Then Let's Fight

Isho stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression unchanged as he spoke to the Sound Village ninja in a calm voice.

"Uchiha Isho. I live beside the Konoha East Street Ninja Tool Shop. Oh, and I prefer fights to the death. That way, I can really let loose. Heh!"

As he spoke, a domineering killing intent spread from Isho and washed over the examinees. Some of the older ones felt as though they had encountered a natural enemy. The temperature around them seemed to plummet, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Gaara studied the seemingly arrogant boy with a grave expression. He didn't seem merely boastful—he was a ninja as cruel as Gaara himself, filled with a desire to kill.

Hidden at the back, Orochimaru licked his lips excitedly, his expression sinister as he thought to himself,

So this boy is Uchiha Isho. He's already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and he's more gifted than Itachi's younger brother—or even Itachi himself. I can hardly stop myself from capturing him right now and studying his bloodline... Heh... heh.

Regardless of what the others thought, Isho suddenly glanced several times toward the ninja in the back rows. He could already feel what it was like to be watched by a venomous snake—the suffocating sensation of a python coiling around him. Who else could it be but Orochimaru?

Isho turned and left, planning to wait for challengers on the training field. He had released his killing intent to scare off some of the weaker opponents. Otherwise, things might get troublesome once the fighting started, and it would be hard to control how much force he used.

A few hours later, examinees gradually gathered around Isho on the training field. But no one dared to make the first move; they all wanted to gauge his strength first. After all, not just anyone his age had such powerful killing intent.

"Are we just going to stand here and watch this kid? Let's all attack together! There are more than twenty of us. I refuse to believe we can't beat this arrogant brat."

Seeing that their numbers had grown large enough, a ninja wearing a Sunagakure Forehead Protector immediately made the suggestion.

Just then, Kakashi appeared between the two sides. In a solemn tone, he said,

"You can fight as much as you like, but our guests must be treated well, so no one is allowed to die. I'll watch from the sidelines and step in to save anyone in danger."

Kakashi looked at Isho a few more times. Only after seeing him nod did he relax a little and find a suitable spot to watch from.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

A dozen Shadow Clones appeared beside Isho and immediately charged toward the enemies in every direction. Isho's real body seized the chance to dodge several volleys of concealed weapons, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear atop a thick tree trunk.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

This technique consumed a tremendous amount of chakra in an environment without water, but it was one of the best ways to deal with being outnumbered. It was also one of the techniques he had learned from Zabuza, thanks to the Sharingan and his own aptitude for learning.

The item he had received after the trial experience card expired was Kubikiribōchō. But worried it would draw too much attention, Isho hadn't brought it along. Once that blade came out, how could he not let it taste blood?

The ninja who hadn't managed to stop Isho from using the technique could only sigh in disappointment. They had been prepared for it and knew it was perfect for scattering a group. But Isho's Hand Seals and movements were too fast; he had finished in just a few seconds.

"Isho, just knock them out. Don't kill anyone. Otherwise, things will get very troublesome, and the little money you have won't be enough to pay for it!"

Seeing Isho use the technique again, Kakashi realized there was no time to stop him. He was surprised by Isho's talent for learning, and thought,

So far, he's shown Fire, Earth, and Water. He might have Lightning too, but just hasn't learned any techniques for it. It's amazing—the Uchiha really are a clan of geniuses. And Isho is extraordinary.

"Got it."

Isho's voice came from every direction. The ninja trapped in the mist couldn't tell where his real body was.

The ninja with Wind Release chakra kept using techniques to blow the mist away, warily watching their surroundings as the fog grew thinner and thinner around them.

"Don't attack. It's me. I don't have Wind Release chakra, so there's no way I can track that kid's location. He'll definitely come after you next, so I can stay by your side and guard you."

The burly man dressed like a Sunagakure ninja immediately explained.

The Amegakure ninja who could use Wind Release nodded, then spat out a wind bullet. But the moment he turned around, the Sunagakure ninja used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him and struck the back of his neck.

The Amegakure ninja immediately collapsed.

"No wonder you got through the exam so quickly. You really don't have much of a brain."

The same scene played out around the other Wind Release users. The remaining ninja were worried about hitting their own comrades, so they didn't use concealed weapons indiscriminately. They also knew that if they killed without regard, Kakashi, who was monitoring the area, wouldn't go easy on them.

After Isho's relentless sneak attacks, only six ninja remained. They had gathered together to protect the two Wind Release users in their midst. Their vision was no longer obscured, and sunlight clearly illuminated a ten-meter radius around them.

"There are only a few of you left. Still not ready to give up? I can't guarantee how much blood you'll be covered in next!"

"Hmph! You must have used up most of your chakra by now, after all this time."

"That's right. Just wait another minute or two, and your chakra will be completely depleted. The fact that a Genin can use a technique over such a wide area is already impressive enough."

Those who remained were far more experienced and clever than the ones who had fallen early. They didn't believe Isho still had the strength to fight them.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

As Isho murmured the words, four enormous fireballs, each two meters in diameter, formed in an instant and hurtled toward them from the front, the left, the right, and above.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

His chakra was nearly depleted, and the other side had blocked his technique with an earth wall and a gale created by two ninja working together. Isho no longer felt like fighting. It wasn't as if he were truly bloodthirsty.

Fighting and killing is such a hassle. And most of these people are probably decent. That's all the more reason not to cripple them.

After thinking it over for a moment, Isho shouted down at them,

"I'm done. You win. It's almost dinnertime, so I'm heading home to eat."

"Bye!"

Ignoring their stunned expressions, Isho—whose strength was at most that of an elite Chunin—used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

"This guy! He acted like he wouldn't stop until one side won, and now he just runs away?!"

"Damn it! He played us for fools! Since when did Konoha have such a shameless brat?"

"I think he told us where he lives. Let's go find him and humiliate him properly. That'll teach him not to mess with us!"

Seeing that they were about to storm off and settle the score with Isho, Kakashi had no choice but to step in and play peacemaker.

"I advise you not to go. If he hadn't been holding back to avoid killing you, you wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes. He may still have more than half his chakra left.

"Killing you would have been far easier than controlling his strength enough to leave you with only minor injuries. If you insist on going after him, then don't expect any mercy!"