Chapter 15: Facing Your Weakness to Overcome

"Arrogance—not ignorance—is what stands in the way of a ninja's survival."

Repeating Mirai's words, Shinku couldn't help but be impressed. As a seasoned ninja who had danced with death countless times, he knew the wisdom in what Mirai said. Over the years, he had witnessed many ninja fall due to their arrogance—regardless of their strength or lack thereof.

Only the cautious survive in this line of work, they're always mindful, never underestimating even the weakest of opponents.

"No wonder you don't have the common flaws of most Uchiha... You've already reached such clarity at this age," Shinku mused, growing more and more impressed by Mirai.

This young man seemed like the perfect mold of a ninja: gifted, powerful, level-headed—there wasn't a single fault he could find. Mirai's insights were often a source of inspiration even to him.

For a fleeting moment, Shinku wondered if the future of the Uchiha clan—or even the entire Leaf Village—might transform under Mirai's leadership.

"Asuma, Kurenai, you both could learn a lot from Mirai. Strive to become ninjas just as skilled, alright?" he encouraged.

"Yes!" Kurenai eagerly nodded, her head bobbing like a little bird pecking at grain. If even Shinku was impressed by Mirai, her admiration was practically boundless.

Asuma, meanwhile, felt a mix of irritation and frustration bubbling up inside. Having someone constantly flaunting their abilities in front of him was almost unbearable. Damn it! When would he get a chance to show up Uchiha Mirai for a change?

…

In the dense forests of the Land of Fire, four figures darted swiftly between the trees. Excitement lit up Kurenai and Asuma's faces as they took in the passing scenery. This was their first time leaving the village as full-fledged ninjas, and even though the trees here looked much the same as those back home, everything felt new and thrilling.

Mirai, on the other hand, remained composed, steadily adjusting his breathing to keep himself at peak performance.

Just before sunset, Shinku signaled a stop. "We'll camp here for the night. Take a rest."

Asuma immediately plopped down, legs shaking from the long journey. If it weren't for Mirai constantly setting the bar, he would've given up ages ago. Kurenai seemed equally exhausted.

But Mirai, unfazed, quickly began setting up traps around the campsite with practiced ease. His enhanced physical abilities set him well above Asuma and Kurenai.

Once Mirai finished, Shinku couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. Back on his first mission, he hadn't been nearly this capable.

"Well done on the traps, Mirai," Shinku acknowledged as Mirai returned.

"Heh, Father, you probably don't know this, but Mirai's always setting traps at home, too!" Kurenai chimed in, clearly proud.

Shinku gave her a faint smile, feeling slightly wistful—was his daughter slipping further from him, captivated by the talents of another? Trying to brush it off, he pulled out a ration pill and swallowed it, his face contorting slightly at the familiar bitter taste. No matter how many missions he'd been on, these pills never got any tastier.

"Father, when this mission's over, you've got to try Mirai's cooking! It's incredible. You won't believe your taste buds," Kurenai suggested, amused by his reaction.

"Alright, alright." Shinku patted her head affectionately. Ever since Mirai came along, she never seemed to stop talking about him.

He decided to shift the topic. "Mirai, we'll take turns keeping watch tonight. That okay?"

"Of course," Mirai replied. "I'll take the first shift." Hugging his sword close, he found a spot in the branches above to sit.

"I'll stand guard too!" Asuma volunteered, unwilling to be outdone by Mirai.

"Asuma," Shinku interjected, "You're already near your limit. If you don't rest, you'll struggle to keep up tomorrow, especially if anything unexpected happens."

He knew Asuma wanted to prove himself, but challenging Mirai would only wear him down needlessly. In situations like this, lacking stamina could be disastrous.

"Sensei Shinku, if Mirai can handle it, so can I!" Asuma insisted.

Shinku frowned, ready to scold him when Mirai's cold voice interrupted.

"If you want to surpass others, you need to first acknowledge your own weakness."

Asuma's fists clenched. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"This is a mission, not a game," Mirai retorted. "Your pride is going to make you a burden to the team. Do you want to put us all at risk?"

"I…" Asuma's face flushed as he struggled to respond, unable to refute Mirai's words.

"If you keep treating missions like a game, consider leaving the team when this one's over," Mirai said coolly, his authority as team leader unmistakable. Defying orders on a mission was serious business, and Asuma knew better than to argue further.

"Alright... I'm sorry," he muttered, finally lowering his gaze.

"Take a rest," Mirai instructed, shifting his gaze back to the darkening woods as silence settled over the camp once more.

From her spot nearby, Kurenai stole a glance at Mirai. Her eyes sparkled with admiration—how effortlessly he put Asuma in his place! So impressive!

Shinku, observing all of this, gave up his own idea of secretly keeping watch. Surprisingly, Mirai seemed dependable enough, even at such a young age.

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