Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [130]

Konoha.

A training ground in the Uchiha clan's territory.

Under the flickering lightning, there wasn't a single sound. On the training ground, aside from the figure swiftly moving with electric arcs flashing around them, three other figures were also darting about.

The speed of the trio's sparring was incredibly fast. The air was filled only with the flickers of wind blades, lightning, and the glints of flashing blades.

"I can't keep up anymore! Shirou, your endurance from constant physical training is already shocking, but Kushina's is just as monstrous. You two are practically tireless beasts."

In their taijutsu match, the first to drop out was surprisingly Mikoto. She was panting heavily, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Meanwhile, Kushina, with her striking red hair, had stopped. Compared to two years ago, the now 17-year-old Kushina had grown into a tall and graceful young woman, her figure having developed perfectly.

Seeing Mikoto, Kushina flashed a playful smile.

"Sister Mikoto, your genjutsu is truly the best in Konoha! They say that even the Sharingan with three tomoe from the Uchiha clan can't break your illusions."

Faced with Kushina's compliments, Mikoto smiled gently and gradually dispersed the lightning arcs surrounding her.

"I can only keep up with your speed thanks to learning Shirou's self-created Lightning Release Mode. But I'm still not very skilled at it and can't maintain it for long. After all, my second chakra nature, lightning, was only developed later."

Mikoto, being a typical Uchiha, initially only had fire as her chakra nature. It wasn't until later that she trained to develop lightning as a secondary nature.

Thanks to her relationship with Shirou, she naturally received his guidance, but Mikoto also understood what she needed. Therefore, she focused solely on learning the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, aiming to enhance her speed.

For a genjutsu ninja, being fragile is fine, but speed is essential.

Watching the two, Shirou dispersed his lightning, revealing a tall and muscular figure. Unlike the explosive physiques typical of the Kumo Ninja, his build was more restrained and refined.

"The greatest advantage of taijutsu combined with ninjutsu is that it allows you to train both simultaneously, enhancing physical and ninjutsu skills together. Normally, training these two would take twice the time, but this method eliminates that problem."

It had already been two years since their return from the Land of Rain. At 17 years old, Shirou stood at an impressive height of 186 cm, his white attire and sunny smile making Kushina momentarily lose herself in admiration.

"You're just an untiring beast. Even as a Jinchuriki, I can't outlast you in stamina!"

Kushina reluctantly tore her gaze away from his captivating physique and assumed the stance of a stern teacher.

"Two years! It's been two whole years. You've been learning sealing techniques for so long. How's the Flying Thunder God Technique coming along?"

Although she acted like a teacher testing her student, her tall figure and curious expression betrayed her true excitement.

However, when it came to this forbidden jutsu, Shirou furrowed his brow in frustration. "How should I put it? Kushina, sense it for yourself."

"Alright, let me see."

Excitedly, Kushina took the specially crafted Flying Thunder God Kunai that Shirou tossed to her. It bore the Flying Thunder God mark she had designed specifically for him.

"Ready..."

Before Kushina could finish her sentence, her pupils suddenly contracted. Shirou's figure had already appeared beside her.

"Shirou! You've mastered it!?"

Kushina, overjoyed, immediately threw her arms around Shirou, who was standing right next to her, shouting in excitement. Meanwhile, Mikoto watched the scene with a warm smile.

"Well, I guess you could say I've mastered it. But focus carefully and sense the changes in my chakra."

Shirou shook his head helplessly. It was only then that Kushina noticed something unusual, her expression turning to one of shock.

"Shirou! Your chakra!?"

Two years ago, during their mission in the Land of Rain, Kushina had awakened a special constitution, along with the ability to sense chakra.

Through her perception, she could detect that Shirou's vast chakra reserves had decreased slightly. Though not by much, she understood the value of his chakra.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique requires the chakra equivalent of one and a half A-rank jutsu, like the Rasengan or Chidori, for a single teleportation. Keep in mind, that both of these techniques already consume a considerable amount of chakra.

Furthermore, the chakra cost increases depending on the distance, size of the object, and other factors."

In the original story, during the Chūnin Exams, Hatake Kakashi admitted he could only use Chidori four times a day.

While Kakashi's chakra reserves were limited, they were still significant compared to average jōnin.

Thus, using the Flying Thunder God once consumed chakra equivalent to one-and-a-half A-rank jutsu. Using it three times would drain the reserves of an average jōnin. It was indeed a chakra-intensive technique.

