Ninja World: Power through Bonds

Denji's expression was serious as he faced Itachi.

He knew he had to win this match decisively, but not so overwhelmingly that it would attract unwanted attention. 

According to the experience of thousands of transmigrators showing too much strength could easily draw Danzo's greedy gaze, causing regret among the mainline faction. The next thing you know, Danzo would be plotting behind his back, setting up traps, and tightening his grip.

But then again, he was Danzo's grandson. That should be enough protection.

Denji's tense demeanor softened slightly.

"Wait," he thought. "what do I have to fear?"

...

Itachi watched Denji's shifting expressions with a puzzled look until the cat-masked Anbu's voice cut through the tension. Immediately, his face turned serious.

"The match begins!"

Both fighters sprang into action—one charging forward and the other leaping back.

Denji pressed the attack, while Itachi moved to keep his distance.

Even as he retreated, Itachi's hands were a blur, unleashing dozens of shuriken. Each weapon was connected by nearly invisible threads, and with precise pulls, the shuriken shifted in mid-air. Some maintained a frontal assault, while others swept in from the sides. The thin wires created an intricate web, aiming to completely trap Denji.

Among the spectators, murmurs spread.

"Look at that!" one ninja exclaimed. "It's the Uchiha's famed shuriken technique!"

The combination of the Uchiha's superior eyesight and their precise chakra control allowed them to manipulate these threads with finesse, making their shuriken nearly impossible to predict or evade. Itachi's mastery, despite his age, was a testament to his clan's storied reputation.

"That kid's incredible," said a Jōnin, clearly impressed.

"Fugaku's son is something else," another agreed.

"Another Shisui in the making. Who knows what heights he'll reach?" someone chimed in.

Even Fugaku couldn't hide a hint of pride. Though he kept his expression neutral, his chest puffed slightly at the praise for his son.

But while most of the crowd was marveling, the village elders remained silent, their faces unreadable.

In the arena, Denji and Itachi continued to circle each other. Though it seemed as if Itachi's strategy was working, something suddenly changed.

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he realized his wires were no longer flowing freely. The shuriken he had launched were tangled together, forming a jumbled mess.

"What's going on?" Itachi thought, alarmed.

Recalling Denji's seemingly erratic movements, the realization hit him. What had appeared to be aimless dodging was actually a calculated maneuver. Denji's movements had subtly twisted and knotted the threads, rendering them useless.

"Itachi," Denji called out with a hint of mockery. "I let you have your fun for Shisui's sake. But playtime is over."

With a flash of chakra, Denji's Body Flicker Technique propelled him forward. He closed the gap in an instant, throwing a devastating punch. Itachi raised his arms to block, but the impact drove him backward, pain shooting through his limbs.

'It feels like I'm fighting a fully grown shinobi,' Itachi thought, stunned by the force behind the attack.

Though he managed to use the momentum to put some distance between them, Itachi quickly began forming hand seals. By the time he landed, he was ready to counter.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive orb of flames burst from his mouth, rapidly expanding and hurtling toward Denji with a scorching roar.

But Denji was prepared. As Itachi began his seals, Denji formed his own. Just as the flames surged toward him, a puff of smoke revealed a Shadow Clone. Now two Denjis stood side by side, each weaving a different set of hand seals.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!" one shouted.

"Wind Style: Gale Breakthrough!" the other called.

The resulting combination, "Explosive Wind Dance," formed instantly. The powerful gusts enhanced the roaring flames, twisting them into a fiery tornado. The blazing dragon spiraled forward, colliding head-on with Itachi's Great Fireball.

The Great Fireball exploded in a burst of heat and light, forcing Itachi to react instinctively. His eyes widened in shock as he saw his technique overwhelmed so effortlessly. The fire dragon, bolstered by the power of Wind Style, roared forward with increasing speed and rapidly expanded in size. The reflection of the blazing inferno danced in his pupils, and in that moment, Itachi realized there was no time to dodge.

Before the flames could reach him, a commanding voice rang out:

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

A sturdy earthen barrier erupted from the ground, standing firm against the oncoming fire dragon. The combined attack struck the wall with a deafening impact, scattering burning fragments into the air. When the smoke and flames finally cleared, the wall lay shattered, revealing the figure who had intervened.

