"I come from a civilian background," Masahiko said calmly. "I don't know many advanced techniques. So what I've studied most are the fundamentals."
His Shadow Clone led Sasuke to a quiet corner of the training field for a private lesson.
Masahiko held a kunai loosely in his hand.
"Watch carefully."
"Yes, sir!"
Sasuke focused completely.
In the next instant, Masahiko vanished—and reappeared directly in front of him.
At the exact moment he closed in—
Masahiko formed hand signs.
Three figures, all holding kunai, rushed forward at the same time.
Sasuke's eyes widened. He instantly identified one as the real body and darted in the opposite direction.
But just as he moved—
Clang!
Kunai collided.
The figure he'd avoided blocked his escape.
This one was the real body too?!
"Is it a Shadow Clone?" Sasuke thought—
But in the next moment, that figure dispersed into smoke.
Masahiko was suddenly standing beside him.
"There is always only one real body," Masahiko explained. "What I used was the Body Flicker. After you identified me, I exploited your subconscious judgment and switched positions instantly for the strike."
Sasuke's breath caught.
That was terrifyingly effective.
After processing it, he frowned slightly and asked, "Sensei… you're fast enough to do that. But what if someone isn't?"
"Wouldn't making more clones solve it?"
Masahiko glanced at him. "Did you notice how my clones were positioned?"
Sasuke thought back carefully—
Then his eyes lit up.
The three clones looked scattered, but they were actually aligned in a straight line.
Even if the user wasn't fast enough, they could treat the clones as stepping points, rapidly switching positions to create the illusion of instant movement.
The only issue was—
Clone control had to be extremely precise. Otherwise, the tactic would fall apart.
"So… if Clone Jutsu is mastered to the extreme, it can do this much?" Sasuke murmured, astonished.
Masahiko nodded solemnly.
"Basic techniques are mandatory because they're simple, efficient, and reliable. Chasing only high-difficulty jutsu is the wrong path."
"I understand," Sasuke said seriously. "Thank you for teaching me."
He bowed deeply.
He'd gained more from this short lesson than he expected.
"Go back to the group," Masahiko said. "Think it through carefully."
"Yes, sir!"
Sasuke straightened and returned just as the Shadow Clone vanished.
From a distance, Naruto's voice echoed:
"Please! Can't we forget about copying the textbook?! Sensei, I'm begging you!"
Masahiko replied with a gentle smile—and chilling words.
"An idiot doesn't deserve special treatment. And one more thing you should know."
"I've been promoted to Special Jonin."
"My authority is higher than before."
"If you miss even one copy," he added pleasantly, "I'll recommend to the Hokage that you repeat the year."
Naruto froze.
His expression shifted from pleading… to shock… to despair.
"Damn it!!"
After School
Sasuke was buzzing with excitement.
He couldn't even walk properly, Body Flickering all the way home.
He needed to ask his brother—now.
He shoved the door open, spotted the shoes at the entrance, and shouted—
"Big brother!"
A moment later, the door slid open.
Itachi stepped out, looking at him with mild confusion.
"What happened?"
"Big brother! Are you free? My teacher showed me a technique, but I don't know how to practice it!"
Sasuke could barely contain himself.
Itachi relaxed, grabbed a towel, and wiped the sweat from Sasuke's face.
After a brief pause, he smiled.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
Sasuke nearly jumped.
By the lakeside, Sasuke excitedly explained everything Masahiko had taught him.
Itachi listened quietly, growing more surprised by the second.
"This resembles Shisui's Body Flicker," Itachi said slowly. "But Shisui's version relies on the Sharingan and genjutsu."
"What your teacher taught… is something even ordinary shinobi can use."
He sighed softly.
"His understanding of Clone Jutsu is exceptional. It's a shame he's assigned as a taijutsu instructor."
Sasuke scratched his head.
"He said he was just promoted to Special Jonin. I don't really know the details."
"That makes sense," Itachi replied.
To reach that level of clone control and not be promoted would be absurd.
"For this technique," Itachi added, "it would actually be more efficient to ask Shisui."
"Why?" Sasuke asked. "Is Big Brother Shisui stronger than you?"
Before Itachi could answer, laughter rang out.
"In this kid's eyes, you're the strongest person alive. Even the Hokage doesn't compare."
A figure dropped lightly from a tree.
Uchiha Shisui.
He glanced at Sasuke.
"Did your teacher do something like this?"
His hands flashed.
More than a dozen clones appeared instantly.
Sasuke scanned the area—he couldn't tell which was real.
The next moment, all of them charged Itachi at once.
Itachi raised his kunai and struck one—
Clink!
Metal rang.
Then—
Clink! Clink! Clink!
The sounds blended together as the two moved at blistering speed, nearly impossible to track.
Sasuke stared.
They're all real?!
That can't be—
No.
This was the same concept as Sensei's technique—but far more refined.
No wonder people called him Shisui of the Body Flicker.
After a moment, they stopped.
Shisui smiled.
"Just like your teacher said—rank doesn't define a technique's strength. Don't chase difficulty blindly."
"That was amazing!" Sasuke said, eyes shining. "Big Brother Shisui, your Body Flicker is even stronger than Sensei's!"
"You can't judge that," Shisui said, shaking his head.
"Your teacher only showed you one method. That doesn't mean that's all he knows."
Then, more seriously—
"I have the Sharingan and the clan's resources. He doesn't."
"For someone like that to reach this level…" Shisui smiled. "Your teacher is an incredible shinobi."
Itachi nodded in agreement.
Sasuke didn't fully understand.
But he knew this much—
If Itachi said it… and Shisui said it…
Then Sensei really was amazing.
Shisui suddenly paused.
"Yagyu Masahiko… I had a classmate with that name."
"He's about your age," Itachi said. "It's probably the same person."
Shisui sighed, then chuckled.
"Want me to walk you to school tomorrow?"
"Really?!"
"I want to meet your teacher," Shisui said. "It's rare to find someone studying the same path."
Elsewhere
Inside the acting instance, Masahiko paused mid-spar.
Text appeared before his eyes.
["Naruto: Prequel" Episode 5 filming complete]
[Editing…]
[Production successful]
Total screen time: 6 minutes 32 secondsScreen share: 31.2%
[Broadcast scheduled tonight at 8:00 PM]
31%.
The text faded.
Lower than expected—but not surprising.
"I've been focusing on cultivation lately," Masahiko thought. "Not deliberately creating plot points around Naruto or Sasuke."
"But now that I've been promoted…"
"Entering the main storyline will bring far greater returns."
He tightened his grip on the blade—
And resumed fighting.