10 Chapter 10: Mock battle 2

Shikaku's eyes darted around wildly, trapped in his immobile state. The same terror mirrored in Yamai's gaze who watched from the sidelines. Before Shikaku stood the small victor, a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he maintained the Shadow Possession hand sign.

"Kukuku! Even the most intelligent mind can fall victim to the 0.1% chance of failure," Yami cackled, his voice devoid of the innocence one would expect from a three-year-old. Shikaku felt a shiver crawl down his spine – this wasn't the playful child he'd been sparring with. It was a cunning strategist.

"In the terms of shitty cultivation novels," Yami shifted his hands, "You have eyes yet fail to recognize Mount Tai."

"That's… a disturbing metaphor," Shikaku managed, a hint of unease creeping into his voice. But the real question gnawed at him: how was Yami pulling this off? There was no visible shadow connecting them.

Then, Shikaku's gaze darted to a wooden pillar behind Yami. Its elongated shadow stretched out, connecting with the boy. A thin wire trailed from the top of the pillar, leading to another pillar near the balcony. That wire, in turn, stretched to a tree behind Shikaku, and… Shikaku was standing directly beneath its shadow.

A horrifying realization dawned on him. His Nara clan's shadow manipulation technique had limitations, but there was a secret advantage: shadows moved ten times faster within other shadows, and their reach extended far beyond the caster's original length.

Yami had exploited this. Using the extended shadow of the pillar, he'd created a chain reaction with the wire's shadow, connecting his own shadow to the tree's shadow, and finally, to Shikaku's. It all fit perfectly.

Shikaku's mind raced. He knew about this shadow manipulation quirk, but he'd never anticipated Yami using it against him. The great Shikaku, strategist extraordinaire, veteran of countless battles, had been outsmarted by a three-year-old. The audacity, the meticulous planning – it was almost… sickeningly impressive.

"I... understand," Shikaku stammered, a forced smile tugging at his lips. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, betraying his underlying panic. But the surprises weren't over.

Yami started lumbering towards his broken sword, and Shikaku mirrored the movement with a chilling realization.

'No way…' Shikaku thought, stunned. Yami had not only mastered the Shadow Binding Technique but had also upgraded it to the Shadow Imitation Technique.

Mastering and then advancing a jutsu is typically impossible… without testing it on someone else.

'Now I see why I was getting complaints, especially from the Uchiha Clan kids, about someone controlling them,' Shikaku's eyes twitched.

Shikaku and the Yamanaka-clan head had been receiving complaints that a member of his clan was pulling pranks on some kids, particularly those from the Uchiha Clan.

Shikaku hadn't taken it seriously since a child couldn't easily use such a technique; shadow manipulation is difficult to learn, and typically by the time someone masters it, they are mature enough not to engage in such pranks.

However, now Shikaku realized who the true culprit was.

"This ends now," Yami declared, raising the broken part of his sword with a flourish.

"Yami, that's enough! The battle is over," Yamai interjected, stepping forward to intervene. However, Shikaku held up a hand, a strange glint in his eye.

"Let's see what else this boy is capable of," he said with a smirk, eager to witness the full extent of Yami's abilities.

As Yami raised his makeshift weapon, Shikaku mirrored the movement, lifting his kunai with both hands. They lunged simultaneously, weapons flashing through the air.

Shikaku's surprise was instantaneous. Yami's sword flew from his grasp, but Shikaku's kunai remained stubbornly lodged in his hand. The reason? Yami had feigned it. Although holding the hilt with both hands, he'd launched it with a flick of his left arm – the same arm Shikaku, assuming two-handed control, had used to grip his kunai, rendering him unable to release it.

Yami's wooden sword soared past Shikaku, missing him by a hair's breadth, before embedding itself firmly in the tree behind. With that final act, Yami released the Shadow Possession technique, ending the mock battle. It was his first, and he had emerged victorious.

"Y-Yamai-san, a word?" Shikaku beckoned Yamai over, his voice laced with urgency. "Alright, spill it. What exactly is going on with that boy?"

Yamai puffed out his chest, a hint of pride in his voice. "Surprised, weren't you? I told you he had incredible potential."

"It's not just his talent," Shikaku countered, his brow furrowed. "It's... his whole demeanor. There's something else at play here. Possessing raw talent is one thing, but utilizing it at this level, so early on… It's simply impossible unless his mind works like a seasoned veteran."

The way Yami strategized, the way he manipulated the situation – it gnawed at Shikaku. This wasn't just childhood brilliance; it was something far deeper, far more unsettling. Sure, Kakashi was a prime example of a prodigy in the village, but facing Yami felt different. There was a maturity, a calculating edge that sent shivers down Shikaku's spine.

"And another thing—" Shikaku started, his sentence cut short as a wave of paralyzing intent washed over him. It wasn't some child's shadow jutsu, but a far more potent, bone-chilling aura emanating from Yamai's house.

He whirled around to find two fiery eyes blazing from the shadows. Aoi, Yamai's wife, stood there, her presence radiating a silent, terrifying command.

In that moment, Shikaku understood. The Nara clan wives were a different breed entirely. While the men held the official leadership title, the true power resided with the women. His own mother, a force to be reckoned with, mirrored this dynamic perfectly.

'Marrying a civilian,' Shikaku thought with a grimace. 'Definitely civilian.'

