First Match: Uchiha Shunichi vs. Neji Hyuga

Sure enough, even after discovering the other side's intentions, Sarutobi Hiruzen still chose to endure...

Uchiha Shunichi took Gekko Hayate to the Konoha Interrogation Department. Though it was merely going through the motions, three days had passed by the time it was over.

Over those three days, the Sand Shinobi pretended to know nothing and argued their case fiercely. Although they allowed Konoha to increase its surveillance, it was ultimately a futile effort.

Gekko Hayate took such matters in stride. Though Uchiha Shunichi had some objections, he did not truly care.

A grasshopper after autumn—let him jump around for a few more days.

However, to show his dissatisfaction, Uchiha Shunichi still refused Sarutobi Hiruzen's assignment and secured some time to train alone at home.

In truth, at Uchiha Shunichi's current level, training no longer brought much improvement. What truly restrained him was the growth of his chakra and the strength of his body.

Neither of those problems could be solved in a short time.

Free time passed quickly, and before long, the day of the official matches arrived. Recently, many nobles had come to Konoha to watch the spectacle, making the village's security forces even busier.

That very busyness made Uchiha Shunichi's actions more convenient. Though many things were still unclear, the chances of the plan succeeding had increased considerably.

"Uchiha Shunichi, today is the day of your match. Why did you call me here?" Uchiha Shunichi had just changed into the attire of the Uchiha Clan head when he heard Yakushi Kabuto's voice behind him.

Yakushi Kabuto had clearly recognized the outfit Uchiha Shunichi was wearing and looked slightly surprised and confused.

"Today is the day you fulfill your promise. Take me to see Shimura Danzō. After that, you will have nothing more to do with this." Uchiha Shunichi spoke with an icy expression.

Today, he seemed especially serious. He was completely different from usual, and Yakushi Kabuto could clearly sense the killing intent around him.

"Danzo? Why..." Yakushi Kabuto was confused. Today was supposed to be the day Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush Plan. He had originally thought Uchiha Shunichi had noticed something, but this was clearly unrelated.

"I'm only going to kill him. Lead the way." Uchiha Shunichi stroked his wrist and spoke slowly.

Yakushi Kabuto froze for a moment but did not refuse. At that moment, he could clearly sense a trace of danger. If he refused... he would die!

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shunichi's Shadow Clone had already arrived at the arena. Many spectators filled the stands, while Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, sat at the very top.

The referee today was Genma Shiranui. Gekko Hayate's injuries seemed not to have healed yet, or perhaps he had received another assignment.

"Huh? Shunichi, the match is about to start. Sasuke still isn't here?" Naruto, who had arrived late, hesitated briefly before walking over to Uchiha Shunichi's Shadow Clone and asking.

"I don't know. He's training with Kakashi." Uchiha Shunichi shook his head as he answered.

The Uchiha Clan's continued absence even after the match was about to begin sparked discussion among the crowd, but the competition would not be delayed for one person.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and said a few words before the match began, the first match officially started.

Perhaps because he was somewhat worried, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not say much this time.

First match—Uchiha Shunichi versus Neji Hyuga.

It was probably because of what Uchiha Shunichi had said during the preliminaries that the match had turned out this way.

This situation caught Uchiha Shunichi somewhat off guard. However, as long as his Shadow Clone was not hit, there should not be much of a problem.

"Uchiha Shunichi, I thought carefully about what you said. Though it seemed reasonable, you, a homeless dog who has lost his clan, cannot understand a family's glory!"

Neji Hyuga looked at Uchiha Shunichi across from him and spoke slowly.

The Uchiha Clan had already been exterminated. Sasuke might care deeply about such a matter, but Uchiha Shunichi did not care at all.

"Have you become a little dog tamed by your family again? I don't think a clan that brands its own members with slave seals has any reason to exist!" Though Uchiha Shunichi did not care about the Uchiha Clan's disappearance, he still retaliated against Neji Hyuga's words.

"It's the family's protection! As expected, someone without a family can never understand." Neji Hyuga seemed to no longer hold even the slightest resentment toward the Hyuga clan.

"Protection? I think it's enslavement." Uchiha Shunichi mocked him.

At that moment, Genma Shiranui suddenly announced, "First match, begin!~"

Neji Hyuga immediately activated his Byakugan. The bulging veins on his face and his white eyes gave him a somewhat sinister appearance.

"Your chakra..." The instant Neji Hyuga activated his eyes, he was shocked by the amount of chakra inside Uchiha Shunichi.

Not because there was too much, but because there was too little! No ninja could possibly possess so little chakra.

Normally, a Shadow Clone evenly divided a ninja's chakra, which was why Shadow Clones were sometimes not especially effective.

For Uchiha Shunichi, Danzo was the first target he intended to execute, so naturally, he had to preserve most of his strength.

"So you noticed. But don't worry, what you see may not necessarily be real." Uchiha Shunichi smiled faintly as a shuriken shot toward Neji Hyuga.

Uchiha Shunichi had not expected to be in the first official match. However, even with only enough chakra to maintain a Shadow Clone, there was not really any problem.

"What happened to your body? I won't take advantage of someone in such a state!" Neji Hyuga dodged Uchiha Shunichi's shuriken and shouted.

"You... seem a little too arrogant." Uchiha Shunichi drew his long blade and appeared behind Neji Hyuga out of nowhere, slashing down at him!

With the Byakugan's ability, Neji Hyuga quickly discovered Uchiha Shunichi's figure. But what he could not understand was how Uchiha Shunichi had appeared behind him.

The blade flashed, slicing a small tear into Neji Hyuga's clothes, while Uchiha Shunichi vanished from Neji Hyuga's sight once more.

"Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" A sudden sense of danger filled his heart, and Neji immediately used the Main Family's exclusive secret technique—Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.

Countless flying ninja tools appeared out of nowhere and shot toward Neji Hyuga, but they were all blocked by Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.

"What a strange Ninjutsu. It can actually conceal the intensity of chakra even beneath the Byakugan's sight!"

As if he had discovered something, Neji Hyuga spoke with a confident expression.