Must You Be Twisted to Become Strong?

"Ling, are you all right?"

Anko looked at Uchiha Ling with concern. She moved closer and used her sleeve to wipe the cold sweat streaming down his temples.

Dule Jiong watched how carefully she tended to him and thought, Anko, you've changed. Uchiha Ling had thrown the chakra inside his body into chaos, leaving himself much weaker.

"I've used Majestic Destroyer Flame four times today," he said. "I can't keep this up. I'm almost at my limit."

Several people appeared before them using the Body Flicker Technique. The gusts they brought scattered the charred grass and branches across the ground, reducing them to black ash.

Uchiha Hono burst out laughing. "Good! Excellent! I was wondering who'd worked with me to unleash the Uchiha Clan's strongest Fire Release.

"I never expected it to be you, Ling. But who else could it have been?"

Shinku Yuhi exchanged glances with the Jonin leading the other teams. Now he truly understood why the village was so wary of the Uchiha Clan.

Two Uchiha had wiped out an entire Stone Ninja Battalion with Fire Release?

That kind of strength was terrifying.

Jonin Yamanaka Shizu said, "I know some Medical Ninjutsu. Uchiha Ling, what's wrong? Do you need help?"

Uchiha Ling looked at the Jonin who had spoken. He bore the Yamanaka Clan crest.

You've got to be kidding. Let a Yamanaka Jonin touch me? Who knows how many of my secrets he'd uncover?

"It's nothing. I'm just a little exhausted.

"Our team ran into a Stone Ninja Battalion in the Land of Waterfalls. I used Majestic Destroyer Flame four times today to escape, so I'm nearly at my limit."

Uchiha Hono nodded repeatedly. "Not bad, not bad. When I was young, I could only use Majestic Destroyer Flame a dozen or so times a day.