Tōru’s Impressions of Others So Far Itachi Uchiha: Always has too much on his mind.
Likes keeping secrets and being wary of Father.
Doesn’t really want me in the kitchen.
Sasuke Uchiha: As long as he gets enough to eat, he’s happy being around me and Itachi.
Likes being praised.
Fugaku Uchiha: Always seems to want to force others into doing things.
Very strong.
Mikoto Uchiha: A Jōnin who can’t even swim and could be exposed by the village at any moment.
She always reminds me of Big Sister.
Shisui Uchiha: Likes bringing gifts for Sasuke.
A good person.
As strong as Father.
Kakashi Hatake: Doesn’t take things very seriously.
Always looks like he wants to sleep.
Naruto Uzumaki: A very optimistic child with enormous energy lurking inside him.
He looks a lot like the Fourth Hokage in the photograph.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: An irresponsible old man.
Uchiha Enka: A somewhat impulsive child.
Others’ Impressions of Tōru So Far Sasuke Uchiha: A combination of Mom and Big Brother.
Likes taking care of people.
Seeing him cry makes me very sad.
He’s incredibly strong, yet somehow I can’t bring myself to be jealous of him.
Itachi Uchiha: His imagination is far too vivid, and he may have some underlying mental issues.
When he doesn’t speak, he feels more like the older brother.
Fugaku Uchiha: His natural talent surpasses even Itachi’s, and his physical constitution is exceptional.
If properly cultivated, he could be the hope of restoring the clan to its former glory.
Mikoto Uchiha: A quiet, gentle, good-hearted child.
He lives in a very awkward manner, lacks common sense, and has recently shown signs of improvement.
I hope it continues.
Shisui Uchiha: A genius child with the destructive power of a Jōnin.
He has a gentle heart, which makes him somewhat like me.
Kakashi Hatake: A child destined to be caught up in circumstances beyond his control.
My ninken doesn’t like him.
Naruto Uzumaki: My only friend of the same age.
I want to see him often.
I hope I can see Tōru smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Cares too much about other people’s feelings and is extremely easy to influence.
A tool that can be used in the future to restrain and influence Itachi Uchiha.
Uchiha Enka: A little afraid of him—his older brother, that is.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to Tōru suddenly becoming more affectionate in the way he addressed his family, as well as agreeing to attend the Ninja Academy, Fugaku Uchiha rarely allowed the corners of his mouth to droop into their usual bitter expression.
Instead, he spent the three days laughing happily with his family.
Fugaku even specially rewarded Itachi for this.
He believed Itachi deserved the credit for persuading Tōru to agree to attend the Academy.
Itachi was somewhat confused by this, but he didn’t know the real reason either.
He simply assumed that Tōru had done it out of consideration for him.
After the New Year, Shisui Uchiha came to visit again.
This time, however, he wasn’t there for a free meal.
After “hearing” that Tōru was going to attend the Academy, he immediately volunteered to provide Tōru with three months of pre-Academy special training, continuing until the Ninja Academy opened.
There was even a hint in his words that he wanted to compete with Itachi over who was better at taking care of children.
There was one condition, however.
Tōru’s training time would be shorter than Sasuke’s, so if he wanted to keep up, it would be best for him to live with Shisui.
Fugaku was delighted.
He agreed on the spot.
He told Tōru to stay with Shisui for a while and focus entirely on training, without worrying about anything at home.
As for Sasuke, he would spend this period “studying” with Fugaku at the Military Police Force, preparing for the written examination he would have to take upon entering the Academy.
This finally eased Sasuke’s unhappiness about being separated from his younger brother.
But from beginning to end, only Shisui, Itachi, and Tōru knew the true reason Tōru was leaving home.
By now, the three of them had arrived at the small cabin Shisui had built behind the Naka River.
It stood in a mountain gorge beneath a towering waterfall.
Sheer cliffs rose on either side, while the Naka River flowed straight through the gorge.
This place was already outside Konoha’s barrier.
The waterfall plunged downward without any regard for the bitter winter cold, generating clouds of mist as it crashed into the pool below, accompanied by a dense, drumlike roar.
A simple wooden cabin stood beside the pool directly beneath the waterfall.
“This is where the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, taught my grandfather, Kagami Uchiha, Water Release.
“He was one of the Second Hokage’s disciples, as well as a shinobi whom the Second Hokage trusted enough to entrust with his life.
And he proved that he was worthy of that trust.” Shisui led the two of them toward the waterfall and introduced this secluded little paradise with an air of great importance.
This was Uchiha territory, so outsiders rarely came here.
Most members of the clan also specialized in Fire Release, so they had little reason to visit.
It was therefore the perfect place for Tōru to stay.
“My father often said that when my grandfather was still alive, that was the closest our Uchiha Clan ever came to producing a Hokage.
“But after my grandfather died, we lost the bridge and mediator between the two sides.
The relationship between the clan and the village gradually deteriorated.” Tōru listened without much reaction.
He simply liked the feeling this place gave him.
