Battle Aotian

After accepting Uchiha Aotian's challenge, Uchiha Lihuo did not slack off in the slightest.

He consumed a vast variety of food frantically, then utilized the "Life Return" ability to convert it into the energy his body required, thereby restoring his stamina and purging his hidden injuries.

Within a single day, Lihuo's injuries were mostly healed, which left both Kakashi and the doctor who came to visit him astonished.

At Kakashi's insistence, Lihuo underwent a comprehensive examination. Only when the doctor confirmed that Lihuo's body was basically healthy and ready to resume training did Kakashi agree to let him be discharged.

"However, Uchiha Lihuo's cellular strength is significantly weaker than before, as if it had been forcibly squeezed dry," the doctor added.

Kakashi looked at Lihuo, filled with suspicion; his expression seemed to say, "If you don't explain this clearly, there is no way I am letting you leave the hospital."

Lihuo was glad to have a good friend like Kakashi who cared for him, so he explained to Kakashi, "This is a secret technique of mine."

Kakashi stopped prying, but he still asked the doctor to clarify the situation.

"For a case like Uchiha Lihuo's, the cellular strength will generally recover gradually after a few days of rest."

"However, if he uses this secret technique continuously, it is very likely to cause his body to collapse!"

Upon hearing this, Lihuo understood the gravity of the situation and promised that, unless absolutely necessary, he would not use this secret technique again.

Subsequently, the two completed the discharge procedures. Lihuo informed his friends of his discharge, and everyone, including Oshima, found it unbelievable.

"What a monster-like recovery ability!" Oshima said in surprise.

"You've worked hard lately; the school has decided to grant you seven days of leave," Oshima said, omitting the fact that he had specifically requested this vacation from the Third Hokage.

"It's good that there are no lingering side effects; get some good rest over the next few days," Lu Miao said, not forgetting to add a sharp-tongued remark amidst her concern.

After receiving the well-wishes of his teachers and friends, Lihuo entered his seven-day break. He and Aotian had reached an agreement: the first five days would be for recuperation and preparation, and the duel would take place on the sixth day!

For the remaining time, Lihuo ran to Kakashi's house almost every day, becoming a frequent guest, primarily to receive guidance from Sakumo.

Ever since the duel with Kakashi at the Hatake residence, Sakumo had left home to complete an A-rank mission (not the mission from three years later).

Only after Lihuo recovered did Sakumo return. Lihuo seized the opportunity, constantly asking Sakumo for advice; after all, the guidance of an elite jonin was always hard to come by.

Sakumo also grew fond of this studious and friendly Uchiha youth, pointing out Lihuo's flaws without reservation. However, the fact that the boy brought a large jar of blade oil every time he visited gave Sakumo a massive headache.

In Lihuo's words, "I can't let Uncle Sakumo give me pointers for nothing."

Sakumo thought to himself: What kind of decent person only gives one type of gift? You could at least bring a scabbard! (ﾟoﾟ;;

During these five days, Lihuo trained at the Hatake residence during the day and returned home at night to summarize and improve.

He was like a sponge, frantically absorbing knowledge, to the point that even Kakashi came to urge Lihuo to rest properly.

Lihuo replied, "I have a duel with Aotian, so of course I have to prepare for it properly!"

Kakashi looked puzzled. "But with your strength, defeating Uchiha Aotian should be as easy as turning over one's hand."

Yet Lihuo said earnestly, "Aotian has been preparing for this match for months. He is taking this duel very seriously, so I must respond with equal effort."

"I believe he is definitely training hard at this very moment."

As Lihuo expected, Aotian was indeed undergoing grueling training at that moment.

His father, Uchiha Ting, had spent a large sum of money to hire an elite jonin from the Uchiha Clan to guide Aotian's practice.

When the private tutor reported to Ting, he said:

"The young master is training very hard and always adds extra sessions for himself. I don't know what goal he is training for, but I know that this goal has caused the young master a great sense of crisis."

Time flew by, and the five days of training soon ended. Lihuo finally learned from Sakumo how to quickly organize a follow-up attack after a failed strike without leaving an opening.

Finally, the duel was set to begin. The location was an abandoned training ground within the Uchiha Clan's territory. No one ever came here; the once-spacious grounds were overgrown with weeds, and rusted kunai remained embedded in the wooden training posts.

"I really don't know how you guys found this place," Lihuo said.

That's right, "you guys." For this battle, Aotian had brought all his lackeys—at least twenty or thirty people—while Lihuo had come alone.

"I never noticed you had such charisma before. What? Are you planning to gang up on me?" Lihuo teased, though he knew in his heart that Aotian's hard training was certainly not for a group brawl.

