One Step Without Moving

"He's our big brother."

Uchiha Daishi said proudly.

Uchiha Eiji's performance just now had made him look like a clown who'd been toyed with, which had made them all very happy.

Uchiha Eiji sized up Uchiha Yuan and said coldly, "So you're the big brother of this bunch of losers.

"You managed to sneak up on me without my noticing. Uchiha Yuan, you've really surprised me."

"Uchiha Eiji, it's been a while."

Uchiha Yuan replied calmly. They were both students at the Ninja Academy, just in different classes.

Uchiha Eiji furrowed his brows slightly and studied Uchiha Yuan, his gaze flickering.

He didn't know much about Uchiha Yuan. They had never interacted, and all he knew was that Uchiha Yuan wasn't part of the clan's main branch.

The Uchiha Clan had nearly a thousand members. Many of them had no dealings with one another and didn't even know each other.

Uchiha Yuan looked toward Uchiha Daishi and the others. Like him, these boys came from the Uchiha family's branch families and outer family.

The outer family consisted of people with other surnames who had married into the Uchiha.

Compared to other members of the family, children from the outer family were much less likely to awaken the clan's Kekkei Genkai.

That was why most Ninja Clans in the Ninja World practiced endogamy.

As a result, outer family members were even more overlooked than members of the branch families and had virtually no say in the clan.

Uchiha Yuan was an outer family member of the clan. His father had married into the Uchiha family.

Under Uchiha Yuan's gaze, Uchiha Daishi and the others all looked ashamed.

"Big brother, we're sorry. We've let you down."

Uchiha Daishi and the others lowered their heads and bowed to Uchiha Yuan.

Uchiha Yuan said, "You really have. More than a dozen of you got beaten by just three people."

Uchiha Daishi and the others looked both ashamed and resentful. Uchiha Eiji and his two companions, meanwhile, wore smug expressions.

But when they heard what Uchiha Yuan said next, Uchiha Eiji's expression immediately turned angry.

"But if you follow the training method I taught you, you'll soon be able to beat them and get your revenge."

One of the companions beside Uchiha Eiji couldn't help speaking up. "Uchiha Yuan, you're talking way too big.

"You only managed to sneak up on Brother Eiji because he let his guard down. There's no way you can beat him!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Daishi immediately retorted, "Uchiha Hayabusa, you have no idea how strong our big brother is. I admit Uchiha Eiji is stronger than us, but he's no match for our big brother."

The numbness and pain in Uchiha Eiji's right leg had faded. He was still bothered by the way Uchiha Yuan had repeatedly appeared behind him earlier.

Now, hearing Uchiha Daishi's words, he snorted and said, "Uchiha Yuan, let's see what you can do."

Uchiha Yuan shook his head slightly. "After our exchange just now, I already have a good idea of your strength. You're no match for me."

"Hmph. That's not for you to decide."

Uchiha Eiji grew even angrier at Uchiha Yuan's words. He darted forward, leaping straight at him.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Uchiha Eiji threw several punches in a row, then spun and kicked several times. His movements were swift and fluid, and he executed the whole series in just a few seconds.

It was a standard form of Uchiha-style Taijutsu, with a chain of linked moves that made the attack seem like a net closing around its target.

But every one of Uchiha Eiji's attacks missed. Uchiha Yuan evaded them all with ease.

After a few more exchanges, Uchiha Yuan seized his chance and threw a punch, meeting Uchiha Eiji's fist head-on.

Uchiha Yuan didn't move an inch, while Uchiha Eiji was knocked backward by the impact. He flipped through the air, landed, then stumbled back two steps before regaining his balance.

Is this guy a monster? He's so strong.

Uchiha Eiji was secretly shocked. His right hand kept opening and clenching, and his entire right arm was numb, as if he'd been struck by lightning.

After sending Uchiha Eiji flying with a single punch, Uchiha Yuan turned and started to leave.

Seeing this, Uchiha Eiji hurriedly called out, "Don't go! I haven't lost."

Uchiha Yuan turned back to face him. "Uchiha Eiji, you should know the difference in strength between us."

Uchiha Eiji froze. He had already sensed it, but he couldn't bring himself to admit that he was weaker than someone from a branch family.

What angered him even more was Uchiha Yuan's calm, certain tone. His pride as a member of the Uchiha couldn't accept it.

"Uchiha Yuan, are you afraid to keep fighting me? Are you just like that bunch of losers... a loser yourself?"

Uchiha Eiji taunted him.

Uchiha Yuan's gaze suddenly sharpened. Uchiha Daishi and the others nearby immediately felt a powerful pressure radiating from him.

Uchiha Eiji also felt the sharp aura emanating from Uchiha Yuan. After his initial surprise, his fighting spirit surged.

Uchiha Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Uchiha Eiji. "As far as I'm concerned, accepting your challenge would be a waste of my time. If you lose, you'll have to agree to one request of mine."

After hesitating briefly, Uchiha Eiji agreed, then asked, "What if you lose?"

Uchiha Yuan wore a bold, domineering smile of confidence. "I won't lose. If I do, you can do whatever you want with me."

Hearing this, Uchiha Eiji immediately grinned with excitement and malice. "Fine. If you lose, I want you to get on the ground and bark like a dog."

"Bastard!"

"You son of a—how dare you think of humiliating our big brother like that!"

"Uchiha Eiji, you're the worst!"

Hearing Uchiha Eiji's words, Uchiha Daishi and the others shouted insults at him.

Uchiha Yuan waved a hand, signaling Uchiha Daishi and the others to quiet down.

He looked at Uchiha Eiji and thought, What an obnoxious brat. Time to give you a taste of my righteous fist.

The two moved to the center of the open space, while Uchiha Daishi and the others gathered around the edge to watch.

Uchiha Eiji said to Uchiha Yuan, "You haven't learned any ninjutsu yet, have you? I'll show you that you can't become strong by training in Taijutsu alone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Eiji's figure flashed and disappeared.

Body Flicker Technique!

The next second, he appeared behind Uchiha Yuan and slashed at the back of his neck with a hand strike.

But Uchiha Yuan moved just then, delivering a sharp, smooth side kick as he turned.

Thud.

Uchiha Eiji's figure burst apart, turning into a log.

So it was the Substitution Technique.

Uchiha Yuan thought.

Immediately afterward, a gust of wind rushed toward him. Uchiha Eiji charged in front of him and threw a punch at his face.

Uchiha Yuan raised a hand to catch the punch. His opponent used the force of the impact to spring backward, then quickly attacked again.

The fierce sounds of fists and palms colliding rang out without pause.

Uchiha Eiji's figure darted back and forth around Uchiha Yuan.

Watching this, Uchiha Daishi said in shock to the companions beside him, "Has anyone else noticed that big brother seems to have been standing in the same spot this whole time?"