Naruto: Blind Uchiha

Uchiha Akihiko lay sprawled on the uneven training ground, staring at the sky in frustration. He couldn't comprehend how he had lost.

Moments ago, he'd been dominating the fight. But when he went for what he thought would be the finishing blow, slapping his palm against Kiyoshi's back, Kiyoshi had reacted instantly. He'd grabbed Akihiko's wrist, pulled him close, and landed a brutal elbow to his ribs. Before Akihiko could recover, Kiyoshi struck upward with his elbow, hitting his chin and ending the fight.

In a spar that prohibited ninjutsu and genjutsu, only taijutsu skills mattered—and the outcome was clear.

Akihiko sat up, brushing dirt off his uniform. "Hey, are you really blind, Kiyoshi?"

Kiyoshi, now fumbling for the cane he'd set aside before the match, smiled faintly. He gestured toward the scar running across his face. "What do you think, Akihiko? This isn't for show. My vision's gone, and I can't even transplant Sharingan from fallen comrades."

"Then how the hell did you catch me so precisely?" Akihiko stood, flipping back onto his feet, and handed Kiyoshi the cane. "I came at you from a tricky angle!"

"Thanks," Kiyoshi said, gripping the cane. He turned his face toward Akihiko. "If you'd gone for a piercing strike, I wouldn't have been able to counter. But slaps... I can judge their trajectory from the sound of the wind. Catching you was pure luck."

"The sound of the wind?" Akihiko raised a brow as he dusted himself off. "Are you training your hearing now?"

"Yeah." Kiyoshi nodded. "I trained my sense of sound before, so it's easier to adapt. Without sight, the world feels... different. Sounds and sensations I used to ignore have become much clearer."

Akihiko crossed his arms. "Maybe I should start practicing in the dark too. Honestly, it feels like you've gotten stronger since losing your sight. The gap between us is growing."

Kiyoshi chuckled softly. "Be confident. You'll always surpass me in genjutsu. I'll never catch up to you there."

Akihiko smirked. "You couldn't match me in genjutsu even before you were blind! And don't expect me to let you outshine me in ninjutsu either."

Kiyoshi tilted his head in agreement. "Fair point. Chakra sensing alone is exhausting for me. Pouring energy into advanced ninjutsu is beyond my limit right now."

Akihiko sighed dramatically but stayed quiet. Watching Kiyoshi fumble and almost walk in the wrong direction, he reached out and pulled him back. "You're going the wrong way. Seriously, why don't you get a summoning beast already?"

Kiyoshi stopped walking, thoughtful.

"You're skilled, Kiyoshi, but let's face it. You can't always rely on luck to navigate missions. Even in team missions, there'll be times you're acting alone. Without a summoning companion, you're at a serious disadvantage."

Kiyoshi's lips curved into a faint, self-deprecating smile. "I know you're right, Akihiko. But... it's complicated. Right now, I don't even have enough chakra to guarantee my combat strength. And our clan's relationship with the Ninja Cat Clan is still shallow. I doubt I'd pass their trials."

"Then buy your way in," Akihiko suggested bluntly. "Last time I visited, I met a cat summoner who worked for the highest bidder. They accepted all contracts. Just bring cash—base price was a thousand ryo an hour."

Kiyoshi blinked, visibly taken aback. "Pay-to-play summoning? That's..."

"Better than nothing. By the way, Yugu's raising crows now because he's allergic to cat fur. You should talk to him. Crows are clever, and they respond well to chakra training."

"Crows..." Kiyoshi mused aloud. "That could work. Thanks, Akihiko. I'll speak with Yugu later." He paused, shifting the topic. "Any word from your father on the battlefield?"

Akihiko's expression darkened slightly. "I've heard some things... The elders assigned a raid mission. They plan to attack the Senju base and take out their sensory and medical units."

"Are the reports reliable?"

"Yes. Uncle Kenji retrieved the intel at great personal cost. He didn't make it back alive, but we ambushed and eliminated the Senju tracking team. The information should be authentic. Still, the elders want multiple attack squads to set out tonight, just to be sure."

Kiyoshi frowned. "You should join the mission. Better yet, lead one of the squads."

Akihiko arched an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.

"Think about it," Kiyoshi continued. "The Senju likely have a secondary outpost within ten to thirty miles of their main base. It'll be lightly guarded, probably with trainees and sensory ninjas. You should take charge of the search team to locate it."

"You're offering me the credit?" Akihiko asked skeptically.

Kiyoshi shook his head. "No, I'm asking you to ensure we're not walking into a trap. The Senju are crafty, and they've been our rivals for decades. Don't forget—this isn't the first time they've lured us into an ambush.

The Senju love their so-called 'justice.' If they've alerted the secondary outpost, you won't find an easy target—you'll face a group of loyalists willing to die for their cause.

As Uchiha, we fight with honor. But we shouldn't fall to the schemes of our enemies because of carelessness. If you're willing to lead, I'll explain the details. If not, I'll ask the elders to assign someone else."

Akihiko's casual demeanor faded, replaced by quiet determination. "Alright, Kiyoshi. Let's talk somewhere private."