For Saitama, Konoha held no sentimental ties.
Since arriving in this world, the people he interacted with most were members of the Uchiha clan.
His impression of them was quite positive. Although a few individuals were as arrogant as he remembered from his previous life's memories—looking down on anyone not part of the Uchiha—most were kind-hearted individuals like Ka Po-pu.
Speaking of the Uchiha, Saitama still felt a sense of regret.
Konoha Village was co-founded by the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. No one could have predicted that, from its founding onward, Konoha was always under the grip of the Senju, leaving the Uchiha with no real power at all.
All the Uchiha received in return was the title of the village's police force—and nothing more.
Even that small recognition wasn't enough. Though they held that title, it remained symbolic at best, and the Uchiha were consistently shut out of any real decision-making.
During the reign of the First Hokage, the Uchiha still maintained some dignity, largely because Hashirama cherished his bond with his close friend Madara.
But under the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, the Uchiha truly entered their darkest era.
Tobirama had long looked down on the Uchiha, and tensions between them weren't new.
Before, he had been restrained by his older brother Hashirama, but now free from that influence, he acted without restraint, actively pushing the Uchiha out of Konoha's leadership circle.
When the Third came to power, inheriting the ideology of the Second, the new leadership continued sidelining the Uchiha.
Danzo Shimura went even further, openly targeting the Uchiha as a hidden threat within Konoha, eager to eliminate them entirely.
In such a political environment, naturally the Uchiha developed resentment toward Konoha and felt no strong sense of belonging.
Eventually, they had no choice but to prepare for rebellion.
When the sword is at your neck, either way—duck or stand—you're getting cut either way. The pride of the Uchiha forbade retreat, leading them inevitably toward tragic extermination.
By choosing to join the Uchiha faction, Saitama had stepped onto a path with no turning back.
It was either life or death.
One step forward might lead to heaven; retreating even an inch guaranteed hell!
The final exams proceeded as scheduled, and Shisui showed up for the last test.
After months of intensive training, Shisui had grown noticeably more mature.
His entire demeanor and spirit were completely different from before.
"Saitama."
It had been a while since Saitama last heard Shisui's voice, yet he recognized him immediately.
"Have you really decided?"
A serious expression surfaced on Shisui's face, making the six-year-old look oddly comical.
"Why be so serious? Isn't this only natural?" Saitama chuckled.
The two stood at the entrance of the Ninja Academy, facing each other.
People simply moved past them like they weren't even there.
In Saitama's past life, Shisui had always been loyal to Konoha—who knows if he still felt that way now?
Looking into the boy's eyes, Saitama sensed something complicated brewing beneath the surface.
"Let's go back."
Not dwelling further on the matter, Saitama puckered his lips slightly.
Side by side, the two made their way back toward the Uchiha compound.
The fading sunlight bathed their silhouettes in a golden glow as they slowly disappeared into the distance.
"Shisui, what do you think about our Uchiha clan right now?"
"Pretty solid—it's one of Konoha's top clans!"
"Is that so? I'm heading home first."
Saitama turned and walked toward his house, leaving only his back to Shisui.
Winter had come, and the nights were getting longer and darker much sooner than before.
After finishing dinner early, Saitama grabbed his own ninja tools and headed toward his familiar training ground.
Clutching several shuriken, he started practicing his throws against a massive tree—so wide it'd take several people to wrap their arms around it.
He was waiting for someone—just warming himself up in the meantime.
"Didn't expect you to arrive this early."
Before long, Shisui appeared from another direction within the forest.
Saitama threw his final set of shuriken before shaking out his hands.
He turned toward the source of the voice, eyes burning with excitement.
"Let me see your latest progress."
"I was thinking the exact same thing, Saitama!"
Without any warning or buildup, the battle began.
"Clang!"
Two tantos clashed together, sparks flying from the impact of the blades.
Their eyes locked tightly onto each other!
A tight smirk crept across Saitama's face as he slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.
Maintaining a firm grip on the blade while smiling wasn't an easy task.
Stepping back slightly, Saitama raised his blade horizontally, pointing it directly at Shisui.
"That all you got, Shisui?"
"You're about to see, Saitama!"
With one powerful push off the ground, Shisui rushed forward rapidly.
His blade shot forward like a spear aimed straight at Saitama.
Not daring to be careless, Saitama tightened his grip and charged forward as well.
His gaze never left Shisui, observing every single movement carefully.
Believing that after all this time, Shisui must have something impressive ready for him.
As both fighters drew close, Shisui suddenly focused his eyes. Saitama sensed things wouldn't be so straightforward.
