As Sasuke unleashed his fire jutsu, a massive blaze erupted from his mouth, transforming into a giant fireball that hurtled towards Akira Uchiha.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
However, while Sasuke was quick, Akira matched his speed, instantly forming hand seals and launching a fireball of his own.
In comparison, if Sasuke's fireball was the size of a soccer ball, then Akira's was more like a basketball.
The difference in size alone made it clear that there was a gap in the power of their techniques.
Sure enough, as Akira's fireball surged forward, it completely overpowered Sasuke's, forcing him to dodge to the side to avoid being engulfed by the flames.
Quickly recovering, Sasuke hurled two kunai at Akira, but just as they were about to reach their target, he threw two more, causing the kunai to collide midair and change trajectory. Now, the kunai closed in on Akira from four directions, leaving him with no escape.
"As expected of the Uchiha clan—both their fire style and shuriken jutsu are top-notch!" one of the onlookers, Kiba Inuzuka, thought to himself, impressed by Sasuke's skill.
But Akira wasn't fazed. He raised his hand and threw four kunai of his own, each one precisely intercepting Sasuke's.
That alone was impressive, but two of Akira's kunai ricocheted off the others in midair, redirecting themselves back towards Sasuke with alarming speed and accuracy.
Eyes wide, Sasuke had to hastily dodge the incoming kunai, barely escaping unscathed.
"Is it just me, or does it seem like Sasuke is being outmatched even in shurikenjutsu?" one of the nearby shinobi remarked, his expression turning puzzled.
At fourteen, with the Sharingan fully awakened, Sasuke was considered a formidable jōnin-level ninja, not to mention he was the son of the Fifth Hokage, Fugaku.
Yet from the start of this skirmish, whether it was taijutsu, fire jutsu, or shuriken techniques, Sasuke was being thoroughly outclassed. The observing shinobi couldn't help but feel a bit unnerved.
"Who is this guy with horns who dares to impersonate Akira Uchiha? His strength is no joke—he's easily at jōnin level or higher," they thought.
Sasuke, having narrowly avoided the kunai, felt the same. "This guy… he's unbelievably strong," he admitted to himself, taking a deep breath before forming new hand seals.
A surge of blue lightning crackled in his hand as he prepared his next move.
"Chidori!" Sasuke's signature move erupted in his hand, the sound of thousands of chirping birds filling the air.
Akira, however, simply smirked. If Sasuke was using Chidori, then Akira would use its more refined version.
"Lightning Blade!" Akira's hand crackled with an even more intense blue lightning, nearly identical in appearance to Sasuke's Chidori, but with far greater precision and power.
In a flash, both figures darted towards each other, their lightning techniques colliding. But it was clear who the victor was—Sasuke's Chidori shattered upon impact, while Akira's Lightning Blade stopped just inches from Sasuke's chest, the electric energy humming ominously.
If Akira moved his hand even a fraction further, Sasuke would be skewered.
The sheer lethal potential of the Lightning Blade was what made it so dangerous—it was sharp enough to cut through anything, even severing limbs with ease, as Akira had once done to Ōnoki in the past.
Seeing Sasuke at a clear disadvantage, Kiba's face paled, and he shouted, "Help… someone, help him!"
He was about to rush in when he noticed that none of his comrades were moving to assist. Instead, they all exchanged knowing looks, as if something had suddenly clicked for them.
"Why are you all just standing there? If Sasuke gets hurt, we're in big trouble!" Kiba yelled, frustrated by their lack of action.
"Kiba, haven't you figured it out yet? That guy… he really is Akira Uchiha," the female shinobi next to him explained, half-exasperated.
"Yeah, think about it. Fire style, lightning style, even his shurikenjutsu—all of them are outclassing Sasuke. No one but an Uchiha could pull that off," another shinobi added.
"And look at his eyes. Even though the color's different, there's only one kind of eye in the shinobi world that has three tomoe like that—Sharingan."