"They are just here to watch the battle, don't worry," Aotian said steadily, though he felt a little nervous inside.

Without further ado, the two entered the training ground. The lackeys consciously formed a circle, and no one made a sound, watching quietly.

A light breeze blew, rustling the weeds on the training ground. Suddenly, two figures collided, then quickly sprang apart. The duel had officially begun!

After the initial probe, Lihuo had a preliminary understanding of Aotian's strength. Compared to his level when they first entered the academy a few months ago, Aotian had made rapid progress.

His speed, strength, reaction time, and technique had all been greatly improved.

"This guy is really hardworking," Lihuo sighed.

Aotian reached into his ninja tool pouch, and a kunai flew out. He threw it without hesitation, followed by a fluent series of kunai throws, as if these movements had been practiced thousands of times.

Lihuo's eyes moved rapidly, finding the optimal escape route. He stomped his foot and dashed away, seemingly about to break out of the kunai's encirclement.

"Naive," Aotian snorted, throwing the final kunai with force, aiming it at the ones already in the air.

That last kunai triggered a chain reaction; the kunai already in flight ricocheted and scattered, suddenly accelerating, and ultimately cleverly sealing off all of Lihuo's escape routes.

It was precisely the Uchiha Kunai Throwing Technique that Lihuo had struggled so hard to master but had yet to obtain.

Just as Lihuo was about to be turned into a sieve by the dense barrage of kunai, he moved. His right hand brushed against his ninja tool pouch, and a kunai appeared in his hand with fluid grace.

Immediately following this, Lihuo used both his hands and feet, continuously deflecting the incoming kunai with his own kunai and kicks.

In the eyes of the underlings, Lihuo, who had been in a desperate situation, had skillfully resolved the crisis with taijutsu that moved like a whirlwind.

"Is this Uchiha Lihuo really that strong?"

"I didn't believe it before either, but now I finally understand why Boss has been training so hard."

"Exactly, if it were me just now, I would have died eight times over."

Unlike the astonishment of the underlings, Aotian remained unimpressed by Lihuo's nimble defense.

Because he firmly believed that such a level of strength could never stump Lihuo, what he wanted was to rapidly close the distance while Lihuo was distracted by the projectiles.

Aotian surged forward, following up with a fast, accurate, and ruthless jab.

Lihuo, of course, saw Aotian flying toward him.

These kunai finally aren't so soft and weak anymore. Shifting his body, he nimbly dodged Aotian's attack, yet unexpectedly, Aotian struck him squarely.

Although Aotian trained diligently, he was no match for Lihuo, who possessed a cheat and trained just as hard.

Therefore, this jab did not cause any serious damage to Lihuo.

Instead, it piqued Lihuo's interest.

"I clearly dodged that; how did you hit me?"

"Win, and I'll tell you!"

Subsequently, Aotian and Lihuo tangled together again, but within three moves, Lihuo discovered the tell.

He carefully observed Aotian's attack patterns; they were not wide, sweeping strikes.

Instead, Aotian used wide, sweeping motions as bait to predict the opponent's dodging movements, then attacked the spot where the opponent would land after dodging, creating the illusion of an unavoidable strike.

Then, what if I dodge in a way the opponent cannot predict, or even don't dodge at all? A look of madness appeared in Lihuo's eyes.

In an instant, Aotian's sharp, aggressive jab struck out once more, but Lihuo stood motionless as if stunned.

"Has this Uchiha Lihuo gone stupid?"

"What do you know? He's been beaten into a state of helplessness by Boss."

But the scene that followed shocked everyone, as Aotian's fist struck straight into the air on Lihuo's left side—exactly where Lihuo usually dodged!

"It seems I guessed right! Then this trick of yours is meaningless!"

"Taste this!" Lihuo swung his fist violently, the speed so great that Aotian couldn't even perceive it.

Aotian dodged instinctively, avoiding the fierce blow, but the next second, his face twisted as if struck by a speeding truck, and he flew backward, crashing to the ground.

"I thought Uchiha Style Taijutsu could subdue you, but I never expected to lose more than I gained."

"Uchiha Style Taijutsu? I've never heard of it."

"Uchiha Style Taijutsu is a form of taijutsu that relies heavily on the Sharingan. It uses the Sharingan to predict the direction of an enemy's dodge to attack in advance, and it incorporates genjutsu into the taijutsu to interfere with the opponent. It is an extremely powerful style."

Aotian smiled self-deprecatingly.

"It's just that my talent isn't enough to use it correctly."

Lihuo looked Aotian straight in the eye.

"Don't belittle yourself! Don't forget your original intention; the duel isn't over yet!"