Chapter 470: Still Water's Life Mission Settlement (6k)

Chapter 470: Still Water's Life Mission Settlement (6k)



"I, Itachi, fight..." Even after the referee announced the result, Uchiha Fugaku was still a little dazed.

This battle had come too suddenly for him.

"Fugaku, my apologies, but this time I must go all out." Itachi silently apologized to Uchiha Fugaku in his heart.

Usually, even if it was a stranger, Itachi would not let them lose too badly and would go easy on them.

But this time was different. This time, Itachi wanted to show all the Uchiha that he, Uchiha Itachi, was strong, stronger than many Uchiha Jonin!

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flickered, he had not expected Itachi to still have a little surprise for him.

Just the strength Itachi had displayed earlier was already enough to defeat all the Uchiha and claim the first place in the martial arts tournament.

"Elder Sanjo, it looks like Itachi will most likely be the winner of the tournament. These youngsters nowadays are truly outstanding. If I were to guide them, I would feel a lot of pressure." The Dove Elder said with a smile.

The selection of the guiding teacher was not decided by the elders themselves but by a draw that took place before the start of the tournament. There were two groups, one consisting of the first and fourth places, and the other with the second and third. Under Uchiha Fugaku's manipulation, Uchiha Sanjo ended up being responsible for guiding the first and fourth-place winners.

Usually, being selected to guide the first-place winner was considered a good thing, as it could leave a deep impression on an outstanding junior. However, if the first-place winner was too strong, it might not be a good thing as it would be difficult to guide them effectively if their strengths were not that far apart.

"Itachi is indeed excellent." Even though he didn't particularly like Itachi, Uchiha Sanjo had to admit that Itachi was among the most talented of the Uchiha generations.

"However, with my years of cultivation experience, I believe I can still provide him with some help." Uchiha Sanjo said indifferently.

He possessed a three-tomoe Sharingan, and it was one that he had cultivated for over a decade. Itachi's Sharingan genjutsu would have no effect on him.

He refused to believe that his decades of ninja experience would lose to an eight-year-old Itachi. If he won, he could then casually spout some grand wisdom and it would still be considered a successful guiding battle.

As time passed, Uchiha ninja after Uchiha ninja was eliminated, and the tournament progressed.

In this process, Itachi displayed terrifying dominance. No matter who his opponent was, Itachi would simply activate his three-tomoe Sharingan and use genjutsu to defeat them instantly.

Some Uchiha ninja tried to fight with their heads down or eyes closed, but without special training, this fighting style would severely impact their combat effectiveness, and they would still ultimately fall victim to Itachi's instant defeats.

"Final match of the tournament, Uchiha Itachi versus Uchiha Yakumi."

Uchiha Yakumi took a deep breath and walked towards the battle area. In his heart, he had already accepted that he was no match for Itachi, and he just wanted to avoid a humiliating defeat.

Itachi, on the other hand, calmly walked to Uchiha Yakumi's side. To him, the tournament participants were merely warm-up opponents. His true goal had always been the same—to defeat Elder Uchiha Sanjo.

"Begin!"

As soon as the referee gave the signal, Uchiha Yakumi instantly activated his two-tomoe Sharingan.

Facing Itachi, Uchiha Yakumi dared not be careless. If he didn't activate his Sharingan immediately, he feared that he would fall victim to Itachi's genjutsu, just like those Chunin.

But what Uchiha Yakumi never expected happened.

Itachi, just like in his previous battles, activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and then looked at Uchiha Yakumi, and Uchiha Yakumi looked back at him, both pairs of Sharingan eyes locking onto each other.

Boundless blood-red filled Uchiha Yakumi's vision.

"You lose."

Before Uchiha Yakumi realized what was happening, Itachi had already appeared by his side, a kunai pressed against his neck.

"Impossible!" Uchiha Yakumi's heart trembled in shock.

He wasn't just some Genin or Chunin, he was a Uchiha Jonin with a two-tomoe Sharingan! How could Itachi defeat him with just a glance?

Once again, the entire venue fell into silence, everyone staring at Itachi in shock.

