---

  The summer heat shimmered across the training ground in waves.

  Another fireball erupted from Uchiha Tetsuka's mouth, scorching the tree behind Hanekawa into blackened char.

  "Got him! I got him!" Tetsuka pumped his fist in triumph.

  Uchiha Shisui stood motionless nearby, his expression unreadable. He'd been staring at empty air for the past minute.

  Well, this is awkward, Hanekawa thought.

  Shisui finally turned toward Tetsuka, exchanged a brief glance with Hanekawa, then walked over to his clanmate. He raised his hand, channeling chakra into Tetsuka's body with practiced precision.

  The illusion shattered.

  The "Hanekawa" Tetsuka had been fighting dissolved into the charred tree trunk. Tetsuka's victorious expression crumbled instantly.

  "What... what just happened?" His voice came out small, confused.

  "You were caught in a genjutsu," Shisui said quietly.

  "Impossible!" Tetsuka's denial was automatic, but his eyes had already found the real Hanekawa standing untouched several meters away. The color drained from his face. "I... I'm an Uchiha. How did I lose to an illusion?"

  "It's not your fault," Shisui offered, though his tone suggested he didn't entirely believe it himself.

  Tetsuka slumped, the weight of Uchiha pride pressing down on his small shoulders.

  "Still interested in fighting?" Hanekawa's voice cut through the moment—directed not at Tetsuka, but at Shisui.

  Shisui's eyes widened slightly. The weak were dismissed; the strong were acknowledged. Such was the way of the Uchiha. He straightened, pushing aside his earlier caution.

  "I've heard your name," Hanekawa continued, offering a slight smile.

  That was all the motivation Shisui needed. After watching Tetsuka's humiliating defeat, he'd considered waiting, gathering more confidence. But there was no point in hesitation now.

  "Please," Shisui said, meeting Hanekawa's gaze. "Teach me."

  They walked to the center of the field and faced each other, hands raised in the formal seal of opposition.

  "Another match?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

  Obito's eyes lit up. "Shisui! Finally! The Uchiha will—"

  "Hanekawa will win," Kurenai said with absolute certainty.

  "That's... uncertain," Obito countered weakly.

  Kurenai shot him a look. "Where's that coming from?"

  Obito's face flushed. "I... I'm just supporting Rin."

  He glanced at Rin hopefully, but she was already focused on the match. The fight had begun.

  ---

  Shisui's right hand moved with barely a whisper of sound. Two kunai materialized in front of Hanekawa as if conjured from nothing.

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  Worthy of his reputation, Hanekawa thought. That throwing technique is probably the best among our generation.

  He sidestepped the kunai with a subtle shift of his body, then accelerated forward. His samurai sword sang through the air, aiming for Shisui's neck in one fluid motion.

  The "Fast as the Wind" entry activated—his speed jumped to another level entirely.

  Shisui's eyes widened. He barely managed to draw his ninja sword in time, blocking the strike. But the force behind it was immense. His arms buckled, and he was forced backward, his feet scraping against the dirt.

  Too strong!

  Hanekawa pivoted smoothly, his leg rising in a vicious kick.

  Shisui lost his footing completely, rolling twice across the ground before pushing himself up. Pain shot through his shoulder, but he ignored it.

  "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

  His hands flew through the seals. The fireball that erupted was massive—easily a third larger than Tetsuka's earlier attempt.

  Hanekawa smoothly returned his sword to his waist and crossed his arms. Eight shurikens bloomed outward like a flower, each one perfectly placed.

  The fireball was shredded in an instant. The shurikens continued their trajectory toward Shisui, their momentum undiminished.

  What?!

  Shisui's heart lurched. Hanekawa's throwing technique was every bit as good as his own—maybe better.

  He swept the shurikens away with his sword, but the force of the impacts sent numbness radiating up his arm. How much strength does he have?

  The sound of breaking wind answered his question.

  Shisui spun just in time to see the fallen shurikens leap back into the air, connected by nearly invisible silk threads.

  Ninja wire!

  This wasn't a sparring match with a peer anymore. This was fighting someone operating on an entirely different level.

  Shisui's body blurred. The Body Flicker Technique activated, and he accelerated away from the wire trap. His sword became a blur, cutting through the threads and deflecting the returning shurikens in rapid succession.

  He needed to create distance. He needed to think.

  "Fire Style: Impatiens Flower Claw Red!"

  Shisui retracted his sword and formed seals with both hands. Flames erupted from his mouth, engulfing the shurikens and creating a combination technique that surged toward Hanekawa.

  "Too strong!" Obito breathed, his earlier confidence shattered. "This is real Uchiha power!"

  Kakashi's hands clenched into fists. "B-rank ninjutsu. Only chunin-level ninja can use that."

  Rin and Kurenai strained their eyes, but the movements were too fast. All they could see were afterimages.

  ---

  Hanekawa became a shadow.

  The Body Flicker Technique—his version of it, refined through countless uses—allowed him to dodge the burning shurikens with contemptuous ease. He moved through the space between moments, appearing and disappearing like a ghost.

  Impossible! Shisui's mind reeled. How can the Body Flicker be that fast?

  He drew his sword in desperation, but it was already too late.

  The samurai blade was at his throat before he could even process the movement. One twitch, one wrong breath, and his head would separate from his shoulders.

  Shisui let his sword fall. There was no point in continuing.

  "I lost," he said, and meant it. "Senior Hanekawa, you're far stronger than I expected."

  Hanekawa lowered his blade, offering a respectful nod. "You fought well."

  "I didn't," Shisui said honestly, scratching his head. "Your Body Flicker Technique... I've never seen anything like it. I have a lot to learn."

  Hanekawa blinked. Wait. Did I just inspire Shisui to master the Body Flicker?

  In the original timeline, Shisui's signature technique was the Body Flicker—so refined that it earned him the nickname "Shisui of the Body Flicker." But that came from years of dedicated training.

  Did my performance just accelerate his development?

  Two notifications appeared in his vision:

  [E-Rank Talent Entry: Fire-breathing Baby]

  [Upgraded. Fire Style talent increased by 30%.]

  Oh. Well, that's convenient.

  Hanekawa couldn't help but smile. If he could inspire people to grow stronger, and they in turn upgraded his talents... the possibilities were interesting.

  "Hanekawa's gotten stronger again," Kakashi observed coldly, his analytical mind already cataloging the improvements.

  "Amazing," Rin murmured, her eyes reflecting something between admiration and longing. She'd watched Hanekawa's entire progression—medical ninja, swordsman, ninjutsu specialist. He excelled at everything. It was almost unfair.

  Obito's expression darkened as he watched Rin's reaction. His hands clenched into fists.

  Damn it. I lost again. This is a disgrace to the Uchiha.

  He didn't realize that if he'd faced Hanekawa instead of Shisui, the match would have ended even faster.