Chapter 8: Itachi

Ninja Fire Spark!

[1] Immortal Art: Spark!

Rogel clapped his hands together and without hesitation spat out a massive fireball.

[2] Rojie clapped his hands together and without hesitation spat out a massive fireball.

The fireball resembled a blazing meteor, surging forward with intense heat toward Yamashiro Aoba.

[3] The fireball resembled a burning meteor, radiating intense heat as it roared toward Yamashiro Aoba.

Seeing this, Yamashiro Aoba’s gaze sharpened instantly, a wave of intense confusion rising within him.

[4] Seeing this, Yamashiro Aoba’s gaze sharpened instantly, a strong sense of confusion rising within him.

Where are the hand seals?

[5] Where are the hand seals?

Why isn’t he using hand seals?

[6] Why isn’t he forming hand seals?

Is this even a Fire Release technique?

[7] Is this even Fire Release?

He’s not even pretending anymore.

[8] He’s not even pretending.

Yamashiro Aoba had no time for further contemplation.

[9] Yamashiro Aoba had no time for further thought.

He reacted swiftly, his hands moving in a blur as he rapidly formed hand seals.

[10] He reacted instantly, fingers dancing as he formed hand seals in rapid succession.

Then, Yamashiro Aoba spat out a huge fireball.

[11] Then Yamashiro Aoba spat out a huge fireball.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

[12] Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

The fireball, wreathed in roaring flames, shot toward Rogel’s fireball.

[13] The fireball, wreathed in roaring flames, shot toward Rojie’s fireball.

The two fireballs collided midair with a deafening explosion.

[14] The two fireballs collided midair with a deafening explosion.

To Yamashiro Aoba’s shock, Rogel’s fireball simply swallowed his own without slowing down, continuing straight toward him.

[15] To Yamashiro Aoba’s shock, Rojie’s fireball swallowed his entire fireball without slowing, continuing straight toward him.

“Huh?”

[16] “Huh?”

Yamashiro Aoba froze for a moment, his face filled with astonishment.

[17] Yamashiro Aoba froze slightly, surprise flashing across his face.

But his exceptional ninja training kicked in—he twisted his body sharply to the side, narrowly dodging the deadly attack.

[18] But his exceptional ninja training snapped him back—he twisted sharply aside, evading the deadly strike with precision.

The fireball grazed his body and slammed into the ground with a thunderous blast.

[19] The fireball grazed his body and slammed into the ground with a thunderous blast.

The earth instantly erupted into a massive crater, dust swirling violently as a wave of searing heat washed over him.

[20] The ground erupted into a massive crater; dust exploded outward and a wave of heat slammed into him.

Yamashiro Aoba stared at the horrifying crater before him, his eyes brimming with confusion and disbelief.

[21] Yamashiro Aoba stared at the horrifying crater before him, his eyes filled with confusion and shock.

For the first time, he felt that the Fire Release technique he knew so well had become utterly alien.

[22] For the first time, he felt that Fire Release—the technique he knew better than anyone—had become utterly alien.

Is this even Fire Release?

[23] Is this still Fire Release?

This doesn’t make sense.

[24] This doesn’t make sense.

How come the same jutsu becomes a no-hand-seal technique in your hands?

[25] How did the same technique become a hand-seal-less jutsu in your hands?

Itachi created a no-hand-seal jutsu before even graduating?

[26] Itachi invented a hand-seal-less jutsu before graduation?

This isn’t lack of ninja talent—this is genius!

[27] This is called lacking ninja talent?

Even Kakashi can’t match Itachi.

[28] Even Kakashi can’t match Itachi.

Even the Fourth Hokage might not surpass Itachi in this regard.

[29] Even the Fourth Hokage might not surpass Itachi in this.

Yamashiro Aoba muttered to himself in disbelief.

[30] Yamashiro Aoba muttered silently to himself.

But the next moment, he closed the distance toward Rogel, ready to test him in close-quarters combat.

[31] The next instant, he closed the distance toward Rojie, ready to test his taijutsu against him.

Seeing Yamashiro Aoba approach, Rogel didn’t retreat—he charged forward without hesitation.

[32] Rojie, seeing Yamashiro Aoba advance, didn’t retreat—he charged forward without hesitation.

My body, enhanced by threefold strength, is beyond ordinary ninja.

[33] His body, enhanced by threefold physical strength, was beyond ordinary ninja.

Especially since one of those boosts comes from Pirate Roger—specializing purely in physical cultivation.

[34] Especially one source—the Pirate Rojie—whose cultivation focused entirely on physical conditioning.

The challenger has never been me.

[35] The challenger was never me.

Rogel locked eyes with Yamashiro Aoba.

[36] Rojie looked at Yamashiro Aoba.

