Betting Correct

"Sun-Moon Phantom Slash!"

Gekko Kuro Yoru roared, gripping the tree branch tightly as he poured his chakra into it.

He spun around and lunged directly at Uchiha Qin Yu!

As the attack began, light and shadow bloomed instantly, transforming into a sky full of afterimages that cast an inexplicably oppressive aura over the surroundings.

"Sun-Moon Blood Wheel Slash!"

Uchiha Qin Yu remained completely unfazed. This Sun-Moon Phantom Slash was a mix of the tangible and the intangible; the best way to deal with it was to break it through brute force.

The moment he channeled his chakra into the branch, it erupted with a dazzling light, and in the next heartbeat, he slashed it head-on toward Gekko Kuro Yoru.

With a single strike, the energy transformed into a crescent moon blade aura, cleaving downward through the sea of afterimages.

BOOM!

The two attacks collided violently. As the shockwave recoiled, Gekko Kuro Yoru stumbled backward.

Looking at Uchiha Qin Yu, Gekko Kuro Yoru's face was filled with disbelief.

"Dad, was that really the Dance of the Crescent Moon he just performed..." Gekko Hayate asked urgently.

"You fool, as a direct descendant of the Gekko Clan, can you not even tell that much?" Gekko Kuro Yoru scolded him angrily. "You must train harder when we return, or you will bring shame upon the Gekko Clan."

"It's nothing. I'll be going now." Uchiha Qin Yu tossed aside the broken half of the branch in his hand.

The battle just now had been primarily a test.

Furthermore, to perform the true Dance of the Crescent Moon sword technique, one required a high-quality chakra blade.

Only with strong chakra conductivity could one better condense chakra and utilize nature transformation to enhance the power of the sword style.

Within the ninja world, there existed a place known as the Land of Iron.

They possessed chakra, but they did not develop so-called ninjutsu; instead, they focused on how to integrate chakra into sword techniques.

Among them, Mifune of the Land of Iron had honed his sword skills to a level comparable to a Kage-level existence.

However, with the succession of wars, many of these so-called samurai had been eliminated.

Moreover, in the face of conflicts between the Great Nations, the Land of Iron had always maintained a stance of neutrality.

This led to fewer and fewer samurai, and the opportunities for exquisite sword techniques to be passed down had also diminished.

"You go ahead and return; I still want to instruct Hayate." Gekko Kuro Yoru did not attempt to keep him any longer.

The talent Uchiha Qin Yu had displayed by now far exceeded his imagination.

Regardless of whether he had mastered the essence of the Crescent Moon Slash, such astonishing learning talent was worth betting on.

Only at this moment did he understand why Minato Namikaze, Uzuki Cangwu, and the others held Uchiha Qin Yu in such high regard.

They were even willing to offend a ruthless schemer like Danzo.

"Senior Gekko, are you alright?" Minato Namikaze appeared suddenly.

This startled the preoccupied Gekko Kuro Yoru, who quickly shook his head and said, "Minato, I am fine. I was just exchanging pointers with Uchiha Qin Yu."

"Dad, is that what you call exchanging pointers? You even taught him the Dance of the Crescent Moon..." Gekko Hayate couldn't help but pout.

However, one couldn't blame Gekko Hayate for exposing the matter.

Those capable of practicing the Konoha Dance of the Crescent Moon were few and far between.

Gekko Hayate was considered a standout among them, hailed as a little genius.

Now that a monster like Uchiha Qin Yu had suddenly appeared, his own halo as a "little genius" would likely be reduced to nothing more than a supporting role in an instant.

"Loose lips!" Gekko Kuro Yoru glared at him.

Minato Namikaze smiled and shook his head, saying, "Senior Gekko, don't be too hard on Hayate. Your bet is actually not wrong."

Gekko Kuro Yoru couldn't help but be stunned. "Minato, do you also believe that Uchiha Qin Yu will achieve great things in the future?"

"No, that is not what I think," Minato Namikaze replied, shaking his head.

Gekko Kuro Yoru paused, and just as he began to worry he had made the wrong bet, Minato Namikaze's voice sounded again.

"I believe that Uchiha Qin Yu has not yet displayed his true strength."

"Minato, what are you saying?" Gekko Kuro Yoru was shocked.

According to the intelligence he had received, Uchiha Qin Yu had single-handedly routed the Mist Ninja and the Cloud Ninja.

He had even repelled the AB Duo and gained the recognition of the next generation's Raikage from Kumogakure.

For any ninja, this was a tremendous honor.

Yet, now Minato Namikaze was telling him that Uchiha Qin Yu was still holding back...

The discrepancy was simply too vast.

"I only hope now that Danzo does not do anything foolish; otherwise, our Konoha may face a formidable enemy," Minato Namikaze said, his eyes flickering.

Early in the morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Uchiha Qin Yu and his group of four departed from the outpost.

Since Shizune was the only medical ninja in the outpost, she could not withdraw with Uchiha Qin Yu.

However, with Gekko Kuro Yoru, one of the Eight Colors of Konoha, and dozens of newly added ninja as a foundation, the stronghold's defensive capabilities had been raised by a level or two.

Should any issues arise, they would be able to hold out until Minato Namikaze arrived to provide support.

It could be said that Minato Namikaze, who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, was a mobile support backup.

Originally, Uzuki Yugao had also intended to remain at the stronghold to support Uzuki Cangwu.

Unfortunately, Uzuki Cangwu clearly had his own selfish motives.

It was not just because he had lost the bet, but because he valued the immense potential of Uchiha Qin Yu.

Their Uzuki Family did not hold a high status within Konoha to begin with.

If, in the future, Uchiha Qin Yu truly rose to power and became a major figure in Konoha.

Then, as the woman of Uchiha Qin Yu, Uzuki Yugao's status would rise accordingly.

Even taking a step back, based solely on the powerful combat strength Uchiha Qin Yu had displayed in these two battles, along with his protective nature.

Uzuki Yugao would definitely not be mistreated or looked down upon as the woman of Uchiha Qin Yu.

It was precisely because Uzuki Cangwu held this thought.

That ninja within the stronghold who had daughters were all planning to come knocking to promote their own children.

Last night, they had nearly knocked down Qin Feng's door.

Therefore, as soon as the day broke, Uchiha Qin Yu hurriedly packed his things and left early.

When Uzuki Cangwu saw him off at the stronghold, he even draped an arm over his shoulder with a "you know what I mean" expression.

That look and demeanor made it seem as if he desperately wanted Uchiha Qin Yu and Uzuki Yugao to have something happen on the road, so that by the time they returned to the village, the raw rice would already be cooked.

Such behavior made Uchiha Qin Yu unable to help but complain about how precocious people in the Naruto world were.

However, looking at the twelve or thirteen-year-old Uzuki Yugao, her figure clearly already possessed a considerable scale.

Inside Konoha!

In the massive Hokage office, the Third Hokage's face was somewhat gloomy as he looked at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, saying in a deep voice: "Danzo violated our agreement and issued orders on his own authority, having Yamanaka Tatsuya challenge Uchiha Qin Yu."

"Sarutobi, did you receive a report from Minato? What was the result?" Mitokado Homura asked in a deep voice.

"Under Danzo, Yamanaka Tatsuya's strength had long since reached the level of an elite jonin, and he was proficient in binding techniques. Did that Uchiha Qin Yu suffer any losses?"

Utatane Koharu revealed a rare trace of a smile and nodded: "That brat hides too much; if we can use this to knock him down a peg, perhaps it isn't a bad thing."