Shirou, frowning, shook his head and said, "Maybe I just lack the talent for space-time ninjutsu, so my chakra consumption is much higher than the Second Hokage's. Still, it's not entirely useless. At the very least, this technique can serve as a trump card."

Shirou smiled as he spoke, looking at both Mikoto and Kushina, before teasing them:

"This is our little secret, alright?"

Faced with Shirou's teasing, Kushina, uncharacteristically serious, frowned slightly and bit her lip. She replied firmly, "It's okay. This forbidden jutsu is something no one else in Konoha has been able to learn. And it might not even be your problem. If I work harder on sealing techniques, I'm sure I can reduce the chakra cost."

When someone truly cares about you, they won't blame you for the problem. If there's an issue, they'll believe it's their lack of effort.

That was Kushina.

Seeing her determined expression, Shirou habitually flicked her forehead lightly. As a fleeting look of shyness crossed her face, he laughed.

"Don't take it too seriously. Over the past two years, Orochimaru, Sister Tsunade, and I have worked together to merge this Lightning Release technique into an even stronger taijutsu style.

In terms of speed, even if I were to face the Flying Thunder God Technique, my reflexes and body would be able to keep up."

The Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Hell Stab, and an incomplete version of Chidori had all been perfected over the past two years, far surpassing the original Chidori.

"That's not even comparable! You being able to keep up is your business. Sister Tsunade says you're stubborn and never listen. Learning this jutsu saves you from running off to get yourself killed."

Kushina's playful teasing brought a smile to Shirou's face as he nodded.

"Come on, Kushina. You've gotten so strong now. You can already fully control four tails. Even Orochimaru says fighting you is life-threatening."

Shirou's teasing made Kushina's face turn complicated. She placed a hand on her stomach, her voice soft.

"The Nine-Tails... Once it's sealed, I'll truly become a monster."

When she said the word "monster," Kushina revealed her little fangs and put on a fierce expression, glaring at Shirou and Mikoto.

"Mikoto, by then, I'll be the mighty Nine-Tails Demon Fox!"

Seeing Kushina's childish behavior, Mikoto smiled gently, while Shirou noticed the hidden fear in her heart about becoming a monster.

"Kushina, Shirou said your fox-like form is cute."

What had been a bittersweet moment was instantly turned into an embarrassing one by Mikoto's teasing. Kushina's face turned bright red.

Suppressing her embarrassment, she feigned calmness and glanced at Shirou, who seemed unfazed. She bared her teeth and said:

"Mikoto! By then, I'll be the strongest ninja in Konoha!"

When she said "strongest," Kushina instinctively glanced at Shirou. Her mind wandered back to the scene of him protecting her, warming her heart. She silently vowed to master this power and protect him in return.

As laughter filled the air, the bond between the three grew even deeper.

"Let's go. White Fang is still out on a mission. Today's the Chūnin Exams. I heard even Kakashi, who became a Chūnin last year, is participating."

The Chūnin Exams have always been a small of the wars between nations. With international tensions growing increasingly strained in recent years, some restrictions on the Chūnin Exams have been lifted, but a new rule has been added.

Anyone under the age of 13 is eligible to participate, and even those below the rank of Jōnin, within the specified age range, can take part! This has led to the emergence of unusual combinations, such as prodigy-level Chūnin pairing up with Genin.

This explains why, in the original story, Kakashi had already become a Chūnin but was still able to participate in the Chūnin Exams.

Every nation hides its prodigies as a secret weapon, but Konoha dares to showcase theirs. Apart from the fact that the exams are hosted in Konoha's territory, this display is also a way of flexing their strength.

When Shirou waved at them with a smile, Mikoto adjusted his clothes with a gentle smile, while Uzumaki Kushina pouted in her usual tsundere way and said:

 "Hmph! Those old geezers are just using that kid Kakashi to steal your genius reputation, Shirou."

It must be said that Kushina has matured a lot over the past two years. After all, with how much Tsunade has changed, it would be impossible for Kushina not to be influenced as well.

As a result, Kushina no longer holds much goodwill toward Konoha's current higher-ups.

However, Shirou simply smiled and tapped her lightly. While Kushina enjoyed the gesture in her heart, she still put on a fierce expression, which made him laugh.

