Showdown

Whoosh—

A warm breeze swept across the earth, sending countless dead leaves and drifting catkins swirling into the air.

On the training ground, surrounded by several hundred people, two figures stood facing each other.

Uzuki Dekima held a gleaming longsword. It was over three feet long and radiated a sharp, icy chill. It was clearly a divine weapon of exceptional quality.

In the world of Naruto, there were not many ninjas who used swords. Most favored bladed weapons like sabers. Even the later Uzuki Clan, though they practiced Sun-Moon Flow Swordsmanship, had switched to katanas. Thus, Uzuki Dekima could be called an exceptionally pure swordsman.

Unlike Uzuki Dekima's imposing presence, Yan Hong's gaze was calm. He held his long saber pointed diagonally at the ground. Though his stance appeared loose and relaxed, it contained not the slightest opening.

Their duel had naturally drawn the attention of everyone in the clan. Since Uzuki Dekima had grown older, he rarely fought personally. Yet as the foremost swordsman of the Uzuki Clan, who would not want to witness the clan head's battle firsthand? Even learning a move or two would be immensely beneficial to them.

However, the young man facing the clan head had everyone murmuring among themselves.

"Who is this guy? He's actually sparring with the clan head?"

"Don't know him. He looks so young. Could he be a new disciple the clan head has taken in?"

"Stop guessing. I overheard that this young man seems to be from Flame Hidden Village."

"Flame Hidden Village? Isn't that the Uchiha Clan? Hiss... Could someone from the Uchiha Clan be here to take Big Sis back—"

"Shh! Are you crazy? Don't forget, Big Sis hates the Uchiha Clan most. If she hears you, you're dead!"

"Hiss! Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. Watch the match, watch the match. Hahaha..."

Unlike the clamor below, the two men on the platform merely stood in silence. After a long while, Uzuki Dekima slowly spoke. "As agreed, I will only use three strikes. But let me remind you: once a sword is drawn, it cannot be withdrawn midway. Take care of yourself."

"Please, go all out, Senior," Yan Hong replied evenly. The tip of his long saber lightly tapped the ground with a crisp ding.

As the two took their stances, the surrounding members of the Uzuki Clan gradually fell silent, raising their heads to watch with taut nerves.

Once Uzuki Dekima saw that Yan Hong was ready, he stepped forward and gave the sword in his hand a fierce shake!

Shing—

A clear sword cry immediately rang out across the field!

The spectators saw only a ring of air burst explosively from beneath Uzuki Dekima's feet, spreading in every direction across the platform. The rising gust lifted Yan Hong's fringe, revealing a pair of scarlet Sharingan!

"Watch out!"

Boom—

The moment the words fell, Uzuki Dekima moved with his sword. With only a single thrust, it was as though a hundred phoenixes cried in unison. Cold flashes rose with the ringing blade as countless sword shadows crisscrossed the air. Though there was clearly only one sword, thousands of streams of sword qi enveloped the entire platform!

A flicker of admiration passed through Yan Hong's eyes. This strike had blended illusion and reality to the utmost degree. Countless phantom swords obscured the eye, concealing a single killing blow within. And it was not genjutsu—it was purely swordsmanship!

From this alone, Yan Hong could tell that Uzuki Dekima's strength had definitely surpassed Chikuma's. Unfortunately, he had encountered the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan!

Whoosh—

The instant Uzuki Dekima attacked, Yan Hong swept his saber upward. There was no dazzling saber technique, yet it moved like a colorful butterfly flitting through flowers, lightly weaving through the dense phantoms and accurately intercepting Uzuki Dekima's blade!

Clang—

With a crisp clash of steel, Yan Hong felt his saber jolt violently. A thread of sword qi actually pierced through his saber's defense and drove straight toward his chest!

"What incredible penetrating power." Yan Hong could not help but praise him. With a light tap of his foot, he swiftly slid backward, withdrawing his saber as he easily shredded the remaining sword qi.

On the other side, after that strike, Uzuki Dekima used the momentum to flip backward once through the air. He landed gracefully on the ground, and a trace of appreciation appeared in his gaze as he looked at Yan Hong.

"You were able to see through my Moonshadow Sword. That proves your ocular power has reached a rather impressive level."

Yan Hong casually spun his saber and said calmly, "That strike was only a test, wasn't it, Senior? It looked unpredictable, but it was not particularly effective before the Sharingan. I doubt you were unaware of that."

Uzuki Dekima laughed. "Yes and no. I understand your clan's Sharingan as well. Most sword techniques cannot escape your eyes. However... precisely because of that, I created a style of swordsmanship that cannot be captured by the eye. Watch the next strike."

As he spoke, Uzuki Dekima's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood, leaving behind only a fleeting streak of white!

"So fast!" Yan Hong's Sharingan swept about as he tried to catch his opponent's figure, but at that moment, an almost imperceptible sound came from behind him!

"Behind you!"

Yan Hong rapidly turned his head, only to find no one behind him!

Shing—

A gleaming blade traced a dazzling white arc through the air. The instant Yan Hong turned his head, it erupted from his blind spot. The sword sliced through the void with a terrifying howl of wind, slashing straight at Yan Hong's waist and abdomen!

Clang—

The piercing crash of saber against sword made the people around the platform frown. When they looked up at the stage again, they could not help but suck in cold breaths.

Though Yan Hong had turned to look behind him, the saber in his hand was held upright behind his back, tip down, steadily blocking Uzuki Dekima's second strike!

"Why? How did you know the direction of my attack?"

Uzuki Dekima withdrew his sword, his eyes filled with disbelief. His strike had been completely hidden in Yan Hong's visual blind spot. Yan Hong should not have been able to see it at all.

Yan Hong turned back around and glanced at the katana in his hand. He found an almost invisible notch in its edge, then casually explained, "Call it a coincidence. On my way here, I met someone even faster. Senior's method of attack was somewhat similar to his, so I was already on guard."

Uzuki Dekima froze for a moment, then shook his head. "If anyone ever says again that the Uchiha Clan's Third Boss is an idiot with no combat experience, I'll argue with him myself."

"Heh." Yan Hong neither confirmed nor denied it. "Senior, you still have one final strike."

By this point, Uzuki Dekima had already seen Yan Hong's strength clearly. Whatever resentment he had harbored had also been vented after those two strikes. As for whether he used the third strike or not, it no longer mattered.

"No need. You win." Uzuki Dekima shook his head, stroked his grizzled beard, and said calmly, "I was in the wrong about this matter to begin with, so let us end it here."

"No need." To his surprise, Yan Hong refused without hesitation. He swept his gaze over the spectators below and saw that everyone now looked at him with a trace of awe. "Come, Senior. I want to witness this third strike."

"This kid wants to establish his authority." Uzuki Dekima saw through Yan Hong's intentions at once, but he said nothing. Since he had already decided to lead his clansmen into Flame Hidden Village, he could understand Yan Hong's actions. Thus, he reminded him, "This final strike is also my strongest. Once it is unleashed, I cannot withdraw it midway. Are you sure you want to receive it?"

Yan Hong nodded calmly. "Come."

"Heh." Uzuki Dekima chuckled softly, and his entire presence suddenly vanished completely.

"Then be careful... Don't die."