Blood Stains the Icy Blade

With a low growl from Arata Uchiha, a surging torrent of water instantly coiled around his blade, resembling a pattern protecting the steel.

However, that was all; he himself remained motionless.

At this moment, countless shuriken approached from all sides, truly resembling a swarm of locusts, blotting out the sky and covering the earth.

"H-how is this possible?"

Some clansmen who were unaware of the trick shouted in shock.

Even with the assistance of three Shadow Clones, it should be impossible to throw so many shuriken in a single instant; this was simply beyond human capability!

"It is the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Shuriken Shadow Clone."

Yashiro Uchiha, standing at the center of the clansmen, spoke to explain, his eyes already revealing three black tomoe.

The Sharingan can see through all falsehoods.

"Heh, it seems Itachi is highly valued by the Third Hokage."

The young man standing beside Yashiro chimed in, though his tone was clearly mocking and unkind.

Inabi Uchiha.

An exceptionally talented ninja among the younger generation of the clan, he had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and held a key position in the Konoha Military Police Force.

"Inabi."

Yashiro barked a sharp reprimand, while simultaneously glancing discreetly at the Clan Head standing before them all.

Unfortunately.

The man's expression remained as calm as water, revealing not a single flaw.

"Hmph."

Hearing the reprimand, Inabi Uchiha reined in his attitude, though he still let out a cold snort to vent his dissatisfaction.

He was a radical within the clan, and being young, he had long been unable to tolerate the village's blatant preferential treatment.

And it was at this very moment that Arata moved.

Although there is a fundamental difference between a Shadow Clone and the original, they are indistinguishable in appearance, especially with someone like Itachi, who maintains absolute control and restraint over the personality and behavior of his clones.

Therefore, to distinguish them, aside from using the Sharingan, one must rely on their own keen eyesight!

After all, the power possessed by a clone is far inferior to the original, and the ninja tools thrown are naturally the same.

The reward Arata received from his most practiced daily routine—endless ninja tool manipulation—was the Basic Ocular Power Pill! It had the effect of sharpening one's vision!

"It's on the left!"

The boy swung his blade upward, the water attached to it coiling like a soaring dragon or a slithering snake; in an instant, both the shuriken and the Shadow Clones disintegrated the moment they made contact!

Of the nearly one hundred ninja tools, not a single blade could even touch the hem of his garment!!

"Flame Leap Sword?"

"No, that's not right; Flame Leap Sword uses fire-attribute chakra."

"Did Arata create a new jutsu??"

Exclamations rose one after another throughout the clan!

How old was he?

Eight!

He was already capable of modifying the sword techniques passed down by the clan, and even possessed such impressive combat ability—is "gifted" even enough to describe this?

Even the usually unflappable Clan Head, Fugaku, had a look of surprise in his eyes at this moment!

That's right.

This was the reward for achieving Mastery in Swordplay: Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance.

Of course, this was only one form; the remaining ten would still require spending skill points to unlock, and the final secret technique, Hinokami Kagura, would require a staggering 6 skill points to acquire.

However, although the cost of exchange was extremely high, the technique was mastered instantly upon acquisition. Of course, to judge when and how to use it in the appropriate situation still required constant practice by the practitioner.

And judging by the current scene, this counterattack was undoubtedly perfect!

Itachi watched the challenger charging toward him with indifference.

Indeed, both the meticulous observation and the exquisite swordsmanship were enough to make him look at the boy with new eyes.

However, his practical combat experience was ultimately too weak.

To use high-intensity sword techniques to neutralize his shuriken—did he really think his stamina and chakra were infinite?

There was a three-year gap between them.

Three Shadow Clones quietly shifted in front of the original, and they had already finished forming their hand seals!

"Then, let us fight!"

At this moment, a hint of seriousness finally appeared in the eyes of Itachi Uchiha.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

In an instant, the entire surface of the lake became a sea of fire!

If the Uchiha clan's Fire Release was considered the pinnacle of the ninja world, then Itachi's Fire Release was an existence that suppressed that very clan for an entire era!

The clansmen on the shore retreated one after another.

Even from a distance, the surging sea of flames made one feel as if they were being scorched by the heat.

Arata Uchiha's figure was instantly swallowed within it.

"This is what a true ninjutsu looks like."

Someone murmured in a whisper.

"Nii-san is the strongest!"

Sasuke declared proudly, his small face flushed red by the glow of the flames.

Still not using the Sharingan?

Arata, blocked by the flames, spoke to himself in his heart.

"Then, it ends here."

"Spirit that guards me, appear before me, thy name is Yuki-onna."

"Spirit Bind: Red Plum Under Snow!"

Pure white snowflakes drifted down, and crystalline ice climbed inch by inch along the blade. Circles of frigid, solid ice spread continuously across the lake, and the surging, endless tongues of fire could not touch him in the slightest!

That was not all.

Taking advantage of the cover provided by the flames, Arata slightly turned his left hand, and an emerald-green pill appeared in his palm.

Intermediate Speed Pill, obtained from a thousand days of weighted running; he had said it before, he was determined to win.

After flicking the pill into his mouth, Arata did not swallow it immediately; this was for the most critical surprise attack!

"What's happening?"

A clansman who had yet to awaken his Sharingan asked anxiously.

If an ordinary ninja had encountered this monstrous sea of fire, they would have perished or fled long ago.

But now, the flames had not ceased, and there was no sign of Arata.

"He is still in the center of the fire."

After all, the Sharingan lacked the penetrating, reconnaissance capabilities of the Byakugan; they could only distinguish Arata Uchiha's position through his chakra.

"Has he already exhausted his strength?"

Just as words of concern were uttered, their field of vision changed abruptly!

"That is!"

A trembling voice was squeezed out from a throat.

Snow drifted eerily over the lake, the monstrous sea of fire was frozen and suppressed, and a youth in blue robes walked slowly out from beneath the crawling flames, holding an ice blade.

"It's an Ice Release Kekkei Genkai!!"

Finally, the suppressed voices erupted in a roar.

Facing the extreme visual impact, Itachi's expression finally changed, but his composure remained unshaken.

Whether it was the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu or the Great Fireball Jutsu, neither had consumed much of his chakra.

But this exquisite display of Ice Release before him was another matter entirely.

Is he trying to use this spar to show his strength to the clan? To gain more attention?

No, that's not it. His eyes—the killing intent in his eyes has grown even stronger!

Itachi instinctively retreated.

This was the absolute instinct he had cultivated through countless bloody battles.

In that very instant, two figures identical to Arata silently launched a surprise attack from the ice and flames, easily shredding his three shadow clones.

Had he not retreated, he would have surely been wounded.

However!

It was not over yet!

Having barely steadied his footing, Itachi's nerves tightened. When he looked up again, three figures were already closing in, and in this tight, illusory chaos, it was impossible to distinguish the real from the fake!

"Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"

He instantly perceived it, and his long-dormant Sharingan manifested at this moment, a kunai falling into his palm.

"Boom."

Without the slightest hesitation, Itachi instantly shattered one of the clones, maneuvered out through the breach, and put enough distance between them to be safe.

The youth he was fighting had increasingly exceeded his imagination; he needed to steady himself and treat this seriously.

Seeing this scene, a sinister grin spread across Arata's face. As his Single-Tomoe Sharingan manifested, 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 track; or more accurately, he could perceive it, but his brain could not process the information and make the correct judgment in time.

The safety distance he had set for himself was crossed in a single heartbeat.

Forming hand seals or escaping—it was already too late!

"Die, Uchiha Itachi!!!"

Blood stained the icy blade, slowly dripping down.