Uchiha: Strongest Shura

Though bruised and battered from his failed attacks on Uchiha Kagami, Inuzuka Naoki glared at the opponent with a mix of frustration and admiration. He turned to Renji, trembling but resolute, and asked, "You... you didn't really kill him, did you?"

"Ha! Don't be ridiculous," Renji replied impatiently. "He's an experienced ninja. You think someone like that would die so easily? What you saw was nothing but a simple substitution jutsu." Despite his calm exterior, Renji's eyes darted around, scanning the area for any sign of Kagami. He's living up to the Uchiha name—slippery and always one step ahead.

Relieved, Naoki sighed but quickly exclaimed, "Even so, why go that far just for a bell? Killing him would have been pointless! Who's going to grant your wish if he's dead?"

Renji shook his head and sighed, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "This isn't about the bell. It's about testing my own strength. Ninja life isn't about games—it's about survival. If you don't have the resolve to kill, you'll never achieve anything in this world. Our entire profession revolves around efficient killing."

---

Before Naoki could reply, a faint chime sounded, and Kagami appeared behind Renji. With precision, Kagami drove his kunai toward Renji's back. Renji barely avoided the blow with a cartwheel, but Kagami followed up with a powerful sidekick, sending him sprawling.

"You're right, Renji," Kagami said calmly, his voice carrying a tinge of amusement. "But even with the intent to kill, you're nowhere close to beating me. You still have a lot to learn."

Naoki, bristling at Kagami's words, launched himself back into the fray. "Don't underestimate me! I'll get that bell and knock some sense into you while I'm at it!"

Charging with wild abandon, Naoki tried to match Kagami's speed, but a well-placed counter from the jonin sent him flying. Renji took the opportunity to regroup, signaling Marina to act. Without hesitation, she threw a smoke bomb, obscuring Kagami's vision. The three genin retreated into the forest, leaving Kagami leaning casually against a tree, waiting for their next move.

---

Kagami smirked as he felt their chakra signatures fade into the distance. "They're learning," he murmured. "Good. Let's see what they've got planned." He closed his eyes and waited, letting the forest's ambient noise guide his senses.

Moments later, a small puff of smoke materialized in front of him, revealing a summoned creature—a small bird carrying a scroll. Kagami's curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the scroll. His brows furrowed as he read the contents. "Curiosity killed the cat," he muttered to himself. I probably shouldn't have opened this…

---

Meanwhile, Renji, Naoki, and Marina regrouped in a clearing. Naoki huffed, clearly frustrated. "What's the plan? Running isn't my style! I want to teach him a lesson!"

Renji ignored his complaints, scanning the area for strategic advantages. "Strength, speed, skill—Kagami outmatches us in every way. But that doesn't mean we don't have an edge."

Naoki, calming slightly, leaned closer. "What's our edge?"

"Numbers," Renji said simply. "Kagami promised to use only E-rank ninjutsu. If we force him into a corner and predict his moves, we can create an opening. It's risky and will only work once, but if we coordinate perfectly, we might get a chance to take the bells."

Marina tilted her head, curious. "But what happens if we succeed? There are only two bells. How do we decide who gets them?"

Renji smiled faintly. "I don't care about the bells. My goals don't rely on someone else granting my wishes—I'll achieve them with my own hands. As for chores, we're a team. We should share the burden."

Naoki grinned, clapping Renji on the back. "Well said! My wish can go to Marina. A real man achieves his dreams on his own!"

Marina smiled softly. "Then why not aim for something we can all agree on? Let's win this together and share the victory."

Seeing their morale rise, Renji nodded. Good. At least they're united now. Let's make this count.

---

Back at the training ground, Kagami waited patiently, sensing the trio's chakra drawing closer. He smirked. They're fast learners. Let's see what they've got this time.

The forest suddenly came alive with movement. Shuriken rained down on Kagami from all directions, creating an intricate web of steel. With precise movements, Kagami deflected the projectiles, but he quickly noticed something odd. The attack pattern is too deliberate. They're trying to funnel me somewhere.

Spotting an opening above him, Kagami leaped upward, narrowly avoiding a potential trap. As he ascended, flames erupted below him—the familiar Phoenix Flower Jutsu. The rapid fireballs spread like a web, cutting off his escape routes.

With no time to lose, Kagami performed a substitution jutsu, transforming into a crow and gliding through a gap in the flames.

"Up there!" Renji shouted, immediately spotting Kagami's new position. Naoki, hidden among the treetops, lunged at Kagami, kunai in hand.

Kagami intercepted Naoki's attack, effortlessly blocking the strike. But before Kagami could counter, Naoki grinned. "Explosion!"

The kunai Naoki held was laced with an explosive tag. The moment Kagami realized it, the tag ignited, enveloping the area in a fiery blast.

---

Kagami reappeared moments later, water streaming from his body. "Water Release: Water Curtain," he muttered, his voice carrying a note of frustration. "Breaking my promise to only use E-rank ninjutsu… these kids are something else."

Renji, however, was already prepared. "Now!" he called out, forming a series of seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The orange flames roared forward, colliding with Kagami's own counterfire. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the clearing, momentarily destabilizing Kagami.

Before Kagami could recover, Marina made her move. From her hiding spot, she unleashed a Water Release technique, sending a powerful surge of water toward Kagami. The torrent swept him off his feet, slamming him against a tree.

As Kagami struggled to regain his footing, his eyes fell on Renji, who was already waiting. "Well done," Kagami murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. "But this isn't over yet."

Before Kagami could act, however, his body shimmered and dissolved into a puff of smoke. Left behind in his place were two golden bells, gleaming in the sunlight.