Chapter 17: CHAPTER 17
Haneda coughed lightly, flashing a smile at Fugaku.
"Kakashi's good with ninjutsu too. Brother Fugaku, aren't you skilled in genjutsu and Fire Release? Why not teach us both?"
Fugaku studied Haneda's grin, his father's earlier advice echoing in his mind. After a brief pause, he gave a reluctant nod.
"...I am skilled with illusions and Fire Release. There are many techniques I could teach, but…" His gaze flicked to Kakashi, then back to Haneda. "Let me think for a moment."
After a brief silence, Fugaku spoke:
"The Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique and the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique. Both are C-rank—good stepping stones for your level."
Haneda's lips curved slightly. He turned to Kakashi, who gave a small nod and answered politely:
"Understood, Fugaku-senpai."
Without acknowledging Haneda's enthusiasm, Fugaku turned, his tone clipped.
"Follow me."
He led them to a quiet lake on the edge of the training ground—its still surface reflecting the canopy above. Few people ventured here.
"Watch closely," Fugaku said as he walked to the water's edge, fingers forming seals slowly—deliberately so they could follow.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
With a deep breath, Fugaku exhaled. A stream of small fireballs burst forth, scattering and weaving unpredictably through the air, almost as if alive. Controlled and precise, the flames eventually plummeted into the lake with a hiss, rippling its surface in concentric waves.
"This is a fundamental Uchiha technique," Fugaku explained evenly. "The hand seals are…"
Before he could finish, Kakashi was already moving, hands a blur.
Rat → Tiger → Dog → Ox → Rabbit → Tiger!
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
In mere moments, Kakashi expelled his own volley of flame. Though smaller than Fugaku's, the fireballs danced over the water, splashing down with surprising accuracy.
Fugaku froze for half a beat, his usually impassive face betraying a flicker of surprise. Learned it in one go… after seeing it once?
Even for a genius, that was absurd. The Phoenix Fire technique was harder than the Great Fireball—it demanded not only chakra control but precision in guiding multiple projectiles. And Kakashi… had mastered the basics instantly.
So this is the Hatake prodigy…
Meanwhile, Kakashi stepped back quietly, his single visible eye calm as if nothing had happened. He left the stage for Haneda.
Haneda stared at the lake, dumbfounded.
"...Me? Already?"
Internally, he was screaming.
Kakashi, you monster! Learning that fast makes me look pathetic!
He coughed awkwardly, putting on a strained smile.
"Ahem… Brother Fugaku, I'm still recovering from yesterday's injury. I'll watch and learn for now."
Fugaku raised an eyebrow but didn't push.
"Fine. But pay attention."
Then, a rare, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at Fugaku's lips.
"Next… we'll move on to genjutsu. Both casting and dispelling. Follow me."
With that, Fugaku leapt into the trees, vanishing like a shadow.
"Let's go, Kakashi!" Haneda launched after him, heart thudding—not from effort, but anticipation.
Kakashi followed in silence, his instincts sharpening.
---
The Illusion Game Begins
The forest blurred past as they raced between branches. But soon, Kakashi's sharp eyes narrowed. Something was… off.
"Haneda. Stop."
Haneda slowed, blinking.
"What's wrong? Brother Fugaku's ahead—we'll lose him."
"No… Look closely." Kakashi's tone was calm but edged with steel.
"The trees—the spacing hasn't changed since we started. And every few jumps… we're looping back."
Haneda frowned.
"Maybe Fugaku's just leading us in circles?"
Kakashi's eye hardened.
"You're not Haneda."
Before the boy could react, Kakashi's chakra surged into his palm, and he slammed it into Haneda's chest.
The body hit the ground, coughing, eyes wide with hurt.
"Why, Kakashi…? Aren't we… friends…?"
"Haneda would've noticed before I did," Kakashi said flatly.
The figure twitched—then rippled—melting into Fugaku's stern visage.
"Well deduced… Kakashi." His voice was calm, almost approving. "But tell me—how will you break the illusion when you've been separated from your ally?"
Kakashi's jaw clenched. He pressed his palm to his own chest, chakra flaring.
"Genjutsu Release!"
Nothing changed.
Cold sweat slid down his temple. Damn…
The most dangerous genjutsu wasn't the one that fooled your eyes—it was the one that convinced your senses entirely. Disrupting his chakra should've worked… unless even that feedback was part of the illusion.
If this were a battlefield, I'd be dead already…
"Take your time, Kakashi," Fugaku's voice echoed as his form dissolved into crows, scattering into darkness. "Illusion isn't so easily broken."
---
Meanwhile, at the Lake
Haneda stood by the water's edge, his reflection staring back at him.
"Playing tricks like this, huh, Brother Fugaku?" he murmured, a smirk curling his lips.
A flutter of wings preceded Fugaku's reappearance, his body materializing from a swirl of crows.
"You saw through it from the start?"
"Brother Fugaku," Haneda replied, his voice calm as his pupils spun into crimson, a single tomoe swirling lazily in each eye.
"These eyes… were made to tear illusions apart."
Fugaku's own gaze hardened, the triple tomoe of his Sharingan blooming like black petals.
"Then try. Even Sharingan has its limits."
Haneda closed his eyes briefly, steadying his breath. Chakra surged, his mind sharpening to a razor's edge.
"Found it…"
He clapped his hands together, chakra flaring violently.
"Demonic Illusion: Release!"
The world fractured—trees splintering into shards of falsehood—and in an instant, he was back by the lake.
Across from him, Fugaku stood motionless, a faint, approving smile touching his lips.
"Not bad." His gaze shifted past Haneda, toward the still-entranced Kakashi struggling in the genjutsu.
"But your friend… still has much to learn."