Double Suicide Decapitation Technique

A gentle breeze swept across the training ground, stirring up clouds of dust.

Lihuo watched his opponent rub his arm and get back to his feet in a sorry state, his mind as clear as a mirror.

Lihuo knew full well that he was lacking in every area. He had only just arrived from Blue Star, where he'd been an ordinary, law-abiding citizen.

Trying to stand up to a ninja who'd been trained as a killing machine from childhood was simply absurd.

What was more, the rewards he'd received from his cheat couldn't completely resolve his current predicament.

Only by playing to his strengths and avoiding his weaknesses could he find even the slimmest chance in adversity.

Now this is more like it!

Lihuo's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

"You're pretty good. As the first extra to survive three chapters, I'll allow you to say your name after you lose."

His opponent answered by charging at him like a starving tiger.

In theory, the two Uchiha boys standing here had already received their clan's training and been recognized as candidates for becoming ninjas.

This match was just a formality. Judging by the abilities the two boys had shown, they'd already passed.

The reason their teacher had yet to call an end to the match was that the Third Hokage had taken over as referee.

He wanted to see just how far these two Uchiha boys could go.

To make sure he could finish approving the day's files in time, the Third Hokage had even used the Shadow Clone Technique to have his clone handle them.

Back at the training ground, the two boys had already moved on to a Taijutsu clash.

After experiencing the power of Lihuo's attacks, his opponent had clearly chosen a more agile approach.

He dodged Lihuo's attacks with nimble footwork, looking for chances to wear him down.

Lihuo understood his opponent's strategy and couldn't help but tense up. He muttered to himself, "I really can't underestimate any extra. What the heck, is this guy a Soulslike player? Why's he so cautious?"

It was time to put his plan into action.

"First, I'll give him an opening, then bait him into attacking."

With that in mind, Lihuo pretended to leave himself exposed, while actually preparing to strike. The moment his opponent attacked, he'd be ready to react.

But to his surprise, his opponent seemed to see through him and quickly pulled back.

"Haha, you coward, Lihuo! Is that all you've got?"

As he spoke, he began forming hand seals with clumsy movements.

"Wait! That seal is—Lord Third, please stop him!" one of the Chunin instructors hurriedly called out.

The Third Hokage calmly stopped everyone from interfering. He hadn't seen any panic on Lihuo's face—instead, he saw a focus unlike anything he'd shown before.

"Come on, Uchiha boy. Show me what you can do."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" A fireball hurtled toward Lihuo.

"Coward! At this distance, even a god can't save you! Accept your defeat!"

The scorching fireball rushed toward him, but Lihuo simply said, "See? Now you've left yourself wide open."

The blazing flames burst apart. When the smoke cleared, all that remained on the ground was a charred tree stump.

The Chunin instructor shot to his feet.

"Substitution Technique? Impossible! I never saw him form a single hand seal!"

The Third Hokage froze for a second, then calmly said, "His hand seals are very fast. Look, the match is about to end."

His opponent had just finished using the Great Fireball Technique, and his chakra had been completely drained. He was utterly shocked.

"Where is he? He's nowhere around me, and he's not in the sky, either. Then he must be..."

An enormous force dragged his body underground, leaving only his head above the ground.

Lihuo's figure quietly appeared. He placed a hand on his opponent's head and said coolly, "Earth Release: Headhunter Technique."

"You've lost. Loser, what's your name?"

There was no need to say more. The Chunin instructor stepped forward and announced the results.

"Uchiha Lihuo and Uchiha Aotian have both passed."

Then he freed Aotian from the Earth Release Technique.

"Now, form the Seal of Reconciliation."

Lihuo chuckled.

"Your name suits you, Uchiha Aotian. I'm very unhappy to meet you. Don't do that again next time."

Uchiha Aotian wore an indignant expression.

"Lihuo, just you wait! I'll make you pay for this!"

Just as Lihuo was leaving the field, a spiky-haired boy lunged at him with incredible speed.

It was Obito.

"Lihuo, you idiot! What were you doing? Why'd you have to look so cool?"

"Rin's asking me about you now! How could you do this to me?"

Looking at Uchiha Obito, who was choosing girls over his friend, Lihuo was speechless all over again.

"Come on, you idiot Obito. Let's go home and eat."

As soon as he said it, Lihuo froze.

He'd lived two lives, and in this one, he was all alone. How could he even call anywhere home?

Suddenly, an arm draped over Lihuo's shoulder.

"I really don't know why Rin would be curious about you. If you ask me, an idiot's an idiot."

"Come on, Grandma made us lots of delicious food."

"Obito!" Lihuo pretended to be angry, but he couldn't hide the smile at the corners of his mouth.

The two of them walked toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds with their arms around each other's shoulders.

After watching Lihuo's match, the Third Hokage slowly made his way back to the Hokage Office.

"Excellent chakra control, genius-level speed with hand seals, and good tactics. But in complete contrast, he has no real combat experience at all."

"This Uchiha brat is interesting." With that, the Third Hokage slightly raised his left hand.

"Yue, go investigate Uchiha Lihuo's personal information for me."

A cool breeze swept by, as if nothing had happened. But Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that the Anbu directly under the Hokage was carrying out his orders without fail.

As for our protagonist, Lihuo, after finishing his meal, he followed his memories back to his house.

He began sorting through what he'd gained since crossing over a day ago.

"System, open my personal panel."

"Host" Uchiha Lihuo

"Ninjutsu" Three Body Technique, Great Fireball Technique, Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Great Waterfall Technique, Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, Earth Style Wall, Shadow Clone Technique, Telescope Technique, Shuriken Shadow Clone, Water Wall

"Taijutsu" None

"Genjutsu" None

"Chakra" Micro-Kakashi (one-thousandth of Kakashi's chakra; even at full strength, only enough to use a single ninjutsu)

"Savings" 10,000 yen

*You have a reward waiting. Claim it now.*

Only then did Lihuo remember that he'd also casually touched Aotian's head.

"Claim!"

"Ding! You touched the head of a D-rank ninja: Uchiha Aotian. Choose one of the following rewards."

"50,000 yen"

"U-shaped neck pillow"

"The Complete Guide to Trash Talk"

He chose the money without hesitation. He'd known all along that Aotian wouldn't yield anything good.

After reviewing the day's gains, Lihuo began planning what to do next.

There were still ten days until the Ninja Academy officially opened.

First, my weak points are Taijutsu, my chakra reserves, and kunai throwing. I'll have to build up my chakra little by little, but I need to get started on Taijutsu and kunai practice right away.

I might as well buy new ninja tools and weights tomorrow, then step up my Taijutsu training.

I'll also look for a Taijutsu training partner. Otherwise, I won't be able to stick with it.

At the same time, back at the Uchiha Clan Grounds...

Aotian was complaining to his parents.

"Mom, Dad, you have to avenge me!"

Aotian might have been a jerk, but he didn't lie. He told his parents the whole story, from beginning to end.

Aotian's father trembled with rage and shouted, "Who told you to say that to him? You were the one in the wrong, and then you challenged him. You lost, and now you're running to your parents? Is that all the backbone you have?"

"Tomorrow, you're apologizing to Lihuo! ..."

It was destined to be a restless night...