Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

A hidden ANBU ninja flashed by, and soon the parents of the two parties involved arrived at the Hokage Building, exchanging a glance when they met.

Fugaku Uchiha bowed slightly, and Danzo paused for two seconds with a blank expression before walking into the building.

night.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Danzo returned home as quickly as possible.

"Xuan Yue, Xuan Yue, are you asleep?"

"Nope."

Gengetsu Shimura pushed open the bedroom door, took the book, and went downstairs.

Danzo nodded in satisfaction. "You did very well today."

Danzo was pleased to see the Uchiha clan suffer a setback, and he was even more pleased that it was his grandson who had caused the Uchiha to suffer a setback.

"Defeating a shadow clone is nothing special," Shimura Gengetsu said casually.

“Indeed, one shadow clone is not enough,” Danzo said in a deep voice. “Therefore, you will have to fight again tomorrow.”

"At that time, Hiruzen, the other two elders, and Fugaku Uchiha will also be there to watch the battle."

"So, Xuan Yue, are you confident you can defeat Uchiha Itachi?"

Chapter 15 Hiruzen Sarutobi: It's all Danzo's fault!

At the same time, the Uchiha clan.

Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha sat facing each other.

"I'm sorry, Father, I've let you down," Itachi Uchiha said softly, his head bowed.

From a young age, Fugaku Uchiha was extremely strict with Itachi, taking him to the battlefield when he was four years old to make him understand the cruelty of the ninja world.

Itachi Uchiha knew his father's expectations of him, so he always worked hard in his training.

But today he was defeated with a single punch.

Gengetsu Shimura was too fast; his eyes could react, but his body couldn't keep up.

Moreover... Itachi Uchiha had other doubts in his mind.

"No need to apologize. To be able to learn Shadow Clone Technique at this age and still be able to attend classes for a whole day, you've already done very well, Itachi."

Fugaku Uchiha's voice was low, but it was gratified, without any dissatisfaction or anger.

Itachi's excellence exceeded his expectations.

"As per the Hokage's instructions, you will fight Shimura Gengetsu tomorrow. If you perform well, you can graduate early," said Uchiha Fugaku.

"Father, please rest assured, I will definitely do my best to defeat him," Itachi Uchiha said earnestly.

"Tell me about today's events first, and I'll help you analyze them."

"Yes."

There's really nothing to say about being instantly killed; Itachi was just expressing his doubts.

Fugaku frowned. "Uchiha throwing techniques, and Shisui's Body Flicker Technique..."

"It is very likely that Shisui became Shimura Gengetsu's tutor."

Itachi Uchiha couldn't help but ask, "Then why didn't Shisui tell me?"

"Foolish!" Fugaku Uchiha sternly rebuked his son. "This is Shisui's mission. Gengetsu Shimura is Danzo's grandson. Do you think their information can be leaked so easily?"

"If Shisui really tells me, that would be a huge problem!"

"I understand, Father." Itachi lowered his head even further.

"Ninjas must be careful with their words and actions. From now on, think before you speak," Fugaku Uchiha waved his hand and didn't pursue the matter any further.

"As for tomorrow's battle, your chances of winning are slim, but don't be discouraged. The true strength of the Uchiha clan lies not in these ordinary ninjutsu and taijutsu, but in the Sharingan."

"Being fast doesn't mean you're not fast. Once you open your eyes, you'll soon be able to surpass Shimura Gengetsu."

After listening to Itachi's description and making his own deductions, Fugaku Uchiha realized that there was a significant gap in their fundamental abilities, and it would be impossible for him to catch up in a short period of time.

"Go back to your room and rest. Recharge your energy. Even if you lose, you must show the village your talent and strength so you can graduate as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi returned to his room, lay on his bed, and couldn't fall asleep for a long time, thinking about the memories transmitted by the shadow clones.

.....

Hokage Building.

"Lord Hokage, these are Itachi Uchiha's and Gengetsu Shimura's exam papers." Kazama Shuichi placed the two exam papers on the table with a conflicted expression.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing other official documents and didn't see his expression. He simply nodded and let Shuichi Kazama leave.

Half an hour later, after finishing his official duties, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the two test papers and planned to check Gengetsu and Itachi's academic level.

First up is Itachi Uchiha's test paper, which undoubtedly received a perfect score. It's clear that his level far surpasses what a first-year student should have.

But when he saw Shimura Gengetsu's exam paper, Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned.

What the hell is all this crap?

You did well on the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, achieving a perfect score as well.

But the open-ended questions almost got him eliminated.

The last one, in particular, made Hiruzen Sarutobi so angry that he slammed his fist on the table.

"My only achievement in twenty years in power has been closing casinos?"

"Danzo, it must all be your fault! What a terrible child you've turned into! You deserve to die!"

After talking with Shimura Gengetsu, Danzo, who was arranging a new round of conspiracies and assassinations, sneezed twice and his face instantly darkened.

"That damned Hiruzen Sarutobi, he must be jealous that I have such an outstanding grandson!"

.........

The night passed quickly.

With the exams over, the Ninja Academy will enter a month-long holiday, and the once bustling campus will become extremely deserted.

Apart from the training ground where the first graders took their tests yesterday.

A row of tables was set up at the edge of the empty training ground, where Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and two other elders sat.

There were a dozen or so ninjas scattered around, including Fugaku Uchiha.

The rest of the people had all heard the news yesterday and came to join in the fun.

Konoha has never lacked geniuses, but this time is different.

One of them is from the Uchiha clan, and the other is the grandson of Shimura Danzo, so their popularity is off the charts.

If it weren't for the fact that many Jonin, especially Jonin, were on missions, the number of people here would have doubled.

At exactly nine o'clock, Shimura Gengetsu and Uchiha Itachi stood ten meters apart, just like yesterday, but this time they were both in their true forms.

The referee changed from Kazama Shuichi, a rookie chunin, to a cat-masked ANBU.

"The rules of combat," the ANBU announced coldly, "are that whichever side loses their fighting ability, or is deemed unable to withstand the opponent's attack by the referee, will be declared the loser. Now, the battle is over..."

"no need."

Shimura Gengetsu interrupted him without any politeness, which angered the Anbu. Before he could even cast a cold glance at him, he felt several killing intents lock onto him, and his eyes immediately became clear, and he became more patient.

"That's the rule, Gengetsu Shimura."

“I already formed the seal of opposition yesterday. This battle is just a continuation of yesterday’s battle. There’s no need to make things so complicated.”

"Fine." The ANBU member retreated, feeling resentful.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at Danzo and said, "Danzo, your Gengetsu is quite unique."

Danzo gave a forced smile, not even glancing at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and said, "No, your Asuma is much stronger."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer laugh.

His youngest son is going through a rebellious phase and argues with him every day, which is driving him crazy. Danzo is directly hitting him where it hurts.

Koharu and Homura, who were sitting next to the two, were trying not to laugh.

These two old folks have been arguing since they were young, and they haven't changed at all.

Chapter Sixteen: The combined ninjutsu overwhelms again, awakens the Sharingan?

Shimura Gengetsu looked at Uchiha Itachi with a solemn expression.

He not only needs to win this battle, but he also needs to win it at the right moment, without revealing too much of his strength.

Based on the experience of countless predecessors, if one displays too much extraordinary talent, it will attract Danzo's covetousness, leading to the classic "Danzo, you regret it!" scenario, where Danzo secretly uses underhanded tactics against them.

No, he's one of Danzo's men.

That's fine.