How big is the gap between an Elite Chūnin and an Elite Genin?
For comparison, imagine Elite Jōnin Kakashi going up against Elite Chūnin Iruka—the fight would end in mere minutes.
Shuh—
Six kunai zipped through the air, slicing the silence apart, instantly closing in on Ren. He didn't panic. Blue chakra surged from his feet as he tapped the ground lightly. His body moved like a gust of wind, floating up and out of the trajectory with ease.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sharp clang of six impacts rang out simultaneously. The kunai, which had been flying in a straight path, suddenly twisted mid-air and homed in on Ren again.
"It only takes one move to finish you." Uchiha Fugaku sneered, eyes gleaming with cruelty.
Most ninja instinctively jump into the air to dodge kunai. Fugaku exploited this habit. While launching the first wave, he secretly sent out six more kunai. He timed it perfectly—those in the back hit the base of the front kunai, increasing their speed and redirecting their trajectory upward, forming a deadly encirclement.
Yet Ren remained unfazed. His right hand moved to his waist and drew a strangely shaped blade. He spared Fugaku a glance, his mocking stare sending a flicker of doubt through Fugaku's gut.
Click!
A flash of blue light. A clean semicircular arc sliced through the air. The six kunai shattered into metallic shards and drifted down like confetti. Ren landed gracefully, his blade sparking with chakra.
"That... that's... a chakra blade?!" Fugaku's face twisted in disbelief. "You've mastered wind-nature chakra transformation?! How?! A Genin shouldn't be capable of such advanced manipulation!"
Fugaku was truly stunned. As an Elite Chūnin, he hadn't yet mastered nature transformation. But Ren—whom he saw as an insect—had already reached such a technical milestone.
Of course, talent alone couldn't explain it. Ren had one hell of a father—Shimura Danzō.
Though not of a bloodline, Danzō was a true powerhouse—Kage-level strength, unmatched discipline. He may have been overshadowed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's brilliance, but his own achievements were undeniable.
Danzō had one elemental affinity: Wind Release. Though Jōnin can typically develop multiple chakra natures, Danzō focused solely on Wind Release, believing it to be superior. With decades of specialization, his mastery of Wind Release surpassed even the Third Kazekage, known for his Iron Sand.
People joke that Danzō can't use the Rasengan. That's not quite accurate—he simply never bothered. He lacked the creative spark to invent it, and once Minato created it, Danzō saw no point in learning a high-risk A-rank technique. Especially the Wind Release: Rasengan, which without Sage Mode, was practically suicidal to use.
In this era, if the Third Raikage symbolizes Lightning Release, and Hiruzen Sarutobi symbolizes Fire Release, then Danzō is undoubtedly the embodiment of Wind Release.
And as Danzō's son, Ren had naturally inherited his teachings.
Due to chakra limitations as a Genin, Ren had only learned two C-rank Wind Release techniques. But that didn't mean he was weak—in fact, he had already achieved chakra nature transformation, something many Jōnin struggle with!
"What's the matter, Uchiha Fugaku? You scared? Need to use your Sharingan?"
Ren's teasing tone dripped with disdain, his words a slap to Fugaku's pride.
"Sharingan? Don't insult me," Fugaku scoffed, clearly enraged. "You think a punk from the academy is worth me activating my Sharingan?"
Perfect. Just what I wanted to hear.
Ren's eyes glinted with satisfaction. The Uchiha were arrogant by nature, and Fugaku—crowned as the clan's future patriarch—was worse than most. Surrounded by yes-men and flattery, once he gave his word, he'd rather break a rib than break his promise.
The Uchiha clan didn't just have Susanoo. Their Sharingan could track chakra flow, copy ninjutsu, anticipate movement, and cast devastating genjutsu. All of these were what made them so dangerous.
But Ren's taunt had worked—Fugaku wouldn't activate his Sharingan. That meant Ren had a fighting chance.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Ren exhaled several rotating wind bullets. Under his precise chakra control, they spun through the alley, sealing Fugaku's escape routes. In this tight corridor, wide-area ninjutsu became deadly.
"Tricks for insects!"
Fugaku spat contemptuously. He formed seals quickly. Chakra roared around him, and the temperature spiked.
FWOOM!
A massive fireball—easily three meters in diameter—raced down the alley.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
BOOOOM!
The wind bullets crashed into the fireball, splintering its surface but failing to stop it. Instead, the fireball consumed the projectiles and surged forward.
Ren's eyes sharpened. He pushed off the ground and leapt into the air.
"Gotcha."
A dark voice whispered behind him. Cold terror crawled up Ren's spine. He had underestimated Fugaku's speed. A kunai flashed toward his back—
BOOM!
A puff of smoke. Fugaku sliced through a log.
He wasn't surprised. He'd anticipated it. His gaze shifted toward the bushes where Ren appeared again, hands forming seals.
"Not bad for a Body Replacement Technique. But how many times can you dodge?" Fugaku growled.
Ren smirked, sweat beading at his temple.
"No need to dodge," he said. "I'm not necessarily worse than you at taijutsu."
To be continued...
(Non-canon Uchiha squad members in ambush: Uchiha Cannon Fodder 1 and Uchiha Cannon Fodder 2 still missing in action—probably off crying in a corner after last chapter.)