Itachi’re the one who’s challenging me.

[37] Itachi’re the challenger.

The two closed in rapidly and launched into hand-to-hand combat.

[38] The two closed in instantly, engaging in close-quarters combat.

The moment they clashed, Yamashiro Aoba’s pupils contracted sharply.

[39] The moment they clashed, Yamashiro Aoba’s pupils contracted sharply.

Such immense power.

[40] Such immense power.

He clearly felt that although Rogel lacked his depth of taijutsu experience, his raw strength was extraordinary.

[41] He clearly felt that though Rojie’s taijutsu experience paled beside his own, the raw strength was anything but weak.

Not something a child his age should possess.

[42] Not something a child his age should possess.

Itachi’re telling me this is a twelve-year-old?

[43] Itachi’re telling me this is a twelve-year-old?

Are Itachi also Konoha’s proud Blue Beast?

[44] Are Itachi one of Konoha’s proud Blue Beasts?

Are Itachi also one of those green spandex muscle freaks?

[45] Are Itachi one of those green spandex muscle freaks?

Yamashiro Aoba silently assessed him.

[46] Yamashiro Aoba silently assessed him.

With this level of taijutsu and ninjutsu, Rogel’s combat ability has definitely reached Chunin level.

[47] With this taijutsu and jutsu, Rojie’s combat ability had definitely reached Chunin level.

He’s even stronger than most Chunin—deserving the title of Elite Chunin without question.

[48] Far beyond ordinary Chunin—he could easily be called a Jonin candidate.

If this isn’t the strongest in his graduating class,

[49] If this isn’t the strongest among his peers,

then just how terrifying must the top student be?

[50] then how terrifying must the top graduate of this year be?

A twelve-year-old Jonin?

[51] A Jonin at twelve?

Is the top student maybe Kakashi the Five-Five?

[52] Is the top student… Kakashi Hatake?

This completely contradicts the recorded combat capability in his file.

[53] This contradicts the file’s claim of weak combat ability entirely.

Who wrote this ridiculous file?

[54] Who wrote this ridiculous file?

Can Itachi take this seriously?

[55] Can Itachi take this seriously?

Or has Rogel been holding back all this time?

[56] Or has Rojie been hiding his true strength all along?

As he pondered these questions, Yamashiro Aoba seized his chance, leaping backward and landing on a nearby tree branch.

[57] As he pondered these questions, Yamashiro Aoba seized his chance, leaping backward to land on a nearby tree trunk.

Meanwhile, Kaminari Goro was hiding behind a large rock, intensely focused on aiming his shuriken for another surprise attack.

[58] At that moment, Lei Menyue hid behind a massive boulder, focused entirely on Yamashiro Aoba, preparing to throw another shuriken.

Rogel had also taken a ready stance, prepared to charge again.

[59] Rojie had also taken his stance, ready to charge again at any moment.

Only Yagumo sat quietly to the side, resting.

[60] Only Yagumo sat quietly aside, resting.

Yamashiro Aoba sighed softly, then stood up and waved his hand toward them.

[61] Yamashiro Aoba sighed softly, then stood and waved them over.

“Enough. It’s getting late—drill’s over.”

[62] “Enough. It’s getting late. The drill is over.”

“I’ve gotten a good sense of your abilities.”

[63] “I’ve gotten a good sense of your abilities.”

“I’ll treat Itachi all to a meal. Rest well today—we start the official mission tomorrow.”

[64] “I’ll treat Itachi all to a meal. Rest well. We begin the mission tomorrow.”

Rogel sheathed the kunai he’d been holding.

[65] Hearing this, Rojie sheathed the kunai in his hand.

After this clash with Yamashiro Aoba, he now had a rough estimate of his own strength.

[66] After fighting Yamashiro Aoba, he now had a rough estimate of his own strength.

Suirandiejialelingwailianggezijideliliang ， Danyouyutamendouhaichuyuqibujieduan ， Suonengtishengdeshilixiangduiyouxian 。

[67] Though he had layered the power of two other selves, both were still in early stages, offering only limited boosts.

Based on current performance, his strength likely sits between Chunin and Jonin—significantly stronger than average Elite Chunin.

[68] At present, his strength lay between Chunin and Jonin—significantly stronger than ordinary elite Chunin.

However, due to his lack of combat experience, his overall capability still probably falls short of a Special Jonin.

[69] But due to lack of combat experience, his overall ability still fell short of Special Jonin.

……

[70]…

The next day.

[71] The next day.

At a training ground somewhere in Konoha.

[72] At a training ground within the Hidden Leaf Village.

Yamashiro Aoba leaned casually against a large tree, his figure fully shadowed by dappled sunlight.