"Has Itachi already reached such a realm? Even Yakumi-niisan, a Jonin, is not his match." Uchiha Inabi was greatly shaken.

The impact of this tournament on him was immense. Itachi had defeated a fellow Jonin, Uchiha Yakumi, with just a glance.

If this had been a real battle, Uchiha Yakumi would have died at Itachi's hands.

"Something's not right. His genjutsu and eye techniques shouldn't be this strong." Uchiha Sanjo's heart stirred with doubt.

Defeating Chunin instantly was one thing, but to instantly defeat a Sharingan-wielding Jonin was just too exaggerated. Uchiha Sanjo, with his decades of cultivation, couldn't achieve such a feat.

If it had been a regular Jonin from another clan without a Sharingan, he might have succeeded, but the Uchiha clan was known for their strong resistance to genjutsu.

"With such genjutsu and fire techniques, it seems Itachi is even stronger than Obito."

Uchiha Fugaku was also secretly astonished. He had thought that after that day, he wouldn't be surprised by Itachi anymore, but Itachi always managed to give him new reasons to be amazed.

"Thanks to Teacher Mu Zhu's ninja tools." Itachi quietly observed the expressions of the Uchiha ninjas, a satisfied nod crossing his face.

His current genjutsu skills were indeed insufficient to instantly defeat a Sharingan-wielding Uchiha Jonin. However, Itachi had the ninja tools given to him by Mu Zhu.

Itachi cleverly utilized the tournament's battle mechanism. During the rest periods, he continuously infused chakra into the bent spoon to enhance his Yin Release, and then refined the chakra to restore his own state.

Before the final match, Itachi had infused most of his chakra into the bent spoon, creating the terrifying effect of instantly defeating a Uchiha Jonin.

If Itachi had fought Uchiha Yakumi normally, the amount of chakra he would have needed to defeat him wouldn't have been more than what he had just used to enhance the ninja tool. However, Itachi sought to achieve a one-hit-victory, and so he had used this method.

After the first-place winner was announced, they did not immediately proceed to the guiding battle. Instead, the higher-ups first scored and selected the third and fourth-place winners, and then shared a few words about learning from the top four participants before moving on to the guiding battle segment.

Itachi was pleased with this arrangement, as it gave him time to further enhance the bent spoon.

If it had been a battle between disciples, Itachi would never have resorted to such a trick.

However, if the opponent was a clan elder who put their own interests above that of the clan, Itachi didn't mind using a little trickery.

"Elder Sanjo, please guide me." Itachi said politely.

"With your strength, there isn't much I can guide you on. I can only impart some of the insights I've gained through my years of experience." Uchiha Sanjo said conservatively.

Itachi's performance in his last battle had indeed left Uchiha Sanjo a little bewildered.

As the battle was about to begin, all the Uchiha ninjas present fixed their gazes on the combat area, eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash.

On one side was the Uchiha clan's recently renowned Speed-of-Light Itachi, and on the other was a high-ranking and influential elder of the Uchiha clan. Either way, it promised to be an interesting match.

The majority of the Uchiha were rooting for Uchiha Sheng Qing. While Shisui was undoubtedly a prodigy, he had yet to attain the status of a true powerhouse, whereas Uchiha Sheng Qing, though not considered a top-tier shinobi in the entire ninja world, was still considered a strong jonin within the Uchiha clan.

"How do your fire-style jutsu compare to your current genjutsu skills?" Uchiha Inabi pondered.

Before today's battle with Shisui, Uchiha Inabi had always thought that Shisui's forte was fire-style jutsu.

If Shisui's strongest ability was still fire-style jutsu, Uchiha Inabi believed that even if Uchiha Sheng Qing won, it wouldn't be an easy victory.

"Shisui, what other surprises do you have in store for me?" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Shisui, his thoughts drifting to the recently prominent Mu Yue.

After that night of conversation with Shisui, Uchiha Fugaku had spent a long time in contemplation. He kept wondering how Shisui had managed to become so formidable, and he even went as far as to ask Shisui's uncle, Uchiha Nobuhiro.

In the end, Uchiha Fugaku concluded that Mu Yue's teachings had played a significant role in Shisui's development.

