Breath of Water: Third Form, Flowing Dance!

On the day of the sparring match, the sky was overcast, and it looked as if a torrential downpour was on its way.

However, that did nothing to cool the Uchiha's fervor. Ninjas from the clan kept gathering around the training ground, their faces alight with excitement and their eyes shining. Their conversations were filled with pride.

"I heard that Itachi has never failed a mission since joining the Anbu! Even the Third Hoshikage thinks highly of him."

"I heard Arata took on the younger generation of Ino-Shika-Cho all by himself. When he defeated the Akimichi Clan, he even matched them in their greatest strength!"

One story after another about the day's main contenders spread through the crowd.

Whether Itachi or Arata, both were peerless figures who stood above their generation in Konoha. How could the clan not take pride in them?

Even the bitterness of being ostracized by the village for years had eased, if only briefly, thanks to the achievements of these two prodigies.

"Still, Arata's impressive. He can even overpower a team like Ino-Shika-Cho despite being younger, but he's still young. He hasn't been through the true trial of fire and steel, so he must lack battle experience."

"Let's hope one defeat knocks some of the rough edges off him."

At last, one of the clan members brought the conversation back to the battle about to begin.

They looked at the boy standing quietly on the surface of the lake, a blade strapped to his back, and spoke with some concern.

Both were rare talents, but when it came down to it, Arata lacked the experience and foundation. Itachi, on the other hand, was the clan leader's son and had access to the best resources—not just in the Uchiha Clan, but in all of Konoha!

The gap between them was obvious.

"But Arata has two Kekkei Genkai, and everyone's seen him train every day, rain or shine. Maybe he can create a miracle!"

Some clan members were rooting for Arata Uchiha.

Even if Ice Release wasn't a great match for the Sharingan and couldn't become a Kekkei Tōta like Ōnoki's, it was still astonishing.

Besides, Arata had Fire Release chakra, too. No one could say how far he might go!

Listening to the clan members around her, Izumi clasped her hands to her chest and pressed her pale lips together. Her eyes lowered, as if she were silently praying for something.

After an unknown stretch of time, a ripple spread across the still lake, and a slender figure appeared on its surface.

Itachi had arrived before the rain began to fall!

Today, he wasn't wearing his standard Anbu uniform. Instead, he had simply put on the clan's ninja attire, no different from what the others wore.

But for some reason, when Arata saw the Gunbai crest embroidered on Itachi's clothes, it seemed to sting his eyes.

Hmm.

It would probably look better after being washed clean with its owner's blood.

"Why me?"

Uchiha Itachi asked as he stepped onto the lake.

Confusion lurked in his eyes. He didn't believe the reason for the challenge that had spread through the clan.

His opponent wasn't the kind of person to waste time challenging people just for a little fame. The only two times he'd gotten into a fight at the Academy had been because the Sarutobi brothers and Ino-Shika-Cho had provoked him first.

Arata, however, had no desire to talk. With a sharp shing, the Horizontal Blade slid from its sheath behind his back. By the time Itachi looked again, Arata was already within a foot of him!

"Brother, watch out!"

A childish cry rang out from the shore.

Little Sasuke clenched his tiny fists, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Arata's a big bully! He actually sneak-attacked my brother!"

Itachi clearly hadn't expected Arata to be so direct. They were fellow clan members sparring, yet Arata hadn't even bothered with an opening remark.

And seeing how close his opponent was, even the normally calm Itachi couldn't help furrowing his brow.

Beyond Arata Uchiha's extraordinary explosiveness for his age, there was something else that puzzled him: the killing intent, subdued but still faintly discernible!

The eyes were the windows to the soul.

During the Third Shinobi World War and his Anbu missions, Itachi had seen countless pairs of eyes. Hatred, pity, cunning, killing intent—he could recognize the emotions hidden in them at a glance.

Just like the teammate Danzo had placed by his side. From their very first day together, he'd noticed the telltale signs: unmistakable surveillance and distrust.

It was the same now. With just one look, he'd seen the killing intent lurking in Arata's eyes.

Does he want to use this spar to kill me?

Whose order is this? The Council of Elders?

No, they wouldn't go so far as to want me dead.

In the blink of an eye, Itachi had considered many possibilities.

He knew that his recent actions had drawn criticism from the clan, and even his father had begun to openly show his displeasure. But he also knew those old men wouldn't make a move against him.

Then who could it be?

That mysterious Masked Man?

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his opponent's attack arrived.

The sharp blade tore through Itachi's form with ease, but there was no trace of delight on Arata's face.

"Caw, caw, caw."

The raucous cawing of crows rang in his ears, as if mocking his helplessness.

"Genjutsu."

"When did he—?"

Arata's mood dipped, but he quickly steadied himself.

Someone who couldn't even be controlled by the forbidden technique Impure World Reincarnation wouldn't fall so easily to his sneak attack.

Itachi, who had shifted away, gave Arata no time to think. He flipped his hands, and several shuriken slipped between his fingers.

Though he had plenty of questions, this clearly wasn't the time to find the answers.

At the same time, his opponent's decisive attack and explosive strength—far beyond what his age would suggest—posed a real threat.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

The shuriken whistled through the air, cutting through space at high speed.

Everyone knew that the Uchiha's Fire Release and Kekkei Genkai were peerless, but they overlooked one thing: mastering the shuriken was also a required skill for every member of the clan!

Arata didn't use the Sharingan to track the shuriken's trajectories.

He needed to save his visual prowess to counter Itachi's Three Tomoe. He knew he'd still be at a disadvantage, but that was better than having nothing.

Besides, there were only four shuriken.

"Hoo."

After letting out a quiet breath, Arata held the Horizontal Blade across his chest. Just as the weapons were about to strike, he quickly knocked them aside.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang."

The metal rang out exactly four times.

The initial test was easily blocked.

But Arata's eyes grew more serious. Two figures identical to Itachi had appeared in his field of vision. No—wait!

He glanced back from the corner of his eye.

There were three!

The three Shadow Clones and the real Itachi had surrounded him on all four sides.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Before Arata could keep thinking or figure out what was happening, the shuriken came hurtling toward him from every direction, sealing off every path he could use to evade them!

Standing in the center, he was like a trapped beast!

"What's happening? Is Arata giving up?"

A cry of surprise rose from the shore.

The surrounded boy was lowering his blade, as if he were about to abandon his resistance.

Still, against a storm of shuriken like this, giving up seemed only natural.

But was that really the case?

Was this really where it ended?

Uchiha Arata steadied his breathing, then abruptly turned his blade. A fierce fighting spirit blazed in his eyes. "Breath of Water: Third Form, Flowing Dance!"