Uchiha Souji walked along Konoha's main street with a skewer of freshly grilled meatballs in his hand.
Behind him followed Uchiha Itachi, quiet, expressionless, and always trailing Souji whenever he had nothing else to do. The two made an odd pair—one chewing happily, the other staring blankly like a small shadow.
Souji bit into a meatball and smiled brightly.
"I warned you!"
On the opposite side, Shi froze for a moment as the words sank in.
Then his eyes narrowed, and a cold realization washed over him.
This brat… if he isn't gotten rid of soon, he'll grow into a monster on the battlefield.
He thought of that night—the night Souji suddenly unleashed the terrifying pressure that felt like a physical force. Souji had assumed it was his youth that prevented him from using that strange power again.
But the truth was different.
Souji's Conqueror-like presence had awakened a new sensitivity inside him—an instinct for danger, sharper than any ordinary sensor ninja.
It wasn't fully developed, but it was potent.
So when Shi's killing intent flickered, even for a heartbeat, Souji felt it instantly.
He had come here only to annoy Shi before he left the village.
But now?
Now it was a real grudge.
Souji made a mental note:
From now on, even when I go to the toilet, I'm checking for ninja disguises.
But Souji was not the type to swallow anger quietly.
Come as you are, go as you are. If someone throws dirt, he'd throw a rock.
He held out the half-eaten meatball skewer behind him. Itachi took it expressionlessly, chewing silently as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
Souji then marched up to Shi, who towered over him, and patted Shi's leg.
"Smart people love using tricks to solve problems. Sure. But sometimes they forget—fists work better."
Shi's eyelid twitched.
Souji continued, voice full of mocking politeness:
"Next time you want to scheme against Konoha, bring your Fourth Raikage along. At least then you'll look confident."
Then Souji turned around sharply, waving dismissively.
"Farewell!"
He didn't look back.
---
Shi stood silently, watching the small boy walk away with the casual arrogance of someone who believed the world couldn't touch him.
The corner of Shi's mouth twitched.
Does he mean only the Fourth Raikage qualifies as a threat?
"What an arrogant brat…"
But then Shi muttered something that showed his true evaluation:
"Keep eyes on him from the shadows. That Uchiha Souji… he may become the next Namikaze Minato."
For Cloud Village, this was the highest praise they could give a child.
They didn't bother comparing children to monsters like Hashirama or Madara—those two were once-in-a-millennium forces of nature.
And Tobirama, despite being brilliant, had died at the hands of Cloud defectors.
To Cloud shinobi, the Third Hokage was knowledgeable but old, and the Fourth Hokage—Namikaze Minato—was the one they remembered:
A golden flash who single-handedly fought against the best Cloud had to offer.
If Cloud shinobi could compare Souji to anyone at all, comparing him to Minato meant they truly feared him.
But Souji didn't care.
He had more important things to do.
---
Today, he dragged Itachi along because they were finally going to visit Kakashi Hatake.
Souji had promised himself earlier that he would ask Kakashi for guidance, but things kept happening—fights, poison, kidnappings, negotiations—so the plan kept getting pushed back.
But today Kakashi had a rare day off, making it the perfect opportunity to go steal—no, learn—Raikiri.
Souji walked briskly.
He had thought about it a long time:
Raikiri (Chidori) was far more compatible with his fighting style than "meatball ninjutsu."
Meatball techniques couldn't be wrapped around swords.
Lightning, however?
Lightning could enhance blades, sharpen reflexes, and create speed.
If Souji wanted to grow stronger, he needed ninjutsu that matched his path.
He wasn't going to abandon swordsmanship for some round-shaped jutsu.
A decline in strength was unacceptable.
Lightning Release, however, was various and flexible.
Raikiri—also called Chidori—was a prime example.
The rule was simple:
When Kakashi used it, it was Raikiri because he once cut lightning itself.
When others used the same jutsu, it was just Chidori.
If Sasuke one day felt Chidori sounded lame, he just needed to slice lightning too.
That was how titles worked.
Souji liked that idea.
---
Soon he arrived at Kakashi's house.
The gate was unlocked. Kakashi clearly expected them.
Souji pushed open the door and walked inside.
In the yard, Kakashi was lying on the tatami under the sun, holding an orange book—an unmistakable Icha-Icha novel.
Souji groaned.
"In broad daylight? Senior Kakashi, at least pretend to be respectable! Itachi is right here!"
Itachi said nothing but looked away like a polite child who saw something he shouldn't.
Kakashi's eyebrow twitched.
Souji was seven.
Itachi was six.
Neither had the right to lecture anyone about adult books.
But Kakashi simply closed the book and rolled onto his back, staring at Souji with dead-fish eyes.
"Ah yes… Konoha's rising hero finally remembered to visit me. I thought you disappeared after promising to ask for advice."
Souji shrugged.
"Well, some annoying matters delayed me. You know how it is."
Kakashi snorted silently.
He knew exactly how many troublesome things Souji had been involved in.
He had personally stayed up late filing reports and cleaning up behind the child.
If Souji hadn't saved his life, Kakashi might have abandoned this babysitting job entirely.
Kakashi finally sat up and reached into his vest.
"You wanted the methods for Lightning Release training, right?"
He pulled out a scroll and set it on the tatami.
Souji nodded.
"Actually," he admitted, "I want to learn Lightning Style and combine it with my swordsmanship. Maybe even create my own technique someday. The Uchiha clan's usual ninjutsu doesn't suit me."
He wasn't hiding anything.
Kakashi, son of the White Fang and a possible future Hokage candidate, was someone Souji trusted for guidance.
Holding back now would only limit his own growth.
---
Kakashi's dead-fish eye blinked once.
He wasn't easily impressed.
But even he found himself respecting the boy's clarity in his path.
Souji wasn't chasing fancy techniques.
He was choosing what worked for him.
Kakashi smirked under his mask.
"Alright, Souji. If you want Lightning Release…
Let's start your training."
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