A tremendous force surged through him. Blood Sword only felt his arm go numb, and his grappling stance collapsed in an instant. His whole body was knocked two staggering steps backward.
In their first probing exchange, Madara had gained the upper hand.
Blood Sword put away his contempt and drew his own kunai as well.
The two charged at each other again!
"Ding, ding!"
"Clang, clang!"
The sound of kunai clashing rang through the forest like a sudden downpour.
Two figures moved at high speed within that tiny space, colliding, separating!
Madara's taijutsu was broad and forceful, every attack carrying honed precision and pressure.
Blood Sword was more agile and tricky, like a slippery loach, relying on speed and technique to maneuver as he tried to find an opening in Madara's defense.
The two moved faster and faster, their actions growing sharper and fiercer.
The cold gleam of kunai wove into a deadly net in the shadows.
The surrounding Uchiha and Chinoike Clan members all held their breath, staring fixedly at this duel between top experts of the younger generation.
A moment later, the two separated again.
Blood Sword was already panting, drenched in sweat. The arm holding his kunai trembled slightly, clearly completely outmatched in strength and endurance.
Madara, by contrast, was only breathing a little harder, with fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples. His expression was unchanged, as if that had merely been a warm-up.
Blood Sword was shaken to the core. The taijutsu and speed he took such pride in had actually been completely suppressed before this youth who called himself "Madara"!
If this continued, defeat was certain!
"You forced me!" Blood Sword put away his kunai, a ruthless glint flashing through his eyes.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his originally