It was Fugaku, standing tall and composed, though his expression was grave. His sharp gaze locked onto Denji, a silent declaration of disapproval for the outcome of the duel.

"Itachi lost this match, Denji," Fugaku stated firmly, his voice steady but heavy with finality.

"No, father, I haven't—"

"Enough!" Fugaku cut him off sharply, spinning on his heel to face his son. But as his eyes met Itachi's, his tone softened. Instead of reprimanding, he found himself taken aback. Itachi's Sharingan had awakened—each pupil now adorned with a single tomoe.

Fugaku's anger evaporated, replaced by a mixture of surprise and pride. Yet before he could utter another word, Itachi's body gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.

A distant chime seemed to echo in Denji's mind:

[Your bond with Uchiha Itachi has deepened. Reward: Enhanced Uchiha bloodline.]

Fugaku knelt down, gently lifting Itachi into his arms, and turned toward the observing dignitaries. He bowed slightly to Hiruzen, who sat calmly at the center of the assembly.

"Hokage-sama, I must take Itachi for medical attention. Please excuse me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a slow nod, his hat obscuring his expression. "Of course, Fugaku. Take care of him. And once he recovers, extend my congratulations on his promotion to Genin."

Fugaku dipped his head again. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

With that, he vanished in a blur, carrying his son toward the Konoha Hospital.

Denji watched the scene unfold, his thoughts turning inward. The match had ended before he could make a proper seal of reconciliation. A small sigh escaped him as the crowd dispersed.

"Well," he thought, "I suppose that's how it goes."

...

As Fugaku left, the battle was declared over.

One by one, the observers began to depart. Hiruzen quietly left the training ground, and the assembled ninja followed suit. Danzo approached Denji, placed a hand on his shoulder, and offered a rare smile, though it looked slightly awkward on his otherwise stern face.

"Denji, you did well," Danzo said. "But don't let it get to your head. The Uchiha brat just awakened his Sharingan. Itachi's strength is going to grow explosively from here on. If you don't keep improving, he might catch up."

Denji waved him off dismissively. "Sharingan or not, what's the big deal? I already defeated him. You really think he'll surpass me after that?"

Danzo's eyelid twitched. Where did his grandson's arrogance come from? He couldn't help but wonder if Denji was really his blood. Shouldn't he have inherited his grandfather's calm, calculating demeanor?

Danzo thought about telling Denji just how dangerous the Mangekyō Sharingan could be. But now wasn't the time for that discussion. Instead, he simply told him to return home and wait. He needed to catch up with Hiruzen.

...

When Danzo reached the Hokage's office, he didn't bother knocking. He pushed the door open and strode in uninvited.

Hiruzen stood at the window, gazing out over the village. "Hiruzen," Danzo said, his voice carrying an edge. "Drop the act. There's no one else here."

Hiruzen didn't turn. "I don't know what you're talking about, Danzo."

Danzo walked to the Hokage's desk, taking a seat opposite the empty throne. "Seven years old. You and I both know what that means for the future. With Uchiha Shisui in the mix, whose village will Konoha become—ours, or the Uchiha's?"

Hiruzen didn't reply immediately. The room grew quiet, the weight of the question pressing down on both of them. Finally, he let out a long, measured sigh.

"The war isn't over, Danzo. The village still needs Uchiha's strength."

Danzo smirked bitterly. Same old Hiruzen, always playing both sides, always trying to come out as the shining hero. Danzo could almost admire his consistency.

That was fine. Hiruzen's indecision gave Danzo's Root the room to grow. And in time, those roots would spread far enough to overshadow the entire tree.

Danzo leaned forward, shifting the subject. "Enough about Uchiha. Let's talk about Denji."

Hiruzen returned to his seat, slipping back into his mask of a warm, approachable leader. "Even with Uchiha Itachi's potential, your grandson proved himself today. The way he handled that combined ninjutsu—wind and fire working together—was remarkable."

