Konoha, Chunin Exams dueling grounds.
The stands were filled with ninjas and villagers, who conversed in low voices while observing the Genin in the waiting area.
Among the two most eye-catching individuals, one was Itachi.
At just ten years old, he participated in the Chunin Exams alone and achieved excellent results in the first two tests.
The other was Uchiha Satoshi, a white-haired young man leaning in a corner, lost in thought.
Like Itachi, he also participated in the exams alone and was another genius on par with Itachi.
Just as Satoshi silently greeted Itachi, the proctor, Genma, chewing on a senbon, walked to the center of the dueling grounds.
"Candidates, assemble."
He looked at the Genin before him and reiterated the standards for the third Chunin Exams.
"It's not just about winning to qualify for promotion. More importantly, it's about your performance in this assessment."
Hearing this, the candidates relaxed considerably.
At the same time, they silently prayed not to encounter Itachi or Satoshi, those two monsters.
After a final warning to the candidates, Genma drew two slips of paper with names written on them from a box.
"First match: Uchiha Itachi versus Uchiha Satoshi!"
As soon as he spoke, a gasp instantly erupted from the stands.
No one had expected the first match to be a duel between the two genius youths, Satoshi and Itachi.
At this moment, a pleasant electronic sound echoed in Satoshi's mind.
[New mission: During the Chunin Exams, severely discipline the inherently evil Uchiha brat.]
Satoshi's lips twitched unconsciously. 'System, do you really think I'm Tobirama?'
Three years ago, he transmigrated to the Naruto world and awakened the character template system. He only needed to complete various missions issued by the system to gain more abilities of that character.
Then...
Satoshi drew the Tobirama template.
[Name: Uchiha Satoshi]
[Age: 11]
[Template: Tobirama]
[Ninjutsu: Water Release mastery, capable of freely transforming into various forms for attack and defense, requiring only two hand seals for release, and other negligible Ninjutsu.]
[Auxiliary Ninjutsu: Chakra Sensing]
[Passive: All abilities are enhanced when fighting Uchiha.]
[Unlock more abilities upon mission completion.]
[Evaluation: Precisely because he is Hokage, he must maintain a ruthless attitude.]
Satoshi quietly sighed, 'Forgive me, Itachi, this definitely won't be the last time.'
The other candidates quickly left the arena, leaving Satoshi standing in the center. He gently rested his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
This sword was a reward from the system upon graduating from the Academy. It was said that Tobirama had used it to defeat Izuna back in the day.
On the other side, Itachi walked towards Satoshi.
He didn't care who his opponent was. He only remembered his father's command to defeat all opponents, and his promise to practice shuriken with Sasuke after the match.
When Itachi and Satoshi stood still in the center of the arena, cheers erupted from the stands again.
Supporters from both sides loudly shouted their names.
Itachi whispered, "I'm sorry, Satoshi. I have a reason I can't lose."
He looked at Satoshi seriously, the scene of his brother Sasuke cheering him on echoing in his ears.
"Is that so?" Satoshi unconsciously rubbed the sword hilt. "I also have a reason I can't lose."
Itachi was silent for a moment. He knew Satoshi was an orphan, so what was the bond he cared about most in his heart?
As if sensing the tension in the air, Sasuke in the stands looked at Fugaku with a worried expression. "Father, nii-san will win, right?"
Fugaku nodded lightly. "Itachi is the strongest."
Receiving his father's affirmation, Sasuke excitedly waved his fists. "Nii-san, defeat him!"
Genma glanced at the two contestants, a strange smile on his face. He also wanted to see what kind of sparks these two genius youths would create.
Then, he raised his voice, "Begin!"
As soon as Genma's words fell, a whooshing sound erupted. Itachi threw three shuriken and simultaneously leaped ten meters away.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Satoshi drew his sword with his right hand, the blade flashing.
Itachi's hand seal speed was so fast it left afterimages.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
A massive fireball spewed from his mouth, its dazzling light illuminating the entire dueling grounds. The heat wave caused the front-row spectators to gasp.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes and nodded with satisfaction.
Itachi had grown stronger.