"The biggest clue? If this guy wanted to kill Sasuke, he could have done it just now. But he stopped, didn't he?"
Hearing his comrades' analysis, Kiba finally started to understand. It made sense—this horned guy was indeed Akira Uchiha.
"So… they all figured it out before I did? And here I was thinking I had it all figured out," Kiba thought, feeling more than a little embarrassed.
But enough about Kiba's current dilemma.
"How about it, Sasuke? You've shown off taijutsu, fire style, lightning style, and your shurikenjutsu. What's next? Want to test your genjutsu skills against me?" Akira asked, his tone teasing as he let the Lightning Blade dissipate.
Sasuke let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're still as strong as ever, Akira," he admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice.
There wasn't much left to say. If Akira hadn't pulled back just now, Sasuke knew he would have been struck down.
Continuing the fight would only make him look like a sore loser.
"I knew it…" The surrounding shinobi, though they had already guessed Akira's identity, finally relaxed once Sasuke confirmed it.
"So I was the last one to catch on, huh? Man, I really am slow," Kiba thought, feeling a mix of relief and self-deprecation.
"You finally recognize me, huh?" Akira said, slightly annoyed.
"Hmph!" Although Sasuke was happy to see Akira back, his expression suddenly soured, and he turned his head away, feigning indifference.
"What's with this attitude? Is this really the Sasuke I know?" Akira wondered, feeling a mix of amusement and confusion.
"What's your problem, Sasuke? Seriously, tell me what's bothering you so I can understand what I did wrong," Akira asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
As soon as he said that, Akira felt a bit odd. "Wait… why does this feel like I'm trying to smooth things over with a girlfriend?" he thought, quickly dismissing the idea. "No way, my interests are still totally normal. I'd much rather date a cute girl… maybe even a little sister type."
"You disappeared for seven years without a word. What do you think, Akira?" Sasuke huffed, clearly still upset.
"Hey, that's a misunderstanding. I didn't plan on being gone for seven years!" Akira quickly explained, knowing he was telling the truth.
Sure, those seven years hadn't been a complete waste, but if he'd had a choice, he wouldn't have spent them on autopilot.
With that much time, he could have advanced far beyond his current level through the Life Simulator.
"Fine, I can forgive you for that. But…" Sasuke said, his tone softening before he brought up another grievance. "Do you remember when you went to the border with Kakashi and the others to deter the other villages?"
"Of course I remember," Akira replied, though he was unsure where Sasuke was going with this.
"Then why," Sasuke continued, his voice tinged with irritation, "why did you take that idiot Naruto with you and not me? I was the top of the class, while that fool was dead last! Explain that to me."
Akira blinked, then broke into a chuckle. "So that's what this is about? You've been holding a grudge over something that happened seven years ago?"
Really, Sasuke had been harboring jealousy all this time? Akira couldn't help but find it amusing—and more than a little surprising.
"Yeah, what's the matter? You don't have an answer for that, do you?" Sasuke retorted, crossing his arms, still looking somewhat miffed.
Akira really didn't have a good rebuttal. The truth was that Naruto's massive chakra reserves and the power of the Nine-Tails made him a much more viable option for that mission, at least in the short term.
But how could he explain that to Sasuke without hurting his pride?
"If that's how you felt, why didn't you say anything when I came back to the village after the mission? I was around for over half a month back then," Akira asked, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Hmph! I was waiting for you to explain yourself, but instead, you just up and disappeared for seven years!" Sasuke snapped back, his frustration evident.
That response finally made Akira burst out laughing.
So that's why Sasuke had been so cold when they first met again—he'd been stewing over this for years.
"Well, that explains everything," Akira thought, thoroughly entertained by Sasuke's long-held grudge.
In the original timeline, Sasuke was known for living in a cycle of anger and revenge. So maybe, just maybe, this version of Sasuke was equally skilled at holding onto grudges—just like a cat that never forgets.
************
<Next goal is 2000 power stones>
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 193 at patreon.com/Emik01.