When he practiced Water Breathing with Constant Total Concentration here, the efficiency with which Natural Energy strengthened his body was roughly fifty percent higher than usual.
Yet he had never experienced anything similar near the artificially excavated Konoha River or around the large lake at the Uchiha Training Ground.
[Could it be because this is a natural water source?] He began pondering the question.
Beside him, Itachi listened carefully to Shisui’s words, his expression taking on its usual contemplative look.
This was the first time Shisui had voluntarily spoken to him about his family.
“Itachi, can you guess why my father named me Shisui?” He turned toward Itachi, an earnest smile appearing beneath his long eyelashes.
“I think your father…
probably hoped that you would inherit Senior Kagami’s will.” Itachi stopped where he stood, speaking with deep respect.
“The phrase ‘a clear mirror and still water’ refers to a person’s heart being able to reflect the outside world like a calm body of water, without being influenced by any position or prejudice.
“Your father gave you this name because he hoped you could transcend the Uchiha’s position and, like Senior Kagami, view the relationship between the village and the Uchiha objectively, without distorting it…
“Am I right?” “As expected of you, Itachi.
You immediately thought that far ahead.” Shisui’s eyes narrowed into crescents.
“But you only mentioned the deeper meaning.
Sometimes you can think about things more simply…
more superficially.” “Mm…” Itachi blinked and honestly shook his head.
“I really can’t think of another meaning.” “It’s actually very simple.
The second meaning is that my father hoped I’d inherit my grandfather’s legacy by mastering the Water Release ninjutsu that the Second Hokage was most proud of.” After giving the correct answer, Shisui shrugged somewhat helplessly.
“Unfortunately, like most members of our clan, I was born without an affinity for Water Nature.
I haven’t had much success developing that nature transformation either.
At most, I can use some functional Water Release techniques by taking advantage of the terrain.
“As for those powerful Water Release techniques developed by the Second Hokage, they’re rather impractical for me.
“But just when I thought my grandfather’s legacy would end with me, a Water Release prodigy unlike any the Uchiha had ever seen suddenly appeared.” At that point, Shisui fell silent.
He walked to the stone lantern outside the cabin, pressed down on its top, and gently twisted it.
The upper half came away.
Only then did Itachi notice that the lower half of the stone lantern was hollow.
A long, cylindrical object was hidden inside.
“This is…” As Shisui pulled it out, Itachi’s heart leapt.
He had already guessed what it was.
“Exactly what you think it is.” Shisui nodded solemnly.
He opened the bamboo container, and a scroll slipped into his hands.
A rather complicated seal was drawn across its surface.
“This contains the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju’s lifelong research into Water Release, along with every Water Release technique he created.
“The copies preserved by the village are merely backups.
They lack many of the explanations and annotations personally written by the Second Hokage.” His gaze passed over the slightly stunned Itachi before landing on Tōru, who still didn’t understand the significance of what he was seeing.
“Shisui, something like this…” Itachi immediately tried to stop him.
He understood the value of this scroll.
It wasn’t merely a source of power coveted by every shinobi.
It was also Shisui’s family heirloom and proof that the village and Uchiha Clan had once enjoyed a period of close cooperation.
After all, who could have imagined that the Second Hokage, a man still hated by many Uchiha, would actually pass his signature techniques down to an Uchiha?
“I’m only taking it out to show off.” Shisui casually cut off Itachi’s protest before explaining.
“When Tōru fought Uchiha Enka last time, he injured his hand because he concentrated too much chakra in it, didn’t he?
“There’s a technique in here that should prevent something like that.
“I can’t use it myself, though, so I never bothered learning it.” As he spoke, Shisui unrolled the scroll and quickly searched through it.
His eyes eventually stopped on a technique called Water Release: Water Blade Slash.
Note: This technique originates from the game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm and does not appear in the manga or anime.
Itachi carefully examined the annotations personally written by Tobirama Senju and immediately understood what the technique did.
Similar to Wind Release: Vacuum Blade and Uchiha Style: Flame Ball Jutsu, Water Release: Water Blade Slash involved the user expelling Water Nature chakra onto a kunai or another weapon, condensing it into an extended blade.
This increased both the weapon’s attack range and striking power, making it particularly suitable for a Water Release user skilled in swordsmanship.
The technique appeared simple, but it involved a considerable degree of shape transformation.
As a result, it was a B-rank ninjutsu requiring Jōnin-level skill to master.
“No wonder I’ve never seen anyone use it in Konoha…” As far as Itachi knew, shinobi skilled in both swordsmanship and Water Release were generally found in Kirigakure.
In Konoha, there were probably only two such people: the Second Hokage himself and an older shinobi named Kosuke Maruboshi.
“But when will Tōru actually be able to learn this?” Itachi wondered whether Shisui was being a little too optimistic.
“Tōru’s foundation in ninjutsu is extremely limited.
He hasn’t even trained in forming hand seals.” “We won’t know until we try.” Shisui was quite relaxed about it.
“Tōru is the kind of child who can imagine something like a Breathing Style ‘secret technique.’ Maybe he’ll understand it just by looking at it.” With that, he beckoned Tōru over and completely spread the scroll, including Tobirama’s handwritten annotations, out in front of him.
