Slash!

A year ago, Fugaku had already defeated Shenhuo and become the strongest member of the Uchiha Clan.

He had no weaknesses in any of the three aspects of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, making him qualified to become the Uchiha Clan's leader.

Clang!

Using a Kunai made of fine steel, he suppressed Sode no Shirayuki, and immense force came crashing down.

"Jing, you're a genius, but even geniuses need time to grow!"

Ding—

The Kunai broke, revealing a smooth cross-section.

Fugaku's pupils contracted sharply. He knew that Jing Uchiha possessed a special Secret Technique that could fire Invisible Wind Blades from his fingertips.

But he had never expected him to be able to release them through a weapon as well!

Fortunately, with the Sharingan's powerful insight, he had barely managed to dodge the Slash that had cut through the Kunai.

Touching the torn skin on his neck...

"That was vicious. Do you really have to show your clan leader so little mercy?"

"Cut the nonsense." Jing Uchiha charged forward with his blade.

If he hadn't been concerned about Sasuke's birth, he might have quietly landed a few strikes on Fugaku and killed him.

Invisible Slashes were most terrifying when used for sneak attacks and assassinations.

Fugaku also began to take the battle seriously, gripping the Kunai with both hands.

The two separated just before their attacks made contact. Watching them gave one an indescribably strange feeling.

Fortunately, everyone watching was an Uchiha, and many had already activated their Sharingan.

"They're... constantly predicting their opponent's next move!"

Though it looked like a clash of Taijutsu, it was actually a contest between the insight of two ocular-technique ninjas.

The more Fugaku fought, the more alarmed he became, because he realized...

In terms of insight, his Sharingan was slightly inferior to Jing Uchiha's.

What terrifying talent...

He couldn't keep competing with him in swordsmanship.

With that thought, Fugaku broke free from the battle and swiftly formed Hand Seals.

"Fire Release—Great Fireball Technique!"

Jing Uchiha swung his blade, cutting the fireball apart.

Dozens of blazing flames shot toward him.

The Great Fireball was merely an opening move meant to block his vision. The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique that followed was the true attack.

All the flames were controlled by Chakra, making it difficult to avoid every one of them.

Amid the dancing flames, Jing Uchiha saw Shuriken controlled by Chakra as well.

Was this Itachi Uchiha's Phoenix Sage Flower Claw Red...?

No, how could one say a father resembled his son?

Fire Release was the most powerful offensive nature transformation, and in conventional combat, Water Release was the best way to counter it.

If one wasn't familiar with Water Release...

Jing Uchiha swiftly formed Hand Seals, ending with the Tiger Seal.

"Fire Release—Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

A fire dragon burst from Jing Uchiha's mouth. After knocking the fireballs away, it continued forward with undiminished force.

Compared to its range, this technique focused more on power and accuracy.

The fire dragon soared high, its blazing light nearly scorching people's eyes. Its intense heat made breathing difficult, as though they had been thrown into a furnace.

Everywhere it passed, the air warped and twisted from the heat.

Everyone knew that all Uchiha could use Fire Release.

Using the fire dragon's momentum, Jing Uchiha quickly closed in on Fugaku and extended his palm, aiming it at his face.

Compared to the imposing fire dragon, Jing Uchiha's gesture made Fugaku even more uneasy.

Fugaku knew very well that this young man had mastered a Secret Technique of the Secret Technique level, one comparable to a Kekkei Genkai.

"Dismantle."

Hiss—

The air was instantly torn apart, emitting a sharp, shrill whistle.

A dense barrage of Slashes struck Fugaku.

Bang!!

A Shadow Clone...?

Watching the smoke explode outward, Jing Uchiha wasn't surprised.

The Sharingan in his eye sockets swept left and right before suddenly stopping.

Above!

Jing Uchiha abruptly looked up. A Sea of Fire filled his vision.

Like the blazing flames of hell, it surged toward him with overwhelming force, as though it intended to swallow the entire world in an endless Sea of Fire.

"Fire Release—Great Fire Annihilation!"

The strength of a Ninjutsu lay in its user. Fugaku's Fire Release was far inferior to Uchiha Madara's, but this display still left many clan members stunned.

Shenhuo frowned deeply. Chakra gathered in his feet as he prepared to rush in and rescue Jing Uchiha.

