Training Results

It was their last day. The bridge would be completed tomorrow, and this was their final day of special training.

"Total Concentration—Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"

Sasuke Uchiha charged forward at high speed from a distance, raising his blade over his head and bringing it down hard on Mufeng Uchiha, who stood there stunned.

"Blood Style: Blood Shield."

Mufeng Uchiha raised his hand, revealing a shield of swirling blood bursting from the center of his palm. The blade struck it without making a ripple.

The next moment, the blood on the shield suddenly condensed into slender spikes. Three of them grazed Sasuke Uchiha's neck with blinding speed, leaving three bloody lines.

"Two-Tomoe, you don't have to pursue perfection in everything. You need to choose the moves that suit the situation."

As soon as he finished speaking, Naruto Uzumaki suddenly darted out from Sasuke's shadow. Like a cheetah, he crouched low and sprinted toward Mufeng Uchiha.

"Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claws—Purifying Wind!"

Four slashes came at him from point-blank range. There was no time to think.

"Blood Style: Iron Body."

The blood in his body sped up, raising his physical toughness by several levels for a short time. The four slashes landed, tearing into Mufeng Uchiha's chest and thigh and leaving four bloody gashes.

At that moment, the blood that had dripped onto the ground suddenly stirred and turned into needles, piercing both of Naruto Uzumaki's arms.

Mufeng Uchiha felt himself growing more and more practiced. The Blood Manipulation he had acquired from Jujutsu Mufeng did indeed manifest in him more like the Kekkei Genkai Blood Style.

It seemed he didn't necessarily have to use his own blood; he could also condense blood by expending Chakra and use it to attack. The cost was lower than using Water Style in an area without water.

"Choose between Blood Style and Water Style based on the situation."

"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel."

At that moment, Sakura Haruno was behind Mufeng Uchiha, gripping her sword as she rolled forward and slashed at him.

"Blood Style: Blood Tornado."

Mufeng Uchiha clapped his hands. The blood formed from Chakra swirled around him in a ring, creating a vortex-like shield that repelled every attack.

"It's over. Blood Style: Blood Binding."

Mufeng Uchiha clenched his hand. The three kids, who had been about to attack again, froze. They clutched their chests and sank to their knees.

"Wah—That hurts! Big Brother Mufeng, what did you do? My heart just cramped up. I feel like I'm suffocating!"

Naruto Uzumaki plopped down and clutched his chest. The other two were in the same state, staring at Mufeng Uchiha with curious expressions, eager to hear what had happened.

"I just figured this out. As long as some of my blood gets into someone else's, I can control their blood as easily as moving my own arms."

The three kids finally understood. Kakashi Hatake, who had been listening nearby, broke into a cold sweat. If Mufeng could control someone's blood just by mixing it with his own—and there was no range limit...

Mufeng Uchiha's Blood Style would be a weapon of mass destruction on a battlefield soaked in blood!

In the chaos of battle, who would notice that the blood on an ally had suddenly turned into a lethal hidden weapon? Then he would have to face not only the enemy in front of him but also the comrades around him.

If Kakashi Hatake had an ability like that, he could think of any number of sinister ways to use it.

Thank goodness there wasn't a Shinobi World War going on. Thank goodness Mufeng Uchiha was on Konoha's side. If someone with that ability became an enemy, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Hmph, that's just a shady trick. The Sharingan is the strongest. Blood Style can't compare to the Sharingan."

After saying that, Sasuke Uchiha turned away from Mufeng Uchiha. Only he knew that he envied how quickly Mufeng Uchiha's strength was growing.

"Sasuke, you're already really strong. If you hadn't drawn his attention, I wouldn't have been able to get close to Big Brother Mufeng. Let's keep working hard next time."

"Who said we're teammates? Don't get full of yourself, Naruto."

Their teamwork over the past few days had rapidly brought Sasuke and Naruto closer. The bond between them...

They had held back during this test of their strength. Not one of them had gone all out, so they couldn't truly incorporate what they had recently learned into their fighting.

"This is bad! Naruto, Gato brought a huge group of people to destroy the bridge!"

Inari ran over to them in a panic, flustered and stumbling over his words. His face was full of fear, and he was bawling his eyes out—clearly terrified out of his wits.

"Don't be scared, Inari! Watch me, Naruto Uzumaki, drive those people away!"

The impulsive Naruto Uzumaki charged off first. Worried about him, the others hurried after him.

In front of the bridge that was nearly complete, Gato stood with a large group of warriors and rogue ninja. On the other side were the weak villagers, holding farming tools and fishing gear.

"Zabuza, I paid you a lot this time. Don't think you can take the money and do nothing. Beat those peasants into submission and show them who really rules this place!"

Gato ordered Zabuza Momochi arrogantly. Surprisingly, the killer didn't get angry. He simply stared at Gato with his dead-fish eyes.

Zabuza Momochi walked ahead with Haku, Kubikiribōchō on his back. All they had to do was play their parts in the fake deaths, kill Gato and take his money, then find a chance to escape.

Hmph, did he really think Zabuza Momochi was scared of him? If I actually hid, would a little brat like you ever find me?

"You deal with that Ice Style kid. Zabuza is yours, Kakashi-sensei. I'll handle the rest."

With the two of them as strong as they were, faking their deaths should be easy. As the boss, I'll go see what I can scrounge from Gato first.

"Uchiha brat, I was careless last time. You won't be so lucky this time."

"This time, you're up against me, Demon Zabuza."

Kakashi Hatake raised his Sharingan and held a Kunai across his chest, standing squarely in Zabuza Momochi's way. Zabuza was the one left dumbfounded.

Uchiha brat, this isn't how the script is supposed to go!

Wasn't you supposed to overwhelm us with a lightning-fast attack and send us tumbling into the sea for a perfect fake death? Why is my opponent the Sharingan Kakashi now?

By then, the Uchiha brat he'd been thinking about was already sneaking among the warriors and rogue ninja. None of them had even noticed that a bloodstained Kunai had opened a tiny cut on each of their necks.

As tensions rose on the battlefield, Mufeng Uchiha quietly sent Zabuza a message through Aura.

"When the fighting starts, don't hurt my teacher. When you fake your deaths, make sure you jump into the sea. I'll meet you there."

Ignoring Zabuza's complaints, Mufeng Uchiha had already crept up behind Gato. It was about time to make his move.