Many of the abilities Shisui displayed were not something he could have learned at the Ninja Academy or through typical Uchiha training.

"Begin!"

Uchiha Sheng Qing immediately focused chakra in his eyes, activating his Sharingan and revealing three tomoe in each eye.

Shisui also activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, but instead of using genjutsu as he usually did, he employed the Body Flicker Technique and rushed forward.

"It seems he hasn't become complacent from his string of victories." Uchiha Sheng Qing likewise channeled chakra into his legs and dashed forward.

If Shisui intended to defeat him with genjutsu, it would reflect poorly on Shisui's combat skills, indicating that he could only rely on brute force.

Boom! Boom!

Within half a minute, the two combatants clashed physically several times, their bodies flashing with each movement.

"As expected of an elder, he's no pushover." Shisui probed and discovered that Uchiha Sheng Qing was no slouch when it came to taijutsu.

While Shisui's assessment was within his expectations, Uchiha Sheng Qing's performance was quite the opposite—a surprising revelation.

"His taijutsu is unexpectedly superb. How has he trained to achieve this level?" Uchiha Sheng Qing furrowed his brows, perplexed.

His original assumption had been that since Shisui excelled in genjutsu and fire-style jutsu, he wouldn't have had much time to practice taijutsu. But as soon as the fight began, he realized how wrong he was. Not only was Shisui's taijutsu not lacking, but his physical prowess far surpassed that of his peers, making him ridiculously strong.

Of course, Uchiha Sheng Qing had no way of knowing that Shisui's breathing technique had already reached a highly advanced stage, not only enhancing the effects of his training but also constantly strengthening his physique.

In the end, Uchiha Sheng Qing could only attribute Shisui's absurd strength to his freakish natural talent.

When Uchiha Sheng Qing realized that his original battle plan wasn't working, he adjusted his strategy and returned to a more conventional fighting style.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Uchiha Sheng Qing quickly created distance, performed the necessary hand seals, and channeled chakra, spitting out a stream of fire at Shisui.

The orange-yellow flames converged into a massive, scorching fireball that hurtled towards Shisui.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Shisui, with a calm expression, performed the same hand seals and unleashed his own fireball.

Boom! Boom!

The two massive fireballs collided, erupting in a ferocious blaze. The terrifying flames soared, and the dazzling light bathed the faces of the Uchiha spectators.

Neither fireball yielded, and they eventually dissipated in the air, leaving behind only scorched earth.

Uchiha Sheng Qing's expression changed slightly. Same-natured elemental jutsu clashes were the best way to gauge one's prowess in nature transformation, and this meant that Shisui's fire-style jutsu might be on par with his own.

And since the Uchiha clan's ninjas were predominantly fire-attribute users, they all unconsciously gaped in astonishment at the sight.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"

Uchiha Sheng Qing pushed down his emotions and quickly refocused on the battle.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"

Shisui, like a mirror image of Uchiha Sheng Qing, also employed the Phoenix Fire Jutsu, once again neutralizing his opponent's fire-style jutsu.

Beads of sweat formed on Uchiha Sheng Qing's forehead. If this continued, even if he didn't lose, it would still be embarrassing for him, especially since this was a guiding battle.

However, Uchiha Sheng Qing knew that the more challenging the situation became, the calmer he had to remain to avoid mistakes and openings.

"I need to think of Shisui's potential weaknesses." Uchiha Sheng Qing's mind raced.

"Shisui may be a genius, but he's still just an eight-year-old boy. His chakra and stamina must be inferior to mine!" Uchiha Sheng Qing's eyes widened as a sudden realization struck him, and the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

While it was a bit shameful to resort to wearing down a child, it would be even more humiliating to lose to Shisui.

With this newfound determination, Uchiha Sheng Qing relaxed and focused on using ninjutsu to counter Shisui while closely monitoring Shisui's condition with his Sharingan.

As Uchiha Sheng Qing had surmised, as the intensity of the battle increased, Shisui's strength gradually diminished as his chakra and stamina depleted.

Uchiha Sheng Qing, excited by this development, increased the pressure, already envisioning his victory.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!"