[73] Yamashiro Aoba leaned casually against a large tree, his figure swallowed by dappled shadows.

“Before your first official mission, I’ll teach Itachi how to use chakra to climb trees.”

[74] “Before your first official mission, I’ll teach Itachi how to climb trees using chakra.”

Yamashiro Aoba straightened slightly, channeling chakra slowly into the soles of his feet.

[75] Yamashiro Aoba straightened slightly, slowly gathering chakra to the soles of his feet.

Then, as if walking on flat ground, he stepped steadily upward along the tree trunk, moving vertically from root to canopy with smooth, natural motion.

[76] Then, as if walking on flat ground, he stepped steadily upward along the trunk, ascending vertically from the roots with smooth, natural motion.

“Focus chakra into your soles, maintain steady and even chakra flow, and Itachi’ll be able to walk vertically up the trunk.”

[77] “Concentrate chakra to your soles, maintain steady, even flow, and Itachi can walk vertically up the trunk.”

“Controlling chakra precisely during this process is crucial...”

[78] “Chakra control is critical during this process…”

As he demonstrated, Yamashiro Aoba patiently explained the key points.

[79] As he demonstrated, he patiently explained the key points.

After a few demonstrations, he stopped midway up the trunk, looked down at the three below, and gestured for them to try.

[80] After several demonstrations, he stopped midway up the trunk, looked down at the three below, and gestured for them to try.

Rogel was already thoroughly familiar with chakra tree climbing.

[81] Rojie had long mastered chakra tree climbing.

Years ago, he had already mastered tree climbing—and even the more difficult water-walking technique.

[82] Years ago, he’d already completed tree climbing—and even the harder water-walking training.

He channeled chakra into his soles, lightly stepped onto the trunk, and effortlessly reached the treetop.

[83] Rojie gathered chakra to his soles, stepped lightly on the trunk, and ascended effortlessly to the treetop.

Yagumo was equally impressive.

[84] Yagumo also performed excellently.

As the daughter of a ninja clan, though her health had always been fragile, she had long mastered foundational techniques like tree climbing and water walking to enhance chakra control.

[85] As a ninja clan heiress, though her health had always been poor, she had long mastered foundational techniques like tree climbing and water walking to enhance chakra control.

Of the three, only Kaminari Goro, from a merchant family, had yet to master this skill.

[86] Of the three, only Lei Menyue, from a merchant family, had not yet mastered the skill.

Watching Rogel and Yagumo, Kaminari Goro grew anxious.

[87] Lei Menyue watched Rojie and Yagumo, growing anxious.

We just started learning—how did Itachi two already get it?

[88] We just started teaching—how did Itachi already master it?

Are Itachi both secretly training behind my back?

[89] Are Itachi all secretly grinding?

Or am I just a husky lost among wolves?

[90] Or am I just a husky lost among wolves?

Kaminari Goro took a deep breath and tried to channel chakra into his soles as Yamashiro Aoba taught.

[91] Lei Menyue took a deep breath, followed Yamashiro Aoba’s instructions, and tried gathering chakra to his soles, stepping onto the trunk.

But after only a few steps, his chakra control faltered.

[92] But after only a few steps, his chakra control faltered.

He tumbled straight off the trunk.

[93] He tumbled straight off the trunk.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, catching himself with his hands and avoiding injury.

[94] Luckily, he reacted quickly, bracing himself with his hands to avoid injury.

Kaminari Goro felt discouraged.

[95] Lei Menyue felt discouraged.

But since he couldn’t do it alone, he’d just have to lean on the experts.

[96] But since he couldn’t do it alone, he’d cling to the strong.

He hurried over to Rogel and asked for advice on tree climbing.

[97] So he hurried over to Rojie and asked for tips on tree climbing.

Rogel smiled and patiently explained his techniques and experience.

[98] Rojie smiled and explained, sharing his experience.

At that moment, Yamashiro Aoba cleared his throat, drawing their attention.

[99] At that moment, Yamashiro Aoba cleared his throat, drawing their attention.

“I’ve secured a D-rank task for Itachi: tree trimming.”

[100] “I’ve secured Itachi a D-rank task: pruning trees.”

"Lei Menyue, while on your mission, take the opportunity to practice tree-climbing skills and ask Luo Jie and Bayun for advice."

After graduation, genin typically undertake D-rank missions for a period of time.

D-rank missions are those that do not require direct participation in combat and pose almost no life risk.

Most are trivial chores, such as escorting supplies or finding lost pets, with very low mission rewards.

But the main purpose of undertaking D-rank missions is to cultivate the genin’s team awareness, temper their character, and familiarize them with mission procedures.

Meanwhile, during this process, the instructor can subtly nurture the genin’s abilities.

(End of Chapter)