Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san

"Not bad, kid. Guess I'll have to show you a little of my real power now," Uchiha Aka said, offering a rare compliment.

Tōshirō had grown increasingly formidable over the years, to the point where even Kira found him troublesome. While Kira was confident he would ultimately win if the fight continued, it would be a tough victory, and there was even a risk of defeat.

With a resigned sigh, Kira decided to stop holding back. Though it felt unfair to use his full strength against a 12-year-old, it also served as proof of Tōshirō's exceptional talent.

Kira's eyes shut briefly, and when they reopened, his pupils shifted from black to crimson, three tomoe spiraling outward near his irises.

"For someone your age to push me this far, you should be proud. Now, witness the true power of the Uchiha."

With his Sharingan activated, Kira exuded absolute confidence. Under its gaze, any technique would be laid bare.

As Kira's scarlet eyes locked onto him, Tōshirō, who had just finished forming seals, suddenly let his arms drop and hang loosely, as if giving up.

From the sidelines, Fugaku observed with a chuckle. "Elder Itachi, it looks like Tōshirō has surrendered."

Itachi remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Through his Sharingan, Kira analyzed Tōshirō's posture, noticing an unusual flow of chakra coursing through him.

"You're not coming at me?" Tōshirōasked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. His expression brimmed with provocation. "Well then, out of respect for a senior, I'll make the first move."

Ice Style: Chains of Frost.

"What is this…?"

In an instant, a serpentine chain of ice shot forth, slithering with precision toward Kira.

Startled, Kira dodged sideways, thinking, I've faced ice-style users before, but I've never seen a technique like this.

As he pondered, he noticed the sky darkening above him—a second ice chain was descending.

And then another.

Kira twisted his body again, barely evading the onslaught. His sharp gaze darted around, searching for patterns in the attack.

"Two chains aren't enough for you, huh?" Tōshirō taunted, spreading his shoulders as six more chains formed, glistening with frost.

Controlling six chains simultaneously was no easy feat. With a dramatic flourish, Tōshirō extended his hands, and the chains rattled as they surged forward, crisscrossing the battlefield in a deadly dance.

Holding his breath, Kira relied on his Sharingan to discern the movements, sidestepping and weaving through the attacks while closing the distance between himself and Tōshirō.

Finally, Kira reached him.

Tōshirō let out a calm smile, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I give up."

Relaxing his fists, Aka instead knocked Tōshirō lightly on the head with two fingers.

"Ouch!" Tōshirō winced, rubbing his head.

"That technique of yours is interesting," Kira admitted, still feeling the rush of the duel.

Feigning nonchalance, Tōshirō replied, "Not bad, right? I recently developed it."

"Wait, you developed it yourself?" Kira asked in disbelief, his eyes widening.

Tōshirō, still a boy, had already created a technique of this caliber? Judging from its performance, it was likely an A-rank jutsu.

Kira sighed deeply, a mix of admiration and regret in his expression.

He marveled at Tōshirō's extraordinary talent—already so powerful at such a young age, and capable of crafting his own advanced techniques. It was both inspiring and a little depressing, as Kira recalled the days when he too had been hailed as a genius.

The regret, however, stemmed from Tōshirō's lack of a Sharingan. After all, the Sharingan was one of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in existence, and ice-style simply couldn't compare.

Itachi Elder approached slowly, leaning on his cane. "It seems you've begun to walk your own ninja path," he remarked approvingly.

Tōshirō nodded respectfully.

"That technique of yours reminds me of the Adamantine Sealing Chains of the Uzumaki Clan," Itachi said, his tone thoughtful.

Tōshirō chuckled inwardly. Old fox saw right through me.

Indeed, his technique was inspired by the concept of the Uzumaki Clan's chains. It was still a prototype with plenty of room for improvement—he couldn't yet move and control the chains simultaneously, a limitation he aimed to overcome in the future.

Changing the subject, Tōshirō reached out to pinch little Fugaku's cheek. "How's your training coming along, Fugaku? Want to spar a bit?"

Fugaku pouted. "Fine, let's do it. I'm not afraid of you."

Though brave, Fugaku soon regretted his decision. True to his word, Tōshirō literally hung Fugaku out to dry—suspending him upside down with an ice chain while lightly smacking his rear with another.

"Enough already! How long are you going to bully Fugaku?" Aka finally intervened, unable to watch any longer.

Tōshirōshrugged and set Fugaku down.

Red-faced and teary-eyed, Fugaku stomped away in a huff. "Thirty years from now, we'll see who's laughing!"

Scratching his head, Tōshirōmurmured, "Maybe I went a bit too far."

Itachi Elder shook his head, exasperated.

Suddenly, Tōshirō remembered something and turned to Itachi Elder. "By the way, do you know any ways to increase chakra reserves?"

