Chapter 114: The Friendship-Face-Punch

That statement might as well be a request for a serious beating.

I've never heard of someone requesting something like this before.

But if it was Sasuke, it made a strange sort of sense.

"Is that so?" Shinho Aburame maintained a calm expression as he responded.

"You're about to learn what Uchiha's Sharingan truly means!" Sasuke snorted dismissively, wasting no more words. 

He launched a barrage of shuriken and kunai with both hands.

After awakening his Sharingan, his greatest improvement was in his extraordinary perception. He could track the paths of all the projectiles with perfect clarity.

Shinho remained where he stood, channelling his Primaeval Essence into his White Jade Gu, causing his skin to take on a faint, jade-like sheen.

With a swift motion of his hand, the Moonlight Gu appeared in his palm, releasing a blue crescent blade that cut through the air.

With no effort at all, the kunai and shuriken were sliced in half, the attack continuing its path forward.

Sasuke quickly dodged to the right. When he turned to look back, he saw that the trees behind him had been cleanly sliced through.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of shock—this attack was surprisingly powerful.

What startled him even more was that it was the first time he'd seen Shinho use this crescent blade.

Up until now, Sasuke had always thought of Shinho as someone skilled in brute strength and medical ninjutsu.

"Is that all?" Shinho asked casually.

"Of course not!" Sasuke raised his hands, a confident smirk on his face. "You've already lost, Shinho!"

The shuriken and kunai scattered across the ground began to tremble.

Suddenly, dozens of wires connected to them flew into the air, intertwining in an instant and wrapping around Shinho.

The air around them suddenly grew hot.

Sasuke tilted his head back and exhaled a massive fireball.

But Shinho remained calm, making no effort to break free from the wires.

Water Arrow Gu!

A jet of water shot from Shinho's hand, piercing straight through the fireball.

The fireball shattered, its remnants flying harmlessly past Shinho.

Sasuke was once again taken aback.

He can use water release too? And without forming hand seals?

His surprise quickly turned into frustration.

Failing to take Shinho down with two consecutive attacks felt like a slap to his own face.

It made his earlier bravado seem like an utter joke.

Annoyed, Sasuke quickly formed hand seals.

"Lightning Release: Thunderbolt Arrow!"

Bolts of white lightning crackled from his palm, and he launched himself forward with a powerful kick.

Under normal circumstances, he would never choose to engage Shinho in close combat.

But now, with the Sharingan, he was confident that he could see through all of Shinho's movements.

No matter how strong Shinho was, it would be pointless if he couldn't land a hit.

Bone Spear Gu!

A spear of bone collided with the lightning, creating a momentary deadlock in midair before both attacks shattered like fireworks.

Shinho exerted a bit of strength, causing a shockwave that exploded from his person, that broke the wires holding him in place.

Sasuke had already closed the distance, aiming a punch directly at Shinho's face.

Shinho raised an arm to block.

"Too slow!" Sasuke sneered as his punch shifted direction mid-strike, connecting with Shinho's shoulder instead.

Huh?

His sneer froze on his face as pain shot through his right hand.

It felt as if he had punched a metal sheet, the impact sending a numbing jolt through his entire arm.

Without sparing him a glance, Shinho delivered a counterpunch.

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as he rolled to the ground, barely dodging the blow.

Even with the Sharingan active, his physical capabilities hadn't improved.

If Shinho's punch had landed, there was no way he could have withstood it.

Sasuke scrambled back to his feet, creating distance between them.

His face flushed with frustration as he glared at Shinho.

It wasn't from physical exertion—it was anger.

Because Shinho hadn't launched any follow-up attack. He simply stood there, watching calmly.

To Sasuke, it felt like Shinho was looking at him with utter contempt!

Sasuke glanced at his swollen right hand and clenched his teeth.

What's up with this guy?

Ninjutsu wasn't working.

and close combat couldn't break through his defences.

If this keeps up, it's going to be me who breaks down first.

"Have you calmed down?" Shinho asked once more.

Calmed down?!, Like hell I will!

Sasuke's rage flared up again.

That question was an absolute insult!

With a sudden surge of chakra, his Sharingan pulsed.

Sasuke used the moment their eyes met.

Genjutsu: Sharingan!

Every Uchiha who awakened the Sharingan automatically became a master of genjutsu.

This was due to the hypnotic nature of the Sharingan itself.

Sasuke hadn't intended to use it initially, as he felt that winning this way wouldn't be satisfying.

But now, if he didn't use it, he wouldn't just be dissatisfied—he would lose.

Shinho suddenly felt a cold presence envelop him.

It was a genjutsu.

It targeted the five senses—sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

In simple terms, it disrupted the five senses using chakra to trap someone in an illusion.

There were several ways to evade a genjutsu, such as closing your eyes or blocking your ears.

If you didn't sense the illusion, you wouldn't be caught in it.

But once trapped, there were only two ways to escape.

One was to disrupt your own chakra flow.

The other was to have someone else disrupt it for you.