In an attempt to keep Shisui at bay, Uchiha Sheng Qing wanted to continue using fire-style jutsu to deplete Shisui's reserves.

What surprised Uchiha Sheng Qing was that Shisui didn't stop to perform hand seals and counter with his own fire dragon. Instead, Shisui sped towards him at full tilt.

"What is he trying to do?" Uchiha Sheng Qing wondered, unsure if he should control the fire dragon to avoid Shisui. It seemed like Shisui intended to use his body to withstand the ninjutsu head-on.

Unlike the Fireball Jutsu, the Fire Dragon Jutsu offered some degree of control over the fire dragon after it was released, but this came at the cost of a reduced attack range.

Although he didn't particularly like Shisui, Shisui was still the Uchiha clan's super genius, and any mishap would be a significant loss for the entire Uchiha clan.

However, before Uchiha Sheng Qing could make a decision, Shisui, moving at high speed, collided with the rapidly advancing fire dragon.

The Uchiha spectators' pupils constricted, and Uchiha Fugaku even rushed forward.

The next moment, something shocking and incomprehensible happened.

Boom!

A dull impact sound rang out, and Uchiha Sheng Qing was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing harshly to the ground.

Whoosh!

A kunai knife shot out and embedded itself in the ground next to Uchiha Sheng Qing.

Shisui stood in his original spot, patting the flames off his clothes and exhaling softly.

He didn't have enough chakra to coat his entire body with the Body Flicker Technique, but fortunately, the Fire Dragon Jutsu had a small range. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to attempt such a risky maneuver to break through the fire dragon and launch a surprise attack.

However, with the enhancement from the bent spoon, his Enhanced Color was stronger than usual, so Shisui devised a strategy that gave him a high chance of victory through surprise.

"Shisui, are you alright? Do you want me to take you to the Konoha Hospital now?" Uchiha Fugaku quickly stepped forward with concern.

Although he didn't know what jutsu Shisui had used, he could see that Shisui hadn't completely blocked Uchiha Sheng Qing's fire-style jutsu.

"Uncle Fugaku, I'm fine. It looks like Elder Sheng Qing is not doing so well, though," Shisui shook his head.

To end the fight in one blow, Shisui had held nothing back with that punch.

Uchiha Fugaku breathed a sigh of relief and went to check on Uchiha Sheng Qing. He found that Sheng Qing was doing alright, aside from a few broken bones and losing consciousness.

Uchiha Fugaku thought that losing consciousness was a good thing; otherwise, Uchiha Sheng Qing would feel terrible seeing so many Uchiha witnesses gathered around, watching him being defeated.

"Take Elder Sheng Qing to the hospital," Uchiha Fugaku instructed two Uchiha ninjas, who promptly carried Uchiha Sheng Qing away.

The referee, unsure of what to say about the outcome of the battle, simply announced the end of the guiding battle.

Shisui walked towards the group of Uchiha spectators. Each Uchiha who looked at him had a complex expression on their face, a mix of admiration, shock, confusion, and envy. At that moment, Uchiha Shisui's image in their minds went beyond that of a mere genius.

"Even Elder Sheng Qing lost to him. I guess it's not a big deal that I lost, either," Uchiha Yakumi felt much more relieved.

He had been feeling quite dejected, as he was, after all, a Konoha jonin. But seeing an elder lose to Shisui instantly made him feel better about his own defeat.

Since even Elder Sheng Qing had lost to Shisui, it was obvious that his own loss wasn't due to any lack of strength on his part, but rather because Shisui was extraordinarily powerful. So, it made sense that he had been easily defeated by Shisui's Sharingan.

Uchiha Sheng Qing's defeat did not stop the Ninja Arts Festival from continuing. Another elder proceeded to guide the second and third-place winners, while the fourth-place winner's session was delayed due to Uchiha Sheng Qing's injury.

...

At the Nanako Shrine, the Uchiha clan meeting was about to start at 8 p.m. sharp.

Just like the last time, Shisui brought Obito along with him.

Although the Ninja Arts Festival had already made him famous among the Uchiha clan, he saw no reason to pass up the opportunity to further increase his influence with Obito by his side.