Sure enough, with his left hand, Shisui formed a hand seal.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, Shisui abruptly vanished from in front of Saitama.
"Behind me then!"
Swinging his blade forward in a half-circle arc, Saitama immediately followed through with a spinning slash upward from below as he turned around.
"Clang!"
Shisui narrowed his eyes—his attack had actually been blocked!
"A Shifting Body Technique, huh?"
Saitama laughed, not expecting Shisui to already master this jutsu!
"Fast reflexes, Saitama."
Though Shisui performed the instantaneous body shift, he couldn't use it freely yet—the number of times he could execute it was limited by his chakra.
Blocking Shisui's surprise rear attack forced Saitama to step back several paces.
Even though he predicted the strike, the counterattack was still too rushed, meaning Saitama hadn't exerted full strength.
Spinning the blade once, Saitama shook out his wrist—just now his arm had gone slightly numb from the blow.
Still continuing the fight, Saitama felt increasingly excited.
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!]
Sticking his sword into the ground, Saitama quickly formed a series of seals.
A fireball half a meter in diameter erupted from Saitama's mouth!
Heat blasted through the forest like rolling waves! Flames erupted amidst the trees!
The fireball reached Shisui's face in an instant, and astonishment flashed across his expression.
"Boom!"
A tree branch was blasted apart by the fireball, immediately reduced to ashes!
"I didn't expect you to actually learn a Fire Release technique."
Shisui appeared not far from his previous spot, gazing at Saitama as he spoke.
Staring at the still-burning flames, Shisui felt lingering fear.
Good thing he used Substitution Jutsu in time.
"You haven't seen anything yet. There's plenty more you don't expect, Shisui!"
Saitama smiled slightly, watching Shisui successfully dodge his attack.
"Is that so? Then I'll have to get serious now!"
Shisui formed a hand seal while staring at Saitama.
"Pop!"
A shadow clone appeared beside Shisui. The two figures exchanged glances, nodded, then charged toward Saitama together.
Pulling the tanto blade out of the ground, Saitama stood fearless.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Three figures became a blur of motion. Shisui gradually gained the upper hand against Saitama.
After all, Saitama's swordsmanship had always been roughly equal to Shisui's—if anything, slightly inferior. Now with the addition of a shadow clone, Saitama naturally couldn't keep up.
"Clang!"
Saitama blocked another one of Shisui's strikes.
"Swish!"
The other Shisui moved to Saitama's left, slashing at his waist. In a panic, Saitama twisted his body, barely dodging the strike. But his clothes were still sliced open.
"Boom!"
Saitama kicked toward the left, and his foot collided exactly with Shisui's. Several figures separated briefly.
"What do you think, Saitama?"
"It's getting interesting, but if this is all you've got, I believe I'll win!"
So saying, Saitama closed his eyes.
If things continued like this, Saitama would leave more and more openings. Therefore, he decided to activate his Sharingan!
A trace of crimson appeared in Saitama's eyes. He raised his head, glancing at the two Shisuis standing side by side.
"With these eyes watching your every move, there's nowhere left to hide, Shisui!"
Saitama smiled faintly, fixing his gaze on Shisui's two figures.
Now every subtle motion—every flicker of intent—was exposed before him like an open scroll!
[Double Tomoe Sharingan]?!
Shisui looked at the tomoe swirling in Saitama's eyes, slight shock flickering across his gaze.
A Double Tomoe Sharingan at age six—never before had such a case existed in Uchiha clan history.
Though Shisui had never seen the Uchiha clan's secret techniques, even he could tell that Saitama's talent was definitely top-tier!
"Don't get too confident yet, Saitama!"
Shisui swung his blade toward Saitama, both figures charging at him simultaneously.
The Sharingan offers dynamic vision with one tomoe; double tomoe sharpens it further while enhancing genjutsu power; triple tomoe enables techniques to be copied.
With a Double Tomoe Sharingan, Saitama naturally received enhanced dynamic vision.
All those details previously invisible during battle—now he saw them clearly!
In an instant, Saitama judged the trajectory of Shisui's attack.
"Clang!"
He blocked the frontal strike, twisted mid-air, and lashed out behind him with a powerful kick.
The air began to crackle as Saitama unleashed his full strength into this kick.
"Boom!"
A puff of white smoke appeared.
The Shisui at the back was clearly a clone, and it exploded from Saitama's powerful kick!
"Ding!"
Saitama noticed Shisui's real body moving and immediately swung his blade again, colliding with him!
His Sharingan locked onto Shisui!
After clashing once more, both fighters leaped backward several steps.
"How is it, Shisui?" Saitama smirked slightly, eyeing Shisui playfully.
"The fight's not over yet!"
