Rock and Steam

Destroying a person's physical body was simple; all it took was taking their life.

A light cut to the throat, a Kunai plunged into the heart, or a blow that robbed the brain of its ability to think—any of these could easily take someone's life.

But destroying the will of a man with unwavering convictions and unyielding resolve was no easy feat.

After hearing Uchiha Yuji's words, Huangtu had more or less understood his situation. Their battle was already over.

That bold spirit, that unparalleled confidence, that overwhelming strength, and his contempt for Huangtu—

Huangtu slowly opened his tightly shut eyes and raised his head to look ahead.

The bright full moon hung behind Uchiha Yuji. The angle of the moonlight cast a shadow over his face, which crackled with electricity. Yet his arrogant pose, arms folded across his chest, his slightly raised chin, and those blood-red eyes with their sinister Tomoe were unmistakable.

His eyes were utterly indifferent.

Father, is this how you felt when you faced Uchiha Madara back then?

His sturdy frame still stood proudly, but a closer look revealed his legs trembling slightly. It wasn't from excitement, but from a touch of fear.

Look even closer, and his pupils were visibly quivering.

It was a sign that his resolve to fight to the death had vanished. His will had wavered.

If Yuji gave him a clean, decisive cut, it would end his life in an instant. But the spirit he left behind would spread throughout Iwagakure along with the news of his death, making the Iwa shinobi even more resilient.

"That Huangtu is probably finished," Hatake Sakumo said gravely as they raced along.

"Don't underestimate that man, Sakumo." Uchiha Yuji disagreed. "He's Ōnoki's son. This level of humiliation is nothing to him."

"Just as he said himself, he's a shinobi with the Will of Stone. His wavering now is only temporary."

"He'll get back on his feet and strive to become stronger, only for me to beat him again."

Hatake Sakumo opened his mouth, but didn't say, That last part was completely unnecessary.

Yuji rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "Oh, right. The guy who bounced back after our Uchiha ancestors humiliated him in the previous generation was named Ōnoki."

Hatake Sakumo's eye twitched.

If Huangtu passed this information along and reminded Ōnoki of the past, then, judging by the way people in the Shinobi World described Ōnoki's personality, they'd be drawing twice as much of his ire. He'd probably go completely berserk.

The battle might not remain a minor skirmish like this one. Iwagakure would certainly tighten its defenses, and instead of facing a lone powerhouse, they might find themselves up against the active Iwa shinobi forces, led by Ōnoki himself, coming to wipe them out!

Was this for real? Were they really going to go that far?!

Weren't they supposed to be carrying out a lightning-fast assault?

At the thought of it, Hatake Sakumo wanted to turn back and give Huangtu a slash.

Yuji seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. With a chuckle, he said, "If we go back now, we probably won't find him. He should've pulled himself together by now."

"So, are we changing our plan again?"

Plans often changed faster than circumstances in the life of a shinobi, but this was ridiculous! He'd just finished adjusting the plan, and Yuji was already changing it again!

Yuji smiled. "Is it possible our plan hasn't really changed all that much?"

"Sure, plenty of things have happened along the way, but our ultimate goal hasn't changed."

Hatake Sakumo froze.

"The goal has always been to crush the Iwa shinobi. We're still on the same page there."

"Iwagakure has only forty thousand shinobi stationed there. At most, Ōnoki can send thirty thousand to fight us. Just thirty thousand."

"Thirty thousand troops are nowhere near enough to deal with me."

"Just thirty thousand, huh?"

"You really have a way of saying things, Yuji."

He murmured softly, but the corners of his mouth rose despite himself. Hatake Sakumo felt the blood in his body begin to boil, his heart beating faster than usual.

Such fierce bloodlust! Such soaring fighting spirit!

He couldn't lie to himself. The thought of standing against tens of thousands of enemies had his blood pumping.

The boldness and romance etched into a man's DNA surged within him.

But Hatake Sakumo clearly understood his limits. He wasn't the main character in this war. That role belonged to the man who had so casually said, "Just thirty thousand."

"I think I understand you a little better now, Pops."

Huangtu wiped the blood running down his cheek. His scorched face still stung terribly, but the burning pain was nothing compared to the fire in his heart.

His face, like a weathered stone, seemed carved by a blade, making him look even more resolute.

"Stone is unyielding. It does not bend. I can get past this humiliation too and become stronger." He seemed to be reaffirming his convictions, murmuring softly.

"Huangtu, what are you doing here?" A familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Shouldn't you still be guarding the border near Takigakure?"

The newcomer was Han, one of Iwagakure's foremost fighters and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

He was covered in crimson armor, with a rough hemp tunic draped loosely over it. A mask hid the lower half of his face, and beneath his crimson conical hat, his golden eyes regarded Huangtu with slight surprise.

"Did you run into the ones who destroyed Kannabi Bridge?"

"Were they really that strong?"

Huangtu was Ōnoki's son. As far as others were concerned, unless his abilities surpassed Ōnoki's, he would always be called "just what you'd expect from Lord Tsuchikage's son."

But Han had fought alongside him and knew all too well how powerful this seemingly not-so-young young man was.

With an aura that seemed to turn him into a rock standing firm amid a mountain torrent, a powerful build, and a vast reserve of chakra, he could hold his own against Han for a short while.

Yet now, such a powerful Huangtu stood here with few injuries. That meant the gap between them had been enormous. His opponent hadn't defeated him with sheer numbers.

One person had beaten Huangtu through overwhelming strength.

And completely crushed his fighting spirit!

"It was the Uchiha. It seems the Uchiha Clan has produced another figure like Uchiha Madara." Huangtu gave a bitter smile. "The difference in strength was too great."

"Sorry, I may not be able to help you much right now."

Han gave a slight nod to show he understood as he watched Huangtu's clenched fist trembling despite his efforts to steady it.