Uchiha Xiao vs. Uchiha Kiyoshi

Uchiha Kiyoshi looked toward Uchiha Xiao with a hint of gravity in his eyes. He knew Uchiha Xiao might have some ability, but he never imagined the boy would dare to challenge a Jonin like himself in front of such a crowd.

The other major clans suddenly lost their urgency to enter the village; watching the drama was far more entertaining. They cleared the central area, leaving it open for the two to spar.

Ding! Detected that the host is about to engage in combat with an Uchiha Jonin. Settling previous rewards in advance.

Ding! The host led the Senju troops without suffering a single loss. Reward: Jonin-level chakra reserves, 500 points.

Ding! The host altered the plot of the Land of Whirlpools. Reward: Jonin-level combat techniques, 2000 points.

Ding! The host altered the plot of Uzumaki Nagato. Reward: Mastery of Fire-style ninjutsu, Fire-style ninjutsu power doubled, no hand seals required, 5000 points.

Point balance: 14050. Achievement completed: "Quite Well-Off." Reward: A-rank ninjutsu, Sand Burial (already mastered).

As the system's voice faded, the various rewards merged with Uchiha Xiao. After only a moment, Uchiha Xiao regained his focus.

The corners of his mouth curled upward. Originally, he had intended to win by trickery, but now, it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.

Seeing his opponent form the Seal of Confrontation, Uchiha Kiyoshi hurriedly did the same. Although the Uchiha clan was arrogant, they always showed respect to any challenger, regardless of whether the opponent could actually defeat them.

"Uchiha Xiao, you are a junior, so I will let you make the first move." As he spoke, Uchiha Kiyoshi held a kunai in a defensive stance. As everyone knew, the ninja profession was defined by high offense and low defense.

Uchiha Xiao smiled faintly and then formed hand seals—the standard seals for the Great Fireball Technique. Uchiha Kiyoshi smiled back, intending to use the same ninjutsu to teach Uchiha Xiao a lesson.

However, his expression suddenly shifted. The brat had only formed three seals, so how was he already releasing the technique?

He had only finished two seals! Uchiha Kiyoshi hurriedly performed the Body Replacement Technique to dodge the attack, his eyes locked onto Uchiha Xiao. If he had reacted even a second slower, he would have become the first ninja ever killed by a Great Fireball Technique!

This kid! Uchiha Kiyoshi's heart skipped a beat.

Uchiha Xiao smiled slightly. As expected, the Great Fireball Technique was a "technique that never burns anyone." Even with the fake hand seals added, it hadn't managed to burn Uchiha Kiyoshi.

Little did he know, in Uchiha Kiyoshi's eyes, Uchiha Xiao had already become a formidable enemy. He didn't know if Uchiha Xiao had improved the Great Fireball or if he was capable of performing ninjutsu without hand seals.

Uchiha Kiyoshi preferred to believe the former, because throughout the history of the Warring States period, only Madara Uchiha and Senju Hashirama could achieve the latter. If Uchiha Xiao had truly done it, then he...

Before he could dwell on it further, Uchiha Xiao leaped, spinning in mid-air as three massive Phoenix Sage Fire projectiles surged toward Uchiha Kiyoshi.

Uchiha Kiyoshi's eyes widened. So large? How is this possible? This kid...

He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to move. Although he dodged the attack, his clothes were partially scorched by the Phoenix Sage Fire.

Through these two ninjutsu attacks, Uchiha Kiyoshi realized that in terms of ninjutsu, he was absolutely no match for Uchiha Xiao.

Therefore, he pulled out shuriken and threw them at Uchiha Xiao. Uchiha Xiao drew his long sword.

Clang, clang, clang, clang! He deflected the shuriken. Just as Uchiha Xiao looked toward where Uchiha Kiyoshi had been standing, he discovered that Uchiha Kiyoshi had vanished!

Uchiha Xiao was still stunned, but his body moved on its own, raising his sword to block. Clang!

The Jonin-level combat techniques had already turned into muscle memory, driving him to raise his blade in defense.

At the sound of the clang, Uchiha Kiyoshi's face revealed his disbelief. This guy's combat techniques and instincts were already no weaker than his own.

Once Uchiha Xiao reacted, he chose not to form any seals this time. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Kiyoshi hurriedly retreated, but the scorching heat of the fireball still left his skin burned. He had seen it clearly: Uchiha Xiao had used no hand seals. This was a genius!

However, the Uchiha clan didn't rely solely on swordsmanship and Fire Style!

Uchiha Kiyoshi's eyes turned red as the Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared. The other members of the Uchiha clan gasped; Senior Kiyoshi was getting serious.

"Xiao, stop now. I acknowledge your strength. If we continue to fight, I might not be able to control the consequences," Uchiha Kiyoshi said seriously, having finally recognized Uchiha Xiao's power.

But that wasn't all Uchiha Xiao wanted. "Senior Kiyoshi, please, bring it on." With that, he channeled his Yin-attribute chakra, and both of his eyes transformed into the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

The expressions of the other Uchiha clansmen shifted. Jonin-level techniques, Fire Style, and the Two-Tomoe Sharingan—this didn't mean Uchiha Xiao was weak; it meant his talent was monstrous.

Everyone knew that an Uchiha with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan could possess Jonin-level strength—that was just by relying on the Sharingan alone.

If Uchiha Xiao had Jonin-level strength with only two tomoe, it meant that once he awakened the third, he would possess the power to crush other Jonin, perhaps even go toe-to-toe with Kage-level powerhouses!

Uchiha Kiyoshi felt a desire to nurture this talent. No matter how much Uchiha Xiao resented the clan, he was, after all, an Uchiha.

Therefore, he prepared to end the battle with a genjutsu. "Genjutsu: Sharingan!" Using the Sharingan's own genjutsu—a Three-Tomoe against a Two-Tomoe—should have been effortless.

Just as he thought he had controlled Uchiha Xiao, Uchiha Xiao flashed to the side and kicked Uchiha Kiyoshi over with a roundhouse kick. Uchiha Kiyoshi's eyes widened, and his Sharingan reverted to black pupils.

"Ho... how is this possible? You... shouldn't you have..." Uchiha Kiyoshi struggled to stand up. He had thought victory was in his grasp and was just about to boast.

Who knew Uchiha Xiao would interrupt his casting and kick him down?

"Oh? I shouldn't have been under a genjutsu? Shouldn't genjutsu be a matter of one's state of mind? It is thanks to the 'care' the clan has shown me over the years that my state of mind is so calm." After saying this, Uchiha Xiao smiled slightly.

Uchiha Kiyoshi fell silent. He knew Uchiha Xiao was right. Then, a hand reached out toward him. Uchiha Kiyoshi looked up; it was Uchiha Xiao. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

He saw Uchiha Xiao shake his head. "Let's perform the Seal of Reconciliation." After saying that, he stopped speaking and watched Uchiha Kiyoshi.

Uchiha Kiyoshi nodded. After completing the Seal of Reconciliation with Uchiha Xiao, Uchiha Xiao pulled him up. Uchiha Kiyoshi said "thank you" and returned to the ranks, no longer as arrogant as he had been at the start.

Instead, he cast a look of admiration toward Uchiha Xiao. He studied Uchiha Xiao's features closely, his brow furrowing as if he had seen him somewhere before.

For some reason, his vision blurred, and he felt as if he were seeing that clan leader from the Warring States period, holding a scythe and carrying a gunbai on his back.

Boom! His scalp tingled. How could this guy's appearance be so similar to Lord Madara!