"Big brother!!"

Little Shisui cried out in terror. If a clan member hadn't held him back, he would have rushed into the battle zone.

Facing the surging flames, Jing Uchiha remained expressionless.

His body slowly floated upward, while the ground beneath his feet was shaved away layer after layer by Invisible Blades.

Within the Mental Space.

Behind the seal, all four of Sukuna's eyes were fixed intently on the outside world.

"Kid... you really are something..."

Hiss—hiss—hiss—

The ear-piercing sound of cutting rang out continuously, gradually overpowering the roar of the Sea of Fire.

Azure Blades revolved around Jing Uchiha, moving faster and faster like a storm.

Every blade gleamed with a cold, icy radiance. Sword aura crisscrossed and sliced through the air, while the ringing of blades intertwined into a breathtaking melody.

"What kind of Ninjutsu is that...?"

"What terrifying pressure..."

The Sea of Fire drew closer, its light reflecting off Jing Uchiha's laughing face.

He extended two fingers and flicked them upward.

I'll name it.

"Slash Release—Thousand Blade Flow Scenery of Severity."

Whoooosh——!

An endless stream of Azure Blades roared forth, destroying and annihilating the Sea of Fire!

It swept everything away!

Fugaku leaped high into the air, his eyes filled with disbelief.

After witnessing Jing Uchiha's ferocity, he had unleashed this technique at full power. Yet it had actually been countered so completely!

Facing the endless stream of Blades rushing toward him, Fugaku gritted his teeth and formed Hand Seals.

Great Dragon Fire Technique!

Three fire dragons roared out, circling him and forming a ring.

Using an offensive Fire Release technique for defense demonstrated his powerful control over Ninjutsu.

The fire dragons were erased layer by layer, but the stream of Blades that had shattered the Sea of Fire was also completely exhausted.

Just as Fugaku relaxed, a silver-blue light flashed before his eyes.

What... was that?

Jing Uchiha held a rapidly spinning sphere of Chakra and slammed it into Fugaku's chest.

Rasengan!

Boom!!!

The intense impact was like a cannonball being fired, knocking Fugaku from the air and blasting up a huge cloud of dust.

"Clan leader!!"

"Fugaku!"

"Captain!"

Many clan members hurried toward the place where the dust had billowed up.

One of them quickly used Wind Release to disperse the smoke.

In the center of a spiral-patterned crater, Fugaku stood with great difficulty, his clothes in tatters and one hand braced against his knee.

The Rasengan's power lay not only in its tremendous impact, but also in its continuous destructive effect.

After striking its target, it could continuously inject energy into it, triggering a series of explosions and destruction that caused massive area damage.

A savage spiral wound marred Fugaku's chest. After sensing himself, he found that the Chakra within his body had been thrown into chaos, making it difficult to circulate.

Ignoring the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, he stared fixedly at Jing Uchiha as he descended.

"That's a powerful technique... Jing... you really are a genius..."

Jing Uchiha was breathing somewhat heavily as well. His Chakra consumption had reached its limit.

Both possessed the Three Tomoe, so the Sharingan could not offer much of an advantage. In a head-on clash, his Chakra reserves were inferior to Fugaku's.

He could only output power at maximum capacity and settle the battle quickly.

Jing Uchiha raised his eyes and sneered. "As expected of you. You think you can erase all my day-and-night efforts with the simple words 'a genius'?"

He knew very well that his talent was inferior to monsters like Namikaze Minato and Itachi Uchiha, and he had neither Naruto's nor Sasuke's Six Paths cheat power.

Sukuna within him could never become his partner.

Everything he wanted could only be won through his own efforts.

Starting from the age of two, over nearly two thousand days and nights, he had never dared to stop cultivating for even an instant.

He simply didn't want to face the unspeakable and be left with nothing but hatred for his own lack of ability.

The excessive Chakra output made his hand tremble slightly.

Gripping Sode no Shirayuki tightly, Jing Uchiha slowly walked toward Fugaku.

Fugaku adjusted his breathing as well. Although his injuries were severe, he still had the strength to fight.

Tap—

Shenhuo's tall body stepped between the two of them.

"That's enough sparring for now."

If they continued, one mistake could determine life or death. No matter who died, it was something Shenhuo did not want to see.