I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

The night is dark.

Uchiha Sakugo pushed open the door to his house, which was pitch black inside.

He did not light the lamp.

I simply stood at the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, and quietly took a few breaths.

My whole body aches.

My shoulders are swollen, my thumb and forefinger are cracked, my knees are scraped, and the muscles in my calves are as hard as rocks.

This is what we have achieved today.

I got up at four in the morning to practice standing meditation, swinging my sword against the waterfall, and chopping ironwood. I went to school to prepare for the start of the new semester, and then added two more sets of physical training in the evening. I've been working on it until now.

He looked down at his hands.

Dark red scabs were formed on my knuckles; the cracks from yesterday hadn't healed yet, and new ones had appeared today.

Okay.

He thought to himself.

I lasted half an hour longer than yesterday.

After a quick wash, he sat on the tatami mat and ate his cold dinner.

One mouthful.

Another bite.

Chewing became mechanical and numb; his mind was filled with plans for his future cultivation, leaving no room for the food in front of him.

Today at school, his homeroom teacher, Masashi Oda, stared at him for several moments.

He understood that look – that he was unsociable, arrogant, and disobedient to the "number one" student.

It doesn't matter.

He picked up a piece of pickled radish.

Anyway, I won't be staying for too long.

Once I learn the Shadow Clone Technique, I'll use the clones to deal with those boring lessons.

The original body remains here.

He continued swinging his knife.

Continue your spiritual practice.

continue--

live.

After finishing his meal, he cleaned up the dishes and sat by the window for a while.

Outside the window, most of the lights in the Uchiha compound had gone out.

The faint sound of dogs barking came from afar, then quickly faded into silence.

He looked down at the roll spread out in front of him.

That was delivered by my uncle, Uchiha Kagami, this morning.

—Shadow Clone Technique.

He had already taken the time to review it once, and he knew the principles by heart.

The Shadow Clone Technique is essentially an advanced version of the Clone Technique.

The clone technique creates intangible illusions and can only be used to confuse enemies.

Shadow clones, on the other hand, create physical clones that can act independently and even learn and fight.

The principle is simple: distribute chakra evenly and condense it into physical clones.

But precisely because it is a physical entity, once the clone completes its mission or suffers damage sufficient to cause "death," it will disappear.

The moment the clone disappears, everything the clone experienced—memories, experiences, and feelings—will be fed back to the original body.

Therefore, shadow clones are a powerful tool for training and also the most practical ninjutsu for gathering intelligence.

This is precisely why the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is considered a forbidden technique—if an ordinary person creates too many clones, and a large amount of information floods into the brain once those clones disappear, it can cause mental breakdown or even turn someone into an idiot.

But if it's just a clone...

Shuoge stood up and walked to the center of the room.

He took a deep breath and formed a mudra with his hands.

—Yin (寅).

Divide the chakra into two equal parts, one part remains in the body, and the other condenses into a physical form—

"Shadow Clone Technique".

Bang.

A cloud of white smoke exploded.

When the smoke cleared, another "Uchiha Shoko" stood in front of him.

Exactly the same face.

The exact same look in their eyes.

Even the cracks on the tiger's mouth are exactly the same.

The two Shuoge exchanged a glance.

The clone looked down at its hands, then looked up again.

"It's done."

Two voices rang out at the same time.

Shuoge circled the clone, observing it carefully.

The shadow clones remained stable, and the flow of chakra was normal.

He reached out and poked the clone's shoulder.

Physical.

It feels realistic to the touch.

"Let's take a few steps and see."

The clone followed the instructions and took a few steps, its steps steady, indistinguishable from the original body.

"Jump."

The clone jumped up and created a gust of wind when it landed.

"Try disabling it."

The clone nodded.

Bang.

Another puff of white smoke.

The moment the clone disappeared, a surge of information flooded into Shuoge's mind—

That feeling was strange.

It's like having an extra memory.

From the clone's perspective, it sees itself standing opposite, reaching out to poke its own shoulder.

I saw myself saying, "Take a few steps and see."

I saw myself jump up and land.

Then--

Release.

It's all over.

Shuoge stood still, closed his eyes, and processed this new memory.

It turned out to be the case.

This is a shadow clone.

He opened his eyes.

It has been less than 24 hours since I received the roll.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

He walked to the window and opened it.

A night breeze blew in, carrying the chill of early winter.

He looked at the dark forest in the distance—the place where he wielded his knife every day.

War could break out at any time.

Maybe next year, maybe the year after, maybe even tomorrow.

Uchiha Sakugo didn't know if his butterfly-like nature would bring the war forward.

But he knew—

Every minute is precious.

He formed the hand seals again.