In essence, both methods involved disrupting chakra flow.

But as a Gu Master, Shinho naturally had many helpers—his Gu insects.

In theory, he wasn't much different from a Jinchuriki.

The Gu insects inside his core released Primaeval Essence, instantly dispelling the genjutsu.

"This is the power of the Sharingan!" Sasuke let out a low, smug laugh. "Hahaha! It's over now!"

He clenched his fist and aimed another punch at the seemingly frozen Shinho.

"Yes, it's over, Sasuke," Shinho suddenly spoke up.

"You... you're...!" Sasuke froze, his body involuntarily shuddering as he instinctively tried to retreat.

His Sharingan had already caught sight of Shinho raising his right hand.

Jade Wind Wheel Gu!

A gentle, green whirlwind coiled around Shinho's fist.

In an instant, his punch surpassed the limits of Sasuke's Sharingan perception, striking him squarely in the face.

I-Impossible!

Sasuke's eyes widened with terror.

He couldn't follow the movement at all!

In the next moment, the immense force sent him flying.

Blood sprayed from his mouth like a fountain, scattering through the air.

With a loud crash, Sasuke hit the ground.

Pain coursed through his entire body.

But he didn't lose consciousness.

Shinho had held back, controlling the power of his punch.

Sasuke lay there, staring blankly at the clear sky, his eyes void of any light.

He had lost so pathetically!

This time, he couldn't comfort himself with thoughts that Shinho's strength was only in taijutsu and not in ninjutsu.

This time, he had been crushed on all fronts.

Weren't the Sharingan supposed to make me invincible?

Why did it turn out like this?

"Have you calmed down now?" Shinho asked, looking down at Sasuke.

Half of Sasuke's face was swollen beyond recognition.

Even if Sakura were called over right now, she probably wouldn't recognize him.

"..."

Sasuke turned his head away, refusing to speak.

"It seems like you have calmed down," Shinho said, sitting down beside him.

[Achievement unlocked: 'Friendship Face-Punch.']

[Reward received: Moon Veil Gu].

[Moon Veil Gu: A Tier-2 Gu, with slightly weaker defence compared to the White Jade Gu, but it can extend its protective abilities to allies.]

The sudden achievement notification made Shinho raise an eyebrow in surprise.

The Moon Veil Gu, like the White Jade Gu, offered a defensive boost, but while the latter was for personal use, the former could be shared with teammates.

It might not be immediately useful, but it would come in handy after graduation.

"Do you know how to evolve your Sharingan?" Shinho asked after a moment.

"By... killing...?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, wincing from the pain.

"If it were that simple, the Uchiha clan would have wiped each other out long ago. Why would Itachi have had any advantage?" Shinho stretched out his hands, letting green healing chakra flow into them.

Under the gentle glow of his healing technique, Sasuke's face began to return to normal.

Sasuke fell silent, lost in thought.

What Shinho said did make sense.

"Itachi's eyes were different from the regular Sharingan," Sasuke said, recalling something.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan," Shinho Aburame explained. "It's the advanced form of the three-tomoe Sharingan."

"Is that so?" Sasuke paused, his eyes regaining some brightness as he asked eagerly, "Is it powerful? Can I awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan too?"

Shinho's mouth twitched. Sasuke truly had a knack for being overly optimistic.

There he goes, dreaming about the Mangekyo Sharingan already.

"You can awaken it," Shinho replied with a nod.

If you can't do it on your own, your brother will definitely give you a helping hand.

"Really?" Sasuke's eyes lit up with excitement.

He had experienced Itachi's Tsukuyomi before, and the feeling of complete helplessness, of being caught in a technique that left no room for resistance, was deeply imprinted in his mind. 

If he could possess such eyes, he was certain he wouldn't lose to Shinho again, and he'd also have the power to take his revenge.

"Yes, really," Shinho affirmed, then posed a question, "Do you know how I came to know about the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"Right, how do you know that?" Sasuke asked, blinking in confusion.

Would you have even thought to ask if I hadn't mentioned it? Shinho thought to himself, speechless.

He realized that Sasuke wasn't as sharp as he had initially thought, in that aspect, Sasuke and Naruto were quite similar.

"It's from the research of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju," Shinho said, spinning a tale to match the narrative.

"Once you awaken your three-tomoe Sharingan, I can request permission for you to read about it."

"The Second Hokage?" Sasuke asked, his confusion deepening.

"The records contain details on how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan," Shinho waved his hand, not bothering to delve into more explanations. "You'll understand when the time comes."

"Alright," Sasuke's spirits lifted, the previous despair replaced by new determination.

"Let's head back to the hospital," Shinho said, standing up. "Aunt Mikoto is still waiting for you."

Sasuke quickly scrambled to his feet. He hadn't informed Mikoto before leaving, and she was likely worried sick by now.

"Sasuke?!" A familiar voice called out, interrupting Sasuke's train of thought.

Before Sasuke could respond, Mikoto Uchiha ran up and embraced him tightly.

