The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

In an instant, a massive fireball surged toward Chiba.

Seeing this, the small white snake in the grass quickly slithered away, fearing the collateral damage; he wanted to see this spar through to the end.

At the same time, he was eager to see how Chiba would counter the ninjutsu.

However—

At this moment, Chiba merely sheathed his Cane Sword slowly.

Is he going to dodge?

The small white snake wondered.

The next moment, Chiba's posture shifted.

He lowered his body slightly, resting the Cane Sword at his waist, his right hand lightly caressing the hilt.

"Itachi, you'd better be careful with this one!"

"Come, Chiba-kun!"

The final showdown was on the verge of erupting.

The moment the Great Fireball descended.

The small white snake saw Chiba vanish in a flash.

Accompanied by the whistling sound of a blade's pressure, Chiba's figure reappeared.

Only now, he had reached the other side of the Great Fireball, still maintaining his hand on the hilt.

Yet, the Great Fireball behind him had been split clean in two.

"That is... Iaijutsu?"

The small white snake was stunned.

Iaijutsu was an advanced technique in swordsmanship.

It utilized an ultra-high-speed draw to deliver a lethal, one-hit kill.

Drawing, striking, and sheathing—everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The small white snake flicked his tongue, his inner shock impossible to soothe.

Chiba-kun, you truly are a treasure...

His eyes held a great secret, surely a great secret of the Uchiha.

He had to find out.

Just as he was pondering, Itachi Uchiha suddenly descended from the sky, kunai in hand, slashing toward Chiba.

The small white snake was taken aback.

Itachi's attack isn't over yet?

But the outcome was already decided.

In close-quarters combat, Itachi could not possibly be a match for Chiba, who possessed such swordsmanship.

And just then.

An angry voice suddenly pierced the sky.

"Uchiha Chiba, I've been looking for you for a long time!"

The two's spar was interrupted right there.

The small white snake looked toward the direction of the voice.

That was...

"The teacher's child... Asuma Sarutobi?"

Asuma Sarutobi was the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He was a child born during the time when the Third Hokage held the most absolute power over Konoha.

In the eyes of others, he was a second-generation official born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

That was the extent of Orochimaru's impression of him.

A mediocre appearance, a mediocre constitution, and... mediocre talent.

Placed among the common crowd, Orochimaru might not have even spared him a second glance.

Unfortunately, he had a father who was anything but mediocre.

Perhaps due to excessive doting on his youngest son, Asuma Sarutobi's headstrong nature was something even Orochimaru had heard of.

Going against the father who provided everything for them seemed to be a common ailment among second-generation officials.

Asuma, currently in his rebellious phase, was deeply resentful of Sarutobi Hiruzen's discipline.

For instance, right now, Asuma Sarutobi had come to cause trouble for Uchiha Chiba.

Although Orochimaru did not know what Sarutobi Hiruzen had planned for these two Uchiha children.

However, based on his understanding of his teacher.

Instilling the so-called [Will of Fire] in them and turning them into geniuses subservient to Konoha was exactly Sarutobi Hiruzen's style.

Therefore, making these two Uchiha children develop a favorable impression of him was Sarutobi Hiruzen's most common tactic.

Clearly, at this moment, Asuma Sarutobi was acting in complete opposition to his father.

"Teacher... it seems Asuma is one of the greatest failures of your life!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen had experienced many failures throughout his life.

The butcher's knife he wielded against the Senju Clan ultimately caused Tsunade to leave.

And that hypocritical style of his eventually left Jiraiya disillusioned.

Of the original Legendary Sannin, only he himself remained.

As for the reason he still stayed in this village, perhaps it was because he could still explore the so-called... meaning of life here!

The departure of the Sannin and the decline of Konoha, in Orochimaru's view, did not count as failures in the true sense for Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Because, from his perspective, while Konoha's strength had indeed declined, his position as Hokage had become even more secure.

The power of the ruler had become more centralized; could that not be considered a success?

It could, right?

Could this be considered a failure?

One could say so, perhaps.

However, the existence of Asuma Sarutobi made Orochimaru witness a joke at Sarutobi Hiruzen's expense at this moment.

"Teacher, for all your shrewdness throughout your life, I never expected you to have a slip-up with your own child!"

It was laughable, and also quite pathetic.

As for Asuma Sarutobi's provocation, the outcome was already set in stone.

This kind of mediocre ninja didn't even qualify as a stepping stone in front of these two Uchiha children.

So this was the son of the Hokage.

However, Orochimaru was very happy to watch his teacher's [joke]!

He wanted to see this farce through to the end.

At this moment.

Accompanied by a loud shout, Asuma arrived, thinking he looked quite dashing.

The sparring between Chiba and Itachi came to a halt due to Asuma's appearance.

Turning to look at the arrogant Asuma Sarutobi, Itachi glanced at Chiba.

"Chiba-kun... what is this—!?"

Swish.

Chiba sheathed his cane sword and spoke calmly.

"It's nothing, just a grudge from before... Itachi, you should head back first; I'll handle things here."

Itachi looked at Chiba, then at Asuma Sarutobi.

He couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

He recognized the other party.

That was the Hokage's son!

Chiba-kun was in conflict with the Hokage's son?

Why did it have to be the Hokage's son?

Konoha and the Uchiha were already on shaky ground.

"Chiba-kun, do you need—"

Before Itachi could finish his sentence, Chiba waved his hand.

"It's fine. If you can't see the situation clearly, don't get yourself involved."

Can't see clearly?

See what clearly?

The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha?

Itachi Uchiha fell into deep thought.

He really wanted to help Chiba.

This was not about assistance in terms of strength.

As for strength, he acknowledged Chiba. He was unsure of Asuma Sarutobi's true capabilities, but... he had the confidence that Chiba could not possibly lose.

Itachi truly could not imagine what a defeated Chiba would look like.

He was merely hindered by the other party's status; with the son of the Uchiha Clan head present, perhaps Chiba would not be taken advantage of.

Itachi, in the end, had thought wrong.

Chiba had never once concerned himself with the other party's status as the Hokage's son.

After a moment of hesitation, Itachi could only nod.

"Is that so? I understand."

"Chiba-kun!"

Before leaving, Itachi spoke instinctively.

"What is it?"

"Go easy on him!"

"I have a sense of proportion; he won't die!"

This calm exchange left Asuma Sarutobi, who had heard everything, absolutely livid.

What did he mean by "go easy on him"?

I am a Chunin of Konoha.

I am a Chunin recognized by the Hokage.

You are nothing but students at the Ninja Academy; do you really think you have me cornered?