Bang.

White smoke exploded again.

The clone stood in front of him again.

"You'll start going to school tomorrow," Shuoge said.

The clone nodded silently, without uttering any further words.

Shuoge did not speak again.

He simply turned around and walked back to the center of the room.

Sit cross-legged.

Close your eyes.

Continue refining chakra.

--sleep?

—After death, they will sleep forever.

For Uchiha Sakugo, rest was nothing more than sitting quietly and concentrating, refining chakra without stopping.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

The sound of flowing water drifted from afar, faint and indistinct, as if it would never stop.

Like that person's knife.

It will never stop.

……

……

……

The next day, at the Ninja Academy, in the training grounds.

The sun is just right, the breeze is not dry.

The first-year students sat around the drill field, their faces filled with excitement and nervousness. Today was their first real-world exercise since entering school—to put it nicely, it was a real-world exercise, but in reality, it was just a bunch of new kids fighting.

But for these six-year-olds, this is a huge deal.

"The first match—"

Homeroom teacher Masashi Oda stood in the center of the field, holding a roster in his hand, and adjusted his glasses.

"Kakashi Hatake versus Might Guy."

As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur arose from the crowd.

"Kai? The one who only got in after retaking the exam?"

"The opponent is Kakashi? Oh no, oh no..."

"Kakashi was second place, just one point away from a perfect score."

"I heard his father is the White Fang of Konoha."

In the center of the crowd, a silver-haired boy stood up.

A silver hedgehog-like head, a black mask covering the lower half of his face, revealing two eyes—one lazily half-closed, and the other too.

Kakashi Hatake.

He yawned and slowly walked to the center of the field.

On the other side, a green-skinned figure suddenly jumped up.

"oh!"

Matt Kai raised his fist, his whole body radiating fighting spirit.

"The moment we've finally waited for has arrived! Kakashi, let's have a head-on clash of youthful spirits!"

Kakashi glanced at him.

Then look away.

"oh."

Edge of the venue.

Uchiha Sakugo sat leaning against a tree.

To be precise, it was Uchiha Shoko's shadow clone.

His true form is currently wielding a sword by the river.

The shadow clone had its eyes closed, seemingly resting, but in reality it was just... on standby.

The children's playfulness didn't even warrant his attention. Utterly boring.

He thought to himself.

What's so interesting about a group of five- or six-year-old kids fighting?

In the center of the field.

Masashi Oda raised his hand.

"start!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kai rushed out.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

He launched a flying kick at Kakashi's face.

The action is fast.

That's really fast for a six-year-old.

But Kakashi only turned slightly to the side.

Kai's leg grazed the hem of his clothes and missed.

"What—"

Before Kai could react, his foot suddenly slipped and he lost his footing.

Kakashi had squatted down at some point and swept his foot across Kakashi's supporting leg.

boom.

Kai fell heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

"So fast!"

"I couldn't see it at all!"

"Is this what genius is?"

A gasp erupted from the crowd.

Kai lay on the ground, stunned for a moment.

Then he propped himself up, trying to get up.

But a foot was already on his back.

Kakashi looked down at him, his eyes showing neither mockery nor smugness.

Only...boring.

"Give up."

His voice was very faint.

Kai gritted his teeth, trying to break free.

But Kakashi's feet were like nails, completely immovable.

"I...I won't give up!"

Kai roared.

Kakashi sighed.

He withdrew his foot, turned around, and left.

"Hello!"

Kai scrambled to his feet. "W-what do you mean?"

Kakashi didn't even turn his head.

"it's over."

Masashi Oda then realized what was happening and quickly raised his hand.

"The victor is Kakashi Hatake!"

Kai stood there, stunned.

ended?

That's it... over?

He hadn't even had a chance to unleash his full power, hadn't even had a chance to let Kakashi see his will, his youth, his—

"I will beat you!"

He yelled at Kakashi's retreating figure.

Kakashi paused in his tracks.

"Next time, I'll definitely beat you! I swear on my self-discipline!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Self-discipline? What's that?"

"Losing like this and still daring to talk big..."

"That Kai guy, he really doesn't know what's good for him."

Kakashi turned around.

He looked at the green-skinned boy, covered in dirt, with red eyes, but stubbornly refusing to cry.

There was a moment of silence.

"Whatever."

Then he continued walking.

But his gaze did not fall on Kai.

Instead, it falls on—

The person under the tree.

Uchiha Sakugo.

Throughout the entire ordeal, that person kept their eyes closed and didn't even glance in their direction.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

He disdains to look?

Do you still think it's not worth watching?

"The second scene—"

Masashi Oda's voice rang out.

