Pre-preemptive, Kanzaki Kaori!

After a brief stalemate, Uchiha Sora lowered his body, allowing Mifune's blade to seize the upper hand.

Borrowing the force transmitted through the blades, he took a large stride forward with his left foot, Ryuzuki pressed against the spine of the sword, and he viciously slashed toward Mifune's waist and abdomen at close range.

Mifune pressed his hand onto the hilt and pushed downward, blocking Uchiha Sora's offensive.

Clang—

Zheng!!

In an instant, their figures crossed like ghosts.

The cold glint of blades and searing sparks wove a net amidst the snow and twilight, the sound of metal striking metal ringing out in rapid succession.

Dang!!

Before the scattered sparks could even hit the ground, the two had already completed seven exchanges of offense and defense.

Mifune held his sword with one hand, pressing two fingers of his other hand against the back of the blade to apply force: "This old man underestimated you. In that case..."

"Be careful, this old man is about to use actual swordsmanship!"

The implication was that his previous offense and defense had not utilized any sword techniques at all, but were merely simple swings!

The world's assessment of Mifune was...

A powerful samurai against whom ninjutsu was ineffective.

Because under his superb swordsmanship, a ninja would never have the time to weave hand signs!

Sshhh—

A streak of white light erupted from the edge of the blade, tearing through Uchiha Sora's field of vision.

Sky-Splitting Slash!

By concentrating chakra onto the blade and swinging, it created an effect similar to a Wind Style slash.

In the later Fourth Shinobi World War, Mifune used this very sword technique to sever a small portion of the God Tree's branches; the sharpness of it could well be imagined.

Of course, Mifune knew his own limits and did not strike with his full power.

Samurai simply did not use ninjutsu; it did not mean they lacked chakra.

The Sage of Six Paths' original intention in spreading chakra was to facilitate the exchange of hearts between people.

Therefore, excellent ninjas could perceive the intentions of their opponents during a clash, and some could even reach deep into their hearts.

Just as Hanzo had once seen Mifune's conviction and chosen to give him the antidote.

At this very moment, Mifune sensed Uchiha Sora's intent.

It was incredibly pure.

It was not for the sake of testing him or showing off; it was just as he had said: he wanted to learn swordsmanship.

Mifune saw in this youth a pursuit of power.

That was...

Loyalty!

Not loyalty to others, but loyalty to oneself.

Youth...

Does the pursuit of power truly bring you such joy?

Mifune was not as stubborn as he appeared.

During the time Naruto served as Hokage, he realized the systemic issues within the Land of Iron and sent disciples to Konoha to learn, hoping to reform his nation.

Realizing Uchiha Sora's serious attitude, and unable to resist the deal with the Uchiha, he quickly adjusted his mindset, aiming to build a good relationship with them.

After sending Uchiha Sora flying with the Sky-Splitting Slash, he leaped to pursue him, speaking as he swung his blade.

"In a duel between swordsmen, you cannot look at your opponent's blade. You must observe their shoulders, watch their feet, and find openings in the rhythm of their breathing."

"You can indeed see through my sword's momentum, but your body cannot keep up with your insight."

"When facing an opponent faster than you, you must reach the realm of Pre-preemptive."

"That is, to realize the opponent's attack before they even make their move, and to launch a counter-attack first."

"This requires years of training and powerful reflexes."

"This old man has not reached this realm; I am still on the path. Among those I have known, only Hanzo ever achieved it."

Uchiha Sora was lost in thought.

The so-called Pre-preemptive was somewhat similar to prediction, yet there was a distinction between the two.

Pre-preemptive emphasized the active creation of conditions, using oneself as the primary force to influence the development of the situation.

Prediction, on the other hand, relied more on passive response, being an adjustment made based on existing information.

There was a prime example.

The clash between Namikaze Minato and Obito was a classic case of Pre-preemptive versus prediction.

The conditions for victory were actively created by Namikaze Minato; Obito fell entirely into his rhythm, which led to his defeat.

With Mifune's reminder, Uchiha Sora focused more of his attention on Mifune's body, attempting to predict his next move through the motion of his muscles.

Predicting was something he could already do; it was the fundamental manifestation of the Three Tomoe Sharingan's powerful insight.

The battle did not cease. Sensing the change in Uchiha Sora, Mifune could not help but sigh inwardly.

