Victory

That figure was naturally Kyosuke.

Suppressing the enemy with rapidly thrown shuriken before following up with Ninjutsu had always been Kyosuke's usual approach.

Aside from a handful of exceptional ninja, opponents roughly on his level were generally suppressed by this combination.

Kakashi was no exception.

Although Kakashi knew Kyosuke's Shuriken Throwing Technique was formidable, he had still underestimated his opponent.

As a result, from the start of the battle until now, he had been suppressed by Kyosuke's attacks. In the end, he was struck by the Sharingan's Genjutsu, losing control of his body.

It's over. As Kyosuke thought this, he unleashed the Ninjutsu he had prepared long ago.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."

Kyosuke's opening move was a powerful Fire Style technique.

In his view, this Ninjutsu alone was enough to render Kakashi incapable of continuing the fight.

After all, with the Genjutsu cast by Kyosuke's Sharingan in its Three-Tomoe state, Kakashi could not possibly break free in such a short time.

Boom.

Just as Kyosuke had expected, the Fireball struck the motionless Kakashi accurately, burning his entire body to ashes.

"Hm? Not good!" Seeing "Kakashi" turn into a cloud of white smoke, Kyosuke's pupils abruptly contracted.

Without a second thought, he leaped backward, trying to open up some distance.

Unfortunately, compared with Kakashi, who still specialized in close combat, his movement speed was lacking.

Bang.

As the earth beneath Kyosuke suddenly shattered, a figure burst out at high speed and charged toward him in midair.

That figure was naturally Kakashi, who had used the Shadow Clone Technique.

After using Earth Flow Wall, he had actually created a shadow clone to confuse his enemy, while his real body quietly burrowed underground to wait for an opportunity.

Naturally, it had been that shadow clone which fell under the Sharingan's Genjutsu earlier.

"Damn it." Suspended in the air, Kyosuke pushed his Sharingan to its limit, preparing for Kakashi's next attack.

Because he knew that once Kakashi, who had been suppressed for so long, launched his counterattack, it would surely be earth-shattering.

With all his focus locked on the enemy before him, Kakashi gripped the hilt of the White Fang sword on his back with his right hand.

In an instant, a brilliant flash of blade light appeared before everyone's eyes, accompanied by the crackling of lightning.

"White Fang Flash!"

Slash.

Blood suddenly sprayed from Kyosuke's chest.

Though the wound was not fatal, it would still affect the battle to come.

It could be said that Kakashi won the second exchange with his unexpected Shadow Clone Technique.

The moment Kyosuke landed, he immediately put distance between himself and Kakashi, silently reminding himself never to recklessly approach Kakashi like that again.

At the same time, the spectators around the arena had gradually fallen silent at some point.

Everyone had been captivated by the thrilling battle in the arena, including the ninja themselves.

Whether it was Kyosuke's Three-Tomoe Sharingan or Kakashi's White Fang Sword Style, both left these powerful ninja dumbfounded.

They asked themselves honestly: if they had faced either of the two fighters in the arena at the age of six, they likely would not have lasted long before being defeated.

Thus, after a brief silence, they all rose to their feet and applauded the two fighters in the arena.

The two fighters paid no attention to the spectators, their gazes fixed tightly on one another.

Suddenly, Kyosuke moved again.

His bloodstained right hand suddenly pressed downward through the air.

"Summoning Technique."

Countless Poisonous Snakes of varying sizes appeared, summoned through his use of One-Handed Seals.

"Damn it, when did he form the seals?" Kakashi frowned slightly. He thought back over the exchange, yet still could not figure out when his opponent had formed the seals.

Left with no choice, he could only use Ninjutsu to clear away these troublesome Poisonous Snakes.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."

A Fireball no less impressive than Kyosuke's in either size or power was unleashed from Kakashi's hands.

With a boom, the Summoning Animals Kyosuke had called forth, before they could even disperse, were sent back to Ryūchi Cave.

However, they had successfully bought Kyosuke some time.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River."

While Kakashi was clearing away the Summoning Animals, Kyosuke completed his Ninjutsu once more.

As he unleashed the technique, waves of mud surged through the arena like ocean tides.

Caught off guard and unable to dodge, Kakashi was swept up by the tide of mud.

"Haa." Kyosuke stood sideways against the arena wall, watching Kakashi vanish beneath the mud as he let out a soft breath.

This should be over now, right? Kyosuke thought as he watched the referee preparing to intervene.

Just then, the mud-covered ground somewhere in the arena suddenly began to bulge slightly.

A moment later, flashes of lightning suddenly flickered from within.

Accompanying the lightning was a sharp, crackling buzz.

No way. Did he create that Ninjutsu on his own already? Kyosuke's heart jolted, and he quietly went on guard.

As time passed, the sound, like countless birds crying out at once, grew louder and louder.

Boom—boom—boom—

Beneath the mud, aside from that chirping sound, repeated rumbles began to ring out as well.

It was as if someone inside was constantly forcing his way through the earth.

Does he have to be this ridiculous? Kyosuke grumbled inwardly as his hands began forming seals once more.

Just as he had expected, it was not long before Kakashi burst out of the ground amid the sound of Chidori Chorus.

The moment he reappeared, he charged at Kyosuke again without pausing for even an instant.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall."

As Kyosuke unleashed his Ninjutsu, an earthen wall abruptly rose between him and Kakashi.

Yet that seemingly sturdy wall was shattered in a single blow by Kakashi's Chidori.

However, after breaking through layer upon layer of obstacles, his Chidori dissipated as well.

Seeing this, Kyosuke raised his right hand slightly, and countless Poisonous Snakes instantly surged forth, lunging at Kakashi not far ahead.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."

"Hmph." Kakashi, already breathing heavily, gave a faint snort and beheaded every one of the Poisonous Snakes with a single slash.

Just as Kakashi was about to end the battle for good, something unexpected suddenly happened.

From within the writhing mass of Poisonous Snakes, an arm abruptly shot out and seized him by the throat.

"How is that possible?" Kakashi's eyes widened as he stared at his opponent's suddenly lengthened arm.

"Heh, didn't expect that, did you?" Kyosuke chuckled, then dragged Kakashi's entire body over with a forceful pull of one hand.

At the same time, his pitch-black right hand swung fiercely toward Kakashi's head.

"Earth Style: Earth Spear."

This hardening Ninjutsu, inherited from his clan, knocked aside Kakashi's White Fang Short Sword and struck him successfully.

Watching Kakashi fall back into the mud, Kyosuke finally let out a long breath.

At last, the fierce battle had come to an end.

He, Kyosuke Uchiha, was now unquestionably the strongest among the ninja of his generation.