"Uchiha Sakugo, facing..."

He looked down at the roster.

"Sarutobi Asuma".

The crowd stirred again.

"Asuma? The Third Hokage's son?"

"Facing off against the strongest Uchiha? This is going to be interesting!"

"Asuma seems pretty good too, right? I heard he gets special training at home..."

A boy with a foxtail grass in his mouth stood up. He secretly took a puff from his father's pipe, and the taste was simply wonderful.

But his father chased him and beat him for three blocks.

I can only satisfy my craving with foxtail grass.

Sarutobi Asuma stretched his wrists and walked towards the center of the arena.

But he had only taken two steps when a figure suddenly blocked his way.

"Get out of the way."

Asma frowned.

Takuya Shimura turned around and gave a slight smirk.

"I'll handle this one."

Asma was taken aback.

"You? My name is on the list—"

"The roster is static, but people are dynamic," Shimura Takuya interrupted him. "What, are you afraid I'll steal your thunder?"

Asma's face darkened.

But he glanced at Shimura Takuya, then at Uchiha Sakugo under the tree.

Then he shrugged.

—If someone wants to get beaten up, can he stop them?

"Whatever."

Sarutobi Asuma retreated back into the crowd.

Anyway, he didn't really want to fight that cold-blooded guy.

Takuya Shimura walked to the center of the field with a smile on his face.

The figure under the tree finally opened its eyes.

Uchiha Shoko's shadow clone stood up.

He glanced at Shimura Takuya, who was walking over.

Then look away.

Who?

Oh, that guy who was being sarcastic in the classroom.

What was it called again?

Forget it, it doesn't matter.

He walked to the center of the field.

The two stopped.

Shimura Takuya looked Sakugo up and down, his smile deepening.

"A genius from the Uchiha clan? Let me see for myself today."

Shuoge did not speak.

He was just looking at Masashi Oda.

"Can we begin?"

Masashi Oda paused for a moment, then quickly nodded.

"Start! Begin!"

The voice just fell.

Shuoge moved.

No hand seals were used.

There is no starting stance.

It was just a simple step forward and a punch thrown.

boom.

Before Shimura Takuya could even react, he was punched in the chest.

He was sent flying backward and crashed to the ground three meters away.

Dust flew everywhere.

The entire room fell silent.

"Wh...what?"

"One move?"

"I didn't even see how he moved!"

"This is number one?"

"That's an exaggeration..."

A gasp erupted from the crowd.

Kakashi's eyes lit up.

He stared at the black-haired boy standing in the center of the arena, his lips curving slightly upward.

interesting.

Shimura Takuya lay on the ground, panting heavily.

My chest feels tight and painful.

But he propped himself up and slowly got up.

"I...I haven't lost yet..."

He gritted his teeth.

The gazes around him felt like needles pricking him.

Those whispers, those pointing fingers—

"That's so tragic..."

"He fell in one move, and he still dares to challenge others?"

"Is this all the Shimura family is capable of?"

"It would be better to send Asuma; at least he can hold out for a couple more moves."

Takuya Shimura's face turned bright red.

He looked up at the expressionless person opposite him.

On what grounds?

Why was he born as an Uchiha?

Why is it that he can be number one without putting in any effort?

Why...

His hand slowly reached into his ninja tool pouch.

Shuoge stood still.

He watched as Takuya Shimura stood up, without saying a word.

Can he still stand?

Then let's throw another punch.

He took a step forward.

Then he saw it.

The item that Shimura Takuya pulled out of his ninja tool pouch.

A paper.

Yellow.

It is drawn on the top—

Detonation tag.

A cold glint flashed in Uchiha Sakugo's eyes, showing no sign of panic, only a chilling sense of being offended.

"stop!"

Masashi Oda's roar rang out.

But it was too late.

With a ferocious expression, Shimura Takuya threw the explosive tag at Sakugo.

"Go to hell!"

The entire audience erupted in cheers.

"Explosive tags?!"

"Those are explosive tags!"

"Run!"

"Teacher! Teacher!"

Screams, cries, and figures scattering in all directions.

Masashi Oda rushed forward desperately, but he was too far away—

There's simply not enough time.

The detonator traced an arc in the air.

Chao Shuoge's face flew towards him.

Shuoge looked at the yellow paper.

Time seemed to slow down.

He saw Takuya Shimura's distorted face.

I saw the crowd of people scattered around me.

I saw the look of horror in Masashi Oda's eyes.

See--

Kakashi had already stood up and was rushing towards them.

It was too late for others to come to his aid. His heart remained calm, only a resolute decision remained.

He took a deep breath.

Then--

Hands form a mudra.

"Wind Release..."