a warrior—not the weary leader Shigure remembered from storybooks, but a steel-eyed master with decades of battlefield experience.
"Come with me," Sarutobi commanded. And with a flicker, he vanished.
Shigure's heart raced. The "Professor of Ninjutsu," legendary Third Hokage, was said to wield the knowledge of countless arts. Facing him now, Shigure knew this was no mere spar. It was a trial. He blurred into motion, following after his teacher.
They arrived in a broad practice field on the edge of Konoha. Hiruzen smiled faintly, then barked, "Watch this!" His hand blurred, and before Shigure could react, shuriken whistled through the air toward him.
Testing my reaction time? Shigure's mouth curved upward. With an instant body flicker, he twisted away, his sandals striking earth as the weapons cut past.
"That's right," Hiruzen said, voice sharp. "But not nearly over yet." With a flick of his fingers, invisible strings of chakra glimmered in the sunlight, yanking the blades back toward Shigure.
Sharingan spun to life, scarlet tomoe whirring. In a heartbeat he saw it—thin chakra threads tethered to each shuriken. "I see… you're controlling each blade through chakra lines. Brilliant," Shigure admitted. "It would take years of relentless practice to master something like this. As expected of you, Lord Hokage!"
But Hiruzen only smirked. "Flattery won't make this easier. Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The weapons split and multiplied, doubling, tripling, becoming a storm of steel. The Sharingan could trace each arc, but it couldn't distinguish clone from real. To Shigure's eyes, it was a deadly rain.
Too dangerous to block head-on. Forming seals at blinding speed, he slammed his palms down. "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A slab of rock surged up around him. Hiruzen's brows lifted in faint surprise. Even Orochimaru never molded seals so fast at this age. "Impressive," the Hokage murmured. "Your talent may surpass even his… but do not think a simple wall can save you."
Above, shuriken curved unnaturally through the air, slipping down past the barrier. Shigure realized just how finely Hiruzen controlled them—so sharp it was as if the blades had wills of their own.
No choice. "Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
In an instant, his black hair grew outward, bristling into spines of steel-hard keratin. Hundreds of tiny clinks rang out as shuriken struck the barbed cocoon.
Hiruzen's eyes twinkled with delight. "That's Jiraiya's technique, isn't it? What an unexpected student you've become!" His laughter was tinged with excitement. "Remarkable. Then let's see how long you last."
Too risky to only defend… He had to push back! "Lion's Mane Jutsu!"
His hair unfurled, weaving together into a massive lion's head. Snapping its jaws wide, it lunged across the broken rock wall. The lion-mane jaws crashed toward the Hokage.
Now Hiruzen was genuinely impressed. "Unbelievable. Jiraiya taught you this as well? And at such distance!" The old master released his shuriken threads, darting aside to avoid the biting mane. In truth, none of his weapons had pierced Shigure's layered defenses.
"Excellent! Keep coming!" Hiruzen's hands blurred through signs. His voice boomed: "Compound Ninjutsu—Lightning and Water Style: Thunder Dragon Bullet!"
Water spiraled into a dragon's form, lightning crackling across its scales. With a deafening roar, it smashed through Shigure's earth wall, tearing a path straight toward him.
Scarlet tomoe flared. His Sharingan tracked the dragon's strike, and his body flickered away in time. The destructive blast carved a crater behind him, but Shigure landed unharmed, hair still writhing protectively around him.
For a moment, teacher and student locked eyes. Neither faltered.
Then Hiruzen's hand flashed to his pouch. "Shuriken Enlargement!" A massive blade grew in his grip. He charged, weapon raised. "Show me your skill in close combat, boy!"
Shigure grinned fiercely. This was the kind of training he had long dreamed of. Drawing the black-forged meteorite blade at his waist—his namesake blade Shigure—he stepped forward to meet the Hokage head-on.
Steel shrieked as legendary Hokage shuriken met meteorite edge. Sparks scattered.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "So this is the meteor blade Hizashi spoke of… But I can see already—you have no kenjutsu form. Your stance is raw."
His foot came up without warning. Shigure staggered back, barely blocking the kick. He cursed inwardly—the Hokage fought dirty when he wished, never bound by expectation.
"Found an opening," Hiruzen said lightly. His body blurred in a body flicker, and when he appeared, a sealing tag was already plastered against Shigure's chest.
A sharp jolt ran through him. He froze, staring down at the talisman. His breath came hard. He knew what that meant.
Shigure exhaled slowly, lowering his blade. "Forgive me, Lord Hokage. It seems… I've lost."
For the first time that day, Shigure's spirit sagged slightly. He had held his ground against the Hokage's infernal shuriken, copied techniques beyond his years, even forced the man to release control of his own ninjutsu. And yet—he had still fallen in the end.
Hiruzen's expression softened as the tag sizzled faintly on Shigure's armor. "You have not lost as badly as you think, child," he said, voice carrying both weight and pride. His hand gripped Shigure's shoulder firmly. "Today was not about victory or defeat. It was about showing you… where to grow next."
Shigure lifted his gaze, Sharingan still spinning. He wasn't certain whether those words comforted him or stung more deeply. But before he could respond—
A sudden flare of chakra pulsed across the training field. Both teacher and student snapped to attention. The ground trembled faintly, as if something—or someone—had appeared just beyond the walls.
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened, shifting instantly from gentle mentor to fierce Hokage. "Stay alert," he ordered.
Shigure drew back his blade, every nerve taut. Whoever, or whatever, had arrived—this match was suddenly no longer just a lesson.
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