Masaki grinned, feeling his excitement rise. He’d seen Shisui’s progress firsthand and knew his friend didn’t make this offer lightly. Unsheathing his own blade, Masaki took his stance, the thrill of competition lighting up his eyes.

‘Let’s see who’s stronger today,’ he thought, ready for the challenge.

Masaki was eager to measure his skills against Shisui, to see the difference between his self-trained style and Shisui’s formal training. Gripping his sword tightly, he gave a nod. “Bring it on!”

The two six-year-olds, normally playful friends, now faced each other with serious determination. Though they’d sparred before, those sessions had always ended without a clear winner. In the quiet forest, only the sound of rustling leaves could be heard. The tension between them built as they both prepared to strike.

Masaki made the first move, lowering his stance and pushing off with his right foot to close the distance. This was as much a test for him as it was a chance to push himself further.

Clang!

Shisui blocked Masaki’s downward slash with a well-timed horizontal swing. The strength behind Masaki’s attack surprised Shisui, who staggered slightly under the force. Masaki’s abdomen was briefly exposed, but he quickly jumped back, avoiding any follow up attack.

Masaki grinned, keeping his blade ready. “Not bad reaction speed,” he complimented.

Shisui smiled back, equally determined. “Your moves aren’t half bad, either.”

Holding his knife across his chest, Shisui sprang forward. In a flash, he was right in front of Masaki. Reacting instantly, Masaki drew two shuriken, holding them between his fingers as he charged forward to meet Shisui’s attack.

The two exchanged several quick strikes, each blow deflected by the other’s blade. The sounds of clashing metal echoed through the trees as they matched each other’s pace. Both landed on one knee, sliding backward before standing again to face each other. Realizing that this back-and-forth wasn’t working in his favor, Masaki decided to change his approach. He lunged forward with another strong slash, aiming to throw Shisui off-balance.

Clang!

Shisui blocked the strike, but he had started to notice Masaki’s pattern. Masaki’s style focused on fast, powerful slashes, but the angles and technique were straightforward, making it easier to counter once you saw it coming.

This time, however, Masaki surprised him by sliding his blade down Shisui’s knife, aiming for his hand. Startled, Shisui let go of his blade and swiftly pulled a kunai from his pouch, swiping at Masaki’s hand to force him to release his grip as well. Masaki dropped his weapon and, without missing a beat, kicked at Shisui’s chest.

Shisui managed to dodge just enough to lessen the impact, but Masaki’s kick still pushed him back. As Shisui regained his footing, he taunted, “What are you going to do now without a blade?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Masaki smirked. “shinobis aren’t limited to just swords.”

Both boys drew kunai, each determined to push this fight to the next level. They clashed again, moving with a fluidity beyond their years. After several intense exchanges, they paused, both slightly out of breath.

“Let’s call it here for today,” Shisui said, catching his breath. “Even with all the training I’ve done, I still can’t beat you, Masaki.”

“Well, I’ve been working hard too, you know,” Masaki replied, handing Shisui his dagger.

Neither had emerged as the clear victor. They had pushed each other to their limits, showing that, for now, they were evenly matched. Masaki couldn’t help but think that once their Sharingan awakened, battles like these would become much easier to win. “Let’s keep pushing ourselves,” Shisui said, putting his kunai away and giving a wave as he turned to leave.

Watching Shisui walk away, Masaki noticed how much more mature he seemed. Shisui’s talent had gained him respect within the clan, and his responsibilities were starting to shape him. ‘I don’t have a master or any real guidance,’ Masaki thought as he packed up. ‘No wonder my progress feels limited.’

He realized he needed a skilled teacher to avoid taking unnecessary detours in his training. Graduating early might be his best option, giving him the chance to find a strong mentor.

As the semester continued, Shisui stopped coming to school, probably focusing on his specialized training. Meanwhile, Masaki continued his routine, keeping a low profile and intentionally underperforming in daily tests. He earned just enough to pass, showing respect to his teachers while ensuring he didn’t draw attention.

As the new year approached, it would soon be the 45th year of Konoha. Recently, a big piece of news shook the village— the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure had vanished, rumored to have been killed. This disturbance had the whole shinobi world on edge, stirring a tense anticipation for conflict.

After dinner, Masaki sat cross-legged on his tatami mat, feeling restless. His strength had grow stagnant, and for the first time, he felt lost without a clear path to further improvement. He rubbed his tired eyes, frustrated. His body was strong, his talent exceptional, but he still hadn’t awakened the Sharingan. ‘Do I need some kind of emotional trigger?’

The so-called talent he’d gained from his reincarnation was supposed to allow him to unlock his bloodline limit naturally, without the usual Uchiha restrictions. Masaki took a deep breath and noticed his eyes felt warmer than usual, almost like they were drawing chakra directly from his body.

With renewed determination, he resumed chakra refining, focusing on channeling his chakra with all his strength. Minutes turned into an hour, and his eyes continued to absorb chakra like a bottomless pit. The process was exhausting, and tears began to prick at his eyes from the strain, but he pushed on. Finally, with a sharp, stabbing pain in his eyes, he had to pause, covering his face. It felt as though needles were piercing his vision.

When the pain subsided, Masaki sensed something different. ‘Could it be?’Standing, he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror.

“Double tomoe?” he murmured, staring at his reflection. His eyes now held two tomoe in each pupil, glowing with a scarlet intensity. A grin spread across his face as he examined his newly awakened Sharingan.

His chakra reserves were steady, proving he had enough to sustain the double-tomoe Sharingan without issue. The energy drain had stopped, and he could feel a new clarity in his vision. ‘Finally. I awakened the Sharingan without any emotional trigger. So maybe... even the Mangekyou Sharingan won’t require the same trigger as others?’

Excited and motivated, Masaki felt his path to power solidify. His Sharingan would be the foundation of his strength, the tool that would help him achieve greatness. He thought ahead to the coming years, knowing that his clan would soon face a critical choice between Konoha and their own ideals.

‘Someday, I’ll have to choose a side,’ he realized, thinking about the conflicts that lay ahead. The tension between Uchiha and Konoha had been simmering for a long time, and the Nine-Tails incident would only push it closer to a boiling point. The choice seemed clear to him—stand with the Uchiha. But for now, his focus was on growing stronger. The rest would come in time.