Shisui stared at those eyes. Under their gaze, every one of his movements became visible, making it impossible for his swordsmanship to gain any advantage.
The Body Flicker Technique consumed too much chakra — he could use it at most two more times. If that still wasn't enough, he might have no choice but to admit defeat.
Realizing this, Shisui gave a faint bitter smile.
All his training hadn't been enough to overwhelm Saitama.
Making up his mind, Shisui narrowed his eyes.
Saitama struck first, launching an attack toward Shisui.
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!]
His chakra reserves were enormous; he didn't need to worry about consumption at all.
This was where his vast chakra reserves truly made a difference.
Shisui hesitated briefly before dodging sideways.
Saitama had surprisingly abundant chakra reserves, far beyond expectations.
Even after activating the Sharingan, Saitama continued using fire techniques without batting an eyelid.
His expression hardened — Shisui knew this battle had just gotten even harder.
He charged straight at Saitama, locking his eyes firmly on him.
Of course Saitama knew that this fireball couldn't hit Shisui — this technique was simply too straightforward, easy to dodge.
Seeing Shisui charging forward, Saitama rushed to meet him head-on.
With Shisui's Sharingan active, Saitama still wasn't the least bit fazed by close-range combat. That Insightful Eye wasn't just a title. Not to mention, their swordsmanship was pretty evenly matched.
Saitama slashed his blade at Shisui's neck. Shisui sidestepped to avoid the strike.
However, what he hadn't expected was that the moment he moved, Saitama instantly predicted his next action based on the slightest movement cues.
Pulling his blade back, Saitama kicked straight at Shisui!
"Boom!"
The kick landed against Shisui's tanto, knocking the blade flying.
"Pu!"
The short sword embedded itself in a section of deadwood.
Glancing sideways at Shisui, a smirk crept across Saitama's face.
"Continue!"
Swinging his sword again, Saitama clashed blades with Shisui's kunai.
"Ding!" "Ding!" "Ding!"
In this stage of the fight, without his tanto, Shisui was like a tiger without fangs — his offensive power sharply decreased!
Sparks flew as Shisui was forced backward continuously.
In that moment, the tide turned in Saitama's favor.
After another forceful clash, Shisui staggered backward once again.
Holding his kunai across his chest, Shisui gasped for breath.
This intense exchange had taken quite a toll on him.
His kunai was significantly shorter than Saitama's tanto — each collision required much more effort just to match Saitama evenly.
Moreover, Saitama had abnormal stamina. Even while constantly using the Sharingan and engaging in fierce combat, there wasn't even a hint of heavy breathing.
Letting his hands fall to his sides, Shisui managed a smile.
"Alright, alright, I give up!"
He wore a defeated look.
This time, I admit defeat fairly, since Saitama even used the Sharingan.
Looking again at the red eyes of Saitama, Shisui felt a bit envious.
The Sharingan significantly enhances taijutsu. If he had it too, today's match might have had a different winner.
Maybe that's what Saitama always used to say was natural talent!
"Shisui is really strong too! Without my Sharingan, I wouldn't have beaten you!"
Saitama recalled how fierce Shisui's sword techniques had become during their fight, some angles extremely sharp and difficult. Without the Sharingan's insight, he could have easily missed them.
"The Sharingan is part of ninja combat. This time, I clearly lost!"
Shisui said seriously as he walked over to pick up his sword.
"When did Saitama awaken his eyes?"
Curious, Shisui remembered Saitama hadn't awakened his eyes in their last fight, yet now they were already marked with twin tomoe—this wasn't usual for someone of the Uchiha clan!
"Shortly after our last fight, I awakened both eyes fully. Maybe that's just my blessing."
Saitama didn't hesitate to take pride in it. He stared directly at Shisui, his eyes carrying a faint glimmer of amusement.
Shisui chose to ignore the playful gaze from Saitama.
He underestimated Saitama's talent. If the clan knew Saitama awakened his eyes at such a young age—and immediately achieved dual tomoe—they'd be shocked.
Suddenly, Shisui wanted to see those people's reactions sooner rather than later, especially those within the Uchiha Clan Guards who always thought themselves geniuses.
A sly smile curled on Shisui's lips. Right now, he was really looking forward to Saitama graduating and joining the guards soon.
"Let's head back. It's getting late."
Saitama tidied up the aftermath of the battle, covering the flames left by his Fire Release technique with earth.
The winter sky was completely dark now, and the temperature had dropped.
Though neither of them cared about the cold, they both had plenty to think over from the fight. No point in sticking around any longer.
Crunching leaves and broken branches underfoot, the two left the woods, private to the Uchiha clan.
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