"Alright, enough about geniuses. It's just some minor tricks. In the end, strength is what counts for a ninja. Besides, White Fang is the future Hokage—you better not offend the future Hokage."

The trio shared a laugh, but as Shirou turned his head to gaze at the bright sunlight of Konoha, his eyes narrowed.

When Kakashi was seven, the White Fang incident occurred. But now, two years later, he's no longer the small fish that anyone could slaughter.

In this brewing storm, he was determined to become one of its driving forces!

 As his strength grew, so did Shirou's confidence. His resolute gaze inspired smiles from Mikoto and Kushina, who stood on either side of him.

...

In the bustling, lively venue, countless merchants and nobles from various nations, as well as representatives and ninjas from other villages, were all seated.

Amid the excited shouts, everyone eagerly anticipated this battle of prodigies from across the nations.

When Shirou and his two companions arrived, they immediately caught the attention of many. After all, Mikoto and Kushina were both tall and strikingly beautiful.

One had black hair and exuded the gentle warmth of a girl next door, while the other had red hair and carried herself with the pride of a princess. Combined with their outstanding appearances, they drew countless eyes.

Walking between these two beauties, Shirou stood out as well. Facing the countless gazes, he smiled and teased:

 "Looks like having two beauties with me guarantees attention wherever we go."

Mikoto smiled silently, while Kushina let out a tsundere "Hmph!" But the joy in her eyes was impossible to hide. After all, no one can resist being praised as beautiful by someone they like.

"Shirou, Kushina-san, Mikoto-san!"

At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out. Standing at the edge of the venue was Namikaze Minato, his golden hair shining like the sun. With a bright smile, he waved at the trio.

Dressed in a Jōnin vest and familiar attire, Minato's mature and sunny demeanor now carried the budding presence of the Little Sun he would one day become.

"Minato, you sure got here early," Shirou greeted with a laugh. Mikoto also responded politely and respectfully.

Only Kushina let out a tsundere "Hmph!" But given the public setting, she reluctantly added with a pout:

 "Wim… Jōnin Namikaze Minato, hello."

It was clear to everyone that Kushina wanted to call him a "wimp" out of habit, but in public, she decided to give him some face.

Minato scratched his head awkwardly at her greeting but quickly laughed it off.

Beside Minato stood another red-haired kunoichi, whose expression was calm and reserved. However, when she saw Kushina, her face lit up with genuine respect.

"Princess Kushina."

This red-haired girl, Uzumaki Naiko, usually only gave people polite, perfunctory smiles. But when she saw Kushina, her respect was heartfelt.

"Naiko, I've told you to just call me Kushina. There's no such thing as 'Princess' anymore."

Kushina walked up to her with a warm smile. Though she couldn't stand Minato, she was full of affection for her fellow Uzumaki, especially one who had escaped the destruction of Uzushiogakure.

Seeing the two get along so well, Minato and Shirou stood together, and Minato explained with a laugh:

 "Naiko used to be Kushina's attendant. When they escaped to the Land of Fire, Naiko was seriously injured and later rescued by the Anbu."

In just a few words, Minato summed up their shared history.

Shirou smiled and nodded. "Minato, your reputation has been growing lately."

Faced with the teasing remark, Minato responded with a playful laugh:

 "Shirou, you made a name for yourself during the Second Shinobi War as the strongest genius in the ninja world. Don't joke about me!"

Talking with Minato was like basking in the spring breeze. Even Shirou couldn't help but nod inwardly—Minato truly lived up to his nickname as the Little Sun.

Setting aside all other factors, Minato's charm was undeniable. Even Shirou found it hard to dislike him.

"But there sure are a lot of people here at the Chūnin Exam this year!"

Shirou sighed, his tone carrying a trace of melancholy. Beside him, Minato's smile remained calm, but his eyes also grew serious.

"Yes, the more ninjas from different nations participate in the Chūnin Exams, the more unstable the ninja world becomes."

Minato, with his strategic foresight, shared Shirou's concerns. Though they both wore relaxed smiles, their eyes betrayed a sense of foreboding.

From the Chūnin Exams, they could already sense the unease brewing in the ninja world. One wrong move and the flames of war could reignite.

After all, the Second Shinobi War had ended inconclusively, leaving every village with pent-up frustration. Now, it was only a matter of time before someone made the first move.

PS: Giving two long chapter/day but not getting in top 200 is crazy.