*********
As Akira internally teased Sasuke, comparing his grudge-holding nature to that of a cat, he wondered how best to deal with this sulking feline. The answer, of course, was to soothe him by stroking his ego.
With a quick mental shift, recalling how a cat owner might placate a huffy cat, Akira spoke up, "Sasuke, it's not that I didn't want to take you with me back then. It's just that the situation at the time was better suited for Naruto."
"Why? Are you saying I wasn't good enough?" Sasuke's expression darkened further.
"There are three reasons," Akira began.
"First, you've always had the highest potential. Itachi and I both acknowledged this. But because of that, you needed more time to develop. Look at you now—you've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. I'm sure your reputation as a genius has spread throughout Konoha."
"Second, it's precisely because of your high potential that you needed to train on your own. Naruto, being at the bottom of the class, couldn't catch up to you through normal training. So, he had to take shortcuts, what we'd call 'using hacks.'"
"Given that, it made sense to take him along for a short-term boost in power. That's why I brought him instead."
"Third, and most importantly, our bond is stronger than what I share with Naruto. I didn't want to put you in danger."
As Akira spoke these words, even he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by how sappy they sounded.
But the effect was immediate.
Sasuke's face softened, a mixture of happiness and bashfulness flickering across his features.
"Hmph!" Not knowing what else to say, Sasuke simply huffed before using the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
See? As cringe-worthy as those lines were, they clearly had a powerful effect on Sasuke. It's like when a guy sweet-talks a girl—does he enjoy saying those corny lines? Probably not. But there's no denying that they work wonders.
In Sasuke's case, he truly saw Akira as a brother. If Sasuke had been a girl, those words would have had him on his knees in an instant.
"So, I guess my 'talk-no-jutsu' isn't half bad after all," Akira thought, smiling to himself as he watched Sasuke's flustered retreat. He mentally patted himself on the back.
Once Sasuke confirmed Akira's identity, Kiba and the others dispersed.
But news of Uchiha Akira's return to Konoha, a name that had once echoed throughout the entire shinobi world, began to spread rapidly within the village.
"What? Uchiha Akira is back in Konoha?"
In the Inuzuka clan, Kiba's family reacted with surprise upon hearing the news.
Seven years ago, Akira's name had resounded across the entire ninja world. But then, he had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Many had speculated that such a talented shinobi had likely met an untimely end, with the Uchiha clan keeping the details under wraps.
No one expected that after seven years, he would suddenly reappear.
"Sis, I heard you fought him once, right?" Kiba asked his sister, Inuzuka Hana.
"Yeah, back then I was supposed to represent Konoha in the Chūnin Exams held in the Hidden Cloud. But Akira challenged me, and naturally, he took my spot."
"Time flies—it's been eight years since then," Hana remarked, nodding with no hint of resentment in her tone.
After all, it was during that Chūnin Exam that Akira won first place, earning the title of a genius and bringing honor to Konoha.
Besides, even though she was older than Akira at the time, there was no shame in losing to him.
"What? That kid Akira is finally back? Great, let's get things ready. We need to invite him over for dinner tomorrow. And make sure Hanabi stays home tomorrow—no going out!" Over at the Hyuga household, Hiashi Hyuga was overjoyed when he heard the news of Akira's return.
Though the Uchiha clan hadn't broadcasted Akira's whereabouts during his absence, they hadn't kept it a secret either.
When Akira had been missing for a few months, Hiashi had asked Fugaku, the Fifth Hokage, and learned that Akira had been focusing on intense training all these years.
Now that Akira had finally returned, Hiashi couldn't sit still.
Akira was now fourteen, the age when feelings between boys and girls start to blossom. If Hiashi didn't act quickly and some other girl caught Akira's eye, he'd be kicking himself for missing the opportunity.
"Oh? So Akira's back in Konoha? I wonder what the Sage Mode from Ryūchi Cave is like."
