Battle Against Uchiha Tekka

Shita Genichi had no impression of someone like Shimura Torii.

But he remembered Uchiha Tekka: a future mainstay of the Uchiha Clan, a Three Tomoe Sharingan user, a Konoha Jonin and a key member of the Police Force. He had once kept an eye on Uchiha Itachi.

Shita Genichi had never expected this guy to be his classmate.

"Genichi, be careful. Tekka is a genius of the Uchiha Clan. He's skilled in Genjutsu, Kenjutsu, and Fire Release. He has one Tomoe right now."

"At the same age, I'm no match for him."

Uchiha Namiichi reminded Shita Genichi.

He was seventeen, while Uchiha Tekka was ten. Tekka was already quite famous among the Uchiha Clan.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind!"

Shita Genichi nodded, then leaped down from the stands.

Uchiha Tekka had a small black mole between his brows. He was a head shorter than Shita Genichi.

At the examiner's signal, the two took their places on opposite sides.

"Ready!"

"Begin!"

The examiner gave the order.

The battle began, but Uchiha Tekka didn't charge forward right away. Instead, he leaped backward, sweeping his hands as he sent one shuriken after another flying toward Shita Genichi.

Shita Genichi had two blades on him.

One long blade hung at his waist, while a short blade was tucked behind his back.

He immediately drew the short blade and deflected every shuriken.

But as soon as Uchiha Tekka landed, he leaped into the air again, never letting up with the shuriken. Before long, a ring of them surrounded Shita Genichi.

As soon as he knocked away the last shuriken, Shita Genichi sheathed his blade without hesitation and formed Hand Seals.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Shita Genichi opened his mouth and sprayed out a stream of water. It formed a curtain, then spun around him in a circle as the current spiraled upward and gathered above his head.

The Water Formation Wall ultimately took the shape of an upside-down bell.

Everyone who had never seen Shita Genichi use Water Release was stunned.

There wasn't any water here!

Uchiha Tekka, still in the air with a wire in his hands and a net of wire spread over Shita Genichi, was stunned as well.

But the arrow was already nocked, and his Hand Seals had been completed without anyone noticing. He opened his mouth, and a torrent of flames raced down the wire.

Shuriken Manipulation Technique!

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!

This was a signature technique of the Uchiha Clan. Just by seeing it, Shita Genichi knew Uchiha Namiichi had been right.

So he sheathed his blade without hesitation and used Water Release.

Uchiha Tekka's attack had been impressive, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

When Uchiha Tekka strung up the wire and formed a tight net around Shita Genichi, everyone had thought Shita Genichi was sure to lose.

Even the examiner had quietly raised a hand, ready to intervene and save him.

He knew all too well that once the Shuriken Manipulation Technique was complete, the Uchiha would follow up with their specialty: Fire Release.

But he had never expected Shita Genichi to move so quickly, or his Water Release to be so powerful.

Was this really a Genin?

Once Shita Genichi unleashed Water Release, everyone's attention turned to him.

Uchiha Tekka's Shuriken Manipulation Technique had been excellent and flashy. Even the Jonin present might not have been able to pull it off so well.

But how could it compare to Shita Genichi's Water Release?

In an instant, Shita Genichi became the center of attention.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help remarking, "Genichi's Water Release has improved again!"

Compared to the last time, he could clearly see that Shita Genichi's control over Water Release had improved by leaps and bounds.

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "Genichi has an exceptional talent for Water Release. He may even surpass the Second."

Danzo watched Shita Genichi, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Of course, he didn't suggest sending Shita Genichi to Root.

He wouldn't trust Shita Genichi any more than Sarutobi Hiruzen would if Hiruzen sent him to Root.

So what if his Water Release was exceptional?

So what if he surpassed his teacher, the Second, Senju Tobirama?

Was Water Release what had made his teacher great?

If Water Release was all Shita Genichi had, his ceiling would be Jonin. He'd never become a powerhouse like Hatake Sakumo.

Nor would he ever become someone on the level of the Sannin.

In Danzo's eyes, Shita Genichi's performance had indeed been astonishing—even more so than Kakashi's earlier display.

But his potential was nowhere near Kakashi's.

In the arena, torrents of flames raced down the wire and collided with the water swirling around Shita Genichi. The impact roared, and billowing steam rose up, obscuring everyone's vision.

Uchiha Tekka landed, then tugged again with his right hand.

At once, strands of wire tightened around the center.

This was only the Chunin Exams, not a real fight against an enemy, so he had merely formed a wire net around Shita Genichi before using Fire Release.

That would only leave Shita Genichi with minor injuries.

Now, he could use the wire to bind Shita Genichi outright.

Uchiha Tekka was astonished by Shita Genichi's powerful Water Release, but it had also stirred his fighting spirit.

He decided to go all out!

Amid the billowing steam, the wire that had been invisible was now perfectly clear to Shita Genichi.

He drew the short blade with his right hand again. With a hum, it was covered in a layer of Wind Release chakra.

A Chakra Blade wasn't the only thing that could be coated in chakra. It simply wasted less chakra, let its power be used more effectively, and could even be controlled from a distance to perform ninjutsu.

Danzo had once infused a regular Kunai with Wind Release chakra to form a Vacuum Blade.

Killer B had coated his pen with Lightning Release chakra and thrown it hard enough to pierce a tree.

Now, Shita Genichi flung his short blade, easily severing one of the steel wires.

The trap was broken.

Uchiha Tekka felt the taut wire slacken in his hand and immediately understood what had happened.

He let go at once, drew his Ninja Blade, and charged in.

The steam was beginning to clear.

Seeing Uchiha Tekka charge, Shita Genichi decided he might as well stop trying to fight him with Kenjutsu at close range.

As Shita Genichi spread his arms, the dissipating steam condensed into water. It spiraled upward like a spinning top, then surged toward Uchiha Tekka in a series of thundering waves.

Uchiha Tekka's eyelids twitched. He hurriedly swung his blade. The flames clashed with the waves, and steam billowed up once more.

After cleaving through the first wave, Uchiha Tekka immediately leaped aside to avoid the water behind it.

But Shita Genichi kept forming Hand Seals. Before Uchiha Tekka could land, the water below him surged skyward. A water dragon took shape and snapped him up in its jaws.

Uchiha Tekka's expression changed. He immediately abandoned his blade, formed Hand Seals, and exhaled a stream of fire. It extended, gathered into a ball, then exploded.

The diving water dragon suddenly burst apart. Steam rose up, and sheets of water rained down from above.

Uchiha Tekka fell from the air too. His face was flushed, and the exposed skin on his arms was red as cooked shrimp.

He was injured!

The burns weren't too serious, though.

But then his eyes met Shita Genichi's.

Sharingan: Genjutsu!

Shita Genichi blinked and formed the Tiger Hand Seal.

Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

Uchiha Tekka was blinded in an instant.

This guy completely ignored my Genjutsu. How is that possible?

Uchiha Tekka was stunned. And this... he actually took away my vision.

Could this be the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique? He's mastered such an incredibly difficult Genjutsu!

Uchiha Tekka was left reeling. He stood there, rooted to the spot.

He was an Uchiha, yet he'd fallen for a Genjutsu cast by a Genin younger than him!