Ninjutsu Showdown

Seeing twenty-four shuriken flying toward him, Tianqi cursed under his breath at Sarutobi for picking on someone younger and shamelessly using his advantage. He activated his Sharingan and dodged.

With the Sharingan's enhanced perception, Tianqi managed to evade them without incident.

There was no way I could last ten minutes against Sarutobi with my current strength. I can only use hit-and-run tactics to buy time.

And so the two began a dance of attack and evasion. Sarutobi Hiruzen held back, keeping Tianqi at bay without using his full strength.

"Tianqi, if you keep dodging, I can't get a good look at your abilities. We've played around enough. It's time to end this." Sarutobi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear right in front of Tianqi, intending to finish the fight with one punch.

Seeing Sarutobi charge at him, Tianqi immediately pushed off with both legs and leaped backward, forming Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Tianqi breathed a huge fireball at Sarutobi. Seeing it rush toward him, Sarutobi silently praised Tianqi. His Hand Seals were quick, and his technique was powerful. He really did have some skill. As the fireball drew closer, Sarutobi began forming Hand Seals too. Though he started later, his hands moved much faster than Tianqi's.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" A wall of water appeared in front of Sarutobi, blocking the fireball.

The collision of fire and water instantly raised a thick cloud of steam. Using it as cover, Tianqi leaped out of Sarutobi's range of attack and onto a tree. Seven minutes had already passed. He decided to use long-range tactics to buy another three minutes. "Just three more minutes. I only have to hold out a little longer."

"Your ninjutsu is excellent, but this is as far as you go, Tianqi." Sarutobi's voice suddenly came from behind him. Somehow, Sarutobi had already made his way there.

Tianqi wasn't the least bit flustered. Instead, a smile appeared on his lips.

"Is that so? I don't think so."

Just as Sarutobi was about to attack Tianqi, he realized he was surrounded by countless thin wires. Following them with his eyes, he saw that their ends were clutched in Tianqi's hand. Then he understood.

"So that's it. I was wondering why you suddenly ran up into the tree. You set a trap up here, then jumped up to lure me into following you."

"Exactly. I set a trap up here earlier. Now, take a look at a new ninjutsu I've been working on." As he spoke, Tianqi immediately formed Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" Tianqi breathed flames onto the wires. The fire raced along them toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was bound in place.

Despite its name, the Dragon Fire Technique was really just the Great Fireball Technique breathed along a wire.

As Tianqi watched Sarutobi Hiruzen burn, he wasn't worried at all about killing him. Instead, he warily scanned his surroundings.

As if I could kill the future Third Hokage with strength like mine. Sure enough, the burning Sarutobi slowly turned into a pile of dirt.

"An Earth Clone? Where will he appear?" Tianqi panted heavily as he warily watched his surroundings. He couldn't help it—he had enough Chakra to use a C-Rank Ninjutsu only three times.

Just one minute left. I have to hold out.

As Tianqi scanned the area, the ground beneath his feet suddenly split open. Sarutobi burst out and punched him squarely in the chin.

Caught off guard, Tianqi was sent flying. He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the ground.

"Tianqi, this is as far as you go. You can't fight anymore. Give up. You could've focused on the bells, but all you wanted was to defeat me. That was always going to end in failure."

Tianqi shakily got to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said,

"I never planned to grab the bells. I just wanted you to know that even without going through the Academy, I, Uchiha Tianqi, am every bit as good as anyone who graduated from it."

"I'll fight to the very end. There's no way I'm giving up!"

Thirty seconds left. This is my last ninjutsu. With that, Tianqi began forming Hand Seals.

Watching Tianqi fall, then get back up and form Hand Seals, Sarutobi couldn't help but admire him. With that tenacious, unyielding spirit, he was sure to make a name for himself in the Shinobi World someday. He only wondered whether that would be good or bad for Konoha.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Seeing the huge fireball rush toward him, Sarutobi didn't try to defend himself this time. He formed a long string of Hand Seals.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A water dragon surged toward the fireball. In an instant, it scattered the flames, then passed through them and charged straight at Tianqi.

As Tianqi watched the water dragon rushing toward him, he finally ran out of Chakra and passed out.

Under Sarutobi's control, the water dragon veered away and crashed to the side.

Looking at Tianqi, unconscious on the ground, Sarutobi shook his head and chided him with a laugh.

"You brat. You really do throw yourself into everything you do. Looks like I can trust you to take on missions from now on." Then he took a Military Ration Pill from his pocket and fed it to Tianqi.

After a while, Tianqi woke up.

"Congratulations. From now on, you're a qualified Genin." Sarutobi Hiruzen took out a Forehead Protector and held it out to Tianqi.

Tianqi took the Forehead Protector from Sarutobi Hiruzen and tied it around his head.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll take on missions, and I'll continue training you along the way."

"Yes, Teacher Sarutobi."

"You don't have to call me teacher. Just call me captain. I'm only a little over ten years older than you."

"Yes, Captain."

"All right, go home and get some good rest today. We'll start taking on missions tomorrow. Meet me at the usual place. I'm heading out."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, Tianqi dragged his exhausted body home. He ate, took a shower, and collapsed into bed.

Oh, right. I should've gotten a thousand Points and one chance to upgrade my Sharingan for completing the mission today. Let's check the system.

He summoned the system. I'll save these thousand Points for now. Upgrading to the Three-Tomoe Sharingan costs ten thousand, so I'm still nine thousand short. As for the chance to upgrade my Sharingan... Tianqi began to scheme.

"System, can I save this Sharingan upgrade for later?" Tianqi asked aloud. He wanted to hold onto the chance and use it to break through from Three-Tomoe Sharingan to Mangekyo.

If possible, he'd rather save it to reach Eternal Mangekyo. After all, he didn't have a brother whose eyes he could transplant—and even if he did, he wouldn't do it unless his brother really wanted to get himself killed.

But the system immediately dashed his hopes. [Host, this upgrade can only be used for the Sharingan below the Three-Tomoe level. In other words, you can use it to reach the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but not to upgrade to Mangekyo. Don't try to exploit a loophole in the system.]

Hearing that, Tianqi let out a quiet sigh. "I knew there'd be no bugs to exploit in the system."

"Then I'll upgrade to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan first."

A wave of energy appeared inside his head. Since he'd awakened his Sharingan once before, the second time wasn't nearly as painful. In a moment, the One-Tomoe Sharingan advanced to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Tianqi walked over to the mirror and studied his eyes closely.

"So this is the Sharingan. Those alluring red pupils, with two tomoe in each one. Damn, that looks so cool!"

"The One-Tomoe Sharingan grants insight, while the Two-Tomoe Sharingan gives you powerful observational abilities and lets you copy other people's ninjutsu. That ability is seriously broken."

Tianqi couldn't help but marvel. The Naruto world really was a place where bloodlines ruled. Almost everyone with a connection to the Six Paths was a powerful ninja.