Chapter 14: Inheritance X Genius
"Crow Feather?" Uchiha Makoto was genuinely surprised, gripping the short Wakizashi tightly in his palm.
"Thank you, Brother Shisui!"
The way he called out "Brother Shisui" was short and forceful. It was as if, in his heart, receiving such a gift instantly elevated Shisui to the status of his true elder brother.
"Brother Shisui, do you have any more gifts for me?"
Since Shisui's personality was cheerful and easy-going, Makoto did not hold back in asking. In true Uchiha fashion, he wasn't ashamed to pull on every last thread of generosity that Shisui offered.
"You guys are really rude…" Shisui shook his head, pretending to complain, though his expression betrayed amusement. Then he laughed loudly, the kind of open-hearted laugh that always set him apart from the other Uchiha.
"Alright, then the training can start now!" Makoto quickly returned to seriousness, his tone firm as he looked directly at Shisui.
If one wished to grow stronger, one could never waste an opportunity. Since Shisui, the famed "Body Flicker" of the Uchiha clan, happened to have free time, Makoto naturally wanted to learn as much as possible from him.
Shisui observed Makoto's eyes. In those black pupils, he saw determination gleaming like steel. This kid was dead serious—he wasn't joking around.
"Fine. But let's move to another spot for training," Shisui said at last.
With his hands on his hips, he looked helplessly at the trampled earth and broken branches scattered across the current ground.
He leapt lightly onto a tree branch, his movement as smooth as flowing water, and looked down at Makoto still standing below.
"The training begins now. Keep up with me if you can."
Shisui smiled faintly. When it came to speed, there was no one in Konoha he truly feared. The only shinobi he had ever respected in this regard were the late Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—the legendary "Yellow Flash"—and the current Raikage, A. Against all others, Shisui's speed had never faltered.
Although he deliberately slowed himself to give Makoto a chance, even then it wasn't something an ordinary Uchiha could easily follow.
Makoto grit his teeth. Chakra surged into the soles of his feet as he sprang forward in pursuit of Shisui.
In a flash, Shisui's figure blurred and disappeared among the overlapping branches, leaving behind only the faint trace of his back through the shifting leaves.
No… I can't lose him! Makoto thought fiercely.
If his speed fell too far behind, Shisui might not even bother teaching him further. A teacher's willingness to impart techniques often depended on the student's own ability to keep up. To learn much or little—it all depended on himself.
Makoto pushed chakra into his legs, bounding from branch to branch. But unlike Shisui, who had mastered this method since his Academy days, Makoto's movement was clumsy. More than once, he nearly slipped off the branches and lost his footing.
It's time to use the Sharingan!
The flow of chakra within his body accelerated. His pupils spun, transforming into a pair of bright crimson Sharingan, each eye marked with a single tomoe. With those eyes, he locked onto Shisui's chakra ahead.
So that's how it is…
Chakra burst from his toes explosively, propelling him forward. His body leaned slightly, arms trailing behind—an awkward-looking form at first, almost like shooting himself out as an arrow. Initially, this posture had often caused him to stumble face-first into the dirt. But now, having adjusted, his speed truly increased.
Even when Shisui's figure vanished entirely from sight, Makoto could still track the glow of his chakra through the forest thanks to the Sharingan. Setting aside all distractions, he pushed himself further, weaving between the trees.
At last, the dense woods gave way to a clearing, and Makoto emerged at the bank of a river. Shisui stood calmly at the water's edge, flicking a small stone across the surface. The stone skipped several times, ripples spreading across the current.
This was the Naka River. Its clear waters wound their way through many corners of the Uchiha district, a secret place often used for training.
Makoto landed heavily on the ground, bent over with his hands on his knees. He had only been running a short while, yet he was already panting, his chakra reserves significantly depleted.
Is it really that movement technique? he wondered, still catching his breath.
"Not bad," Shisui finally spoke, without turning back. "You're actually much faster than I expected."
He flicked another stone across the river's surface, smiling faintly.
"This is the place where Itachi and I often came to train. We'd test our speed and reflexes here. You're now the third person who knows about it."
"Itachi?" Makoto muttered. "Of course I know him… what a stupid question. He's the clan head's son—graduated from the Academy at seven, a Chūnin by ten, Sasuke's older brother… he awakened the Sharingan long before I did. Not to mention, his genius is unmatched."
