Through a brilliant counter-encirclement battle—
Uchiha Akira gradually established a powerful reputation among the Uchiha clan.
"Genius."
"Powerful."
"Calm and decisive."
Labels like these naturally began to follow him.
No one called him "the descendant of the 'Strongest Three-Tomoe'" anymore.
Now, when his name was mentioned—
People would say:
"A man who rivals Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Akira did nothing to interfere with this shift.
He let it happen.
Because he understood—
When the time comes, you must step forward.
Earning the respect of his clan—
Was the first step in changing the Uchiha's fate.
After that—
Akira led those who would have once been treated as cannon fodder during the Third Great Ninja War—
And repeatedly ambushed and eliminated Hidden Mist forces.
Looking ahead to the Fourth Great Ninja War—
Even with all five great nations combined, plus the samurai of the Land of Iron—
The total force had only reached around eighty thousand.
That alone showed—
Even the so-called great nations—
Konoha, Cloud, Mist, Sand, and Stone—
Had limited deployable strength.
For a single village—
Reaching ten thousand combatants was already impressive.
Under such circumstances—
The Hidden Mist losing several strike teams—
Amounting to hundreds of ninja—
Was a heavy blow.
Naturally—
This information reached the higher-ups of the Hidden Mist.
And a name—
One that inspired fear among countless Mist ninja—
Began spreading across the battlefield.
"The man who surpasses Shisui of the Body Flicker…"
Uchiha Akira.
At that moment—
Near the eastern border of the Land of Fire—
In a hidden corner—
Uchiha Shisui observed quietly.
His mission today—
Was to ambush an elite Mist unit.
According to intelligence—
They were dangerous.
Multiple Konoha squads had already fallen to them.
They had even sabotaged supply lines.
That was why—
This prodigy of the Uchiha had been dispatched.
Soon—
Shisui sensed movement in the forest.
He remained still.
Watching.
Then—
Eight figures entered his field of vision.
Though they were over two hundred meters away—
For Shisui's Sharingan—
Seeing their faces and numbers was effortless.
The leader—
A man in his twenties—
Carried an imposing presence.
Not someone to underestimate.
And those behind him—
Every single one—
At least Jonin-level.
But that wasn't all.
Shisui noticed—
The man wore a black eyepatch over his right eye.
As if he had lost it.
Yet—
Shisui's expression sharpened.
Because through his Sharingan—
He saw something unusual.
The flow of chakra—
Was abnormal.
"…What's with that eye?"
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
The enemy stopped—
Fifty to sixty meters away.
The leader raised his hand—
Signaling a halt.
His gaze locked onto Shisui's position.
Clearly—
He had already detected him.
"What's wrong, Captain Ao?"
One of the subordinates asked.
"My right eye… was lost in battle."
"But by chance, I gained a replacement."
"This new eye… is no ordinary eye."
Ao spoke calmly.
At the same time—
He threw a kunai.
Whoosh—
It cut through the air—
And struck Shisui's hiding spot.
But—
It hit nothing.
Ao looked up—
Toward the tree above.
His expression shifted.
The others followed his gaze—
And were startled.
A moment ago—
There had been no one.
Now—
A young man stood there.
Barely in his teens.
Yet—
His calm gaze—
And those crimson eyes—
Sent a chill through them.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker…"
Ao spoke slowly.
Shisui, meanwhile—
Observed them calmly.
Unfazed—
Despite being outnumbered.
"Is that really him?"
"No doubt. There's plenty of intel on him."
"…Looks like we abort."
Ao decided immediately.
He understood his limits.
Even with his squad—
Even with the Byakugan he had recently obtained—
Fighting Shisui—
Would come at a heavy cost.
Not worth it.
So—
He chose to retreat.
Fortunately—
Shisui did not pursue.
He had reached the same conclusion.
One against eight Jonin—
Even if he won—
The cost would be too high.
Especially—
With the enemy possessing the Byakugan—
The ultimate perception ability.
"You Uchiha…"
"Truly are an exceptional clan."
"To produce two unbelievable geniuses at once…"
"Before we leave—"
"Tell me…"
"What is your relationship with Uchiha Akira?"
Ao asked, watching Shisui closely.
His Byakugan was already active—
Every fluctuation of chakra laid bare.
Part curiosity—
Part intelligence gathering.
After all—
One of his missions—
Was to investigate that man.
The one known as—
"The man who surpasses Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Uchiha Akira.