A light, rhythmic knock sounded on the office door.
"Come in."
As soon as Minato Namikaze finished speaking, the door was pushed open.
A teenager with a short sword strapped to his back and curly short hair walked in.
He took in the scene inside, his gaze lingering for a moment on the kneeling Itachi before he quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"Shisui Uchiha of the Anbu, reporting as ordered."
Shisui's voice was clear. Though only in his teens, he couldn't hide the seasoned aura of a veteran from the battlefield.
Minato studied the young man before him.
This was the famous "Shisui of the Body Flicker" who had struck terror into the hearts of enemies on the battlefield.
Compared to Itachi's calm and reserved nature, Shisui was more like a blade drawn from its scabbard—sharp and brilliant, yet knowing when to restrain its edge.
"Stand up," Minato said, raising his hand. "No need for such formalities."
Shisui stood up and looked at Itachi with a questioning gaze.
Itachi nodded slightly, indicating that everything was fine.
"Shisui, Itachi just recommended you to me," Minato said, getting straight to the point. "He said you are the true genius of the Uchiha clan, perhaps even stronger than him. I'm curious to see just how far someone so highly praised by Itachi has come."
Shisui scratched his head, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on his face. "Itachi is too humble. I only have some insights into the Body Flicker Jutsu. In terms of overall capability, Itachi is the pride of the clan."
"Alright, enough with the mutual flattery."
Gamakon jumped down from the desk, landing between the two. "Don't just talk the talk; let's see what you've really got. Minato, there's not enough room here. How about the training grounds?"
Minato nodded and stood up, adjusting his Hokage cloak.
"I had the same thought. I also want to see what kind of combat power the 'Twin Stars' of the Uchiha clan can display when they join forces."
...
Training Ground Three.
Surrounded by wire fences, several thick wooden stakes stood in the center, covered in scars left by shuriken.
Minato stood in the middle of the field. He pulled a custom Flying Thunder God kunai from his tool pouch, spun it around his finger, and then tucked it back into his waist.
"Don't hold back."
Minato looked at the two boys opposite him. "Treat me as an enemy and attack with your best methods. Show me your mettle."
Itachi and Shisui glanced at each other.
Without needing words, their mutual understanding allowed them to reach a consensus instantly.
*Shua!*
Shisui's figure vanished instantly.
In the next second, over a dozen afterimages appeared around Minato. Each held a short blade, and while their movements differed, they all radiated genuine killing intent.
Uchiha Style: Halo Dance.
Simultaneously, Itachi's hands formed seals, his cheeks bulging.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball roared forth, sealing off Minato's retreat from above.
Meanwhile, Shisui's afterimages blocked all possible escape routes to the front, back, left, and right.
It was a killing blow right from the start.
Gamakon squatted on a distant tree branch, watching the scene while chewing on a piece of foxtail grass.
"Nice coordination," Gamakon commented. "Shisui handles the feints and containment while Itachi takes the main attack. These two kids' combat IQ is definitely on point."
In the field, facing the overwhelming onslaught, Minato didn't move an inch.
It was only at the moment the blades were about to touch his cloak...
...that Minato finally moved.
He simply took a single step forward, his body tilting slightly.
This one step happened to land perfectly in the blind spot of all of Shisui's afterimage attacks.
Following that, Minato raised his hand, precisely catching the shuriken Itachi had thrown with two fingers, and flicked his wrist.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
A series of crisp sounds rang out.
The reflected shuriken traced a bizarre arc in the air, accurately striking the subsequent incoming shuriken and altering their trajectories.
The shuriken that were originally aimed at Minato all reversed direction, flying toward Shisui's afterimages instead.
*Pop! Pop! Pop!*
A series of smoke clouds burst.
Shisui's afterimages all dissipated, leaving only his true self exposed on the left, his face filled with shock.
His proud Body Flicker Jutsu had been seen through?
"It's not over yet!"
Shisui let out a low shout, his eyes instantly transforming into crimson three-tomoe.
Sharingan, activated.
His speed exploded once again. His short blade, coated in chakra, became a streak of light as it lunged toward Minato.
Itachi also activated his Sharingan. Several shuriken, guided by steel wires, attacked from blind spots like living creatures.
With the enhancement of the Sharingan, their dynamic vision was pushed to the limit. Every minute movement of Minato's was captured by their eyes.
However, something terrifying happened.
They could see it.
The motion of Minato raising his hand, the degree of his side-step, even the frequency of his breathing—their eyes saw it all clearly.
But their bodies couldn't keep up.
Minato's speed wasn't so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye, but every single one of his actions was half a beat faster than theirs.
By the time Shisui's blade thrust out, Minato was no longer in that position.
By the time Itachi's shuriken converged, Minato had already slipped through the gap.
*Pat.*
A soft sound.
Minato's palm gently patted Shisui's shoulder.
Shisui's whole body stiffened, his blade frozen in mid-air.
On the other side, a kunai was already pressed against the small of Itachi's back.
The battle was over.
The entire process took less than a minute.
Minato withdrew his hand, his breathing steady and not a single hair out of place. Even the hem of his Hokage cloak remained undisturbed.