Uchiha Sheng Qing also attended the clan meeting, but Shisui could tell from his movements that he hadn't fully recovered and was still injured.

"Demanding the right to take the initiative in attacking is of great significance to the Police Force and even our entire Uchiha clan!" Uchiha Sheng Qing sat next to Uchiha Fugaku and spoke solemnly to the gathered Uchiha ninjas, just as he had during the previous meeting.

"If we succeed, our Uchiha clan can..."

"Elder Sheng Qing, what if this proposal is destined to fail?" Shisui interrupted, standing up directly.

Many Uchiha ninjas turned to look at Shisui, but no one stopped him from speaking. They waited quietly for his explanation.

Shisui had earned the right to question Uchiha Sheng Qing's proposal, having defeated him in battle and being a super genius who had gained fame on the battlefield at such a young age.

Uchiha Sheng Qing looked at Shisui, feeling a twinge of pain in his abdomen, and his face darkened slightly.

"As I said before, I can't guarantee success. Even if our demands are reasonable, they may not be accepted, as the final decision lies with the Hokage and the Konoha higher-ups," Uchiha Sheng Qing replied after a moment's thought.

"Shisui, you are very strong, but you spend all your time training. You should learn more about other matters before participating in these discussions," Uchiha Sheng Qing advised, feigning concern for Shisui's well-being.

Shisui smiled faintly, as he had anticipated this move from Uchiha Sheng Qing. This little trick wouldn't work on him.

"Elder Sheng Qing, being strong does not mean one cannot learn about other things," Shisui said as he distributed materials that he had prepared in advance to every Uchiha present, including Uchiha Sheng Qing.

As Uchiha Sheng Qing glanced at the contents of the materials, his expression turned ugly. His eyes darted between Uchiha Fugaku and the other Uchiha elders, trying to figure out who had orchestrated this with Shisui.

He had reason to believe that someone was supporting Shisui, as it seemed improbable for an eight-year-old child to have accomplished all this on his own.

The other Uchiha ninjas curiously browsed through the materials, which mostly introduced and explained rights, the specific right to take the initiative in attacking, what possessing this right implied, the potential consequences of its implementation, and the suspicions that would arise towards the Uchiha clan member who made such a proposal. The materials even included historical anecdotes to illustrate these points.

To ensure that all Uchiha ninjas could understand the content, Shisui stood next to Uchiha Fugaku and began to explain, not needing to refer to any notes as he had written them himself. He smoothly presented the information and answered any questions that arose.

"This proposal is too unreasonable. It is not a right that a ninja clan should have, as it would severely impact the Hokage's authority. Therefore, the probability of it being approved is zero! Such a proposal will only make the Konoha higher-ups more wary of our Uchiha clan," Shisui concluded.

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Shisui with appreciative eyes, understanding the sensitivity of this right. However, he hadn't been able to explain it as thoroughly as Shisui just had, in a way that every Uchiha present could understand.

Some Uchiha ninjas needed to have this information broken down and fed to them, or they wouldn't comprehend it. Otherwise, they would simply think that Elder Sheng Qing's argument made more sense.

"I haven't thought this through enough, and there are many points I hadn't considered. It was my mistake, and I apologize to all of you," Uchiha Sheng Qing said as he stood up and bowed deeply to the assembled Uchiha ninjas.

"Elder Sheng Qing, you were just trying to do what's best for the clan. You just missed a few things," one of the ninjas said comfortingly.

"Yes, yes, Elder Sheng Qing, you don't need to apologize. We haven't even made the proposal yet, thanks to Shisui for pointing this out," another ninja added.

Some Uchiha ninjas, touched by the elder's apology, comforted him.

"Regardless, it was indeed my mistake, and I will reflect on it," Uchiha Sheng Qing said, looking deeply at Shisui before sitting down with his head lowered.

Shisui observed this scene with a detached expression. He couldn't deny that Uchiha Sheng Qing's tactic of retreating to advance was quite effective. However, Shisui had also achieved his goal of gaining a voice among the Uchiha.

At that moment, Shisui finally received a message from the Mu Yue System about the settlement of his life mission.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end