He asked hopefully, looking to the clan's living encyclopedia for guidance.

After his last battle, Tōshirō realized the immense value of having a backup "power bank" of chakra but wanted to enhance his natural reserves instead.

Itachi Elder's calm gaze met his. "Your body has undergone vitality training, and your chakra reserves already rival those of most Jonin. Beyond this, further growth will come gradually over time."

Tōshirō sighed, having anticipated the answer. "Is there really no other way?"

To his surprise, Itachi Elder's response hinted at a possibility: "There is one way…"

If you want to use more chakra during battle, there are indeed some methods," said Elder Itachi.

Tōshirō's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"The first method is the Yin Seal. This is a technique that stores chakra on the forehead over time, forming a diamond-shaped mark. The principle is somewhat similar to sealing techniques.

"For example, Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, used this technique. If you've seen her, you might have noticed the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead."

Tōshirō nodded thoughtfully and asked, "What about the second method?"

He figured the first technique, being exclusive to the Uzumaki Clan, was out of reach for him.

"The second method," Itachi continued, "is the Tailed Beast. By implanting a Tailed Beast into your body, you instantly gain a massive amount of chakra."

Tōshirō: …

Why even bother mentioning it?

"The third method," Itachi said, "falls under more unconventional practices and often comes with severe side effects. For instance, there's something called Hero Water. Drinking it can multiply your chakra tenfold, but the price is your life being drained away."

Back in the day, Uchiha Madara had researched Hero Water in his pursuit of power, only to be disappointed by the results.

Elder Itachi added cautiously, "Of course, there might be other methods, but those are far beyond your reach. It's better not to mention them so you don't chase unattainable goals."

Tōshirō nodded, then abruptly changed the topic. "Elder Itachi, with so many types of jutsu out there, is there any jutsu that can extend one's lifespan?"

Itachi squinted slightly, giving Tōshirō a meaningful look.

Tōshirō glanced at the elder's wrinkled face with genuine concern. After all the help Itachi had provided during his growth, Tōshirō had grown emotionally attached. Seeing the elder's advanced age made him worry about the possibility of him succumbing to illness one day.

Tōshirō wanted to do something for him.

Itachi smiled knowingly. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws. It's best to let things flow as they will."

Uchiha Kira observed this interaction, surprised at Tōshirō's unusual display of filial respect. Who would've thought this eccentric kid would show such loyalty? he mused. Then again, Elder Itachi had always treated Tōshirō like a grandson.

Tōshirō sighed and took a step back. "Alright, how about jutsu that can preserve youth or prolong life?"

This question wasn't just for Itachi—it was for himself as well. Tōshirō feared death and aging, and the thought of turning old terrified him.

He knew that techniques like Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seals could delay aging, but it wasn't a permanent solution. The moment chakra ran out, she would revert to an elderly state. Moreover, the technique seemed tailored to women—he wasn't sure if it worked for men.

Itachi hesitated to answer but, moved by Tōshirō's sincerity, offered a vague response. "Such techniques do exist, but they're ancient and have become more legend than reality. I can't say for sure if they're real."

Tōshirō's eyes sparkled with interest.

After a pause, Itachi said, "One such technique is called the Fairy Technique."

"The Fairy Technique?" Tōshirōrepeated, intrigued. "What kind of jutsu is that?"

"I've never seen it myself," Itachi admitted. "But the legend says that those who master it live significantly longer and age much more slowly. However, it comes with a side effect."

"A side effect?"

"Yes. Those who use this technique develop elongated, leaf-shaped ears—similar to what you'd see in depictions of mythical Western elves."

Tōshirō stood there, dumbfounded.

Wasn't this side effect just a bonus? Elven-like immortality and youthfulness? It suddenly made sense why it could slow aging and extend lifespan.

Seeing Tōshirō's reaction, Itachi misinterpreted his silence as dissatisfaction with the side effect. He continued, "That's actually one of the better side effects. There's another technique for extending life, but its drawbacks are much worse."

"Another one?"

"Yes. For example, in the Hidden Waterfall Village, where the Hero Water is found, there's a secret technique that involves forcibly extracting another person's heart to prolong one's life.

"But the side effect of this technique is turning oneself into a grotesque, inhuman monster."

Tōshirō immediately realized. Isn't that Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique?

"Alright, enough idle chatter," Itachi said, casting a glance at Uchiha Aka. Recognizing the hint, Aka excused himself, leaving the two alone.

Tōshirō's face darkened.

He remembered the time he was tasked with recovering Uchiha corpses, a job he absolutely detested. What new scheme could the elder be plotting now?

Sure enough, Itachi spoke in a calm tone. "This is about Uchiha Madara."

(End of Chapter)

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