"That was wonderful."
Minato offered a smiling critique. "Shisui's Body Flicker is very creative, using afterimages to distract the vision while the true body waits for an opening. Itachi's shurikenjutsu is also exquisite; your zoning was flawless."
The two boys deactivated their Sharingan and stood with their hands at their sides, faces full of frustration.
To them, the fight just now had been nothing more than one-sided play.
"Don't be discouraged."
Gamakon hopped over. "You're facing the 'Yellow Flash,' after all. In the entire shinobi world, the number of people who can keep up with his speed can be counted on one hand. The fact that you forced him to move a couple of steps is enough to brag about for a lifetime."
Minato shook his head, his expression turning serious.
"No, I wasn't just praising you."
Minato looked at the two of them. "Your weaknesses are very obvious."
Itachi and Shisui immediately stood straight, adopting a posture of ready students.
"You rely too much on your eyes."
Minato pointed to his own eyes. "During the fight just now, your movements did become smoother after you activated the Sharingan. You tried to predict my next move by observing my muscle contractions and chakra flow."
"There's nothing wrong with that. The insight of the Sharingan is indeed unparalleled in the shinobi world."
Minato's tone shifted. "However, what if an enemy's speed is so great that even if you predict the move, your body can't react in time?"
Shisui analyzed, "It must be that our training is insufficient and our physical conditioning hasn't kept up."
"Not entirely."
Minato walked to a wooden stake and pulled out a shuriken. "What if the enemy's ocular power is even stronger than yours?"
The two were stunned.
Stronger ocular power?
In the shinobi world, besides the Uchiha clan, who would dare claim their ocular power was stronger than the Sharingan?
"Do you think the Sharingan is the end of the line?"
Minato looked at Gamakon.
Gamakon understood the cue, cleared his throat, and began to explain some 'trivia' regarding Indra and the Otsutsuki.
Listening to descriptions of celestial visitors and even more powerful ocular techniques, the two boys' worldviews were profoundly shaken.
"What I want to tell you is that on future battlefields, you might encounter enemies whose ocular power far exceeds your own. Your genjutsu will be useless against them, and your movements will look like slow-motion replays in their eyes."
Minato's voice was stern. "The Sharingan is a tool, a weapon, but it isn't everything. A truly strong person is someone who can still fight using their body, their senses, and their instincts even after losing their eyes."
At this point, Minato paused, his gaze softening as he looked at Shisui.
"Shisui, your ancestor Kagami Uchiha was a disciple of the Second Hokage and a shinobi who truly inherited the Will of Fire. I see his shadow in you."
Shisui's heart jolted, and he snapped his head up.
"The road ahead is difficult. If you try to find your way alone, it's easy to wander off or even fall into darkness."
Minato walked up to Shisui and held out his hand. "Itachi is already my disciple. Shisui, are you willing to follow me and train as Itachi does? Not as an Anbu subordinate, but as my disciple."
This sudden invitation left Shisui completely stunned.
He looked at Itachi, who had a smile of encouragement in his eyes.
He looked back at Minato. In those azure eyes, there was no trace of prejudice against the Uchiha clan—only pure appreciation and expectation.
As a descendant of Kagami Uchiha, he had always longed to break the barrier between the clan and the village, just as his ancestor had.
And now, the Hokage himself was reaching out to him.
Shisui took a deep breath, his eyes slightly reddening, and he suddenly dropped to one knee, performing the most solemn disciple's salute.
"Disciple Shisui Uchiha greets his Teacher!"
His voice trembled, carrying an irrepressible excitement.
This recognition was more precious to him than anything else.
"Good. Rise."
Minato helped Shisui up, a warm smile on his face. "Since you've called me Teacher, the lecturing portion is over. Next, it's time for a welcoming gift."
"I think Itachi has been looking forward to this for a long time."
With that, Minato pulled two long wooden boxes from his robes and handed one to each of them.
"Open them and see."
They took the boxes and opened the lids.
Lying inside were two short swords of ancient design.
The blades were a dull grey, their surfaces covered in fine, irregular patterns. Though devoid of extra decoration, they radiated a bone-chilling cold.
"This is..."
Shisui knew quality when he saw it. He gripped the hilt and tried injecting a bit of chakra.
"Hum!"
The grey blade instantly turned fire-red, and a wave of scorching heat erupted from the edge, warping the air with its high temperature.
"Chakra Conductive Metal!"
Shisui cried out in surprise.
This metal was extremely rare, usually only mixed into key parts of ninja tools in tiny amounts.
But these blades were largely crafted from it!
"That's right," Minato nodded. "I commissioned a master smith from the Land of Artisans to craft these. Not only is chakra metal incorporated, but I've also added special sealing formulas to maximize the user's chakra attributes."
Itachi also picked up the other blade.
As he injected his chakra, the blade turned as black as ink—a manifestation of the combination of Fire Style and Yin Style chakra.
"A fine blade," Itachi murmured, stroking the metal, unable to put it down.
"One of these was originally meant for Sasuke," Minato said suddenly.
Itachi's hand paused, and he looked up at Minato.
