Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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While Itachi pondered these thoughts, the battle raged on.

The battlefield was a whirlwind of chaos and flames. Itachi stood at a distance, his crimson Sharingan gleaming as he analyzed the clash. The sheer intensity of the battle made even the air feel heavy, saturated with chakra and heat.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind howled through the clearing, forcing Itachi to take a cautious step back. Kakashi's hands moved in a blur, weaving through hand seals with practiced precision. The Wind Release technique had done its job—pinning Shisui and Guy in place. But it was merely the prelude.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

A torrent of flames erupted from Kakashi's masked visage, roaring with the ferocity of a dragon unleashed. The inferno split into three, surging toward Shisui and Guy from multiple directions. The air shimmered with heat as the fire's destructive force surged, igniting the battlefield with an orange glow.

Itachi narrowed his eyes, stepping back further to avoid the searing waves of heat. This level of intensity… he thought. "A Sarutobi technique?"

Though the Uchiha clan prided itself on its mastery of Fire Release, Itachi couldn't help but acknowledge the finesse of Kakashi's jutsu. The Fire Dragon Flame Bullet was a high-level technique, more commonly associated with the Sarutobi clan—and particularly the Third Hokage. That Kakashi had mastered it spoke volumes of his versatility and skill.

As the flames clashed with the swirling winds, they expanded, creating an even more devastating combination.

So, he reversed the sequence… Itachi noted. Fire and wind were typically paired in a specific order, with fire ignited first and wind amplifying its power. But Kakashi had used wind to restrict movement before releasing the fire, slightly dampening the combination's strength but maintaining its strategic value.

The flames engulfed the battlefield, swallowing Shisui and Guy in its fiery embrace. Yet, Itachi's keen Sharingan tracked every flicker of chakra within the inferno.

Kakashi's chakra… it's far more stable than before.

Itachi's mind raced. The Kakashi he remembered from the Anbu days often struggled with his stamina, the constant activation of the Sharingan draining his reserves. But now, Kakashi appeared revitalized, as if the usual burden of his Sharingan no longer weighed him down.

Is this because Lord Fourth never fell? Itachi speculated, recalling Minato Namikaze's exceptional abilities. Only Minato could have provided such a solution... or perhaps Kushina's Uzumaki sealing expertise.

Within the flames, a sudden movement caught Itachi's attention. Shisui, or rather, the space where he had been standing, was now empty.

Crackle!

Lightning danced in Kakashi's palm, arcs of electricity radiating outward as the sound of chirping birds echoed across the battlefield.

"Raikiri…" Itachi murmured, recognizing the refined version of Chidori, a technique he had witnessed only a handful of times.

Kakashi lunged, the blade of lightning in his hand cutting through the firestorm with ease. The flames parted in his wake, revealing Guy, who stood resolute amidst the chaos.

"Eight Gates: Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit… Open!" Guy roared, his voice brimming with resolve.

Boom!

An explosion of raw energy erupted from Guy's body, scattering the remnants of the flames. The sheer force shook the ground beneath them, creating a shockwave that carved through the battlefield.

From the shadows of the trees, Shisui emerged, his form a blur of motion. In an instant, his figure split into five, each one moving with uncanny speed.

"It's not a clone…" Itachi murmured, recognizing the technique. "This is Shisui's perfected Body Flicker. He's completed it earlier than I expected."

The five Shisui figures darted forward, their movements fluid and unpredictable. Each one brandished an ANBU sword wreathed in flickering flames, converging on Kakashi and Guy with relentless precision.

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Itachi's crimson Sharingan glimmered, reflecting the blazing intensity of the battlefield. Watching Shisui unleash his technique, memories from their first meeting replayed in his mind—a moment that forged an unbreakable bond between them.

From that day, Shisui was more than just a comrade. He was a brother, an idol, and a beacon of the Uchiha clan's strength.

Shisui Uchiha, known throughout the ninja world as Shisui of the Body Flicker, was a name that struck awe and fear in equal measure.

With a surge of heat, flames erupted from Shisui's blades, surging toward Kakashi and Guy with devastating precision. Neither ninja dared to underestimate the attack.

"Not a clone," Kakashi murmured, his Sharingan narrowing. He could see the massive chakra Shisui channeled into the technique. Beside him, Guy analyzed the movements of the five Shisui figures, his sharp instincts piecing together the truth.

It wasn't genjutsu or shadow clones. Shisui's unparalleled mastery of the Body Flicker left afterimages that mimicked life itself, indistinguishable from his real body. At any moment, he could switch to one of the afterimages, keeping his enemies guessing.

"It's no wonder they fear him," Itachi whispered from a distance, his admiration for Shisui's technique undiminished.

The battlefield crackled with energy. Guy unsheathed his nunchaku in a fluid motion, the wooden weapons gleaming as he activated the Sixth Gate of Joy. His aura burned green, and the air around him seemed to warp under the immense pressure.

"Dynamic Entry!" Guy launched himself forward, his nunchaku clashing with Shisui's flaming blades. Sparks flew as their attacks collided, sending shockwaves rippling across the training ground.

At the same time, Kakashi charged in with his Lightning Blade, arcs of electricity dancing along his arm. His speed rivaled Shisui's as he closed the distance, aiming for the Uchiha's blind spot.

"Boom!"

The clash of their techniques lit up the field, scattering embers and lightning in a dazzling display of power. Shisui countered seamlessly, his movements a blur. For every attack Kakashi and Guy launched, Shisui was already three steps ahead, his precision and agility unmatched.

The battle raged for minutes, each shinobi pushing themselves to their limits. Itachi, watching intently, deactivated his Sharingan to avoid overexertion. Despite his keen eyes, the sheer speed of the combat was overwhelming.

When the dust finally settled, all three combatants stood, breathing heavily. Guy's aura dissipated as he released the Eight Gates, and Kakashi lowered his headband over his Sharingan.

Shisui smiled, his Sharingan fading back to black. "That's enough for today," he said warmly.

Guy straightened, his determination unshaken. "Next time, I'll surpass you both!" he declared, his energy as vibrant as ever.

Shisui chuckled. "I look forward to it."

As Kakashi departed with a casual wave, Guy turned and jogged off, leaving Shisui and Itachi alone.

"How was it?" Shisui asked, landing beside his younger friend.

Itachi shook his head, a rare smile gracing his lips. "You were all so fast, I couldn't keep up."

Shisui laughed, ruffling Itachi's hair. "Give it time. You're already stronger than I was at your age."

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The Next Day at the Academy

The warm sun cast its golden rays over the Ninja Academy as the students gathered for morning training. Yamashita Takashi, their instructor, called out the sparring pairs.

"Kimura Yuki versus Uchiha Itachi!"

The students buzzed with anticipation as the two stepped into the ring. Itachi's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Yuki's tense posture.

From a rooftop overlooking the training grounds, an old man watched the match unfold. His pipe smoldered gently, wisps of smoke curling into the air. Despite his weathered face, his eyes remained sharp, locked on the black-haired boy who moved with uncanny grace.

"Uchiha Itachi…" he muttered, taking another drag from his pipe.

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