The Duel Begins

The next day, a formal challenge letter from Shisui was delivered to Yusuke. This event immediately caused a massive stir in Konoha.

Although the Uchiha Clan was being ostracized by the village during this period, they remained the most prominent family in Konoha, arguably even the most powerful in the entire ninja world, and possessed immense prestige throughout the shinobi nations.

The news of the "Uchiha's Number One Genius" challenging the "Uchiha's Number One Expert" immediately captured countless eyes. With the Third Hokage fanning the flames behind the scenes, this duel became known to everyone.

Whether they were ninjas or civilians, everyone waited for the day of the match between Yusuke and Shisui, eager to see which of the two great Uchiha masters would prove superior.

"I'm never playing with Brother Shisui again! I thought he was a good person, but I didn't expect him to be a bad guy!" On the training ground, Izumi pouted, looking as if she were dragging a heavy weight behind her.

To the simple-minded Izumi, judging a person was still limited to distinguishing between "good guys" and "bad guys."

Itachi frowned deeply and said, "I also didn't expect Shisui to actually challenge the teacher. Although I don't know what his goal is, I believe Shisui wouldn't be so shallow as to do it just for the empty title of 'Uchiha's Number One Expert'."

"However, knowing Shisui's character, since the challenge letter has already been sent, he certainly won't take it back," Itachi continued.

"Hmph, let him not take it back! It'll be a good chance for Brother to teach him a lesson!" Izumi said indignantly.

Itachi shook his head: "Shisui's strength is immense! I don't mean to look down on the teacher, but honestly, in my view, the outcome of this match is hard to predict."

Kabuto, standing to the side, pushed up his glasses and asked, "Is Uchiha Shisui really that formidable?"

"Indeed. In my opinion, Shisui's Body Flicker Technique is almost impossible to counter. But that is only judging by my own perception," Itachi said with a grave expression.

Because Itachi often trained with Shisui at night, he had a deeper understanding of Shisui's strength.

At this moment, Guy, who had just been guiding them in taijutsu training, nodded and said, "That's right. I've also heard of the secret Body Flicker Technique created by Body Flicker Shisui, which can create eight phantom clones."

"These phantom clones are produced by combining the Body Flicker Technique with Shisui's secret arts. Only one is his true body, yet all the phantoms can attack the enemy simultaneously!"

"Wouldn't that be even trickier than facing eight enemies at once? There is only one weakness, but there are eight points of attack. As long as you don't eliminate the real body, you have to face the simultaneous assault of eight enemies?" Kabuto frowned.

Itachi nodded: "Correct. And I know for a fact that the current Shisui can create more than eight phantom clones."

Izumi's cute face went blank: "Huh?"

Regarding the analysis of the others, Izumi, whose talent lay within the range of a normal person, could not yet grasp what they were talking about.

"It seems you all have very little confidence in your teacher." Just as everyone was discussing, a flash of fire rose from the ground, transforming into a calm-looking young ninja. It was Yusuke, who had just arrived at the training ground.

Seeing Yusuke appear, everyone gathered around to ask about his confidence regarding the match.

"Don't worry, Shisui is not my match," Yusuke said with a smile.

If it were before he obtained the Nine-Tails' Yin Release Chakra, Yusuke certainly wouldn't have been confident in defeating Shisui. But now that he had awakened the Sharingan and mastered a method to further unleash the power of Ryujin Jakka, he could say that victory was within his grasp!

"I knew Brother would be the best! You must teach him a good lesson!" Hearing Yusuke's affirmative answer, Izumi said happily.

Having said that, Izumi frowned slightly: "But don't teach him too harshly; after all, he used to be a pretty good person."

Hearing Izumi's naive words, Yusuke smiled and patted her head.

Guy grinned, revealing a row of white teeth: "Since you're so confident, Yusuke, why don't we have a man's spar first!"

"I refuse!" Yusuke said expressionlessly.

With a bang, Itachi, Kabuto, and Izumi watched in surprise as Guy suddenly attacked. Guy's kick stopped right next to Yusuke's head, held firmly by Yusuke's arm.

Because Guy's leg strength was extremely powerful, a loud sound erupted when it collided with Yusuke's arm.

"You can't refuse this spar!" Guy laughed heartily.

Before the words had faded, Guy's figure began to blur, as if he were a phantom.

Before anyone present could react, four identical Guys simultaneously attacked Yusuke—two using kicks and two using punches!

The corners of Yusuke's mouth curled up slightly. He understood Guy's intention; he was helping him experience Shisui's Body Flicker Technique in advance.

Yusuke dodged and blocked the attacks of the four Guys. Although his taijutsu was also outstanding, he quickly realized that ordinary taijutsu was powerless against this kind of Body Flicker Technique. One had to remember that Guy was only managing to manifest four phantom clones at this moment!

Yusuke parried left and right, finding almost no opportunity to counterattack. Even when he occasionally struck back, he only hit phantoms that lacked physical substance.

Barely holding on for a dozen seconds, Yusuke could no longer withstand Guy's offensive. He performed the Fire Illusion Crow Technique, transforming into dozens of illusionary crows wreathed in flames to put distance between himself and Guy.

