Chapter 19 - Hatake Sakumo

CHAPTER WORDS:- 1130

Chapter 19 - Hatake Sakumo

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In the Uchiha clan's training ground, surrounded by forests and rivers:

The white-haired elder Uchiha Shihou stood outside the training area, gripping his cane tightly as he watched the sparring session intently.

In the arena, ten-year-old Uchiha Ruri, her black hair flowing as she moved, launched a series of shuriken with lightning speed at her opponent, an Uchiha jonin.

The jonin was Uchiha Rike, a man in his mid-twenties with a scar across his face that gave him a fierce appearance. His Sharingan, with its three tomoe, activated. He accurately read the shuriken's trajectory and deflected them with his kunai.

However, the shuriken carried immense hidden force. Even after deflecting them, the impact transferred through Rike's kunai, though he was able to resist it.

'What incredible strength!' Rike thought, his expression grave. He realized that the shuriken weren't just thrown with brute force but incorporated a subtle technique. The hidden force would transfer through the weapon used to block, causing a short paralysis in the opponent's body.

For a chunin or genin, this would likely mean several seconds of immobility—enough time to be overwhelmed by a second wave of shuriken and turned into a pincushion. Even for someone like him, a skilled jonin, this was resistable.

while thinking, Rike gave Ruri an opening where She swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed her technique:

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

A massive, four-to-five-meter-long dragon-shaped blaze roared toward Rike. The high-temperature flames were capable of incinerating their target while delivering a devastating impact.

*BOOM*

The ground exploded, leaving a large crater. Rike dodged in time, His three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as he turned to counter her next move with his kunai.

*CLANG!*

Ruri, much smaller in stature than the jonin, clashed against him with her own kunai. Their Sharingan met directly, releasing their respective ocular powers in full force.

The clash of their Sharingan left Rike stunned. He felt a pain in his eyes from the brief exchange of ocular power. Forced to retreat, he eyed the young girl before him.

Though she was also breathing hard, she was nearing exhaustion. What astonished him even more was that her Sharingan was still only at the two-tomoe stage, yet she had fearlessly and effectively confronted his three-tomoe Sharingan without succumbing to his genjutsu.

Her speed, reflexes, dynamic vision, strength, ninjutsu proficiency, and ocular power—it was all exceptional. Even he, a seasoned jonin, found her formidable.

one of his advantages lay in his larger chakra reserves. If he could outlast her, victory might eventually be his. Rike sighed inwardly. Resorting to a battle of attrition against a young girl felt dishonorable, but being defeated by her would be even more humiliating. he could use some high level jutsus, but why would he use an atomic bomb on a coughing baby?

With this strategy in mind, he prepared to continue. However, before Ruri could consume the custom-made chakra replenishing pill from her pouch, Uchiha Shihou's voice rang out from the sidelines.

"That's enough, Ruri. Stop now."

Ruri promptly returned the pill to her pouch, made a reconciliation gesture toward Rike, and stepped back. Rike mirrored her gesture.

"Impressive, Ruri. Your current strength is already enough to overwhelm most jonin," Rike praised warmly after their spar ended.He was genuinely proud of this prodigy within the Uchiha clan. Her talent was a cause for celebration.

Ruri nodded in acknowledgment, remaining calm and composed. While she knew her progress was due to her talent and rigorous effort, she also recognized that Shiraishi's custom training Routine, infused with ....something that she doesn't know, even when she asked about it, had played a critical role in her rapid growth.

At this point, Elder Shihou entered the training field.

Though over sixty years old and retired from active duty, Shihou still dedicated himself to the clan's future. His sole focus was to nurture talents capable of reclaiming the Hokage seat from the Senju.

"Elder Shihou," Ruri greeted with a slight bow, expressing her respect for the elder who had once mentored her. Though she no longer needed his guidance, she remained grateful for his efforts.

"Ruri, while your training is commendable, remember not to overexert yourself. Balance is key in nurturing your talent," Shihou advised earnestly.

In his eyes, Ruri's rapid growth was clearly the result of devoting every moment to honing her skills. While he was immensely proud, he worried about her burning out too soon. To him, Ruri was a far more promising successor than Uchiha Fugaku.

If anyone could awaken the fabled Mangekyo Sharingan and restore the clan's glory, it was undoubtedly Ruri.

"I understand. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Ruri replied.

"Wait." Shihou handed her a scroll. "This contains advanced B-rank Fire Style techniques. With your abilities, you're ready to study them. It was left behind by that man."

Ruri froze for a moment.

In the current Uchiha clan, few dared to mention THAT MAN's name outright, using euphemisms instead.Ruri accepted the scroll, thanked Shihou again, and left for home.

After she departed, Rike sighed heavily. "Ruri's strength is growing terrifyingly fast. Just two years ago, I could easily toy with her. But now, her two-tomoe Sharingan's ocular power is enough to resist my three-tomoe Sharingan. How did you make her so strong?"

Shihou shook his head, smiling. "Rike, you still don't understand? The power of the Sharingan varies by individual. The number of tomoe sets a baseline but doesn't determine absolute strength. Ruri's progress is her own; my role was merely supportive."

Rike couldn't deny the truth in Shihou's words. Still, the thought of being surpassed by a eleven-year-old girl in just a few more years left a bitter taste in his mouth. After all, he had once been hailed as an Uchiha prodigy himself.

"Don't sell yourself short, Rike. You're still one of the clan's elite jonin."

"Elder, it's not that I lack confidence. It's just that these younger generations are too monstrous. I'm more curious—who will the Third Hokage assign as Ruri's jonin leader when she graduates? Surely it has to be someone exceptional."

Rike doubted the Third Hokage lacked information on Ruri, given her growing reputation. He speculated about the type of jonin capable of mentoring her without being overshadowed.

"Hatake Sakumo," Shihou said.

Rike's body stiffened, cold sweat dripping down his back. His face betrayed his shock and disbelief.

"Wait, Elder, you're joking, right? That man is…"

"This is the only way both the Hokage and the Uchiha can feel secure," Shihou said with finality.

The Third Hokage required the Uchiha's combat strength during the war, while the Uchiha needed a powerful mentor for Ruri—someone she could respect and who could safeguard her.

Hatake Sakumo fit that role perfectly.

THE END

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