The leaders of the major ninja villages weren't fools.
The Uchiha clan, a millennial powerhouse, wielded the Sharingan—the ninja world's mightiest Kekkei Genkai since Wood Release faded. Countless coveted a three-tomoe Sharingan. Kakashi Hatake, with just one, earned fame as the "Copy Ninja" and "Konoha's Technician," replicating thousands of techniques.
Copying was merely a two-tomoe ability. The three-tomoe Sharingan was renowned as the "Genjutsu Eye."
Outsiders couldn't unlock its true potential. Only Uchiha, wielding three-tomoe, stood as peerless elite jonin in one-on-one combat.
The clan boasted at least a dozen such titans, plus others with one- or two-tomoe Sharingan, and many unawakened members. Slaughtering them all in one night—even if Itachi possessed the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan—was unthinkable.
Even if possible, it couldn't have been silent.
Yet the Uchiha fell overnight, and Itachi, the culprit, escaped Konoha.
The waters ran deep.
Undoubtedly, Konoha's leadership was involved.
Wiping out the premier clan in a single night showcased chilling strength, ruthless resolve, and disregard for consequences, cowing rival villages.
In response, they sent spies to probe Konoha, but after failures, they let it lie.
The Third Ninja War had bled every village dry; none had recovered.
Even the Cloud, usually opportunistic, stayed its hand.
They preserved the fragile balance, preparing for the next war.
Izayoi didn't know the details but could infer some. As an original-story reader, he knew the coming years would be calm.
A prime window to grow stronger.
Ensnared by Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu, Sasuke Uchiha lay comatose for a week before waking.
When he returned to class, he was transformed.
The old Sasuke, swarmed by girls, merely looked annoyed but never spoke harshly or raised a hand. His restraint only emboldened them.
Now, girls thrilled at his return dared not approach. His gaze and aura were too intimidating; peers couldn't meet his eyes or draw near.
Only Izayoi saw the truth: Sasuke was fragile yet defiant, scarred and craving warmth but too proud to accept pity.
Only Naruto Uzumaki—tied to him through a millennium of reincarnation and a parallel fate—could breach Sasuke's walls and earn his trust.
After school, Izayoi's long-awaited moment arrived.
Post-taijutsu sparring, students formed cliques—some lingered, others left, a few walked home alone.
The old Sasuke was the latter.
Today, he didn't leave solo. He approached Izayoi, echoing words Izayoi once spoke: "Izayoi, up for a fight?"
Izayoi, who'd come in person and skipped walking Hinata home to seize this chance, smirked inwardly.
Outwardly, he feigned surprise, eyeing Sasuke—still recovering, his gaze tinged with gloom. "Back then, you weren't interested in my challenge. What changed?"
"Cut the talk. Scared or what?" Sasuke shot back, sidestepping the question with a taunt.
Before, he'd only cared to train with Itachi, dismissing others.
Now, with his clan gone, his purpose was clear: kill Itachi and revive the Uchiha.
To kill Itachi, he needed power.
To revive the Uchiha, he had to prove their strength and honor, never losing to peers.
Izayoi became his target. Defeating him would mark Sasuke as peerless among their age group.
Izayoi didn't know Sasuke's thoughts.
Seeing him mask pride with provocation, Izayoi played along, nodding with a smile. "Alright, let's do it."
"Good. To the field, then," Sasuke said, brimming with intent.
"No need for the field," Izayoi countered, grinning. "I know a better spot."
He led the way toward the abandoned training ground.
Sasuke followed.
A week after the Uchiha massacre, Obito Uchiha would likely avoid Konoha except for Rin Nohara's memorial day. Izayoi had noted that date at the cemetery, vowing to steer clear of the wilderness annually.
Thus, days ago, he'd resumed outdoor training.
They reached the training ground where Izayoi and Hinata practiced, its ground and trees scarred with taijutsu and ninjutsu marks.
Sasuke's pupils narrowed, his mind reeling.
If Izayoi left these traces, did he, like Sasuke, wield elemental jutsu?
An orphan, no less.
Sasuke had his father's guidance; Izayoi was self-taught.
Realization hit: Izayoi outshone him not by luck but through sheer effort.
His resolve hardened. Fighting such a foe would hone him; defeating him would prove his strength.
"How do you want to do this?" Izayoi asked, facing Sasuke. "Taijutsu only, or no-rules duel?"
A no-rules duel meant anything went—Three Basic Techniques, Concealment Technique, Body Flicker, props, even elemental jutsu untaught at the academy.
It was highly dangerous.
The academy reserved such duels for sixth-years, with a referee teacher and a medical ninja on standby. Accidents were common; a misstep could be fatal.
If Iruka Umino heard Izayoi's words, he'd blanch, scolding and stopping them.
Sasuke, unflinching, declared, "No-rules duel!"
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