Might of the Flying Thunder God (Please Keep Reading)

Itachi Uchiha knew what Root was.

The incident two years ago had once made him think the Anbu were slaughtering one another, but as he learned more, he came to understand that within Konohagakure's Anbu, there was an even deeper, darker organization!

Even his father had been unwilling to speak much of that organization, yet Itachi could sense the dissatisfaction his father held toward it.

This guy came from that organization?

Itachi silently muttered to himself, but he soon had no energy left to think about such things.

Because Hidezawa's heavy fist came crashing toward him once more!

For a moment, Itachi could only dodge frantically, while Hidezawa seemed to turn into an afterimage as he relentlessly pursued him.

"Brother."

Sasuke watched his beloved older brother being driven into such a miserable state on the stage, his heart filled with worry. Even though his mother kept comforting him, it did little good.

"Shisui, he..."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression did not look good either. Watching his eldest son get suppressed without any chance to fight back left him deeply displeased.

Especially as the cheers around them grew louder and louder—in his ears, they were unbearably grating.

"Hidezawa is actually still holding back."

Though Shisui felt somewhat awkward as well, he remained calm.

Having gone through such grueling missions with Hidezawa, he naturally knew that his teammate was merely operating normally—and was even going easy on Itachi!

Otherwise, that enormous earth dragon, suffocating in its sheer scale, would have appeared already.

"..."

Fugaku Uchiha was momentarily rendered speechless by those words, but before he could say anything, another wave of startled cries erupted from the arena.

He swiftly turned his head and saw his eldest son being kicked away by Hidezawa, making his heart tighten with anxiety once again.

Finally, I've created some distance.

Yet Itachi, who was in the arena, was not anxious in the slightest. Although he had been badly suppressed during his exchange with Hidezawa, he had also come up with a countermeasure.

Clearly, trying to compete with Hidezawa in Taijutsu was utterly unwise. This guy was simply too fast, and his strength was formidable as well!

Itachi could see the trajectory of his movements, but that did not mean he could keep up with them.

Worst of all, this guy would not look him in the eye at all, leaving Itachi unable to use Genjutsu!

How is he so familiar with the Sharingan?

Itachi was truly struggling to hold it together, but he also knew that continuing the Taijutsu battle under such passive circumstances would be far too foolish.

Thus, he decisively found an opportunity and deliberately borrowed Hidezawa's force to open up the distance. He had intentionally taken that kick!

"Pretty clever."

Hidezawa raised an eyebrow. He seemed to have noticed what Itachi was thinking.

But he did not care. He did not even pursue, instead standing where he was and unhurriedly taking out several kunai.

His two tasks conflicted somewhat: he had to avoid hurting Itachi, while also making sure Itachi learned a lesson.

After considering it, Hidezawa knew there was only one way!

Overwhelm him from start to finish, then use power he can't resist to end it and make him concede on his own.

Having opened up the distance, Itachi swiftly pulled out several kunai as well. But when he saw that Hidezawa had not moved from his spot, his heart immediately sank.

Is he that arrogant?

Yet Hidezawa's actions also gave him an opportunity. Without hesitation, he rapidly hurled the kunai in his hand!

Clang—

Clang—

Clang—

Dozens of kunai flew into the sky, and in the next instant, they collided with one another midair.

The collisions looked like mistakes, but as they rang out, every kunai instantly changed its flight path!

The densely packed kunai spread across the sky like a great net, covering Hidezawa from every possible angle.

"Brother!"

"Itachi, go!"

Sasuke and Izumi Uchiha immediately grew excited at the sight. This shuriken technique unique to the Uchiha was thrilling to watch no matter how many times they saw it.

"That's amazing..."

"Kunai can be used like that?"

"Come on, that's the Uchiha clan's unique throwing technique."

They were not the only ones. The spectators around them were also discussing it animatedly. It had to be said that such a dazzling display of skill was truly pleasing to the eye.

Yet Yugao could not help shaking her head at the sight, while Shisui likewise sighed inwardly.

"This was still vastly different from Sasori's carpet-bombing coverage."

Hidezawa truly did not take the kunai before him seriously. Without hesitation, he threw the kunai in his hand straight at Itachi Uchiha instead of using it to block the incoming weapons.

Yet his kunai seemed to have missed by an absurd margin, as though he had not aimed at Itachi Uchiha at all!

"Good opportunity!"

Seeing this, Itachi Uchiha immediately formed hand seals with both hands.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball burst from his mouth and came roaring toward Hidezawa!

At that moment, the dense rain of kunai overhead and the enormous fireball seemed to have completely surrounded Hidezawa.

"Hidezawa..."

Tenzō could not help but frown, hesitating over whether he should use Wood Release to lend Hidezawa a hand.

"It looks like he's being a little too careless."

Kakashi tilted his head as well. Ever since Hidezawa had helped him and Tenzō in Root, their relationship had grown considerably.

But he did not know much about Hidezawa's fighting abilities. He knew Hidezawa was very strong, but no matter how strong he was, he should not be this careless, right?

"Don't worry. Hidezawa has a way out."

Yugao, however, appeared very calm. She had not forgotten Hidezawa's masterful Earth Release techniques.

"Compared to Taijutsu, his ninjutsu is actually even stronger."

"Is that so?"

Kakashi scratched the back of his head, but at that moment, his gaze suddenly landed on the kunai Hidezawa had thrown.

In an instant, his pupils widened!

"This kid is holding back way too much..."

On the side of the examination grounds with the best view, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also watching the battle intently, though he could not help shaking his head.

Unlike Kakashi, he understood Hidezawa's combat abilities. While he hoped Hidezawa would not injure Itachi Uchiha, he had not told him to hold back to this extent!

"Hm?"

But in the next instant, his body suddenly stiffened, and his eyes widened into circles.

"How is that possible?!"

It was not just him. At that moment, everyone present cried out in shock, staring dumbfoundedly at the scene before them.

Even Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha wore horrified expressions.

"Looks like you've already lost."

On the field, Itachi Uchiha was still looking ahead when Hidezawa's voice suddenly rang out behind him!

"How is that possible?!"

Itachi Uchiha's heart jolted, but before he could make any move, he was kicked flying.

His mind was a complete blank, and he had no idea what had happened.

Almost instinctively, as he flew backward, he desperately tried to control his body, hoping to land steadily and continue fighting.

But at that moment, he suddenly saw a kunai flying right alongside him.

In the next instant, Hidezawa's figure appeared like a ghost, followed immediately by another punch aimed at him!

Bang—

With a dull thud, Itachi Uchiha was smashed into the ground. Fortunately, Hidezawa had controlled his strength well, so he had not suffered any serious injuries.

But when he raised his head, he looked around in astonishment and found no sign of Hidezawa. At the same time, an icy chill had already settled against his neck.

Because, at some unknown point, Hidezawa had arrived behind him, with a kunai held against his throat!

At that moment, the entire venue fell silent. Countless people stared blankly at Hidezawa.

Because they had already recognized exactly what technique Hidezawa had used.

And on Hidezawa, they seemed to see that golden figure from the past—the one who had once terrified enemies at the mere mention of his name!