Chapter 37

After Sasuke had his fill of food and drink, it was time to head to the training ground. As expected, Kakashi hadn't arrived yet.

"Ah! Sasuke, how dare you be late!" A boy in orange and black clothing, with whisker-like marks on his face, jumped out and yelled at Sasuke.

Sasuke glanced at the wildly gesturing Naruto and walked to the shade of a large tree with Su Chong.

"Who are you?" Naruto, used to being ignored, wasn't angry. Instead, he was quite curious about Su Chong.

Su Chong wore a black robe, a black glove on his hand, and a steel-needle-like buzz cut, with a gentle smile on his face.

"Hello, my name is Uchiha Shu. I am Sasuke's clansman," Su Chong said.

"Shu? I've never seen you before," Naruto looked at Su Chong suspiciously.

"I've always stayed in the Uchiha compound and don't come out often. It's normal that you haven't seen me," Su Chong explained patiently.

"You're Naruto, right? Sasuke has mentioned you. And you must be Sakura. Sasuke has also mentioned you," Su Chong greeted them warmly.

Before long, the group was chatting together.

"Shu, what is Kakashi's special technique?" Sasuke suddenly asked, remembering what Su Chong had said yesterday.

Sasuke's question piqued everyone's interest.

"Kakashi's special technique is called Chidori, a high-level lightning-natured jutsu. When combined with the Sharingan, it becomes a very powerful killing move. Moreover, this jutsu has great potential for further development," Su Chong explained.

"I don't think that white-haired guy is anything special. He fell into my trap yesterday," Naruto said dismissively, pouting.

Su Chong smiled. "Kakashi is a genuine genius ninja of Konoha. He became a jonin in his teens and participated in the Third Shinobi World War, earning significant achievements."

"Is that true?" Naruto didn't believe it.

"His teacher was the Fourth Hokage," Su Chong glanced at Naruto meaningfully.

"Moreover, he has a Sharingan eye," Su Chong said, looking at Sasuke.

Su Chong found it very interesting that Kakashi was assigned as the instructor for Team 7. One was the son of his teacher, and the other was a clansman of his friend. Both were closely watched by Konoha.

"However, he has one flaw: he likes to be late. Unless it's an important mission, he will definitely be late for regular appointments. You two are too honest; just gather a bit of information, and you'll know his habits," Su Chong said to Naruto and Sakura.

"How did he get the Sharingan? Is he also an Uchiha?" Sasuke asked, frowning.

"He isn't. The Sharingan was given to him by one of our clansmen. He has built a great reputation with the Sharingan. So, having him as your instructor is very beneficial. You should stick to him and learn. He is very lazy and won't teach you anything if you don't push him," Su Chong said.

Sasuke nodded, influenced by Su Chong, he had a strong desire for power. A jonin instructor who could use the Sharingan was the best choice for him.

"Already thinking about learning my skills? Humph! You haven't passed my test yet!" Kakashi slowly walked over from a distance.

"You're late! Just as Shu said!" Naruto jumped up and shouted.

Kakashi glanced at Su Chong, saying nothing, but his mind was working.

Su Chong smiled, having long noticed someone watching them, but his Insight Eye's range wasn't enough to pinpoint the observer.

It was clear that Kakashi had been hiding nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Alright, are you ready for the test? I have two bells here. By noon, whoever gets one passes," Kakashi stood in the center of the field, holding a book casually. "Alright, don't waste time. Start!"

With that, Sakura quickly disappeared from the field, hiding.

Naruto stood boldly in the center of the field. This was expected by Kakashi, but what surprised him was that Sasuke also stood there without hiding.

Kakashi's brows furrowed, feeling somewhat disappointed. "Are the son of my teacher and the clansman of my friend really that bad?"

"White-haired guy, watch this! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto quickly formed the seals, and a bunch of shadow clones appeared, charging at Kakashi.

Su Chong's eyes were fixed on Naruto, his Insight Eye fully activated. As soon as Naruto released his chakra, Su Chong detected a faint difference.

"Is this the Nine-Tails' chakra? Indeed, it's overwhelming!"

Bang, bang, bang...

Without any surprise, Naruto was quickly taken down by Kakashi.

Sasuke didn't move the entire time, waiting for Naruto to be taken down.

"Why didn't you take the opportunity to ambush him?" Kakashi asked, looking at the expressionless Sasuke.

"Even if I ambushed you, I couldn't beat you. You just want to test our abilities, so let's do it one by one," Sasuke didn't care about the bells.

"I'm coming."

Sasuke's right hand formed a claw, his left hand tucked at his waist. He crouched, eyes fixed on Kakashi.

He suddenly disappeared from his spot, leaving a long trail of afterimages, moving like a python.

His fist curled like a pancake, the knuckle of his index finger protruding. His arm flashed, and his right hand moved like a spear, or a snake's tongue. In an instant, he was in front of Kakashi.