One of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, quickly got wind of Akira's return and couldn't hide his excitement. He was eager to see how Akira had grown.
"Akira… he's completed the Dragon Transformation, hasn't he? I wonder what he's like now," Orochimaru mused in his lab, also having heard the news. A smile of anticipation spread across his face.
Orochimaru was perhaps the one person in Konoha who knew the most about Akira's situation.
Meanwhile, after surveying the current state of Konoha, Akira turned back towards the Uchiha clan compound.
Back in the day, thanks to the meddling of the Konoha higher-ups, the Uchiha clan's district had been pushed to the outskirts of the village.
Though Fugaku had become Hokage since then, the location of the clan's compound hadn't changed.
For one thing, moving was a hassle. And for another, with the Hokage's seat firmly in Uchiha hands, did it really matter where they lived?
Returning home without bothering to hide his presence, Akira triggered a response almost immediately.
"Who's there?"
A figure appeared quickly—it was a beautiful young woman in her early twenties. But upon seeing Akira, she paused in surprise.
Her Sharingan, with its three tomoe, locked onto Akira before her expression shifted to one of joy. "Master Akira?"
Keiko had grown even more beautiful over the past seven years. Smiling, Akira greeted her.
See? Keiko recognized him immediately. But Sasuke? He couldn't even recognize his own brother at first, and he still had the nerve to hold a grudge for seven years?
Back then, Keiko had been around fifteen, about the same age Akira was now—a vibrant young girl.
Now, at twenty-two, she had blossomed into a stunning woman, retaining some of her youthful charm but with an added touch of mature allure.
"Master Akira, you've finally returned! I'm so happy!"
Keiko, unable to contain her joy, rushed forward and hugged Akira tightly, as if afraid he might vanish if she let go.
Though she was officially just a servant, back when she had been captured by Danzo, Akira had risked his life to save her, even going as far as to kill Danzo.
In her heart, Akira had long since become the most important person in her life—no one else came close.
She hadn't seen him in seven years, and the longing she felt had only grown stronger, like a well-aged wine that had become richer and deeper over time.
"Ahem…"
Just then, a cough interrupted the moment.
It was the old man, Akira's grandfather, who had heard the commotion and came out to investigate.
He arrived just in time to see Keiko clinging to Akira.
"Alright, alright, Keiko, I… I can't breathe!" Akira, who at fifteen was now as tall as Keiko, patted her back, his face flushed from the tight embrace.
Realizing she had been holding on too tightly, Keiko quickly released him, a bit embarrassed by her impulsive behavior.
Though the old man and Akira didn't treat her like an outsider, Keiko was still technically just a servant.
"Phew, I really couldn't breathe for a moment there!" Akira rubbed his chest, feeling like he had just been crushed under a heavy boulder.
It had been seven years since they last saw each other, and Keiko had been so overwhelmed with emotion that she hugged him with all her might.
"My dear grandson, you're back!"
Once Keiko let go, the old man tried to steady his voice, though it still trembled slightly with emotion, and there was a raspy undertone.
"Yes, I'm home," Akira replied, nodding as he looked at his grandfather.
Seven years had passed. While both he and Keiko had grown, the old man had clearly aged further. His body was more hunched, his face more wrinkled and weathered.
"It's good that you're back. It's late now, so go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow."
Though the old man had a lot to say after all these years, he glanced at the sky and decided it was best to let Akira rest first.
"Alright, Grandpa," Akira agreed, his tone obedient and respectful. After saying his goodbyes, he headed to his room.
Though he hadn't been home in seven years, his room was spotless, and the bedding still carried a faint fragrance.
It was clear that Keiko had been taking care of it all this time, waiting for his return.
Lying in bed, Akira didn't feel much of an emotional impact.
For him, the seven years had passed like the blink of an eye, with no real sense of time slipping away.
But for many others, that night was destined to be a sleepless one.
************
<Next goal is 2000 power stones>
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 193 at patreon.com/Emik01.
*********
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