"Heh!" Saitama smirked as he pressured Shisui, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
At the instant Shisui activated his signature Shunshin no Jutsu—the Body Flicker Technique—Saitama's newly awakened three-tomoe Sharingan caught every detail. Instinctively, his body mirrored the movement and launched a counterattack with his own ninjutsu.
"You've improved, Saitama." Shisui smiled genuinely as he noticed the fully matured Sharingan in Saitama's eyes. He knew how frustrated Saitama had been about his delayed Sharingan evolution. Yet, it had awakened to its full form after their latest mission—finally breaking through.
"Shisui's chasing hard—I'm not backing down!" Saitama shouted as he leapt backward, narrowly dodging Shisui's strike and slashing forward with his blade in the same motion.
Clang! The blades clashed.
Planting his foot behind him, Saitama surged forward with explosive speed, drawing closer to Shisui.
In this spar, Saitama refrained from using his Chakra Enhancement Technique or his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He relied solely on his taijutsu and Chidori-ryū, a variant of lightning-style kenjutsu he had been developing.
Their figures flickered back and forth across the training ground like blurs. Among the spectators stood Zhu, wide-eyed and stunned. He could barely track their movements with his naked eye. Without activating his dōjutsu, he could only catch brief glimpses when they stopped.
His fists clenched. A mix of admiration and frustration welled up inside him. He was proud of his teammates' strength—but also disheartened by the overwhelming gap between them and himself.
The match didn't last long. As expected, Saitama emerged victorious. Though he could have ended it earlier, he deliberately held back to gauge Shisui's current level.
"Well done, Shisui." Saitama slid his blade back into the sheath at his waist.
"I knew you weren't going all out…" Shisui replied, breathing heavily, a hint of discouragement in his voice.
"That's enough for now," said Mori, walking over and placing a hand on Saitama's shoulder. He glanced at Shisui with a calm expression. "You both did well."
---
Morning Life in Konoha
"Morning, Granny!"
"Good morning. Come eat."
Life had returned to its usual rhythm for Saitama. Breakfast at home, then off to training. On better days, he patrolled Konoha with the Uchiha guard unit, fulfilling his duties.
"Here we go," he muttered as he stepped into the dining area and sat down.
Breakfast today: rice balls and seaweed soup. Saitama never got tired of it.
He devoured a full tray of rice balls alone. After the last bite, he patted his stomach and got ready to leave for the training ground.
As he stepped outside, he glanced back at Granny Xiang still tidying up inside. He smiled softly, closed the door behind him, and walked off.
"Morning, Saitama!"
The voice came from Uchiha Nagisa. Saitama gave a slight nod. Lately, the two had been training together every day.
"The weather's warming up... it won't be long before we're deployed."
Nagisa walked alongside Saitama, muttering. With his recent gains in strength, he was itching to prove himself on the battlefield.
Saitama had already warned him multiple times about that mentality. But each time, Nagisa reverted back. In the end, Saitama could only sigh and let it be.
---
Training Grounds
They soon reached the training grounds, already bustling with activity. As the war approached, more shinobi trained with urgency. Even a slight increase in strength meant a greater chance of surviving.
After warming up near the entrance, Saitama took his blade and ventured deeper into the grounds. He preferred training in solitude.
He and Nagisa were among the last to arrive. Soon after, more members of the Uchiha guard filtered in, and the full team was assembled.
"Everyone, gather up!" called Mori, clapping his hands.
They lined up in the center of the training ground. Saitama stood at the front beside Mori due to his exceptional strength. Ever since awakening the three-tomoe Sharingan, he had surpassed even Mori in combat ability. He now served as a silent pillar among the unit.
Nearly twenty Uchiha stood in formation, facing Mori in silence.
"Ahem." Mori cleared his throat. "It's good to see everyone here. You're all carefully selected members of the Uchiha clan. Standing before me are the clan's future."
Despite the praise, the group remained composed. Such words didn't go to their heads. Anyone chosen for the guard had been tempered through duty and expectation.
Most of them were only twelve or thirteen, but carried themselves with a maturity that belied their age.
"In a week, some of you will step onto the battlefield. That is the path you chose," Mori said seriously. His gaze swept across the group, lingering on Saitama and Nagisa.
"You're strong—stronger than most your age. But don't forget, the battlefield isn't a place for self-importance. Just because you've completed missions doesn't mean the battlefield will play by your rules. It's not your playground."
His voice rang clear.
"Ten of you will join the front lines. I want all of you to come back alive. Uchiha needs you."
"Do you understand?!"
"Understood!" the group shouted in unison. Saitama nodded along with them.
Mori looked at their determined faces. He knew not all of them would return. Even he wasn't certain of his own fate. The battlefield was too unpredictable.
"Keep training," he said. "Saitama, come with me."
---
Office Conversation
Inside the small building, Saitama poured two cups of tea. Mori sat across from him, taking one.
"With deployment approaching, I wanted to speak with you privately."
Saitama sat down. "The situation seems stable for now. Kirigakure hasn't fully committed to war, so our confrontation might stay limited."
"True. But expect small-scale battles."
"I heard Iwagakure's stirring up trouble in the northwest?" Saitama asked, casually watching Mori's face.
"Yes. Things don't look great for Konoha, but that's something the Third Hokage will handle. Not our concern right now."
Mori's tone shifted slightly. "The clan is holding a private council tonight. The elders want you to attend."
"Me?"
"It's time others recognize you—not just by name, but in person. This is your first official meeting with the family's decision-makers."
"When and where?"
"Eight o'clock tonight. At the ancestral hall."
"I'll be there." Saitama nodded. He knew missing such a meeting was not an option. If he wanted to have a say in the clan's future, he'd have to earn it through presence and power.
Though his recent achievements gave him some recognition, many elders hadn't seen him face-to-face. Tonight was his chance.
He glanced at the faint smile on Mori's lips and let out a small smile of his own.
"Suddenly, I'm kind of excited… haha."
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