Uchiha Yuzhen finished forming the Hand Seals and unleashed the technique.
[Wind Style: Pressure Damage!]
Rumble—!!!
A massive, dense tornado...
Burst from Yuzhen's mouth!
With immense wind pressure and the force to sweep everything away, it instantly cleared the mist shrouding the area ahead and the entire forest...
Biwa Juzo recognized the technique.
He hurriedly warned his subordinates:
"Damn it! Pressure Damage?! Everyone, get out of the way!"
With that, he turned and fled beyond the technique's range.
Thinking of that Uchiha brat, he sensed trouble:
"Those clothes, those eyes, that age... Is he a Uchiha genius?"
After leading his men out of range of the Wind Release technique, which could clear an area and serve other purposes as well,
Juzo steadied himself and lowered his eyes.
His chilling gaze fixed on Uchiha Yuzhen...
He said coldly:
"That brat must not be allowed to live!"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He instructed several of his subordinates:
"You're all reliable Jonin. You can keep that so-called 'Yellow Flash' occupied, right?"
The three ordinary Jonin exchanged glances. Namikaze Minato had only just started making a name for himself.
As Jonin of Kirigakure,
there was no way the three of them would lose to a Konoha Jonin who had only recently risen to fame.
"No problem, Lord Juzo!"
Hearing his subordinates' assurances, Biwa Juzo nodded in approval.
"Good. Then I'll go kill that Uchiha brat first!"
The Wind Release technique unleashed by Uchiha Yuzhen had caused trouble not only for Kirigakure.
Team Minato was also shaken.
Obito, especially!
At Fugaku's place that day, he'd clearly heard Yuzhen choose that technique.
But he'd never imagined Uchiha Yuzhen...
After learning his clan's Uchiha Style and the Flying Thunder God Technique Formula taught by Minato-sensei,
could still find time to master Wind Release!
"That's ridiculous. Is this really possible just by awakening the Sharingan?"
Obito couldn't be blamed for doubting it.
Someone like Uchiha Yuzhen was simply too rare in the history of the Uchiha Clan.
It was true that awakening the Sharingan boosted a ninja's aptitude.
That was a fact the Uchiha had confirmed over a thousand years!
But...
For someone like Uchiha Yuzhen, in just over a month,
to train in his clan's secret techniques, Space-Time Ninjutsu, and Wind Release,
and become proficient in all of them...
That was truly rare!
"Don't get distracted, idiot!" Kakashi used the White Fang Blade to drive back his opponent, catching sight of Obito seemingly lost in thought from the corner of his eye.
Obito's opponent wouldn't let such an opportunity pass. He raised his Kunai and went to stab Obito.
Kakashi hurriedly warned him and darted forward.
Clang—!
Raising the White Fang Blade, he blocked the life-threatening strike for Obito!
"Kakashi?" Seeing what had happened, Obito gritted his teeth and quickly formed Hand Seals.
Chakra gathered in his mouth.
[Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique]
The powerful fireball instantly burned the enemy, whom Kakashi had pinned down, to ash.
The situation improved.
"Phew..." Kakashi let out a quiet breath.
He could guess why Obito had been distracted.
Uchiha Yuzhen!
What an incredible ninja.
After awakening the Sharingan, in just over a month,
his strength had soared from Genin to a level close to Kakashi's.
To be honest, Kakashi had great confidence in his own abilities.
He believed he could take down an ordinary Jonin.
And that wasn't all...
Judging from that Wind Release technique, Yuzhen's fundamentals had also become exceptionally solid.
"Do all of you Uchiha get this strong after awakening the Sharingan?" Kakashi asked Obito, out of the blue, still feeling as if reality had turned upside down.
At his words, Obito looked at Kakashi and thought of Rin.
A surge of competitiveness welled up inside him.
Without thinking, he replied:
"That's right! Once I awaken the Sharingan, I'll get stronger just as fast as Yuzhen!"
"Then I'll be waiting to see. For now, let's go help Rin."
"Right! Let's hurry and help Rin!"
Namikaze Minato thought Uchiha Yuzhen's growth was far too extraordinary.
So extraordinary that he didn't intervene when Biwa Juzo bypassed him and went straight for Uchiha Yuzhen.
He simply engaged the ordinary Jonin.
There was no point in testing Uchiha Yuzhen's mindset anymore.
Kakashi and Obito were no longer in danger.
That left only one thing to see: just how steep a curve Uchiha Yuzhen's growth followed!
After all, he knew his students' records by heart.
He knew what level Uchiha Yuzhen had been at before.
As for the idea that awakening the Sharingan alone could make him this strong...
If that were true, the Uchiha would have united the Ninja World long ago.
There was only one explanation!
Uchiha Yuzhen was a true super-genius!
He had simply matured late.
That was why his talent hadn't shown itself early on.
Having figured it out, Namikaze Minato knew what he needed to do next.
He'd hold back a little and let Biwa Juzo, one of Kirigakure's renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen, test him.
As for whether something might go wrong...
His special Flying Thunder God Kunai were already scattered across the battlefield.
He was confident he could save the day, no matter what happened!
"Let's see, Yuzhen..."
"Just how far can you go!"
Biwa Juzo privately congratulated himself. Namikaze Minato was indeed occupied by his subordinates, just as he'd expected.
He leaped into the air and dove toward the kid below.
"Brat, your time is up!" Biwa Juzo snarled with a cruel laugh, raising Kubikiribōchō. His murderous aura and malice filled the battlefield.
Uchiha Yuzhen could feel
just how terrifying that malice and killing intent were!
Facing that aura made his skin sting!
In his eyes, Biwa Juzo's presence was like that of an Asura Demon!
And yet... somehow,
even though this was his first time facing the presence of an elite from the Ninja World,
and his first time truly experiencing killing intent and malice,
by all rights, he should have been trembling with fear.
But, somehow...
Uchiha Yuzhen was exhilarated!
"Hahahahaha! Is this the aura of one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"
"Fantastic!"
Chakra flames suddenly blazed around Yuzhen's body.
Sparks scattered, and flames flowed along the blade!
A short step, a bend of his body, a light turn of the hilt, and the flaming edge leveled with his brow.
His scarlet Sharingan quivered slightly...
[Uchiha Style: Sword Dance Flame: Modified: Dispersion!]
The original Sword Dance Flame used Fire Release to create a flaming blade for attacks. It was a Fire-style Nintaijutsu with some Wind-style traits.
But Uchiha Yuzhen had modified the technique.
He increased the nature transformation of his Wind Release chakra, turning it into a thrusting sword that moved even faster!
Bang—!
Great Fire Thrust collided with Blood Blade Greatsword.
The two stared each other down, killing intent filling the air above the battlefield!
"I'll kill you!" they shouted at the same time, their voices brimming with murderous intent!
Clang—!
Their Ninja Blades clashed and knocked each other aside, and each took a step back.
Then Yuzhen and Juzo both stepped forward again.
Bang, bang, bang!
In the blink of an eye, the two had collided a dozen times.
The corners of Uchiha Yuzhen's mouth curled upward, like a poisonous flower blooming.
"Fool, you fell for it!"
A buzzing sound rang out.
Yuzhen, having unleashed the Uchiha Style Nintaijutsu at full power,
suddenly filled the entire battlefield with his figure.
Those uncanny, illusory afterimages quickly formed Hand Seals, then puffed out their cheeks.
Something was coming!
That was Biwa Juzo's sixth sense...
It was screaming a warning at him.
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