Chapter 4: Improvements & Shisui's death

Time flew by, and another cycle of spring and summer had passed in Konoha by May 20, 52.

Unbeknownst to Sato, nearly six months had elapsed since his first encounter with Hinata. Throughout this period, he maintained his rigorous training regimen. Sato never skipped a meal, ensuring three square meals a day, and he prioritized sleep, getting a full nine hours every night, along with a one-hour nap. The rest of his time was dedicated to Chakra extraction, mudra practice, and honing his Chakra control.

In the span of six months, Sato's Chakra had nearly doubled. Although he lacked the ability to perceive Chakra, if he could, Sato would have been astonished to find that his Chakra reserves surpassed those of third-year students at the ninja academy.

At this rate of improvement, it wouldn't be long before Sato's Chakra capacity matched that of a sixth-year student on the cusp of graduation, with the potential to become a Genin trainee ninja. Such a Chakra volume qualified him to delve into the practice of ninjutsu.

During the past year, Sato had also managed to master the art of scaling walls with his feet, thanks to relentless attempts and failures at home. Perhaps his mother's proficiency as an illusionist and medical ninja had bestowed upon Sato an inherent talent for Chakra control. Presently, his Chakra control surpassed that of the ninja academy students.

Having completed the initial stage of Chakra control, Sato realized that he could no longer confine his training to the confines of his home. The Naka River, known for its mysterious disappearance of Uchiha Shisui's body, must have carried it away. To retrieve a corpse from the river, one must possess the ability to traverse water. It would be arduous for a five-year-old body to drag a corpse against the river's current.

Thus, Sato transitioned from practicing indoors to venturing outdoors. Fortunately, Konoha boasted an abundance of forests and woods, many of which harbored small rivers and ponds. Sato selected a nearby forest to perfect his substitution jutsu and further refine his Chakra control.

If anyone happened upon this scene, they would undoubtedly label Sato as a prodigy. However, Konoha had never suffered from a shortage of prodigies, with numerous individuals surpassing even Sato's talent.

For instance, individuals like Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Kakashi, who became a Jonin at the age of twelve, surpassed Sato in terms of talent. His abilities, while impressive, paled in comparison.

Thus, as long as Sato kept his "Devouring Palm" ability hidden, he had no reason to fear the attention of the Third Hokage or Shimura Danzo.

After months of rigorous training, Sato finally mastered the Transformation jutsu within the substitution jutsu by July and fully perfected the substitution by September.

In November, he acquired the skill of treading water, granting him the ability to delve into basic medical ninjutsu.

However, Sato's aspirations leaned more towards the Perception jutsu and the Body Flicker Technique than medical ninjutsu. Fortunately, his parents' inheritance included manuals for both ordinary Perception Technique and instant Body Flicker Technique. While these techniques were not highly advanced, their potential was staggering.

The Perception Technique of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, allowed him to perceive the Fourth Ninja World War's battlefield from the Land of Fire. As for the Body Flicker Technique, it had evolved into the Flying Thunder God Technique. Achieving such remarkable perception and instantaneous movement required top-tier Chakra control and understanding, which Sato lacked and didn't currently require.

In the future, once Sato grew stronger, he planned to visit the tombs and devour the corpses of Senju Tobirama or Namikaze Minato, thereby gaining everything he needed.

It was fortunate that the preservation of corpses had been handled well. Even after many years, they remained intact. Yakushi Kabuto had become a major player in the Fourth Ninja World War through his ruthless tomb-robbing and the use of Impure World Reincarnation. It was thanks to Uchiha Itachi's filial intervention that the war's balance eventually shifted.

"Now that I've mastered the Three Body Technique and can tread water, it's just a matter of time before I locate the cliff along the Nanhe River," Sato thought to himself with satisfaction as he returned home, dry and content.

Whether he would break through to Kage-level in the future or maintain a lower profile until the age of twelve and then seize opportunities to devour others depended on his efforts in the coming year.

In December, Sato learned another technique—the Invisibility Technique. This was a basic ninjutsu taught in ninja schools, though it required the use of props. Naruto had famously used it to disguise himself as a wall when playing with the captors during the early stages of the story.

