"What?!"
The vast Ninja World had never lacked exceptionally talented youngsters.
Whether it was Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Shisui, or even Uchiha Itachi himself, all of them were unquestionably outstanding geniuses in Konoha.
But even so, Uchiha Itachi had never seen or heard of anyone who could go from Chunin to Jonin in just one week!
And looking at the confidence on Yun Xi's face...
Uchiha Itachi could tell that Yun Xi wasn't lying...
"Are you serious?"
After a long while, Uchiha Itachi spoke slowly, looking at Yun Xi in shock.
Although Uchiha Itachi had already witnessed a miracle in Yun Xi before...
Yun Xi's words this time still left him finding it hard to believe.
Generally speaking,
the time from starting at the Ninja Academy to becoming a Genin was spent building a foundation and learning basic ninjutsu.
Those with talent usually needed only half a year to a year to become Chunin.
Even Genin without much talent could become Chunin through steady practice and training.
The only difference was that it might take them considerably longer.
That was why only those who became Chunin could be considered true ninja.
They were also the backbone of a ninja village, and were authorized to lead teams on missions...
But the overall strength of a Jonin was on a completely different level from that of a Chunin.
More than eighty percent of Chunin might never become true Jonin in their entire lives.
It was easy to imagine
just how vast the difference in strength between the two ranks was!
But...
Yun Xi had just said that he needed only one more week to match an ordinary Jonin...
Uchiha Itachi found that very hard to believe!
Does he not believe me?
Looking at the astonishment on Uchiha Itachi's face, Yun Xi wondered to himself.
But just a few moments later,
Yun Xi figured out why.
It was simply that Uchiha Itachi thought it was impossible for him to attain Jonin-level strength in such a short time...
To anyone else, this would have sounded like a pipe dream.
But Yun Xi was different!
He!
Could really do it!
With that in mind,
Yun Xi decided that rather than explain himself, he would show Uchiha Itachi what he could do. He walked right up to him.
In an utterly serious tone, he said, "Why don't we just try it and see?"
"Try it?"
Yun Xi's suggestion only made Uchiha Itachi more confused. He asked instinctively, "How?"
"If we fight, you'll find out how strong I am, won't you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Xi leaped back several meters, putting some distance between himself and Uchiha Itachi as he readied himself for battle!
"You want to spar?"
Seeing the fighting spirit rise in Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi suddenly smiled. Then he murmured, "All right, I accept. Let's see the results of your week of special training!"
"That's what I was waiting to hear!"
The moment Uchiha Itachi agreed to spar, Yun Xi went straight into battle mode. He darted around Uchiha Itachi in an erratic pattern, while his hands formed Hand Seals at incredible speed...
This kid's speed...
Yun Xi hadn't even attacked yet, but that movement alone had already surprised Uchiha Itachi!
During their earlier training, Yun Xi had shown only his exceptional talent for Fire Release Ninjutsu.
Uchiha Itachi hadn't known that Yun Xi's speed had already reached the upper end of the Chunin level...
However...
It was still only impressive, nothing more.
Even without activating his Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi's exceptional reflexes let him follow Yun Xi's movements with ease.
Before Yun Xi could attack, three sharp kunai had appeared between Uchiha Itachi's long fingers...
"Whoosh!"
The next instant, a sharp whistle cut through the silence of the woods.
The target was Yun Xi!
Oh no...
Yun Xi had originally planned to use his speed to close in on Uchiha Itachi, then launch a surprise attack with ninjutsu.
But...
The kunai flying straight at him shattered that plan!
If Yun Xi kept going as planned, the kunai hurtling toward him would hit him for sure...
That would hardly be worth it.
In truth, Yun Xi had another way.
He could attack Uchiha Itachi while ignoring the kunai blocking his path.
He could activate the Flame-Flame Fruit's power and turn his body into an element.
That way, he could simply ignore Uchiha Itachi's kunai.
But Yun Xi didn't want to do that...
Looks like I'll have to dodge!
In that brief instant, Yun Xi had already worked out what to do!
Just as the kunai were still in the air, Yun Xi finished forming his Hand Seals.
Without hesitation, he gathered the chakra within him in his mouth...
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
With a furious shout,
a massive dragon several meters long, made entirely of flames, burst from Yun Xi's mouth!
A raging inferno came with it...
"Yun Xi's Fire Release Ninjutsu really is full of surprises..."
Seeing the kunai he had thrown swallowed by Yun Xi's Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu, a faint smile crossed Uchiha Itachi's face...
Uchiha Itachi already knew that Yun Xi had exceptional talent for Fire Release Ninjutsu.
But this Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu still surprised him.
It was a fairly basic Fire Release Ninjutsu, one that even an ordinary Chunin could cast with ease.
It was generally used to wear down an opponent from a distance or test them with an opening attack.
Its destructive power could be somewhat lacking...
But the Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu Yun Xi had unleashed was completely different!
Normally, once the Fire Dragon Jutsu was complete, the resulting flaming dragon would be orange-red.
With more chakra, the flames would turn a deep red...
But...
The Fire Dragon Jutsu Yun Xi had unleashed was completely different!
Its flames weren't deep red or orange-red...
They were pale blue!
Uchiha Itachi could even sense an inexplicable threat within the Fire Dragon Jutsu Yun Xi had unleashed!
After all, Yun Xi was only at the Chunin level.
Uchiha Itachi, on the other hand, could already be considered a Kage Level powerhouse...
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes,
Uchiha Itachi would never have believed that anyone at the Chunin level could unleash a Fire Release Ninjutsu that threatened him!
And it was only a basic C-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu!
"When it comes to Fire Release talent..."
"I'm no match for you..."
Watching the enormous Fire Dragon continue to rush toward him, Uchiha Itachi let out a deep sigh...
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