With a low growl from Arata Uchiha, surging water immediately coiled around the Horizontal Blade, like some kind of pattern protecting the blade.
But that was all. He himself still did not move.
At that moment, countless shuriken closed in from every direction, truly like a locust swarm blotting out the sky.
"H-how is that possible?"
A baffled clansman cried out in shock.
Even with the support of three Shadow Clones, it was impossible to throw so many shuriken in an instant. This was simply beyond human capability!
"It's the Shadow Clone Jutsu—Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Yashiro Uchiha, standing at the center of the clan members, explained. Three black magatama had appeared in his eyes at some point.
The Sharingan could see through all illusions.
"Heh, looks like Itachi is highly valued by the Third Hoshikage."
The young man standing beside Yashiro chimed in, though his tone was clearly mocking and hostile.
Inabi Uchiha.
An exceptionally talented ninja among the younger generation of the clan, he had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and held an important post in the Konoha Military Police Force.
"Inabi."
Yashiro barked sharply, while his gaze discreetly flicked toward the clan head standing before the crowd.
Unfortunately.
The other man's expression remained as calm as still water, without a single flaw to be found.
"Hmph."
Though Inabi Uchiha restrained himself after the rebuke, he still let out a cold snort to vent his displeasure.
He belonged to the clan's radical faction, and being young, he had long been unable to tolerate the village's blatant preferential treatment.
And at that very moment, Arata moved.
Though Shadow Clones and the original body differed fundamentally, they were nearly impossible to distinguish by appearance alone. Especially for someone like Itachi, who exercised absolute restraint and control over the personalities and mannerisms of his clones.
So, if one wanted to tell them apart, aside from using the Sharingan, the only option was relying on one's own eyesight!
After all, the power possessed by a clone was far inferior to that of the original, and the ninja tools it threw would naturally be the same.
And the reward Arata had received from the daily training he had practiced the longest—Endless Ninja Tool Control—was the Basic Ocular Power Pill! It sharpened the eyes!
"It's on the left!"
The boy raised his blade. The water clinging to it moved like a soaring dragon and slithering serpent, and in an instant, both the shuriken and Shadow Clones shattered the moment they came into contact with it!
Nearly a hundred ninja tools, yet not a single blade touched the corner of his clothes!
"Flame Leap Sword?"
"No, Flame Leap Sword uses Fire Release chakra."
"Did Arata create a new ninjutsu?"
Exclamations rang through the clan one after another!
How old was he?
Eight!
At that age, he could already alter the swordsmanship passed down through the clan and even display formidable practical combat ability. Was extraordinary talent even enough to describe such a sight?
Even Fugaku, the clan head who was always unruffled, showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes!
That's right.
This was the reward for reaching swordsmanship mastery: Breath of Water, Third Form, Flowing Dance.
Of course, it was only this one form. The remaining ten forms still required skill points to unlock. The ultimate technique, Hinokami Kagura, alone required as many as six skill points.
But although the exchange cost was extremely high, once acquired, it was instantly comprehended. Naturally, to judge when and where to use it properly still required constant practice from the user.
And judging by the current situation, this counterattack had undoubtedly been perfect!
Itachi watched the charging challenger indifferently.
Indeed, both that meticulous observation and exquisite swordsmanship were enough to make him view Arata in a new light.
But his practical combat experience was ultimately too lacking.
Using high-intensity swordsmanship to counter his shuriken—did he really think his stamina and chakra were limitless?
There was a three-year gap between them.
The three Shadow Clones silently shifted positions before the original, their hand seals already complete!
"Then, let's fight!"
At that moment, a hint of seriousness finally appeared in Itachi Uchiha's eyes.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
In an instant, the entire lake became a sea of fire!
If the Uchiha Clan's Fire Release was unmatched in the Ninja World, then Itachi's Fire Release was a force that could suppress the entire clan for an era!
The clan members on the shore retreated one after another.
Even from afar, the roaring sea of flames made them feel searing heat wash over them.
And Arata Uchiha's figure was instantly swallowed by it.
"Now this is real ninjutsu."
Someone muttered softly.
"My big brother is the strongest!"
Sasuke proudly declared aloud, his little face reddened by the firelight.
"Still not using the Sharingan?"
Blocked by the flames, Arata muttered inwardly.
"Then it's over."
"My guardian spirit, appear before me. Your name is Yuki-onna."
"Spirit Bind: Red Plum Under Snow!"
Pure white snowflakes drifted down. Crystal-clear ice spread inch by inch along the blade, while rings of frigid ice continuously expanded across the lake's surface. The boundless tongues of flame could not touch him in the slightest!
And that was not all.
Using the flames as cover, Arata flipped his left hand, and a jade-green pill appeared in his palm.
The Intermediate Speed Pill, obtained from the thousand-day achievement for weighted running. He had said he was determined to win.
After flicking the pill into his mouth, Arata did not swallow it immediately. It was for the most critical ambush!
"How is it going?"
A clansman without an awakened Sharingan asked anxiously.
If an ordinary ninja encountered such a towering sea of flames, they would have either died or fled long ago.
Yet the flames had not stopped, and Arata's figure had not appeared.
"He's still in the center of the fire."
The Sharingan did not possess the Byakugan's penetrating scouting ability. They could only determine Arata Uchiha's location through his chakra.
"Has he already run out of strength?"
Just as a worried voice fell silent, their field of vision abruptly changed!
"That's—!"
A trembling voice squeezed out from someone's throat.
Snow drifted strangely across the lake. The towering sea of flames was frozen and suppressed. A boy in blue slowly emerged with an ice blade in hand, the flames cowering beneath him.
"It's an Ice Release Kekkei Genkai!!"
At last, the suppressed voices erupted thunderously.
Faced with such an overwhelming visual impact, Itachi's expression finally changed, but his mind remained steady.
Neither the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu nor the Great Fireball Jutsu had consumed much of his chakra.
But this beautiful Ice Release technique before him was another matter entirely.
"Does he want to use this match to display his strength to the clan and gain more attention?"
"No, that's not it. His eyes—the killing intent in his eyes has grown stronger!"
Itachi instinctively retreated.
This was the absolute instinct he had developed through countless bloody battles.
And in that instant, two figures identical to Arata silently burst out from the ice and flames, easily cutting apart all three of his Shadow Clones.
Had he not retreated, he would likely have been injured as well.
But!
It wasn't over yet!
Itachi, who had barely stabilized himself, felt his nerves twitch. When he looked up again, three figures were already closing in, and amid the rushed illusions, it was impossible to tell which was real!
"Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
He saw through it instantly. His long-unused Sharingan appeared at that moment, and a kunai fell into his palm.
Boom.
Without the slightest pause, Itachi instantly slashed apart one clone, darted through the opening, and pulled far enough away to ensure his safety.
The boy fighting him had already surpassed his expectations more and more. He needed to steady himself and take this seriously.
Yet when Arata saw this, a savage grin spread across his face. As his Single-Tomoe Sharingan appeared, the Speed Pill held between his teeth was crushed in an instant.
"Secret Sword: Moon Shadow!"
The speed Arata erupted with in that instant was difficult for even Itachi, with his Sharingan activated, to follow. More precisely, he could see it, but could not transmit the image to his brain and make the correct judgment in time.
And the safety distance he had deliberately created was crossed in an instant.
There was no time to form hand seals or escape!
"Die, Itachi Uchiha!!!"
Blood stained the ice blade as it slowly fell.
Before you continue