The higher-ups in the Great Ninja Villages are not fools.
The Uchiha Clan was one of the most prestigious ninja clans in history, boasting a thousand-year legacy. Their Sharingan was the strongest Bloodline Limit in the Ninja World after the loss of the Wood Release. Countless people dreamed of acquiring a Three-Tomoe Sharingan. After all, Kakashi Hatake earned the title of "Copy Ninja" and "Konoha Technician" for his ability to copy thousands of Ninjutsu with just a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Yet, copying Ninjutsu is merely the ability of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan is famous for its Genjutsu prowess. Outsiders could never truly unleash its power. Every Uchiha who mastered the true potential of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was an Elite Jonin, known for being invincible in one-on-one combat.
The Uchiha Clan certainly had more than a dozen such powerful individuals, along with many others who had awakened the Single-Tomoe and Two-Tomoe Sharingan, and countless clan members who had yet to awaken their eyes. It would have been impossible to wipe out the entire clan in one night—even with Uchiha Itachi's legendary Mangekyo Sharingan.
If it were possible, there would have been some sort of commotion, a sign of the violence and destruction that must have occurred. Yet, the Uchiha Clan was eradicated in a single night, and Uchiha Itachi, the culprit, escaped Konoha unharmed.
This situation is simply too suspicious.
Without a doubt, there must have been figures from Konoha's higher-ups involved. The strength required to wipe out an entire clan of this magnitude in a single night—coupled with the cold, ruthless disregard for consequences—has left the Great Ninja Villages stunned.
In response, the Great Ninja Villages sent spies to infiltrate Konoha, seeking information. However, after their failure, they chose to retreat and observe quietly. During the Third Shinobi World War, the Great Ninja Villages had suffered heavy losses, and they had yet to fully recover. Even the Hidden Cloud Village, which had once sought to capitalize on Konoha's vulnerability, chose not to exploit the situation.
Instead, all the villages are maintaining the existing balance, preparing for the inevitable next Shinobi World War.
Izanami was unaware of the intricate political maneuvers unfolding around him, but he could sense something was off. Having read the original work, he knew that the next few years would remain relatively peaceful. This, he realized, was the best time to focus on his development.
A week had passed since Uchiha Sasuke had been struck by the Mangekyo Sharingan's Genjutsu. When he finally awoke, it was clear that he had changed drastically.
Before, Uchiha Sasuke had only suffered mild discomfort when surrounded by girls. He would never resort to harsh words or violence. In fact, his cool demeanor made him even more attractive to them. But now, something was different.
When Sasuke entered the classroom, the air in the room grew tense. His eyes and aura were unnervingly cold, and his peers couldn't bring themselves to approach him, let alone make eye contact. The girls who used to chase after him now kept their distance, intimidated by his presence.
Only Izanami, observing from the sidelines, could see the vulnerability hidden beneath Sasuke's icy exterior. Deep down, Sasuke was fragile, scarred by recent events. He was desperate for warmth and healing, but his pride and stubbornness kept him from accepting anyone's pity.
It would take someone who shared a similar fate—someone like Uzumaki Naruto, with his own tragic past and destiny—to break through Sasuke's walls and earn his trust.
That afternoon, Izanami finally witnessed the moment he had been waiting for.
After the Taijutsu duel ended, the students formed their usual small groups. Some stayed behind at the Ninja School, others left to go home, and a few, like Sasuke in the past, chose to walk alone.
But today was different. Sasuke, rather than returning home alone, approached Izanami and spoke the words Izanami had once said to him: "Izanami, do you want to have a match?"
Izanami, who had come to school in his main body that day instead of going home with Hinata, couldn't help but smile inwardly. He had been waiting for this moment. But on the outside, he feigned surprise, studying Sasuke, whose eyes still carried a shadow of gloom. Teasingly, he said, "You weren't interested in my challenge before. Why now?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Are you afraid?" Sasuke retorted, his voice full of defiance.
In the past, Sasuke had been solely focused on training with Uchiha Itachi, dismissing everyone else as unworthy of his time. But now, after the destruction of his clan, his entire world had shifted. His life's purpose was clear: to avenge his clan by killing Itachi, and then to restore the Uchiha name.
To do that, he needed strength. To prove the power of the Uchiha Clan, he needed to demonstrate his superiority over others. And Izanami, being one of the strongest students, had become his target.
Izanami, of course, had no idea of Sasuke's inner thoughts. But seeing through Sasuke's tsundere exterior, he understood enough. With a smile, he nodded and agreed, "Alright, let's have a match."
"Very good. Let's go to the playground." Sasuke said, his face lit up with a fierce, competitive spirit.
"There's no need to go to the playground. Let's change places."
Izanami shook his head with a smile. "I'll take you somewhere better."
With that, Izanami turned and began walking toward the abandoned training ground. Uchiha Sasuke followed closely behind.
It had been a week since the destruction of the Uchiha Clan, and Izanami knew that Uchiha Obito was unlikely to be roaming around Konoha, especially not after the death anniversary of Rin Nohara. Izanami had even made a point of visiting the cemetery on that day, ensuring he didn't go near the wilderness during that time every year. A few days ago, he had resumed his cultivation in the wild, but now he needed a more private location for this particular match.
Soon, they arrived at the secluded training ground, a place where Izanami and Hinata often practiced. The ground was littered with signs of battle: scorched earth, broken branches, and markings from Ninjutsu.
Seeing the remnants of destruction, Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His gaze flickered over the traces—powerful signs of someone who had been training hard.
"These... did Izanami leave all of them?" Sasuke thought, his mind racing. If so, that would mean this guy had mastered Five Elements Ninjutsu, just like himself.
He recalled that Izanami had no known family, whereas Sasuke had his father's teachings to guide him. To think that Izanami had gotten this strong on his own, through sheer effort, left Sasuke both surprised and impressed.
Finally, Sasuke understood why Izanami had been able to suppress him in the past. It wasn't mere luck—it was hard work. Sasuke's resolve grew stronger. He knew that defeating an opponent like this would be the only way to prove his true strength.
Izanami turned to Sasuke and, with a calm yet challenging smile, asked, "How do you want to fight? A Taijutsu duel, or a no-rules match?"
A no-rules duel meant they could use anything and everything—Three Body Technique, Invisibility Technique, Body Flicker Technique, props, and even advanced techniques like Five Elements Ninjutsu that weren't taught in the Ninja School.
Such duels were extremely dangerous. In fact, the Ninja School only allowed no-rules duels in the sixth grade, and they always required a referee and a Medical Ninja for safety. The risks were high, and accidents were common—sometimes even life-threatening.
If Iruka Umino had been present, he would've been taken aback by Izanami's casual mention of a no-rules duel, quickly stepping in to stop him.
But Sasuke didn't hesitate. His voice, low and determined, came without a moment's doubt: "No-rules duel."
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