Hiruzen's eyes were sharp, perceptive, picking up on details most would miss. "The clash of techniques wasn't just about chakra volume. From what I observed, Denji didn't expend much more chakra than it takes to cast a single Great Fireball. Yet his technique didn't just match Itachi's fire; it overwhelmed it. The power of his Nature Transformation is extraordinary."

He paused, tapping his pipe against the edge of his chair. "Denji's control and refinement make his ninjutsu far more potent than it appears at first glance. With that kind of quality, even a smaller-scale attack can deliver a devastating impact."

What made Hiruzen even more pleased was Denji's fighting style.

Combination ninjutsu—that was his specialty.

Unlike those with kekkei genkai or advanced Yin-Yang release techniques, Hiruzen relied solely on refining all five basic elemental Nature Transformations to their pinnacle, blending them into a dazzling array of combination attacks. 

If it hadn't been for the solemn setting, Hiruzen might have leapt to his feet, slammed the desk, and shouted that Denji was just like him.

Once a fondness for talent emerges, it's hard to quell.

Finally, Hiruzen revealed his true intentions. "Danzo, Denji is a remarkable talent. 

You're not equipped to guide him. Why not let me train him? I guarantee he'll become a cornerstone of the village's future."

"You must be joking!" Danzo's face darkened as he slammed the desk.

The sound echoed beyond the office walls.

"Denji is my grandson! I'll take care of his training. Spare me your hypocritical concern!" 

Having known Hiruzen for decades, Danzo saw through his methods. 

This wasn't about genuine guidance; this was brainwashing. If Denji started parroting phrases about the Will of Fire or extolling Konoha's greatness, Danzo would have to hold back tears of regret.

Hiruzen frowned. "Danzo, your methods are far too harsh. A talent like Denji shouldn't be wasted under your dubious tutelage." 

"He's just a child. He needs proper guidance—leave him with me, and I'll mold him into an exemplary ninja."

"Proper guidance?!" Danzo snapped, nearly laughing at the absurdity. 

"None of your three disciples were shining examples of virtue—prostitution, gambling, drugs—and two of them ran away. How can you claim to offer proper guidance?" 

He sneered. "You call me 'dark'? At least my approach is straightforward. Root operatives are tools. Denji, however, will be the one wielding those tools. Why would I teach him the same way I train Root agents?"

Hiruzen's face flushed red. While insults might be shrugged off, the truth cut deep. Danzo's jabs about his three wayward students struck a nerve, exposing an unhealed wound in Hiruzen's pride. 

For years, he'd used his intelligence and diplomacy to best Danzo in verbal duels. Today, the tables were turned. 

"Danzo, will you truly refuse to hand Denji over to me?"

"Of course I refuse! He's my grandson, Hiruzen!"

"You'll regret this, Danzo!"

With that, Hiruzen stormed out of the room, slamming the door so forcefully it reverberated through the building. He made it halfway down the corridor before halting abruptly. Realizing his error, he returned to the office, shoved the door open, and barked, 

"Danzo! This is my office! You're the one who should leave!"

Inside, Danzo was nearly doubling over with laughter. Finally, after years of enduring Hiruzen's condescension, he had managed to provoke the esteemed Hokage into an undignified retreat. But he masked his glee, maintaining his usual composed demeanor. 

If he let his amusement show, Hiruzen might explode. Danzo knew how to push boundaries without crossing them. 

"Don't concern yourself with Denji's future," he said calmly before leaving.

Hiruzen sighed deeply once more. 

He couldn't help envying Danzo. His old rival had a grandson like Denji, while his own eldest son, Shinnosuke, had been married for years without any sign of a grandchild. Shinnosuke spent most of his time away on missions with his wife, and Hiruzen's youngest son, Asuma, seemed content to remain single. 

Frustration building, Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.

"Shinnosuke!" he called out, his voice tinged with irritation. Within moments, an ANBU operative wearing a dog-shaped mask entered the room.

Hiruzen fixed his son with a stern look. "As of now, you're on leave. Go home and focus on your family. If you don't give me a grandchild soon, don't bother returning to ANBU."

Shinnosuke tilted his head, utterly confused. "Huh?"

...

A/N: Feel free to show your support by giving some powerstones if you're enjoying the story so far, and don't forget to add it to your library!