Chapter 42.4- One Thousand Hands

“It’s stasis, immovability, all that stuff at once. The world could end around me and I wouldn’t feel it”

“How’s the chakra drain?” I wondered, giving her a once over. She’d seen a healthy dip.

“Severe. I can use it maybe eight times in a day without dying of chakra exhaustion. Realistically, I’d only be able to use six Times while still having enough to use other techniques and be useful in combat.” She said.

“Does it matter the scale or size of the attack?”

“It can’t tell. It’s being applied to me, not the attack itself so I guess it would be the same even if I was using it to block a kunai” She said.

“And anything? What about gaseous attacks?”

“I don’t breathe when it’s active. Nothing affects me” She said.

“I see. So a ninja Siberian then.” I theorized.

“What?”

“Never mind. Just a silly thought. Well, congratulations. You’re officially stronger than me” I said.

“I was always going to be. I am an Uchiha, after all”

“Someone’s forgotten how Konoha was founded then” I said with a chuckle. I found the pride they held inc their blood to be quite amusing. The two strongest Uchiha in record history had fallen in battle against the two strongest Senju. It wasn’t a contest.

Besides, I was certain she wouldn’t be stronger than me for long. I was working on a few things. Staring at Uzume now made it clear that Whale Sage Mode was a no-go. Not for a very long time, at least. She would be getting stronger everyday and I would rather not find myself in a situation where I sacrificed all potential for future growth and found myself unable to measure up.

There were basically four ways to elevate oneself to the top of the ninja world: Mangekyou Sharingan, Perfect Jinchuriki, Sage Mode, and Hiriashin. Hiriashin was what I had in mind here. If I could figure out the rasengan, and even nature release, who would ever say I wouldn’t be able to perfect the most difficult of my Granduncle’s jutsus. I couldn’t allow it to be someone from outside the clan.

Of course, that meant I’d owe Minato a thing or two. Hopefully, he remained in the Academy for a long long time and didn’t find himself in the middle of this war. Maybe if we weren’t losing as we were in canon, then Hiruzen would let the kids be kids.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m stronger than you” She said, poking me in the chest.

“Thanks to fancy eyes, don’t get ahead of yourself”

“You’re one to talk, Mr. Perfect Chakra Control”

I shrugged.

“I haven’t sparred in a while…” I led.

I didn’t even get an audible reply. Just a punch aimed at my face.