Naruto: Uchiha Survivor Forced to Save the Shinobi World

The archive manager discreetly observed Uchiha Shinji for a while. Seeing his furrowed brow, he chuckled and shook his head: "Hmph, young ones these days. B-rank jutsu isn't so easy to master!"

As for Uchiha Shinji…

On the surface, his brow was furrowed, but in truth, he was already delving deeper into understanding the principles behind the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Being able to perform a jutsu and thoroughly understanding it…

These were two completely different concepts!

Especially with jutsu that emphasized intricate details, such as Transformation Jutsu or Shadow Clone Jutsu, this distinction became even more apparent.

Without a deep understanding of the jutsu or proficient control over chakra, using the Shadow Clone Jutsu would fail to fool perceptive, experienced shinobi.

Conversely, if a skilled elite performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu, even a shinobi with dojutsu-based Bloodline Limit would find it difficult to tell the difference between clones and the original.

In the original timeline, Naruto could still display his mastery of the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu during the late-stage war, even in front of various powerful dojutsu-wielding shinobi, precisely for this reason.

Suddenly.

The quiet archive was disrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Annoyed by the noise, Uchiha Shinji looked up and noticed that the owner of the footsteps was none other than Sasuke. He had also come to borrow a jutsu scroll.

Sasuke quickly noticed Uchiha Shinji as well.

Their eyes met, and they both saw surprise reflected in each other's gazes.

After glancing at the Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll on Uchiha Shinji's table from a distance, Sasuke turned to the archive manager and said, "I want to borrow the Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll."

The archive manager looked at Sasuke, then glanced at Uchiha Shinji. His expression turned a bit strange as he handed another Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll to Sasuke.

Sasuke took the scroll and sat down at a table not far from Uchiha Shinji, flipping through it.

"This guy..."

Uchiha Shinji was at a loss for words.

He also noticed that Sasuke seemed more spirited than before, as if the despair from the Uchiha clan's massacre had finally lifted.

Obviously.

After mistakenly believing that he had been the one to subdue the rampaging Nine-Tails, Sasuke, driven by revenge, no longer wandered aimlessly in a daze.

Uchiha Shinji suddenly thought that perhaps this wasn't so bad after all.

However, just as he was about to continue his deep study of the Shadow Clone Jutsu, another set of footsteps echoed through the archive.

This time, both Uchiha Shinji and Sasuke looked up at the same time and saw that the newcomer was Neji.

Upon seeing Uchiha Shinji and Sasuke, Neji clearly hesitated for a moment, then walked up to the archive manager, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'd like to borrow the Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll."

The archive manager's expression instantly became more colorful. He glanced between the three, then smiled and handed the Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll to Neji.

Seeing Neji also choose the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Sasuke shot him a provocative glance, his expression tinged with hostility.

Neji, unperturbed, met Sasuke's gaze and found an empty seat to sit down.

Do you all have to learn Shadow Clone Jutsu right now? It's all in this scroll!

Uchiha Shinji was growing even more speechless.

He had been learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu to prepare for his upcoming plans, but now these two had shown up, seemingly to challenge him.

Before long, the archive returned to silence.

However, aside from Uchiha Shinji genuinely studying the Shadow Clone Jutsu, the other two were dividing their attention, constantly glancing at each other.

Both Sasuke and Neji occasionally stole subtle glances at the others, secretly evaluating each other's progress.

By noon, when the archive closed, the three of them returned the scrolls one by one.

None of them revealed their progress, and all left the archive quietly.

As Uchiha Shinji, the last to leave, walked out, he muttered to himself, "Originally, there wouldn't have been much attention on me learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu, but now that these two are involved, who knows how much attention this will draw. Looks like I'll have to 'fail' this time."

While lost in thought, something suddenly happened up ahead.

A Root shinobi appeared and blocked Sasuke's path.

Shortly after, an Anbu appeared as well, standing in front of Sasuke to protect him from the Root shinobi.

As tensions mounted between the two sides, Danzo emerged from the shadows, slowly walking toward Sasuke. "I have everything you want. Come and join me."

The Anbu quickly stepped forward. "Danzo-sama, the Hokage has ordered that Sasuke must remain at the shinobi academy for now."

Danzo's face turned cold. As he began to walk away, he added, "Remember, only I can give you what you truly want."

He's using the same lines again. Doesn't Danzo ever come up with new ones?

Uchiha Shinji mentally rolled his eyes, glancing over at Sasuke.

If Sasuke were to join Root, it would spell trouble for him, because once Danzo had Sasuke, he might shift his attention toward Uchiha Shinji.

But just as he began to worry, Sasuke smirked, "With my Sharingan, there's nothing I can't obtain!"

Uchiha Shinji's face darkened: Well, it seems my worries were unnecessary.

Neji, similarly exasperated, turned his face away.

Meanwhile, not far off.

Danzo, who had left earlier, was now listening to a report from one of his Root shinobi.

After the report, Danzo's eyes flashed with anger. "Did he really say that?"

"Yes."

The Root shinobi nodded.

Danzo muttered to himself, "It seems that the one who stole Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan was indeed this brat."

The Root shinobi asked, "Lord Danzo, Sasuke has been under constant surveillance by Anbu assigned by the Hokage. Should we continue monitoring him?"

Danzo coldly replied, "Keep watching him. We must find out where he has hidden Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan. Those eyes must hold some kind of secret."

"Understood!"

In the following days, Uchiha Shinji, Sasuke, and Neji all returned to the archive daily to study the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Just as Uchiha Shinji had anticipated, the moment anyone was linked to Sasuke, they became the center of attention.

It wasn't long before rumors spread throughout the village about the Uchiha genius and the Hyuga genius competing to master a high-level jutsu.

Imagine this: three students, only seven or eight years old, competing to see who could master a B-rank jutsu typically reserved for Jonin.

What a spectacle!

Not to mention, this involved both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, two prestigious Bloodline Limit families, as well as Uchiha Sasuke, currently the most talked-about genius in the Hidden Leaf.

Naturally, people began to place bets on which of the three would master the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu first.

Meanwhile, as everyone gossiped about their progress, Uchiha Shinji, who had secretly already mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu and practiced it in secret for some time, decided to launch his next operation.

Back in his apartment, he bit his finger, summoning Coalball. Handing over a piece of paper, he instructed, "Do as it says."