To truly remain undetected, Sato needed to master not only the Transformation Technique but also the Invisibility Technique, preferably accompanied by the Shadow Clone Technique. This way, if he were discovered, any attack would only affect a Shadow Clone, ensuring his safety when collecting corpses. Moreover, once a Shadow Clone dispersed, its memories would be transferred back to the main body.

Now that Sato had mastered both the Transformation and Invisibility Techniques, he only lacked the Shadow Clone Technique.

As the year turned to the 53rd year of Konoha, Sato turned five years old. Little did he know that this year would prove to be a turbulent one for Konoha.

As Konoha's top ninja, Sato found themselves driven to the remote Naka River. The Uchiha clan's patience with Konoha had reached its breaking point.

Upon awakening their Sharingan, their temperaments underwent a drastic transformation.

The radicals within the clan association persisted in urging the clan leader to lead a coup.

Acting as double agents, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui informed Konoha about the family's situation.

This further intensified the already tense relationship between Konoha's senior management and the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Shisui, recognized as the strongest member of the Uchiha clan and deeply devoted to the village, felt helpless in stopping the radicals. However, an idea took root in his mind.

As the relationship between the clan and the village deteriorated, the Uchiha clan resorted to physical violence, assaulting villagers to vent their dissatisfaction. Uchiha Shisui's idea deepened.

And finally...

When the time came, after July.

Uchiha Shisui approached Konoha's senior management and shared his thoughts with the Third Hokage, Danzo, and the two elders. He also unveiled his Mangekyo Sharingan technique—the Kotoamatsukami, known as the "Distinguished Heavenly Gods."

His plan was to utilize the power of the Distinguished Heavenly Gods to manipulate Uchiha Fugaku and prevent the impending coup.

Upon discovering the permanent mind-altering abilities of Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan technique, the higher-ups in Konoha may not have shown it on the surface, but their inner fear of Uchiha Shisui reached its peak.

Shimura Danzo, in particular, harbored a murderous intent towards Uchiha Shisui and coveted the Distinguished Heavenly Gods for himself.

As for the Third Hokage, aware of Shimura Danzo's intentions, he silently allowed his actions.

Thus, on the eve of the Uchiha clan's upcoming clan meeting, Uchiha Shisui and Shimura Danzo rendezvoused in a forest.

During their encounter, Shimura Danzo launched an attack on Uchiha Shisui, who easily fended it off. However, due to Shimura Danzo's position as the Hokage's assistant, Uchiha Shisui chose not to pursue him.

Unexpectedly, Shimura Danzo seized the opportunity and employed the Uchiha clan's Izanagi to launch another assault, successfully gouging out one of Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

Yet, Uchiha Shisui proved himself to be the Uchiha clan's foremost powerhouse.

Despite losing one eye, he summoned his one-eyed Susanoo, swiftly annihilating most of the Root ninjas with his Susanoo. Utilizing the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, he managed to escape and rendezvous with Uchiha Itachi on the cliff of the Naka River.

During their final meeting, Uchiha Shisui entrusted Uchiha Itachi with the duty of safeguarding the village and the Uchiha name, so as to avoid conflict caused by his eyes. He then gouged out his remaining eye and passed it on to Uchiha Itachi.

After explaining everything, Uchiha Shisui, wearing a smile, took his own life by leaping off the cliff.

Witnessing his best friend's descent, Uchiha Itachi awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan.

At the mere age of 11, he had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan. At 13, he would annihilate the clan, and at fourteen or fifteen, he would swiftly eliminate Orochimaru... Truly outrageous!

Little did Uchiha Itachi know that he was not the only witness to Uchiha Shisui's fateful plunge from the cliff.

At the base of the cliff, a cat observed the entire scene unfold.

Despite Uchiha Shisui's flat and unresisting descent, he met a tragic end as he crashed upon the river below.

The river's fierce currents caused Uchiha Shisui's body to resurface and swiftly be swept away.

The cat, having seen everything, swiftly moved alongside the lifeless form.

Once a certain distance from the cliff was reached, the cat suddenly emitted a "bang" and transformed into a cloud of white mist.

From within the mist emerged a small figure.

In an instant, the figure materialized on the water's surface, gripping Uchiha Shisui's garments tightly with both hands, before vanishing into thin air.