Uchiha Souji's swordsmanship had been drilled into him through strict, systematic training since childhood. Every swing, every stance, every shift of his weight had been practiced thousands of times. His body didn't just remember the techniques—
it moved by instinct.
That was the terrifying thing about an Uchiha raised under shinobi discipline.
So when he watched Takeda Iro use two wooden blades, Souji immediately noticed something unusual.
The boy's speed when switching the blades between his hands…
The fluid rotation…
The natural rhythm…
It wasn't normal for a kid his age. And when Iro confidently declared he had mastered this dual-blade handling after only a few hours of practice, Souji understood one thing clearly:
This boy had talent. Real, frightening talent.
That was exactly why Souji had praised him earlier.
"Huh? Really?" Iro asked, still rubbing his sore head from Souji's finger-flick. Tears still clung to the corners of his eyes, but his expression was full of hope and excitement.
Souji looked away, suddenly feeling awkward.
Why was he acting like a parent praising a child who desperately wanted approval?
He sighed and raised a hand again, patting the boy's head gently.
"Yes. You're definitely suited for dual-blade swordsmanship."
Iro froze, eyes widening.
"So here's a suggestion," Souji continued, suddenly inspired. "In the future, when you're strong enough and famous enough… why not use a two-sword style exclusively? You could even create your own sword technique. Something like… 'Two Heavens Style.'"
"Two Heavens?" Iro repeated.
"Yeah. One blade representing the sun, the other the moon. Yin and yang. Balance. Long and short."
Of course, Souji was shamelessly borrowing ideas from his previous world. But Iro didn't need to know that.
"Two Heavens Style…"
Iro whispered the name as if holding a sacred treasure.
Then—
"YES! That's strong! I love it! From today on, my sword style is the Two Heavens Style!"
He leapt to his feet, energised, completely forgetting the pain in his skull. He tucked both wooden blades proudly at his waist, standing like a warrior about to depart on an epic journey.
Souji twitched at the corner of his mouth.
This kid was peak chūnibyō—second-phase syndrome.
Overly dramatic.
Overly enthusiastic.
Overly delusional.
But oddly… endearing.
"Alright, that's enough for today." Souji waved casually. "You should perfect your Two Heavens Style. When you become famous—famous enough for your name to reach Konoha—you can come challenge me again."
He turned away, not intending to beat the boy further. Despite all the annoyance, Iro was still a child. And even Souji wasn't heartless enough to crush him completely.
Besides…
Even though Iro had dragged him around the Fire Country all day—east, west, north, south—talking nonstop and demanding duels…
It had been oddly entertaining.
Annoying, yes.
But lively.
And now that Iro was determined to focus on his swordsmanship, maybe he wouldn't bother him tomorrow…
"Tomorrow morning," Souji muttered to himself, "I'll just get up early and beat him quickly."
Southern sunrise, one guaranteed beating, peace restored.
The day after tomorrow, he was leaving the Fire Capital.
Surely a kid wouldn't chase him all the way to Konoha.
Right?
Right…?
He tried to comfort himself with that thought.
---
Meanwhile, on a rooftop…
Under the shade of the eaves, Jiraiya and Kakashi watched the entire interaction like spectators at a theatre.
Both were leisurely eating popsicles.
Jiraiya slurped his loudly.
Kakashi ate his silently.
Complete opposites, as always.
"Hmm," Jiraiya said, eyes still on Souji and Iro below. "Sunny people always attract others. Even stray dogs on the street can't help but approach someone warm."
Kakashi nodded.
Ninja or not, humans were emotional beings. The academy could demand total rationality, could demand that shinobi bury their emotions, eliminate hesitation, and operate like tools… but no one could actually live that way.
Humans ran toward warmth.
Toward hope.
Toward light.
"That's why," Jiraiya continued, "people don't always choose the logical leader. Take the Fourth Hokage selection, for example."
Kakashi listened carefully.
"If people were purely logical," Jiraiya said, "they would have chosen Orochimaru. More years, more missions, more war experience, more strength."
"But they chose Minato," Kakashi finished softly.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Because even ninja drowning in darkness crave light. Minato gave them that. He was a beacon."
Of course, Jiraiya added mentally, pure emotion wasn't enough to make a Hokage. There were many other factors. But it mattered. It always mattered.
Kakashi shifted slightly.
"Jiraiya-senpai… are you leaving the capital tomorrow?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yeah. Orochimaru is getting more dangerous by the day. I want to find Tsunade first. Maybe—maybe—she'll finally be willing to cooperate with me."
He scratched his head in frustration.
Tsunade was stubborn.
Hopelessly, unbelievably stubborn.
If she didn't want to do something, she simply wouldn't.
Even punching her wouldn't move her—she'd punch back twice as hard.
"Oh! Speaking of Tsunade," Jiraiya said with a mischievous grin, "why not take Souji along? Maybe she'll consider returning as Fifth Hokage if she sees him."
Kakashi froze.
Jiraiya added teasingly:
"After all, Souji's a bit like Nawaki. Both want to be Hokage."
If Souji had heard that, he would've slapped Jiraiya ten times.
First of all—
He did NOT want to be Hokage!
Second—
Comparing him to Senju Nawaki, who died young, was NOT encouraging!
Third—
He was Uchiha!
What Uchiha in their right mind goes knocking on Senju Tsunade's door smiling?!
Kakashi sighed.
"Jiraiya-sama, if Tsunade sees Souji, she might punch him on sight."
He lowered his popsicle stick and continued:
"Since you're leaving tomorrow, I'll take Souji with me. He has… too many enemies. The longer he stays out here, the more dangerous it becomes."
Kakashi felt genuinely troubled.
He had been a shinobi for years and could count his true, meaningful enemies on one hand—
Shimura Danzō being one of them.
Souji, meanwhile…
He was only seven years old.
Seven!
And he had already earned the hatred of two major organizations and one elite jōnin.
How?!
WHY?!
Even Jiraiya looked baffled.
"Hey, Kakashi… do you think that brat will actually live to adulthood?"
He wasn't joking.
It takes ten years to reach adulthood from age seven. Ten long, dangerous years.
And Souji had already angered half the world before even becoming a genin.
If this was the starting point…
What chaos awaited when he truly became a ninja?
------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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