"Sasuke is still too young. By the time he's old enough to wield a sword, this blade might already be outdated."
Minato smiled. "Besides, the current situation requires you both to grow as quickly as possible. Since Shisui is also my disciple now, resources should naturally be used where they are most effective."
Gamakon winked at Shisui from the side. "What are you dazed for? This is top-tier gear personally given by the Hokage. Don't go out and embarrass your teacher later."
Shisui gripped the short sword tightly and nodded heavily. "Shisui will protect Konoha with his life and will never fail your expectations, Teacher!"
"Very good."
Minato patted their shoulders and looked toward the distant sky.
"The future enemies are strong—strong beyond your imagination. I need you to become my left and right hands."
"Otsutsuki..."
Itachi tightened his grip on the sword, repeating the name in a low voice.
"Yes."
Minato's gaze was deep. "They are predators from the stars. To fight them, we must gather all our strength."
"Itachi, Shisui."
"Your eyes shouldn't just be fixed on the Uchiha clan, nor should they be confined to this small patch of land that is Konoha."
"Look up. Look at the stars."
"That is your future battlefield."
The two boys followed Minato's gaze.
Although it was daytime and no stars were visible...
...in their hearts, they seemed to see a vast and dangerous future.
"Go on," Minato waved his hand. "Go and get used to your new weapons first. Starting tomorrow, I will create specialized physical training plans for you. Be prepared; it's going to be brutal."
"Yes, sir!"
The two responded in unison, put away their short swords, and turned to leave.
Their backs were straight, their steps firm.
As the two boys disappeared into the edge of the forest, the smile on Minato's face gradually faded.
"So?"
Gamakon jumped onto Minato's shoulder. "These two are pretty good prospects, aren't they?"
"They are indeed unpolished gems," Minato sighed. "With a bit of refining, their future achievements will be limitless. Perhaps they really can become the main force against the Otsutsuki."
"Of course they will."
Gamakon curled his lip. "We're in the bloodline meta right now. Every meta has its gods, and every update brings the nerfs."
"However..."
Gamakon's tone shifted. "You gave away the sword meant for Sasuke. What are you going to do when the Young Master grows up and asks you for a gift?"
Minato paused for a moment before laughing.
"We'll worry about the future when it gets here."
Minato turned and began walking back toward the Hokage Building. "Besides, with an older brother like Itachi, does Sasuke even need a gift from me? Knowing Itachi, he'll likely save the best of everything for his little brother anyway."
"Also true."
Gamakon thought about Itachi's brother-complex and couldn't help but chuckle. "He'll probably treat this sword as a family heirloom and pass it to Sasuke one day, telling him: 'This is the glory bestowed upon the Uchiha by the Hokage himself.'"
"Haha, the thought of that is quite amusing."
"By the way, about the physical training..." Minato seemed to remember something. "There's a man in the village named Might Guy who seems to have deep insights into taijutsu. I should visit him to discuss things some other time."
"The bowl-cut guy?" Gamakon grinned. "Then you better be mentally prepared. That guy's passion is contagious."
...
Several days later, at the Konoha border.
In the dense forest, a dark figure was moving at high speed.
He wore tattered monk's robes and carried a black tin staff. A hood covered most of his face, revealing only a pale, bloodless chin and eyes that seemed calm but were actually as deep as stagnant water—at this moment, he looked merely like a monk in a hurry.
"Damn it..."
Jigen—or rather, Isshiki Otsutsuki—stopped and leaned against a large tree, panting.
His physical condition was terrible.
This mortal body simply could not withstand his immense power. After thousands of years of consumption, it was on the verge of collapse.
"That bitch Kaguya..."
Isshiki ground his teeth.
If it hadn't been for Kaguya's sneak attack all those years ago, which cost him half his body, why would he be reduced to parasitizing a monk, hiding like a rat?
"I must find a suitable 'vessel' as soon as possible."
Isshiki looked up into the distance.
Within his perception, there was a massive chakra reaction coming from that direction.
"Konoha..."
Isshiki narrowed his eyes.
Lately, he always felt like a pair of eyes was watching him. No matter where he hid, that feeling of being peeked at followed him like a shadow.
"Is it Kaguya? Or..."
Isshiki gripped his staff.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a strange ripple.
That was... the aura of the God Tree?
Isshiki snapped his head around, looking toward Konoha.
Although it was faint, he would never mistake it.
"Someone is cultivating a God Tree?"
Isshiki's pupils shrank violently. "On this barren planet, besides Kaguya, who else knows the method of planting the God Tree?"
Could Kaguya have already been resurrected?
Fear and anger intertwined in Isshiki's heart.
If Kaguya was revived, she was definitely searching for him to finish the job.
"No, I can't just sit here and wait for death."
Isshiki straightened his body, forcibly suppressing the surging blood within him.
"Since you're in Konoha..."
A cruel arc formed at the corner of Isshiki's mouth. "Then I'll go and see just how much of your strength you've recovered."
"The most dangerous place is the safest."
"I want to see who ends up eating whom this time."
With a flash, the dark shadow vanished into the depths of the forest.
His direction was straight for Konoha.