The smile on Genma's face instantly froze.
Was this a Ninjutsu a Genin could release?
Even among a group of Chunin, the power of the Great Fireball Itachi used was considered superior.
Just as Genma was considering whether to save Satoshi, a wall of water rose from the ground.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
Satoshi symbolically made two hand seals, and the moment his hands came together, the water wall transformed into a gigantic water vortex.
The sky-high water vortex, carrying shattered rocks, collided with the fireball amidst a roar of steam, and a boiling mist instantly enveloped the entire arena.
Genma completely lost his composure.
You two Uchiha brats aren't going to stop, are you?
As the eldest son of the Uchiha clan head, Itachi's powerful Fire Release was reasonable.
But where did you, Satoshi, learn Water Release?
A Water Release performed in a waterless environment, yet its power was still this great. More importantly, he seemed to have only made two hand seals.
Genma's mind felt itchy, as if something was about to grow.
He seemed to see the shadow of a legendary person.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu.
Satoshi made two hand seals, and the water wall transformed into a giant water dragon, roaring as it charged towards Itachi.
In the stands, Fugaku gasped.
Two hand seals!
He only used two hand seals!
Throughout the entire Konoha, besides the Second Hokage, Tobirama, who else could do that?
Satoshi, you've truly given me too big a surprise.
Bang!
Itachi was slammed into the wall by the water dragon, letting out a pained groan.
"It's over, Itachi."
Satoshi stood amidst the water, looking down at Itachi. He held his ninja sword and rushed in front of Itachi.
Clang!
Itachi hastily used a kunai to block, and feeling the force on his arm, he couldn't help but frown.
This Satoshi guy, where did he get such strength?
Clang... Clang... Clang...
As Satoshi and Itachi were entangled in a fight, the latter's expression grew increasingly grim.
Even with his Sharingan activated, even anticipating his opponent's movements, he still couldn't respond effectively. It was as if Satoshi had anticipated his anticipation
Sasuke looked anxiously at Fugaku and asked, "Father, why isn't nii-san fighting back? Didn't he awaken the Sharingan, the pride of our Uchiha clan?"
The red glow in Fugaku's eyes slowly faded. He hesitated for a moment before softly answering Sasuke, "Even if he sees Satoshi's next move, Itachi's body can't keep up with him."
Furthermore, there was another important question.
Where did Satoshi learn his swordsmanship?
Fugaku could see that this was not just a difference in their taijutsu. More importantly, Satoshi's every move seemed to be designed to counter the Uchiha.
Tsk, what's the point of fighting this?
As Fugaku's thoughts drifted, Itachi had already been forced into a corner by Satoshi.
Seeing no way to avoid it, Itachi panicked for a moment.
The double tomoe in Satoshi's eyes spun madly. He retracted his sword and then slashed again, forcefully cutting the kunai in half.
Itachi's pupils contracted. He desperately twisted his body, barely dodging the sharp blade.
Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, Satoshi roared.
He spun and delivered a fierce kick to Itachi's chest. A clear sound of bone cracking came from Itachi's crossed, blocking arms.
Itachi was instantly sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the dueling grounds wall with a loud crash.
Boom!
Itachi seemed to be embedded in the wall, his body covered in spiderweb-like cracks.
Feeling the pain in his body, Itachi groaned. If nothing unexpected happened, he had broken seven or eight bones.
He struggled to take a few steps but then fell weakly to the ground.
"Nii-san!" Sasuke roared.
Genma, who was observing the battle from the side, instantly appeared and carefully checked Itachi's condition.
Then, he loudly announced, "Winner, Satoshi!"
At the same time, a pleasant electronic sound echoed in Satoshi's mind again.
[Mission reward: Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique]
After the match, the medical team quickly rushed into the arena to rescue Itachi, who had been beaten half to death.
Satoshi, on the other hand, sheathed his ninja sword and returned to his familiar corner.
Hokage Building.
In front of the crystal ball, Hiruzen gently put down his pipe.
The Ninjutsu and Taijutsu Satoshi used, and even his white hair, reminded him of a certain person.
"I want all of Satoshi's data. All of it."