Time flew by, and two years passed in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, two boys stood facing off in the open training ground at the Ninja Academy, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
"Has it really been two years already? Uchiha Yan still hasn't given up challenging Liuxia? Even though he loses every single time!" people whispered among themselves.
A closer look confirmed that the two boys in the center of the grounds were indeed Liuxia and Uchiha Yan.
After two years of growth and training, they had both shed their youthful awkwardness and grown much more mature. Uchiha Yan had cut his once-flowing long hair into a neat short style. Liuxia, meanwhile, had grown a head of glossy black hair, which he tied back neatly with a ribbon.
When a gentle breeze swept past, the boy's smooth hair fluttered in the wind. The girls watching couldn't help feeling their hearts flutter at the sight. What a handsome young man!
"Today's match! Uchiha Yan versus Liuxia!"
After announcing the start of the match, Sato-sensei flicked a senbon at the little bell beside the training ground.
Clang...
As the bell rang, the tension on the field instantly peaked. The two opponents assumed their stances at the same time—Seal of Confrontation!
Without hesitation, Uchiha Yan opened with the tactic he knew best: shuriken! But unlike before, this time he threw a full ten razor-sharp shuriken at once!
Facing the fierce attack, Liuxia calmly drew the Crimson Blood Sword and swung it at astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye, he knocked away every shuriken hurtling toward him.
Uchiha Yan wasn't surprised. Two years earlier, Liuxia had already used his exceptional shuriken-throwing skills to deflect one of his attacks.
Now Uchiha Yan's technique was even more refined. He moved with the graceful ease of a musician playing a beautiful instrument. The shuriken in his hands seemed as obedient as a flock of well-trained butterflies, darting and weaving unpredictably.
Still, Uchiha Yan knew this one move alone probably wouldn't be enough to defeat such a formidable opponent.
Sure enough, Liuxia's reflexes were beyond ordinary. His hands flashed through Hand Seals so quickly they were like lightning streaking across the sky, too fast to follow.
Each seal was precise and smooth, as though he'd practiced the sequence ten thousand times. (Tiger—Snake—Tiger—Snake—Tiger—Snake)
Then came a low shout. "Water Release: Water Wall!" In an instant, a massive wall of water surged from the ground and closed in around them.
No matter how sharp Uchiha Yan's shuriken were, they couldn't pierce the nearly impregnable Water Wall.
Whoosh...
Just as the Water Release: Water Wall began to dissipate, a gust of wind suddenly roared past!
Liuxia had already used the Body Flicker Technique to close in on Uchiha Yan at incredible speed.
Uchiha Yan wasn't about to back down. He stomped hard, using the ground beneath him and his own explosive strength to propel himself forward, sword in hand, charging at Liuxia like a tiger.
"Ever since you beat me in that Taijutsu match two years ago, I've been training day and night in Uchiha Swordsmanship. Now that we're fighting again, I'll show you the true strength of the Uchiha Clan!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, the two figures clashed like streaks of lightning. Their blades flashed as the sharp ring of steel filled the air, like a blacksmith's hammer pounding an anvil. It was a clash of titans! In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged more than a dozen blows!
But amid the breathtaking battle, a startled cry suddenly rose from the crowd!
Everyone looked over to see one of the fighters hurled backward like a kite with its string cut. He skidded dozens of meters across the ground before finally managing to stop.
"I didn't think you'd really put so much effort into this, Uchiha Yan."
Uchiha Yan was on one knee, gripping his sword with both hands. Its blade was buried deep in the dirt.
If he hadn't plunged his weapon into the ground to slow himself down, he probably wouldn't have been able to steady himself.
"How dare you mock me! You're infuriating! Take this—Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Uchiha Yan's face flushed red with anger. His fury blazed as he ground out the words.
His hands flashed through a practiced, fluid sequence of seals: Snake—Monkey—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger.
As he completed the seals, a powerful mass of chakra gathered in his palm.
Then Uchiha Yan opened his mouth and spat out a massive ball of fire.
It shot straight at Liuxia like a burning meteor, blazing with searing heat and wild energy.
In an instant, the entire area lit up, as if they were standing in a sea of fire.
Unfazed by the ferocious attack, Liuxia calmly performed his own ninjutsu—Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
His fingers flew through an elaborate sequence of Hand Seals. (It really is complicated! Seriously, just watch the Zabuza vs. Kakashi scene in the anime! Of course, the Second Hokage's version is much shorter. For now, it's better to keep that card up his sleeve, right?) As soon as he finished, moisture rushed in from all around and gathered into a massive torrent. It rose into the air like a mighty dragon, magnificent and imposing.
The water dragon and fireball collided in midair with a deafening boom.
The flames were fierce, but the water dragon's impact steadily snuffed them out until the fireball was extinguished. Yet the water dragon didn't stop. It continued hurtling toward Uchiha Yan at astonishing speed.
As the water dragon drew closer, Uchiha Yan's face changed. He hurriedly dodged to the side, trying to evade its attack.
But the water dragon was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of him.
With no other choice, Uchiha Yan quickly retreated, hoping to get out of range of the Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
"Don't move!"
Suddenly, a soft voice drifted into Uchiha Yan's ear like a ghost.
A bone-chilling coldness brushed his neck. He turned in shock and saw a bright red sword, gleaming with a cold light, stretched across his throat.
The person holding it was Liuxia. While Uchiha Yan had been dealing with the steam kicked up by the Water Dragon Bullet Technique and Great Fireball Technique, Liuxia had seized the chance to sneak behind him. With victory apparently within reach, everyone thought the fight was about to end.
But at that moment, there was a muffled "poof!" Uchiha Yan suddenly vanished in a cloud of smoke!
"It's the Shadow Clone Technique!" someone cried. But most of the crowd was confused. "When did he use it? There was no sign!"
Before the spectators could think it over, a sharp kunai shot from behind toward Liuxia like lightning.
Liuxia remained calm, leaning slightly to evade the attack with ease. Then he once again held the Crimson Blood Sword steadily against Uchiha Yan's neck.
"You lose."
Liuxia sheathed his sword and spoke to Uchiha Yan with a calm gaze.
Uchiha Yan glared at him, still seething with resentment. "Damn it! Just you wait! I'll be back! Next time, I'll beat you!"
With that, Uchiha Yan angrily shoved his way through the people in front of him and strode off without looking back.
The stunned onlookers were left staring at one another.
Liuxia shook his head helplessly, made the Seal of Reconciliation, and sighed. "The Uchiha really are as stubborn as ever! They're so thickheaded!"
Then he turned to thank Sato-sensei before looking over at Nawaki, who was still watching from the sidelines. With a smile, he said, "All right, Nawaki. You've been watching for ages, so your stomach must be rumbling by now. Let's head home. I'll make you a huge feast!"
At the words "huge feast," Nawaki immediately beamed. "Great! I want some delicious fried chicken!"
Watching the show was fun, of course, but to him, enjoying a good meal was clearly more important.
Before long, the two left the Ninja Academy and returned together to the Senju Compound.
As soon as they stepped inside, they noticed several pairs of shoes neatly lined up in the entryway.
"Huh? Did the Third Hokage and the others come over?"
Nawaki rubbed the back of his head and asked, puzzled.
After all, this was the Senju Compound, and it was also the home of Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Ordinary people weren't allowed to set foot here.
Aside from the Third Hokage and a few others, such as the Council of Elders, no one else had the privilege. So many people had come to visit today. The two exchanged a glance, both realizing that something important must have happened.
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