Under the Spotlight

Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist—this was the new ninjutsu Uchiha Yue had created by combining the two basic techniques of Clone Technique and Substitution Technique!

Just after Uchiha Yue had perfectly mastered the Three Body Techniques within a short period, he began thinking about how to combine the Clone Technique and Substitution Technique to forge something new. At that time, Uchiha Yue wondered if he could abandon the heavy wooden log and instead use a clone created by the Clone Technique to serve as the substitute for the Substitution Technique.

Once Uchiha Yue had this idea, he began to repeatedly attempt to combine the two basic techniques. Although he encountered many difficulties while creating the new jutsu, Uchiha Yue possessed a wealth of theoretical knowledge and was able to incorporate some ingenious ideas to conceive the hand seals and chakra flow required for the new technique. After further practice, he successfully created the new ninjutsu: Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist, and was even able to utilize it effectively in combat.

Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist might look like a simple combination of the Clone Technique and Substitution Technique, but its difficulty level had already reached C-rank.

However, the true difficulty of this new ninjutsu lay in the timing and the allocation of chakra. As long as one could perfectly grasp the timing during battle and distribute their chakra correctly when that moment arrived, the Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist could be mastered with ease. Therefore, the difficulty of this jutsu was only C-rank, and the amount of chakra consumed was not high, making it perfectly suitable for combat.

Because Uchiha Yue possessed powerful spiritual energy, he could perceive every move the enemy made, so grasping the right moment was no difficulty for him at all. It was also due to the marvelous utility of this spiritual energy that Uchiha Yue's control over his chakra tended toward perfection, making the Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist a technique tailor-made for him.

It was precisely because he possessed this new ninjutsu that Uchiha Yue had enough confidence when facing Hyuga Anihiko.

Hyuga Anihiko's advantage lay in his mastery of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, but unfortunately, the Gentle Fist was a close-quarters taijutsu. Since Uchiha Yue could use his spiritual energy to perceive every one of his opponent's movements, timing the activation of the Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist was naturally effortless. Then, as long as he used the new technique to evade when the opponent launched an attack, Uchiha Yue was one hundred percent certain he could dodge it. In that case, what did it matter if he gave Hyuga Anihiko three moves, or even ten?

But...

The new ninjutsu Uchiha Yue used against Hyuga Anihiko affected more than just Hyuga Anihiko himself.

At this moment, the spectator stands around the training ground were silent, with almost everyone shocked by the new ninjutsu Uchiha Yue had displayed. However, most of those watching were students from the Ninja Academy who couldn't fathom the profound nature of the technique, so they simply felt that the jutsu he used was incredibly powerful.

But those ignorant people naturally did not include the Third Hokage of Konoha, nor Jiraiya, who held the title of one of the Sannin.

Seeing the new ninjutsu Uchiha Yue used, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya were first slightly surprised, and then cast looks of admiration toward Uchiha Yue.

Afterward, as Jiraiya watched the afterimages of Uchiha Yue in the training ground gradually dissipate, he finally couldn't help but take a deep breath and say to the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen beside him: "Teacher, it seems we misjudged. That brat from the Hyuga Clan could never be Uchiha Yue's opponent. That kid named Uchiha Yue is already qualified to be a Genin!"

"Indeed."

Hearing his beloved disciple's assessment, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded gently and said: "Four years old. Uchiha Yue is only four years old, yet he was able to combine the Clone Technique and Substitution Technique to create a new ninjutsu. Truly interesting. I didn't expect that coming here to watch these brats duel would lead us to see something so fascinating. This trip was certainly worth it!"

As he spoke, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Yue's figure, suddenly sighed deeply, and continued: "It's a pity he is a member of the Uchiha Clan... what a pity!"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly hearing the Third Hokage say this, Jiraiya furrowed his brows slightly and said: "So what if he's from the Uchiha Clan? Sarutobi-sensei, you seem to have a prejudice against the Uchiha Clan!"

"Prejudice, there is certainly some."

As soon as Jiraiya finished speaking, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen replied: "It's just that I hope Uchiha Yue can be different from the others in the Uchiha Clan! Sigh..."

Inside the training ground, Uchiha Yue had no idea that the new ninjutsu he had created had successfully caught the attention of two major figures.

Moreover, because of Uchiha Yue's outstanding performance, the impression those two figures had of him had completely changed; the fact that they no longer referred to Uchiha Yue as a "brat" but instead used his name was proof of this.

Now, Uchiha Yue simply stared at the Hyuga Anihiko in front of him, a mocking smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

As if seeing the mocking smile on Uchiha Yue's face, Hyuga Anihiko suddenly clenched his fists, his eyes burning with rage as he attacked once more!

"Die!"

Rushing to the front of Uchiha Yue, Hyuga Anihiko still refused to give up, wanting to use the Gentle Fist to deal with Uchiha Yue.

Unfortunately, with Uchiha Yue's powerful spiritual energy, even without using the Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist, he could still easily dodge the opponent's attacks. Therefore, after Hyuga Anihiko attacked twice in succession, Uchiha Yue finally moved rapidly, and while evading the opponent's strikes, he seized the opportunity of the opponent's opening to launch a fierce counterattack!

As of now, the strength of Uchiha Yue and Hyuga Anihiko was on completely different levels.

Naturally, Uchiha Yue was stronger than Hyuga Anihiko, so the victory had been determined several minutes ago!

Uchiha Yue was absolutely destined to achieve the final victory!

"Falling Moon Style: Afterimage Fist!"

"Whoosh..."

Using his signature technique once again, in that instant, Uchiha Yue dodged Hyuga Anihiko's Gentle Fist and controlled his body to appear behind his opponent. Without even needing to look, Uchiha Yue knew the opponent was full of openings, and he gathered the chakra in his body, striking Hyuga Anihiko unconscious with a single hand-blade.

The outcome was decided; Uchiha Yue was the winner!

Although everyone present had leaned toward Uchiha Yue from the moment he declared he would give Hyuga Anihiko three moves, feeling that he would certainly be the one to win, no one expected the battle to be so one-sided. It was entirely Uchiha Yue suppressing Hyuga Anihiko, with the latter not even having a chance to fight back.

However, since Uchiha Yue had provided a brilliant duel, those present were naturally not stingy with their applause.

Yet, just as all the spectators in the stands were preparing to celebrate Uchiha Yue's victory with enthusiastic applause...

Suddenly!

Uchiha Yue actually looked up toward the spectator stands and extended his right index finger, pointing directly at a certain corner of the gallery!

"Hatake Kakashi, do you dare to come down and fight me!"