The pre-dawn darkness had not yet receded, and a thin layer of frost clung to the bluestones of the training ground.
"Remember, kid," Senju Tobirama's voice was low, "A true Ninja ends the battle before the enemy even realizes it."
He flicked his finger, and three Shuriken shot out in a triangular formation, precisely embedding themselves in the distant target's bullseye.
Uchiha Renye focused intently, catching every detail.
His long black hair was still damp with dew, and his pale face was filled with solemnity.
When Senju Tobirama suddenly closed in, he instinctively leaned back, a kunai grazing past his nose.
Senju Tobirama retracted his hand, his clothes fluttering in the wind, "In battle, the enemy won't give you a second chance."
He raised his hand to form a hand seal, and dozens of Shadow Clones surrounded the training ground, making it impenetrable.
Renye's pupils constricted slightly, his eyes darting rapidly, trying to find the main body among the clones.
Sweat trickled down his cheeks, soaking his collar.
This was one of Renye's daily training exercises, requiring him to find Senju Tobirama's main body to hone his perception.
He only had three chances to strike...
"Kid, have you found it?" Twenty voices simultaneously rang out.
Renye carefully observed these Senju Tobirama.
Some had their arms crossed, a mocking expression on their faces.
Some were expressionless, quietly watching him.
Others held kunai, looking solemn.
Renye looked helpless; how easy was it to find the main body among twenty clones?
Moreover, this was the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu performed by Senju Tobirama.
"Kid, just give up!"
Renye didn't respond, taking a deep breath, trying to find a flaw in the subtle details.
He knew that although Shadow Clones had the same strength as the main body, there would always be a slight Chakra fluctuation.
As long as he found this subtle fluctuation, he could distinguish the main body.
The first Shadow Clone moved, striking directly with a kunai. Renye dodged sideways, his gaze fixed on the opponent's footsteps.
The force of each step landing could be a clue.
Renye suddenly launched an attack, but his target was the Shadow Clone on the left.
However, the moment the kunai touched the opponent, the figure dissipated into a puff of white smoke.
"Wrong," he muttered to himself, fine beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.
"Kid, just give up," the clones said in unison.
"Shut up," Renye said, slightly annoyed.
He began to observe carefully, his peripheral vision noticing one Shadow Clone moving behind the crowd.
The moment the Shadow Clone moved, the kunai in Renye's hand shot out.
"Could it be the main body?" Renye murmured softly.
Under Renye's hopeful gaze, the clone dissipated into white smoke.
Seeing this, he wasn't discouraged, instead showing an expression that said, 'just as I thought'.
Senju Tobirama couldn't possibly make such a basic mistake unless he wanted to lure him into a trap.
But he didn't dare to gamble; what if it really was the main body?
"Kid, you have one last chance!"
"I know..."
Before he finished speaking, all the Shadow Clones attacked simultaneously.
Facing eighteen Shadow Clones, Renye's lips curved slightly upwards.
"You're actively coming to me, don't blame me."
Renye leaped on the spot, forming a hand seal in mid-air, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Blazing flames swept across the training ground, and the eighteen Shadow Clones flickered in and out of view within the sea of fire.
Just as the flames were about to die down, Renye suddenly rushed towards the northwest corner, his kunai aimed directly at that figure.
The Senju Tobirama in front of him extended his hand, blocking Renye's attack, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Not bad, being able to judge the main body from the residual Chakra. It seems you've improved."
Although he deliberately gave Renye a chance, it wasn't an easy one to seize.
Renye being able to find the main body indeed exceeded Senju Tobirama's expectations.
Renye let out a long breath, his tense nerves finally relaxing, and he plopped down onto the ground.
The morning training every day made Renye both love and hate it.
This Old Man, Senju Tobirama, was really training him to death...
Sometimes, when they sparred, Senju Tobirama would hold nothing back, beating him half to death, and then have medical Ninja come to treat him.
Renye felt that this Old Man was doing it on purpose, just looking for an excuse to beat him...
Although the training was a bit tough, the progress was truly significant.
Renye's current strength already surpassed that of an ordinary Genin.
He believed it wouldn't be long before he could achieve his beautiful wish of punching Bi Wang and kicking Hiruzen.
Just as Renye was imagining the future, Senju Tobirama sullenly pulled out a report card.
"Uchiha Renye, tell me, how did you get this score?"
Renye looked at the test paper with a score of 5 points, scratching his head awkwardly, "Haha, Uncle, let me explain..."
"You damn Uchiha brat, you really didn't learn anything!" Senju Tobirama roared.
"Uncle, don't slander me, I did learn," Renye said sheepishly.
Well, flipping through a few pages before the exam counts as learning, right?
Although the study time wasn't long, did he learn or not?!
He had done his best, what could he do if he didn't do well?
"If you score like this again next time, I'll personally..."
Senju Tobirama narrowed his eyes, two fingers gripping the middle of a kunai.
"Crack!" The kunai snapped in half!
Renye subconsciously swallowed, nervously saying, "Uncle, calm down, it's not that serious."
Senju Tobirama didn't speak, staring at Renye with an unfriendly gaze, showing no sign of joking.
If Renye scored such a disgraceful grade again next time, he would absolutely show no mercy!
Such a simple test paper, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never believe that someone could score 5 points in his lifetime!
Speaking of which, can a guy who scores 5 points really still be considered human?
The more Senju Tobirama thought about it, the angrier he got, and a powerful killing intent erupted from his body.
This was the second time Renye had directly faced Senju Tobirama's killing intent, and it almost suffocated him.
Is this the pressure of a Shadow-level Expert?
If he hadn't been sitting on the ground, he probably would have been forced to his knees.
"Un... Uncle, I'll try to pass next time, you... you calm down first."
Upon receiving Renye's assurance, Senju Tobirama snorted coldly, retracting the killing intent from his body.
"Kid, don't let it happen again!" Senju Tobirama threw the test paper to Renye and turned to leave.
Today's guidance was over; he still had to busy himself with recruiting disciples.
He needed to cultivate a group of geniuses with the fire will for Konoha Village, to become the Village's high-end combat power.
And these geniuses had to be personally taught by him.
As for Renye, forget it...
Senju Tobirama didn't expect a guy who scored 5 points on a cultural exam to inherit the fire will.
He even seriously doubted if Renye knew what the fire will was...
His expectations for Renye weren't high; as long as he didn't do anything harmful to the Village, it was fine.
Although Renye's current character was good, he hadn't awakened his Sharingan yet, and the specifics would have to be observed after he did.
Based on Senju Tobirama's understanding of the Uchiha, generally, after an Uchiha clan member awakens their Sharingan, their personality would undergo some changes.
He couldn't say for sure what Renye's personality would be like in the future, he could only try his best to guide him onto the right path.
"Kid, don't disappoint me..."