Skybreaker

On the vast training platform, Uzuki Dekima's aura withdrew completely. All distractions vanished from his eyes, and his entire being seemed to transform into a sharp sword, becoming one with the three-foot blade in his hand!

"Everyone, step back five paces!"

Below the platform, Uzuki Riten broke out in a cold sweat when he saw this. He hurriedly ordered everyone to retreat, muttering inwardly, Hey, hey, hey, old man, calm down. You don't need to use that move, do you? If you really kill him, our whole clan might end up being buried with him.

On the platform, Yan Hong narrowed his eyes slightly. He seemed to sense that something was wrong, and his expression turned serious for the first time. He spread his legs apart and assumed a defensive stance.

Whoosh—

The world suddenly fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the two men on the platform until a faint breeze drifted in from afar.

Whoosh—

As though carried by the wind, Uzuki Dekima suddenly moved. His entire body drifted forward with the breeze, far slower than his second sword. He simply swayed over, then simply raised his hand and delivered this final strike!

Yet the instant this utterly plain sword strike was raised, without any flashy technique at all, the sleeve around Uzuki Dekima's sword arm was shredded by sword qi. Countless strands of sword qi converged into a single line, completely locking onto Yan Hong's body. Though it was not fast, it was impossible to evade!

Moonshadow Sword Secret Art: Skybreaker!

"Damn!" Yan Hong's expression changed drastically. This ordinary-looking strike gave him an extremely dangerous feeling. The Sharingan in his eyes automatically transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan under his body's stress response, and he raised the katana in his hand!

Clang—

Boom—

The instant the long blade blocked the sword edge, fierce sword qi erupted with a thunderous blast. Sword intent surged like a dragon, and half the training platform exploded beneath the rampaging sword qi. Flying rubble shot into the crowd, drawing cries of alarm!

Everyone was shocked by this earth-shattering sword strike. Sword qi crisscrossed the entire plaza, lingering for a long while without fading!

These were the Uzuki Clan head's strongest three sword strikes. The first mixed truth and falsehood, making it impossible to see through. The second was so fast that it could not be seen. The final strike could be seen, yet could not be blocked!

After the three strikes, Uzuki Dekima stood on the platform with his sword in hand. More than half his strength had drained away, and the sword in his hand was still trembling slightly.

The entire venue fell silent. Everyone instinctively turned to look in Yan Hong's direction, only to discover in shock that the place where he had been standing had become a field of ruins, while Yan Hong himself was nowhere to be seen.

"Not good! Save him!" Uzuki Riten's face paled. Without another word, he rushed toward the ruins, but before he had gone halfway, faint movement came from beneath the rubble. Then a figure crawled out.

"What an overbearing sword strike!" Yan Hong's upper garments had long since vanished, revealing his muscular body. The long blade in his hand had been reduced to only a hilt. He looked rather disheveled, yet there was not a single wound on him!

A flicker of surprise passed through Uzuki Dekima's eyes. He had guessed that Yan Hong would most likely be able to take this strike, but to emerge completely unscathed was unbelievable even to him.

"How... did you do that?"

Yan Hong stood up from the ruins and brushed the dust from his body. He did not directly answer Dekima's question. "Senior, that sword strike truly broadened my horizons. But now, I suppose I've won the wager?"

"I am thoroughly convinced." Uzuki Dekima spoke sincerely. "From this day onward, the Uzuki Clan will officially join the Uchiha Clan. However, relocating the clan will take time, so..."

"I understand." Yan Hong nodded. "Then I'll trouble you for a place to stay for a few days. But please make it as quick as possible, since we are still within the Land of Fire."

"Understood." Uzuki Dekima turned to Uzuki Riten. "A Ri, go help prepare a room."

"Yes. Lord Yan Hong, please follow me. I will arrange a place for you to rest immediately." Disbelief still lingered in Uzuki Riten's eyes, but he stepped forward and led Yan Hong away.

As the two gradually left the training ground, discussions slowly rose behind them.

"He was fine after that? How did he do it?"

"That was incredible. If it had been me, there wouldn't even be scraps left."

"As expected of the Uchiha Clan. Wait... how did they lose to the Senju Clan?"

As the astonished exclamations rose and fell behind him, a string of dissatisfied complaints sounded in Yan Hong's mind. Hey! Yan Hong, do you know I was busy absorbing life energy? Your black chakra form could have blocked that. Why were you showing off? If it hadn't been for my Sage Art, that hit would definitely have made you suffer.

Yan Hong replied inwardly, Come on, Little Fang, don't be angry. Who could have expected that move to come so suddenly? I really did underestimate him and got caught off guard. But I had another move prepared. I'm just not very proficient with it yet, so I thought of you.

Wait! What did you just call me? Believe it or not, I'll come out and eat you right now!

Don't get so worked up. Calling you Mad Fang directly feels kind of weird.

You can call me Lord Mad Fang!

All right, Little Fang.

I'm definitely going to eat you!

After everything had been arranged, Uzuki Riten went to Uzuki Dekima's residence to report back. Seeing Uzuki Dekima lying weakly on the bed, Riten asked, "Clan Head, are you all right?"

Uzuki Dekima waved his hand. "I'm fine. Today's consumption was just a little too great. I'm old, after all. I can't compare to you young people anymore. By the way, has everything been arranged?"

"Yes, it has." After answering, Riten glanced at the clan head as though he wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he still asked, "Clan Head, are we really going to join the Flame Hidden Village?"

Uzuki Dekima slowly shifted his posture before speaking in an unhurried voice. "A Ri, do you know why I chose not to join Konoha? Even though they currently seem far better than the Flame Hidden Village in every respect."

"Because Konoha has our enemies?"

"Heh." Uzuki Dekima smiled and shook his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "How can there be eternal enemies in this world? So-called hatred is merely unequal distribution of interests. Konoha may be good, but there are too many outstanding clans there. Our joining them would merely be icing on the cake. One more clan like ours would not matter, and one less would not matter either."

"In such a situation, our small second-rate clan would one day be forgotten in some corner. But the Flame Hidden Village is different. Uchiha Yan Hong came from so far away to find us, which means they need people, and they need them badly. We would become timely aid in a snowstorm. As long as we do not make a major mistake, there will definitely be a place for us. Today, he wanted to take my three sword strikes to establish his authority, but wasn't I also trying to show him our value?"

Uzuki Riten suddenly understood, wearing the humble expression of someone who had been taught a valuable lesson.

"And there is one more important point." Uzuki Dekima suddenly became serious. "Konoha, or rather, the Senju Clan, lacks a certain ambition. They are excellent at preserving what they have, but they have no desire to expand outward. If the village's strength ever changes one day, it will surely be attacked from all sides."

"But the Uchiha Clan is different. They possess an unwilling longing. That, too, is a double-edged sword. It may be a fish leaping over the dragon gate, or it may be moths flying into the flame. But I still want to gamble. Just like today, I can't really be considered to have lost, can I? Hahahaha..."

"Heh." Riten also laughed in relief. He had not expected the clan head to have already thought through everything. But then he suddenly remembered something, and his expression turned tense. "By the way, Clan Head, if we join the Flame Hidden Village, what about that girl? She hates the Uchiha Clan intensely. I'm afraid that when the time comes..."

"Uh..." Uzuki Dekima's expression changed as well. After thinking for a moment, he said, "That is indeed troublesome. When that girl gets angry, even I cannot stop her. Sigh, leave it to that Yan Hong boy. This can be considered their family matter. If I remember correctly, her mission should be over too. She ought to return to the village tonight."

A bad feeling suddenly rose in Uzuki Riten's heart. "Heh, I hope nothing happens..."