Yamai, seemingly unfazed by his wife's intervention, chuckled. "Look, Shikaku, Yami's just different. You, of all people, should understand the concept of prodigious talent. Remember yourself? Beating grown men at shogi by the age of two?" He added with a sly grin, "Hell, you were probably still crapping your pants at the time."

Shikaku's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "Let's not dwell on that particular detail," he coughed, deciding it best to accept Yami's peculiarity as a fact of life. "Alright, alright. I'll have a proper chat with your son."

Shikaku lowered himself to a crouch, meeting Yami's gaze at eye level. "Let me try to explain what I've observed about your abilities," he began.

"There's this special energy called Yin Release. It uses spiritual energy to fuel your imagination, allowing you to create form out of nothing. You might have noticed the Nara clan uses it to manipulate shadows. We have a natural talent for this Yin Release."

Yin Release goes beyond the five basic elemental natures, representing the soul and imagination. It's more commonly associated with the Uchiha clan, though they don't typically use it much. But a few clans use Yin Release for specific techniques, like the Nara clan with shadows and some genjutsu techniques.

"However, Yami, you seem to possess not only Yin Release, but also Yang Release. That one focuses on vitality and physical energy." Shikaku revealed this information cautiously, gauging Yami's reaction. "Just from your impressive physical abilities, I can tell you possess a powerful life force and adaptability, perhaps similar to the Uzumaki clan members."

Yang Release, like Yin, existed outside the five basic natures. It mirrored Yin, representing the physical realm – vitality and energy. Similar to the Uchiha with Yin, Yang Release was more commonly found within the Senju clan, though they too didn't often utilize it directly. Clans like the Akimichi, however, harnessed Yang Release to increase their body size and enhance their taijutsu.

Shikaku noticed a blank look on Yami's face. "Whoa! Does that mean I'm some kind of legendary Pokémon?" Yami's question, laced with childish excitement, left Shikaku momentarily speechless. Pokémon? This was a new term entirely.

Regaining his composure, Shikaku continued. "Based on my observations, Yami, you have a unique balance of both Yin and Yang Release within you. This means you have the potential to excel in genjutsu and other non-elemental jutsu, while also developing exceptional taijutsu skills. Your chakra itself seems perfectly suited for a powerful shinobi."

"Having talent and using it effectively are two very different things," Shikaku cautioned. "Sure, prodigies pop up every now and then, but it only takes one misstep for that potential to vanish. Besides, if you hit limitations without proper training, you might just plateau at a generic Jonin level."

"That's why I'm offering you the chance to learn and master some Nara clan techniques. Chakra control is essential, of course. On top of that, I suggest you dedicate this year to honing your kenjutsu and taijutsu skills. Then, you can enter the academy next year."

Yami bounced with excitement. "Really?!"

"Certainly," Shikaku chuckled. "If your progress continues its impressive trajectory, who knows, maybe you could even skip the academy altogether."

Yami, however, surprised him. "Actually... I'd like to attend the academy." He rolled his eyes playfully. Aside from being where many of the future heroes grew up, he couldn't deny a mischievous desire to tease a few Uchiha kids.

Yamai raised an eyebrow. "Is that wise? Training you before the academy might raise some eyebrows among the villagers."

"Academy rules exist to protect children from being pressured into learning ninjutsu too young," Shikaku countered. "But if a child shows initiative and wants to learn on their own, who are we to stand in the way of their growth?"

Shikaku placed a hand on Yami's shoulder, his expression turning serious. "There's one more thing to remember, young one. A shinobi's abilities should not be used to cause trouble for others. You understand, don't you?"

Yami sheepishly scratched his head. "R-right..." The playful glint in his eyes seemed to dim a bit. Looks like the teasing would have to wait.

A shadow of seriousness crossed Shikaku's face. "There's one final question, Yami. It's one your father might have asked, and you might already be prepared, but..." He paused, his gaze turning heavy. "The life of a shinobi is a bloody one, filled with cruelty. You'll face unimaginable hardship, witness tragedy, and even lose loved ones. The greater your talent, the more pressure you'll face to excel. Are you truly prepared for such a harsh path?"

Yami fell silent, a contemplative frown creasing his brow for a few seconds. Then, a resolute smile bloomed on his face. "Nah, I wouldn't say I'm ready for all that blood and stuff," he admitted, his voice surprisingly mature. He turned his gaze towards the distant Hokage Monument, its towering figures etched against the clear sky. "No one knows for sure what path life takes them on. There'll be challenges, for sure, but I know I can handle whatever comes my way. Either this or I won't be able to live to regret it anyway."

Shikaku blinked, taken aback by the wisdom in Yami's words. He glanced sideways at Yamai, who seemed blissfully oblivious, lost in his own world of parental pride. "Your kid might be older than you, Yamai-san."

"Oh, my Yami is a star!" Yamai beamed, completely missing the deeper implications of the conversation.

Shikaku, defeated, decided to accept the situation. If Yami truly was some kind of prodigy, perhaps even a reincarnation of some forgotten god, then getting on his bad side wouldn't be wise. With a sigh, he excused himself and began to walk away. But before he got too far, he couldn't help but steal another glance back. Yami and Yamai were still chatting animatedly, though from Shikaku's perspective, it looked more like Yami was patiently indulging his father's childish excitement.

Shikaku shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "He is different, I can give him that," Shikaku shook his head. "This is going to be such a drag."

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So how do you like the fight?