Shinho glanced at the scene but chose not to interfere, walking instead toward Tsunade, who stood not far away.

"How did it go?" Tsunade asked, glancing at the traces of their battle on the ground.

"I convinced him," Shinho nodded.

Sometimes, a little physical persuasion was the best way to make a point.

There's a saying: reading helps one understand logic, but learning to throw punches makes others calmly listen to your logic.

Even Naruto's so-called "Talk no Jutsu" often worked in the same way. 

In the original story, Naruto talked Pain into submission, but it was after he had already beaten him in a fight.

Would the same speech have worked if someone else delivered it? Probably not—Pain would have likely dismissed them, asserting that his suffering was greater, and crushed them without a second thought.

"That's good to hear," Tsunade said with a stretch, letting out a long sigh of relief. "At least this matter has been addressed."

"How are the preparations going for the Jonin Assembly and the inauguration ceremony the day after tomorrow?" Shinho asked, noting her slightly disheveled outfit.

"Don't even ask!" Tsunade shot him a glare, clearly annoyed.

Right now, she felt like an overworked office worker, with nothing in her life except endless piles of paperworks.

Just mentioning work made her head hurt.

"Damn this Hokage job!" Tsunade muttered irritably.

"The night is still young," Shinho suggested with a sly smile. "Want to go have some fun?"

"It's already dark! How is that young?" Tsunade retorted weakly. "I'm heading home to sleep."

"I was thinking of sponsoring you with a million ryo for a little trip to the casino," Shinho said, feigning regret. "But since you're not interested, I guess I'll keep it."

"I'm interested!" Tsunade perked up instantly, grabbing him by the waist and dragging him away eagerly.

"Put me down!" Shinho protested, annoyed.

Running while carrying me like this takes all the fun out of it.

"I won't give you the money if you don't put me down!" Shinho played his trump card.

Tsunade skidded to a halt immediately. She forced a smile, ruffling his hair with a chuckle, "That was my mistake."

"Carry me properly," Shinho huffed, pushing her hand away with a small snort.

"No problem," Tsunade replied, bending down to pick him up gently.

Satisfied, Shinho nestled against her, using her softness as a cushion.

They made their way to the casino, where Tsunade set him down and dashed off to the gambling tables with the money in hand.

Shinho settled in nearby, using the time to continue his training.

…

In the Land of Rain.

Under the perpetual clouds and constant downpour, the sky had long turned pitch dark.

Itachi Uchiha frowned slightly. He much preferred the changing seasons of the Land of Fire.

"Don't be surprised when you see Pain," Obito Uchiha said with a slight chuckle.

Why would I be surprised? Itachi wondered. Do I know this person?

He followed Obito into an unmarked cave. Upon seeing Pain, Itachi's eyes narrowed involuntarily.

What kind of eyes are those?

He felt a force emanating from those eyes that was even more intimidating than his own Mangekyo Sharingan.

It was utterly bewildering.

"Madara," Konan said, standing beside the figure of Pain. "Akatsuki doesn't accept children."

Although Itachi had a calm and composed demeanour, it was clear from his youthful appearance that he was likely only in his teens—far too young.

"He's the most talented junior I've ever come across," Obito grinned. "He's already unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan."

"Oh?" Pain's eyes turned towards Itachi.

A wave of intense pressure crashed over him.

Instinctively, Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, easing some of the oppressive weight pressing down on him.

"He's qualified to join the Akatsuki," Pain said coolly. "Konan."

"Understood," Konan replied, tossing an item towards Itachi. "Your codename from now on is Suzaku."

Itachi caught the ring, feeling a surge of surprise.

Is it really this easy?

You're not even going to check my background?

What if I'm a spy?

"And take this too," Konan added, handing over a bottle of nail polish.

"...?"

Itachi was speechless for a moment.

"Let's go; I'll show you to your quarters," Obito said once Itachi had finished applying the nail polish.

They left the cave, descending a set of steps before pausing again.

"Long time no see, Itachi-kun," Orochimaru's voice slithered through the shadows as he licked his lips. "I never expected our reunion to happen within the Akatsuki."

Itachi's heart skipped a beat.

Orochimaru, the rogue Sannin, had joined the Akatsuki?

One of the legendary Three Sannin?

This organization was even more dangerous than he had initially imagined.

"Orochimaru-sama," Itachi greeted him briefly, then continued walking.

As he brushed past Orochimaru, a giant snake suddenly lunged forward, wrapping around Itachi with lightning speed.

Itachi turned calmly, his gaze landing on Orochimaru.

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!

Orochimaru's pupils shrank as he found himself pulled into a genjutsu.

Massive iron stakes pierced through his body, rendering him immobile.

Those eyes!

Orochimaru caught a glimpse of the Mangekyo Sharingan before the genjutsu was released.

By the time he snapped out of it, Itachi and Obito had already disappeared into the distance.

He stood there, clenching his fists, a look of greed flashing in his eyes.

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