Shisui turned to face him at last. "First question: why do shinobi use this movement posture?"
Makoto blinked, still panting, and shook his head. The stance looked strange—arms trailing behind, body leaning forward. Wasn't it almost like trying to shoot yourself out of a bowstring?
"There are several reasons," Shisui explained patiently. "First, it reduces the chance of being detected. During infiltration missions, a shinobi's posture matters. Leaning forward lowers your profile, making you harder to spot in the enemy's field of vision."
He paused, then picked up another stone.
"Second, it's about combat survival. On the battlefield, an upright stance leaves you wide open. More shuriken and kunai will strike a standing target than one who minimizes his frame like this. Stay upright, and you'll end up a pincushion before you even reach your enemy."
"Finally, our ninja tool pouch is generally worn on the back of the hip or thigh, close to the hands. Whether it's throwing a shuriken, grabbing a kunai, or pulling out an explosive tag, having it near your dominant hand allows you to react instantly."
Uchiha Makoto nodded seriously. He had thought it was just a simple habit, but now he understood that even this was carefully considered for efficiency in combat.
"But these details may not even be covered until your second year at the Academy," Shisui continued, smiling faintly. "That's why I'm telling you in advance."
"Now, let's test your chakra nature first."
From his pouch, Shisui pulled out a thin, pale-yellow sheet of chakra paper.
"Chakra paper is made from a special tree that feeds on chakra as its nutrients. By channeling chakra into it, the paper reacts and reveals a person's elemental nature."
He lifted the sheet for Makoto to see. "There are five basic elemental natures: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water. For example, I myself possess three attributes—Fire, Wind, and Lightning."
"Although a shinobi can train and cultivate additional attributes later, it is never as naturally strong as the chakra nature you are born with. Our Uchiha clan is renowned for its natural Fire affinity—our Katon techniques are feared across nations. But I want to see whether you have any other chakra affinities besides Fire."
Shisui handed the paper to Uchiha Makoto, while holding another sheet himself. "Like this," he said, infusing his own. "If it burns, it's Fire. If it splits, it's Lightning. If it crumples, it's Wind. If it turns damp, it's Water. If it breaks apart, it's Earth—"
But before he could finish speaking, Shisui fell silent, eyes widening.
The chakra paper in Makoto's hand reacted violently. One corner ignited with flame, another split cleanly down the middle, another wrinkled tightly, another turned wet, and the last piece crumbled into fragments.
Makoto blinked. "What… kind of attribute is this?"
Shisui burst out laughing, unable to contain his shock. "Hahaha! Now I understand what a true prodigy looks like."
Closing his slightly parted lips, he placed a firm hand on Makoto's shoulder. "You… you possess all five chakra natures. Do you realize how rare that is? As far as I know, only a handful of shinobi have mastered multiple attributes. One of them is the current Hokage—Lord Third himself."
For once, there was open admiration in Shisui's tone.
"As for my famed speed," Shisui added, "it comes from the Body Flicker Technique. It's a high-speed movement ninjutsu fueled by chakra. Every major village has its own variation, but to execute it properly, you need not only chakra control but also extraordinary reflexes and physical conditioning."
He smirked. "And now that I know you have all five attributes, I can entrust my entire experience with the Body Flicker Technique to you in the future."
His voice sharpened slightly. "Starting today, you will begin intensive training. First, you'll complete 200 repetitions of the Academy's standard physical drills every day."
Shisui declared the daunting number without the slightest hesitation. From his pouch, he produced a worn notebook and handed it over. "And here—these are my personal notes on wielding a Wakizashi. Study them and use the rest of your time to polish your kenjutsu."
Makoto accepted the notebook with trembling fingers. His scalp tingled just thinking about the training load.
Today's regimen began with three thousand front kicks. Grimacing, Makoto walked over to a nearby wooden training post, its surface thick and unscarred—for now. Before long, many new, battered practice logs would be needed to endure his strikes.
"One… two… three…"
As Makoto pushed himself into the grueling exercise, Shisui stood off to the side with his arms folded, watching him with quiet satisfaction.
"Itachi…" Shisui murmured with a faint smile, his eyes reflecting both pride and sorrow. "Now, I finally have another successor to pass something on to."