The protruding knuckle of his index finger aimed straight for Kakashi's throat.

Silent Killing Technique!

Kakashi's expression turned serious. "What incredible speed! What strange taijutsu!"

He put away his book and blocked his throat with his hand.

Snap!

A crisp sound, and Sasuke's fierce punch was easily blocked.

Sasuke's expression didn't change. His body twisted like a piece of paper in the wind, effortlessly and quickly moving behind Kakashi.

His left hand grabbed his right fist, and his right elbow shot out like a cannon, aiming for Kakashi's kidney.

Snap!

A puff of smoke, and Kakashi disappeared, leaving a broken log.

Sasuke quickly surveyed the area, finding no one. Remembering Su Chong's description of a certain jutsu, his expression changed.

He stomped his foot and quickly disappeared.

Puff!

A hand emerged from the ground, scooping up a clump of dirt but missing its target.

Sasuke immediately spotted Kakashi. Taking a deep breath, he formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Boom!

Flames roared, and the just-emerged Kakashi was hit directly.

Bang!

A puff of smoke, and Kakashi used the Substitution Jutsu to disappear.

Sasuke remained alert. Suddenly, he felt a chill at the back of his neck.

He lunged forward, his elbows thrusting backward.

Snap, snap, snap...

The two instantly engaged in combat.

Sasuke fully activated the Silent Killing Technique, moving incredibly fast, targeting vital points silently.

Kakashi, facing the storm of attacks, handled them with ease.

"Your taijutsu is excellent and powerful, but your experience is lacking!" Seizing the opportunity, Kakashi suddenly struck with a hand blade.

Thud!

Sasuke was knocked to the ground.

"Truly worthy of being an Uchiha. At such a young age, your taijutsu and ninjutsu already surpass those of ordinary genin," Kakashi remarked.

After tying up Sasuke, he soon caught Sakura as well.

After scaring the three, Kakashi slowly walked away and approached Su Chong, who had been sitting under the tree.

"Uchiha Shu?" Kakashi's expression grew serious as he looked at Su Chong.

"I heard you can't gather chakra. But why do I feel you are dangerous?" Kakashi stared at Su Chong.

Su Chong suddenly smiled. "Lack of chakra doesn't mean lack of power. You agree, Kakashi?"

"Sasuke's taijutsu was taught by you," Kakashi stated firmly.

"Those little tricks? Yes, I taught them," Su Chong admitted openly.

"How did you learn such a silent assassination technique?" Kakashi asked sternly.

"Do you want to fight me? To test my strength?" Su Chong laughed nervously. "Actually, I came here today to fight you!"

Su Chong leaped up, his body twisting, making crackling sounds.

Kakashi's expression changed, and he quickly prepared himself.

Su Chong stared at Kakashi, his eyes burning with intensity, his black robe flapping in the wind.

"Shun!"

With a loud shout, Su Chong stomped his foot.

Bang! The ground beneath his feet exploded, forming a lotus flower. The massive force propelled Su Chong to disappear from his spot, moving in a straight line like an arrow toward Kakashi.

"So fast!"

Kakashi's pupils contracted. He raised his hands, crossing them in front of his chest.

One punch!

Su Chong's gloved fist struck Kakashi's arms with great force.

Kakashi's expression changed dramatically. With a muffled sound, he was sent flying, crashing into a tree.

His hands trembled uncontrollably. He hadn't expected Su Chong's strength to be so great. The punch felt like being hit by a hammer!

Su Chong's blood flowed rapidly. He had come to the training ground with Sasuke today not only to observe Naruto, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, but mainly to challenge Kakashi.

After two years of relentless training, he had developed a certain level of self-defense. Although his strength was still not overwhelming, he no longer needed to hide.

Fighting Kakashi served two purposes: to test his own abilities and to send a message to the Third Hokage through Kakashi.

He, Uchiha Shu, was not a pushover, not someone to be underestimated!

Su Chong wouldn't forget the assassination attempt two years ago.

A soul nearly fifty years old, carefully hiding in a nine-year-old body, Su Chong had a burning desire for release.

With his strength now developed, he needed an outlet.

Blood rushed to his feet, his muscles twitching. Su Chong shouted.

"Shun!"

Su Chong's figure disappeared again, shooting toward Kakashi like an arrow from a crossbow.

Kakashi's expression changed again, and he turned into a puff of smoke, disappearing.

Su Chong, like a rampaging dinosaur, crashed into a tree with a loud thud, splitting it into several pieces.

Su Chong's Insight Eye activated, locking onto Kakashi.

"Shun!"

A black shadow disappeared, and Su Chong's figure vanished, hurtling toward Kakashi like a cannonball!

This was one of the techniques Su Chong had developed over the past two years. Rapid blood flow provided immense strength, combined with his well-trained body. The powerful force was released through his feet, propelling him forward with great speed.

Direct and swift, covering vast distances in an instant!

This was Su Chong's creation—Shun!