[So many words…] Tōru took a quick glance.
There were more than twenty independently listed Water Release techniques, all original creations of the Second Hokage.
He had even proudly stamped his seal on them.
The Water Release techniques that had existed before Tobirama had also been extensively modified.
Among the ones Tōru was familiar with, the Water Clone Technique that Itachi had taught him alone had more than five variations.
An oil-based Water Clone.
A glue-like, starch-syrup-based Water Clone.
A seemingly transparent Water Clone concealing an Explosive Tag.
A Water Clone designed for use over extremely long distances.
And even a Water Clone composed entirely of poison.
Tōru couldn’t help sighing inwardly.
[If someone like this became the Water Hashira, wouldn’t the Water Breathing Forms outnumber even Upper Rank One’s Moon Breathing?] “Tōru, did you find any ninjutsu you like?” Shisui and Itachi rarely saw Tōru show interest in ninjutsu.
Perhaps, after all, what attracted children to becoming shinobi wasn’t power itself, but the chance to learn all kinds of flashy and interesting techniques?
“I’m just looking.” Tōru withdrew his gaze.
He had already skimmed through most of the scroll and gained a general understanding of what Water Release could accomplish.
“Don’t be so shy.” Shisui grabbed Tōru and pulled him back, pointing at the entry for Water Release: Water Blade Slash.
“Let’s see whether you can learn this technique first.
Other people use a weapon, but you concentrate the chakra directly in your hand.
That’s a natural disadvantage.” Tōru looked at the entry.
But just as Itachi expected, the large number of technical terms Tobirama had densely arranged in the description gave Tōru a headache.
He could use the Water Clone Technique and Shadow Clone Technique because he possessed a large amount of chakra and neither required particularly complicated shape transformation.
This technique, however, required water to form a blade while simultaneously maintaining its shape and fluidity.
It was considerably more complicated.
“Can you do it?” After looking at the instructions for a while, Tōru bluntly asked Shisui, “If you can, do it once.
Then I’ll know how to do it.” With the Transparent World, he didn’t actually need to understand the principles behind a ninjutsu.
As long as he could see the chakra pathways and chakra points through which the chakra flowed while the technique was being performed, Tōru could reproduce the technique almost exactly.
“?” Shisui and Itachi exchanged a confused glance over Tōru’s head.
Then Itachi seemed to remember something.
He nodded.
“I’ll try it.
When I taught Tōru the Water Clone Technique, he learned it after seeing it only once.” He didn’t waste any time.
He immediately began forming the hand seals according to the instructions on the scroll.
However, Itachi had only recently begun mastering Water Nature Transformation, so his first several attempts failed.
Throughout this process, Tōru remained motionless.
He stared at Itachi’s body as though he intended to see straight through him.
Using the Transparent World, he followed the movement of Itachi’s chakra through his pathways and chakra points, simultaneously familiarizing himself with the technique’s circulation and preparation.
About ten minutes later, confidence appeared in Itachi’s eyes.
His hands blurred as he rapidly formed the necessary seals.
At the same time, he puffed out his cheeks, drew a kunai, and spat a stream of water onto it.
The water seemed almost alive as it coiled around the kunai.
Several times it threatened to disperse and collapse, but under the meticulous control of Itachi’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the water eventually gathered into a single stream.
It transformed into a clear, transparent blade that remained in constant motion before firmly attaching itself to the kunai.
It was roughly twenty centimeters long.
“Success.” Shisui excitedly slapped Itachi on the shoulder.
“As expected of you.” A B-rank ninjutsu was something ordinary Jōnin might fail to master even after hundreds or thousands of attempts.
Yet Uchiha Itachi had accomplished it in only ten minutes.
The Sharingan’s perceptive ability had certainly played a role, but there was no denying that Itachi’s own control over chakra had already reached the standard of a Jōnin.
And he was only ten and a half years old.
Itachi wasn’t particularly proud of it.
He was already accustomed to learning ninjutsu quickly.
What interested him more was how Tōru would learn this B-rank technique.
“Tōru, can you do it?” He didn’t even need to ask.
The instant Tōru observed Itachi’s successful execution, he immediately mobilized the chakra formed from the three forces within his body and guided it along the exact same chakra pathways and chakra points.
He didn’t need to form hand seals to guide the chakra.
He merely extended the index and middle fingers of his right hand.
The waterfall beside them immediately split apart.
A fierce stream of water wrapped itself around his fingers.
Within seconds, it gradually lengthened and took shape.
It became a nichirin blade—a sword that seemed to have grown directly from Tōru’s hand.
“I suspect he actually has the Byakugan.” Shisui uttered an absurd statement that was, in a sense, frighteningly close to the truth.
But things weren’t over yet.
As the shape of the blade in Tōru’s mind gradually became clearer, several large characters suddenly appeared at the base of the Water Blade—the part directly against his fingers.
Demon Slayer.
And with that, Tōru finally obtained a weapon suited to him.
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