Uchiha Hui's current strength had improved drastically since his early days at the ninja academy.
His sealing speed now exceeded three seals per second, and he could execute the Great Fireball Jutsu in just two seconds — a level that matched the average sealing capabilities of most trained ninjas. Advancing beyond this point would require considerable effort.
In terms of shuriken throwing, Uchiha Hui could strike eight targets five meters away simultaneously without even activating his Sharingan. Yet, what satisfied him more was his ability to subconsciously release shuriken with precision — a skill that proved far more practical than simple accuracy.
His chakra reserves had grown significantly, surpassing those of typical Genin and nearing the level of an average Chunin. Physically, his endurance was no longer a limitation; even the most strenuous exercises felt manageable. Confident in his abilities, Uchiha Hui believed he could overpower Hinata's "male mosquitoes" with pure taijutsu alone.
Most Chunin typically mastered one to three offensive ninjutsu techniques. In contrast, Uchiha Hui had already mastered both the Great Fireball Jutsu and the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Moreover, thanks to his Sharingan, he could predict an opponent's movements and even replicate common ninjutsu during combat. Against any non-elite Chunin, Uchiha Hui believed his odds of victory exceeded seventy percent.
With only one month left before the academy's graduation, Uchiha Hui found himself reflecting on his progress. That afternoon, after explaining the fundamentals of dispelling illusions to his classmates, he removed his sunglasses — a habit he'd developed during class.
Meanwhile, Iruka Umino sat at his desk, his face heavy with concern. "It's been so long... Still no news from Mizuki. Could he really be... gone?"
Uchiha Hui overheard but remained silent. He harbored no guilt — Mizuki had willingly provoked him and ultimately faced the consequences. Even Konoha had said little on the matter, reinforcing Uchiha Hui's indifference.
Yet, one particular thought weighed on his mind — Uchiha Shisui had been assigned to the academy by the clan.
Unlike Uchiha Hui, Shisui had been meticulously trained by the Uchiha clan. Now, just before graduation, Shisui was sent to the academy to fulfill formalities. In the original "Naruto" timeline, Uchiha Shisui was a pivotal figure — hailed as the strongest illusionist of the Uchiha clan and known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Though Uchiha Hui disagreed with Shisui's ideology, he acknowledged Shisui's strength. To him, Shisui served as a benchmark — a standard he needed to surpass. If Uchiha Hui couldn't rival Shisui, his ambitions would be nothing more than empty dreams.
However, the timing wasn't right. Shisui, groomed by the clan, had already mastered a variety of ninjutsu and genjutsu — skills Uchiha Hui had yet to acquire. He knew his chance to match Shisui would come only after graduation when his learning would accelerate.
At noon, Uchiha Hui stepped into the hallway and spotted Shisui leaving his classroom.
"Sorry," Shisui apologized, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. "My classmates kept asking me questions, and I ended up wasting time."
Uchiha Hui offered a brief nod, his face calm and composed. "It's normal," he replied coolly.
Shisui studied him curiously. "Why ask me to teach you illusion? Your father, Uchiha Hikaru, is an elite Jonin."
Uchiha Hui's expression didn't waver. He had prepared his answer long before this encounter. "My father believes I should begin learning illusion techniques after graduation, but I wanted to establish some groundwork now."
Despite being only eight years old, Shisui's genjutsu prowess had already surpassed most Chunin, and his rapid growth promised he would soon outpace even elite Jonin. In Uchiha Hui's mind, Shisui's mastery of illusion was undeniable, and the teenager's title as "the strongest illusionist" was well-earned.
"I see," Shisui said with understanding. "Since the lunch break isn't long, let's start right away."
Genjutsu relied on chakra interference to disrupt the target's five senses. Mastering it was generally more challenging than developing proficiency in ninjutsu.
Yet within a single afternoon, Uchiha Hui managed to learn every genjutsu Shisui had demonstrated. While they were only basic techniques, Shisui was left dumbfounded by Uchiha Hui's remarkable talent.