Is this a realm that the Sharingan possesses by nature, one that ordinary samurai must struggle through untold hardships to reach...

In his view, For Uchiha Sora to reach the Pre-preemptive, it might be far easier than it was for him.

What an enviable bloodline.

Mifune gradually accelerated, his figure moving through the snow like a gale.

Facing strikes coming from all directions, Uchiha Sora was exhausted from parrying, his clothes already torn in several places by the blade's edge.

He was currently like Sasuke during the early stages of the Chunin Exams, facing Rock Lee.

He could see it, but he couldn't keep up.

If this were a life-or-death duel, against an opponent of Mifune's type, Uchiha Sora would have long since retreated eight hundred meters to bombard him with ninjutsu.

But this was a rare sparring session; he could see that Mifune was teaching by example, so naturally, he would not play dirty.

Although he was battling Mifune, the imaginary enemy in Uchiha Sora's mind was the Raikage.

If you're going to live this life, you have to pay the price.

When you go out cutting people down, you must be prepared to be cut down yourself.

Uchiha Sora had explained a great deal to Shisui, but in truth, he understood it clearly in his own heart.

The Raikage would find him sooner or later; it was only a matter of time.

Proposing this bout with Mifune was also to adapt in advance to a powerhouse specializing in close-quarters combat.

Recalling the Raikage's few strikes, Namikaze Minato's speed was superior to his, and Tsunade's strength was superior to his; in other words...

His speed and strength had both reached an extremely high level, second only to the strongest in the ninja world!

Madara Uchiha... that instance held no reference value.

Those two monsters did not participate in daily comparisons.

Trying to catch up to the Raikage's physical fitness in a short time was unrealistic; after all, the man was a genius who had trained bitterly for decades.

Pre-preemptive...

This concept was very practical; he could study it when he had time.

But I am not a true swordsman, after all, so there is no need to rush in its pursuit.

I need to combine it with my own advantages to resolve the current predicament...

Szzzt—

A sword aura slashed across Uchiha Sora's forehead. Blood from the wound flowed past his eye socket, but he didn't even blink, swinging the long blade in his hand at high speed to deflect the strike.

The Ryuzuki in his hand was scorched bright red by flames, and the previously inconspicuous patterns bloomed like flowers, magnificent and beautiful.

The area of his body covered by tangible flames grew larger and larger, melting the snow across the entire training ground, and the puddles reflected the youth amidst the fire.

A massive blade of light slashed toward Uchiha Sora with overwhelming momentum.

Click—

Mifune sheathed his blade.

That should be enough; after taking this strike, the boy Sora should be unable to fight any longer.

Suddenly, Uchiha Sora, who had been raising his blade, let his hand drop.

Mifune's pupils constricted sharply as he exclaimed, "What are you doing! Raise your sword!"

Shisui, watching from the sidelines, was also tense; his hand pressed against his hilt, his feet braced to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Facing the whistling strike, Uchiha Sora's lips curled upward as he reversed his blade, assuming the stance of an Iaijutsu draw.

WHOOSH!!!

Flames surged instantly, forming a violent, rotating pillar of fire; the suddenly erupting heat evaporated the moisture in the arena.

Uchiha Sora swung his blade.

Fire Style Chakra Mode...

Kanzaki Kaori!!

--

Crimson Ryuzuki descended!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!

The pillar of fire exploded instantly, spreading a grid of flames that covered a radius of several dozen meters; wherever it passed, the air emitted crisp sounds like shattering glass!

The torrent of flame blades resembled countless dancing giant pythons, swallowing the entire training ground in a churning sea of fire!

The massive blade aura was shattered by the flames, yet the momentum remained undiminished, the scorching airflow whipping Mifune's long hair into a frenzy.

Truly...

A talent like a monster!

Mifune hunched his body and drew his blade, the clear, cold light of his Iaijutsu strike slashing toward the surging torrent of flames.

When everything returned to calm.

Mifune sheathed his sword. If one looked closely, the tips of his beard were emitting wisps of smoke, and even his eyebrows showed signs of being singed and curled.

"That will do... Any further and this would no longer be a spar."

"Let's eat."

Hiss--

A gust of wind blew past, carrying away the last traces of flame on Uchiha Sora's body.

He grinned and said, "For dessert, I'd like the Snow Mountain Apple Jam Shaved Ice."

"I've asked around; it's the best dessert you have here."