Illusion Showdown

Just as Yeiichi's battle concluded, two figures stood atop a nearby building, gazing down at the arena below.

"That Hyuga kid's not bad—what's his name again? He even learned Kakashi's Chidori, and... the way he fights doesn't feel like other Hyuga members obsessed with Gentle Fist. Quick and clean, a real promising talent!" One of them, clad in black tight-fitting attire and bearing a somewhat aged look, watched below. When he saw Yeiichi unleash Chidori, his previously composed expression shifted to surprise.

Beside him stood another man, handsome with gleaming blond hair, a sunny smile on his face.

He thought for a moment, recalled the name, and said with a chuckle, "It's Hyuga Yeiichi. He graduated in the same batch as Kakashi and the others, but back in the Ninja Academy, he didn't stand out. After returning from the battlefield, he's changed a lot. Still, I never expected him to learn Kakashi's Chidori and even develop other applications for it."

These two were none other than the two Hokage of Konoha Village—the Third and the Fourth!

At this moment, they too were focused on the assessment below.

As Kakashi's teacher, the Fourth had some understanding of his student's techniques.

Though Chidori was only an A-rank jutsu, mastering it was no easy feat.

That Yeiichi could learn it and derive other uses left the Fourth deeply impressed.

"The battlefield truly tempers people. The long war is finally nearing its end—that's a good thing!" The Third nodded with some relief. "But the young ones these days are truly remarkable. The village's future will be in their hands!"

The Third patted the Fourth on the shoulder. "You're the Fourth Hokage of Konoha now. Nurture these little ones well."

"I understand, Lord Third." The Fourth gave a slight nod.

"Oh? That little genius from the Uchiha clan is up again. Let's watch." The Third's gaze shifted downward as Shisui Uchiha stepped onto the arena once more.

The Fourth looked as well.

On one of the Training Arena's viewing platforms, Shisui Uchiha took the stage again. This time, his opponent was Kurenai Yuhi.

Facing Shisui, rumored to have killed an enemy jonin, Kurenai was on high alert.

Below, Asuma cheered for Kurenai, but the other peers held little hope for her victory...

Shisui Uchiha had already carved out a fearsome reputation on the battlefield, with rumors of killing a jonin, and as an Uchiha clan member who countered Kurenai's illusions, her chances of winning were slim!

After the Anbu jonin said "Begin," the fight started!

Shisui didn't strike first. Seeing this, Kurenai didn't hold back and initiated the attack.

"Cherry Blossom Viewing Technique!" Kurenai began forming hand seals, letting out a low shout.

Kurenai was a ninja specializing in illusions, using a secret technique passed down through her clan—a form of inheritance.

As she completed her seals, cherry blossoms seemed to drift through the air. Anyone who saw the falling petals would be caught in her illusion, sinking into slumber.

Across from her, Shisui Uchiha glanced at the drifting petals, appearing to fall into the illusion, his consciousness growing hazy.

"Did it work?" Seeing this, joy flickered across Kurenai's face, but it didn't last long.

The next moment, as Shisui closed his eyes and reopened them, his pitch-black irises transformed into blood-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

The Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai—the Sharingan!

"Illusion Release!" Shisui's eyes widened slightly, and with a faint ripple of chakra, he dispelled Kurenai's illusion!

The entire process was effortless—just a blink, a stare, as if it were nothing more than a trivial act...

"This..." Shock flashed across Kurenai's face. He broke her illusion that easily?

On guard, Kurenai retreated several steps, rapidly forming hand seals again. "Illusion Technique: Three Shaded Cherry Blossoms!"

With another round of seals, even more cherry blossoms scattered around, so tangible they could obstruct an enemy's vision, buying her an opening!

The next moment, she charged straight at Shisui, kunai thrusting forward!

But Shisui caught her movement, flicked his wrist, and his kunai parried hers.

"Senior Kurenai, interference-type illusions don't work on me." Shisui just smiled, using words to draw her gaze. The moment her eyes met his, the Sharingan in his sockets began to slowly rotate.

"Not good!" The instant Kurenai locked eyes with Shisui, she knew trouble was coming. She quickly dropped her gaze, trying to avoid his stare.

But the moment their eyes met, the battle was already over!

"Illusion Technique: Sharingan!" With a low chant from Shisui, the Sharingan in his eyes spun slowly.

Kurenai felt the entire world start to spin. Everything vanished, leaving only a pair of slowly rotating blood-red eyes before her!

She was caught in Shisui's illusion...

"Referee, Senior Kurenai has fallen under my illusion." Shisui glanced calmly at the nearby Anbu jonin and stated flatly.

"Mm." The Anbu jonin stepped forward to check Kurenai's state, then nodded and declared Shisui Uchiha the victor!

The fight ended. Shisui Uchiha won!

Cheers erupted from the crowd. That was it?

Many were baffled, unable to grasp what happened, though they guessed it was a clash of illusions.

In the realm of illusion combat, Kurenai Yuhi had undoubtedly lost!

'Trying to control an Uchiha with illusions is too hard. Kurenai basically ran into her natural enemy...' Yeiichi murmured to himself, watching the arena.

Every Uchiha who awakened the Sharingan was a natural illusion master. With the Sharingan, their resistance to illusions was incredibly strong!

To ordinary illusion-specialist ninjas, they were practically natural-born nemeses!

Far too unfair!

Moreover, Kurenai was facing the greatest genius among the Uchiha Clan—Shisui Uchiha!

Yei estimated that by now, Shisui Uchiha had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan...

Even he himself might not necessarily be a match for Shisui. Kurenai's defeat was within Yei's expectations.

After the battle ended, Shisui Uchiha dispelled the genjutsu on Kurenai, formed a Seal of Reconciliation toward her, and said in a gentle tone, "Senior Kurenai, you yielded."

"I have lost..." Kurenai sighed dejectedly, formed a Seal of Reconciliation in return, and stepped down from the platform.

Although she knew she couldn't be a match for her opponent, losing to him so easily was still a blow to Kurenai.

Her own genjutsu had no effect on him at all—it was easily dispelled—while a single look from him had trapped her in an illusion. The gap was too great!

It also made Kurenai realize that the people of the Uchiha Clan had too thorough an understanding of genjutsu. Defeating them in the realm of illusions was extremely, extremely difficult!

In truth, Kurenai was overthinking it. Not every Uchiha Clan member was this strong. She was just unlucky enough to run into a monster like Shisui Uchiha...

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