It wasn't that Yusuke lacked a way to deal with this Body Flicker Technique; it was just that his method required him to activate the Shikai of Ryujin Jakka, which would very likely injure Guy.

"Yusuke, how is it? Do you have a countermeasure for these phantom clones created using the Body Flicker Technique?" One of the four Guys bent over, hands on his knees, panting heavily—evidently, the physical exertion was immense. The other three phantom clones gradually vanished.

Guy's taijutsu was stronger than Shisui's, and in terms of pure, ordinary Body Flicker speed, he might not lose to Shisui. However, Guy did not possess the secret arts Shisui had mastered; he was relying entirely on physical speed to simulate phantom clones, which consumed a massive amount of stamina. Therefore, even with Guy's strength, he could simulate at most four phantom clones, and he could not maintain them for long.

Yusuke nodded: "It is indeed very tricky, but it won't stump me."

"Thank you, Guy," Yusuke said sincerely.

Guy stood up and laughed heartily: "It's nothing. I just don't want the opponent I've acknowledged to be defeated by someone else first!"

Three days passed in a flash. By now, the training ground specifically used for ninja duels in Konoha had gathered many spectators, both ninjas and civilians, all there to watch the duel between the two great Uchiha masters.

In the spectator stands, members of all the major ninja clans were present. Even the Third Hokage and Danzo had already taken their seats in the reserved area, quietly waiting for the match to begin.

"Who do you think will win today?"

"It should be Body Flicker Shisui. I heard he can turn into a thousand people; he could stab the opponent to death with just one blade each!"

"Where did you hear that urban legend? It's not that exaggerated at all. I'm actually betting on Flame Tachi; he's a genius expert who was very active during the Third Shinobi World War."

Many spectators in the stands were whispering, discussing the possible outcome of the duel.

In a spot near the competition area of the training ground, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Shiranui Genma, and Guy were huddled together.

"Kakashi, who do you think has a higher chance of winning? After seeing how Uchiha Yusuke handled a few of his clansmen at the teahouse last time, I'm leaning toward him," Asuma said to Kakashi.

Shiranui Genma nodded. "I agree with Asuma. I'm well aware of Yusuke's strength; he is definitely an elite among jonin."

Kakashi didn't answer, simply waiting quietly for the match to begin. Even he couldn't predict the outcome right now; it wasn't easy to guess the results of a fight between ninjas of the same caliber.

To Asuma, Shiranui Genma, and the others, Yusuke's strength seemed overwhelming, giving him a decisive advantage. However, as one of the Third Hokage's confidants, Kakashi had interacted with Shisui during his time in the Anbu and had a vague sense of the terror that was Body Flicker Shisui.

On the other side, in a dark corner, Orochimaru excitedly licked his lips with a tongue that resembled a snake's. "This is truly a battle worth looking forward to."

"The time has come. I, Uchiha Fugaku, will preside over this match. Will the two competing ninjas please come to the center of the Training Ground?" At this moment, a grim-faced Uchiha Fugaku entered the Training Ground and announced loudly.

After Shisui had officially delivered the challenge to Yusuke, Uchiha Fugaku had spoken with Shisui twice, but he had been unable to persuade him to abandon the challenge.

In Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, this was just giving the other clans in Konoha a reason to laugh at the Uchiha Clan! But no matter how unwilling he was, as the head of the Uchiha Clan, he was the most suitable person to preside over this match.

Yusuke and Shisui arrived at the center of the Training Ground, standing about five meters apart and staring at each other.

"Barrier Team, activate the barrier! The match begins now!" Uchiha Fugaku cast a complex look at both Yusuke and Shisui before announcing it loudly, then retreated from the Training Ground himself.

If these two geniuses could get along and work together to help me revitalize the clan, then the Uchiha Clan would surely be able to regain its footing in Konoha, Uchiha Fugaku sighed to himself.

Although Yusuke had warned Uchiha Fugaku about Shisui's stance, Uchiha Fugaku still trusted Shisui implicitly.

In Uchiha Fugaku's perception, Shisui was merely a representative of the moderate faction within the clan, hoping to eliminate the friction between the clan and the village while serving as a bridge for communication between the clan and the village leadership. He did not believe that Shisui would disregard the clan's interests and surrender entirely to the side of the village leadership.

On the Training Ground, Shisui activated his Sharingan, his gaze burning as he looked at Yusuke. "Yusuke-senpai, the winner of this match will definitely be me. You are very strong, but you cannot defeat my ninja way and my determination!"

"Senpai, what is your ninja way!?"

Looking at the confident Shisui, Yusuke said slowly, "My ninja way? It isn't time for you to know that yet."

Hearing Yusuke's reply, Shisui said no more, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Routine thanks to everyone for your support; there are 37 days left until the double-update schedule begins! (●●)(●●)

Regarding the announcement about the author going full-time, many enthusiastic readers have offered quite a few suggestions. Because there were so many, the author couldn't reply to them one by one, so a unified response has been posted in the pinned thread of the reader circle.

I am truly grateful for everyone's enthusiasm. Even though the double-updates haven't started yet, the author has already received many support votes!