At that moment, on Konoha's training grounds.
Uchiha Tokino sprinted forward, sweeping both hands out and sending several Kunai flying toward Sosuke!
His figure followed close behind.
Facing the incoming Kunai, Sosuke remained calm and composed.
He dodged them with a slight sidestep.
Suddenly!
Uchiha Tokino appeared in his field of vision, swinging a powerful kick at him!
"Bang!"
Though Sosuke blocked it with both arms, the kick still sent him flying far away, kicking up clouds of dust from the ground.
"That really hurt."
Feeling his right arm go numb, Sosuke couldn't help murmuring.
Just then, Uchiha Tokino's mocking voice rang out again.
"You're just an ordinary civilian. Did you think that by attaching yourself to the Senju Clan and working hard for a few years, you could catch up with people like us?"
"A civilian like you will always be chasing after us. The ever-widening gap will make you understand the difference between us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Tokino suddenly accelerated and flashed in front of Sosuke.
He threw a punch, his fists moving at blinding speed!
Sosuke could only struggle to block them. Under such a fierce, relentless assault, he was finding it hard to hold on!
Was there really such a gap between them?!
No matter how hard he worked, could he never overcome this innate disadvantage? His right arm felt like it could barely keep going!
"Bang!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Tokino leaped into the air mid-attack!
His powerful kick sent Sosuke tumbling to the side.
By then, many of the students in the other areas had already won or lost their matches.
Tsunade and the others had also gathered to watch.
"Sosuke!"
Seeing Sosuke kicked to the ground, Tsunade cried out in alarm and even started to rush over to stop the fight.
However, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the others hurriedly held her back.
"This is Sosuke's fight, Tsunade."
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, his voice grave.
On the field, Uchiha Tokino saw how concerned Tsunade was for Sosuke and found it all the more amusing.
If he could use this to strike a blow against someone from the Senju Clan, that might be a pretty good choice.
At the thought, he couldn't help curling his lips into a cold sneer.
"Looks like the Senju Clan thinks highly of you, kid. But that'll be your misfortune. I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget on behalf of the Uchiha Clan."
"Perhaps making sure you can never become a ninja would be a good choice."
As soon as he finished speaking, he charged at Sosuke again.
As he hurtled down from above and brought a vicious kick crashing toward Sosuke,
Sosuke suddenly rose from the ground. Beneath his glasses, his eyes remained calm.
"Shing!"
A flash of blade!
A swift, vicious draw-cut!
But it struck only a wooden post.
Substitution Jutsu!
Sosuke watched the split wooden post with a solemn expression.
Behind him, Uchiha Tokino swung a spinning kick at him!
"So you've finally drawn your sword! Kid, did you really think I'd fall for such a clumsy act?"
Sosuke hurriedly raised his blade to block the powerful blow!
"Bang!"
His body flew backward once more.
Blood trickled from the corner of Sosuke's mouth. In such a brutal clash of blows, his internal organs had also been badly injured!
No!
The gap was too obvious. He couldn't compare to him in strength, reflexes, or even physical fitness!
Had all his hard work over the past few years really been unable to bring him level with these geniuses?!
Sosuke thought to himself.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked toward Uchiha Tokino, only to discover something astonishing!
Tokino's eyes were now blood-red, and a single Tomoe turned slowly within them!
So this was the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan?! What abilities did those eyes have?
The boys and girls watching from the sidelines cried out in astonishment!
"Tokino actually awakened his Sharingan?!"
"So that's the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan? I've never seen a Kekkei Genkai like this before!"
"I heard Lord Kagami has eyes like those too. I can't believe Tokino has the Sharingan as well!"
Even Suzuki, the teacher watching from the sidelines, stared at Uchiha Tokino in shock.
What a terrifying young man, he thought. He was probably another Uchiha Clan genius. That clan really was...
Tsunade watched Sosuke anxiously. Beside her, Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Tokino's red eyes, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly.
He murmured, "What are you going to do now, Sosuke..."
On the field, Uchiha Tokino gazed coldly at Sosuke, but spoke aloud.
"Even a genius must submit before these eyes. A civilian like you should learn to face reality! Even the Senju Clan is powerless before these eyes. No one can save you. Now disappear!"
As he spoke, his whole body suddenly moved.
Sosuke's pupils contracted sharply!
He stared in shock as Uchiha Tokino flashed into view right in front of him.
"So fast!"
Tokino suddenly punched toward Sosuke!
Sosuke immediately swung his long sword at him.
But—
His blade cut through empty air!
A low voice came from behind Sosuke.
"Under these eyes, your sluggish movements aren't even worthy of touching me."
Konoha Whirlwind!
"Bang!"
The powerful kick struck Sosuke squarely in the back, sending him flying forward. His thick glasses slipped off.
Feeling the agony in his body and the damage to his muscles, Sosuke closed his eyes and thought sadly:
Am I going to fall here... I'm sorry, Tsunade... I still haven't caught up with you all...
"It's been a long time since I've seen you look this wretched, Aizen. When did you start swinging your sword so carelessly?"
Sosuke lay on the ground. At the sound of the voice, he struggled to open his eyes.
His vision wasn't blurry without his glasses. On the contrary, everything was perfectly clear.
A beautiful girl in a floral kimono crouched beside him. A playful smile curved her lovely face.
"It's you, Kyoka Suigetsu. Sorry you had to see me in such a sorry state."
Even now, Sosuke managed to force a weary smile as he spoke.
Hearing him say that and seeing his battered smile, the girl clearly froze. She gazed at him intently.
Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground. Paying no heed to the dirt staining her floral kimono, she gently lay against Sosuke and breathed in his scent.
Thrown off by her sudden move, Sosuke felt flustered and uneasy. Then he heard her soft, lilting whisper.
"You should have remembered... Aizen... My release command. That is the power we share... Take hold of me... Feel my presence... I'm the only one who will stay by your side forever..."
The beautiful girl slowly disappeared into Sosuke.
And Sosuke, lying on the ground, felt as though he had just dreamed. In the dream, all he had to do was raise his sword, and he could cleave the entire world in two. Countless terrifying creatures submitted to him.
His hand closed around the sword lying beside him, as though he were holding the girl's hand.
Yes, in the dream, those were the words he spoke.
"Shatter... Kyoka Suigetsu!"
Before you continue