Clang!
Sparks flew at the point where the kunai clashed. Yun used the force to flip backward, landing a kick toward Itachi's chin.
Pa!
A crisp sound rang out as Itachi blocked and retreated two steps, shaking his arm lightly. "Your reflexes are sharp. Strength's decent too."
Yun grinned as he put away his kunai. "You haven't even used your Sharingan yet. If you did, I wouldn't stand a chance."
Itachi shook his head. "Shisui said I'm no match for you. I don't know why, but Shisui usually has his reasons."
The two exchanged the reconciliation hand sign, ending their spar. Off to the side, their Chūnin instructor finally let out a breath of relief.
Two Uchiha prodigies, one had awakened the Sharingan at five and a half, the other could go toe-to-toe with him. A match between them could turn dangerous if things got even slightly out of hand.
Being a teacher to geniuses wasn't easy.
"Big brother, here."
Yun took the water cup Izumi handed him and drank a few sips, only to notice she was blushing while holding her lunchbox and sneaking glances at Itachi.
'It was lunchtime after sparring class. Was she trying to invite him?'
Ding ding ding...
The lunch bell rang right on cue. Yun swiftly snatched Izumi's bento box. "Let's go eat."
Izumi glanced between Itachi, who was drinking water, and her brother, who had taken her lunch. She looked both frustrated and helpless.
"Tokuma, Hana, let's eat together," Yun said casually.
Yun's invitation caught the two children from Konoha's noble clans off guard. But thanks to the reputation he and Itachi had built as geniuses since the start of the term, they quickly agreed.
It turned out not every kid was as mature as Itachi, constantly thinking deep thoughts like a little philosopher. After just a few words, Yun and Izumi, both Uchiha, made friends with a Hyūga and an Inuzuka.
Without the Uchiha clan's usual pride, they were actually quite approachable.
Yun smiled as he looked at the two new friends. After today, how these two behaved at school would somewhat represent the Hyūga and Inuzuka clans' stance toward the Uchiha's current situation.
Everyone could see that the Fourth Hokage trusted Uchiha Shisui, but the elders, remnants of the Second Hokage's policies, including the Third, remained hostile toward the Uchiha.
The stance of the Hyūga branch family and Inuzuka clan could sway how the rest of the major clans positioned themselves, whether with the aging Third or the youthful Fourth.
"Yun, your taijutsu is amazing. You actually fought evenly with Itachi, who's already awakened his Sharingan." Tokuma sounded a bit envious, but when he looked at his forehead protector, his expression turned gloomy.
As a Hyūga branch member, Tokuma was branded with the caged bird seal at age four, just like Neji in the original story.
"As long as you're strong and fast enough, it's fine. But remember, Itachi didn't even use his Sharingan just now. If he had, the outcome might've been different," Yun said as he offered his bento. "Tempura want some? It's my favorite."
Since it was their first time hanging out, both kids shook their heads politely.
Inuzuka Hana added, "My mom once told me about some of the Sharingan's powers. Just awakening it boosts dynamic vision a bit. You're already really strong, Yun."
Yun responded humbly with a smile. Izumi, on the other hand, stared curiously at Hana's face. "Your face paint looks so cool... where'd you get it?"
Hana laughed. "This isn't ordinary face paint. It's unique to the Inuzuka clan."
…
As the cheerful chatter filled the air, Yun glanced toward Itachi, who was sitting alone.
Several girls were peeking at him but didn't dare approach, while the boys nearby looked frustrated and jealous. He sat there like a cold wall, a clear "Do Not Approach" aura around him.
"Itachi!"
The sudden shout snapped Itachi out of his lunch-daydream. He looked up, and Yun immediately caught the glimmer of joy in his eyes.
"Come eat with us!"
Itachi glanced around, then nodded and walked over slowly. Meanwhile, Yun turned to his sister and muttered, "Mind letting go? You're squeezing my arm purple. Are you really that excited?"
Izumi's face flushed deep red at being exposed.
Hana and Tokuma chuckled. Honestly, Hana was probably the only girl in class who wasn't interested in Itachi.
"Humans are social creatures. Spend too long alone, and you'll start overthinking. Overthink too long, and you'll go crazy."
Yun patted the step beside him for Itachi to sit. "And when you go crazy, you start going on murder sprees. Then they'll lock you up and tie you down. So tell me, do you want to snap and go wild or be locked up?"
Itachi blinked in surprise. After a pause, he asked, "I know what going wild means, but what's 'snap'?"
…
School life was boring for both Yun and Itachi. So boring that after just a month, both started using Shadow Clones to attend class in their place.
Yun had clearly underestimated his own talent. Let's not forget: in the canon, Izumi was also thirteen when the massacre happened.
Awakening a three-tomoe Sharingan at age thirteen spoke volumes about her potential. Her "taijutsu specialty" was likely just due to a lack of instruction, because come on, how could a three-tomoe Uchiha only excel at taijutsu?
Late at night, October 10th.
Yun got up and retrieved a scroll from the secret compartment beneath his bed. He dusted off a year's worth of grime.
Storage scrolls weren't cheap. If he knew the sealing techniques on this one, he could even store items on his wrist like Sasuke did.
"Unseal."
A puff of smoke, and in the middle of the scroll, a pale arm appeared.
This was the arm Obito had left behind a year ago, made using the Hashirama cells. Compared to Danzo's version, this one was far more stable.
After all, one was capable of casually spamming Kamui, while the other's chakra arm would go wild and turn into a tree.
[Intelligence Exchange System Activated]
[Rule Replication Function Online]
[Medium Triggered]
[Available Trade Targets: Senju Hashirama (Pure Land), Uchiha Obito]
The system's prompts surprised Yun. 'Two targets?'
Truthfully, targeting Hashirama had been a gamble. There was never a rule saying you could only trade with the living, right?
Hashirama and Madara were in the Pure Land right now, so finding a medium for either wasn't too hard. While the Sage of Six Paths remained out of reach, these two were viable targets.
'But Obito? Why him?
'Was it because this was his arm?'
'It had been used for a few years, so there must be plenty of Obito's biological material inside?'
That thought made Yun shiver a bit. He reined in his wandering thoughts.
Still, it was a good thing, Senju and Uchiha, Sage Body, and Mangekyō. Tough choice.
Wait...
Hashirama's Sage Body is one thing, but Obito's Mangekyō isn't even Madara's Rinnegan.
Obito's body was weak to begin with. Without the Hashirama cells, he would've gone blind ages ago.
Yun looked at the arm in the scroll again, pulled out a kunai, and made his choice.
Thud."