Skybreaker

On the vast training ground, Uzuki Dekima reined in his entire aura. All distractions vanished from his eyes, and his whole body 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 at the sight. He hurriedly told everyone to retreat, unable to stop himself from muttering inwardly, Hey, hey, hey, old man, calm down! You don't need to use that move, do you? What if you really kill him? Our entire clan might have to be buried with him.

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

Whoosh—

The world suddenly fell silent. Everyone widened their eyes as they watched the two on the platform, until a faint breeze drifted in from afar.

Whoosh—

As though carried by the wind, Uzuki Dekima suddenly moved. He came with the breeze, far slower than his second sword strike, simply gliding forward before simply raising his hand and delivering this final sword strike!

Yet the instant he raised his hand, the sleeve around Uzuki Dekima's sword arm was shredded by sword aura. Countless strands of sword aura converged into a single line, completely locking onto Enkō's body. Though it was not fast, it was impossible to evade!

Moonshadow Sword Ultimate Technique: Skybreaker!

"Damn!" Enkō's expression changed sharply. Such an ordinary-looking strike gave him an incomparably dangerous feeling. The Sharingan in his eyes automatically transformed into 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's edge, fierce sword aura erupted. Sword intent roared like a dragon, and half the training platform was blown apart by the ravaging sword aura. Flying rubble shot into the crowd, drawing cries of alarm!

Everyone was shaken by that earthshaking sword strike. Sword aura crisscrossed the entire plaza, lingering for a long while!

These were the Uzuki Clan head's strongest three sword strikes. The first mixed illusion and reality, 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. His aura had weakened by more than half, and the sword in his hand was still trembling slightly.

The entire venue fell silent. Everyone instinctively turned their eyes toward where Enkō had been standing, only to discover in shock that the place had become a ruin, while Enkō himself had vanished completely.

"This is bad! Save him!" Uzuki Riten's expression changed drastically. Without another word, he rushed toward the ruins, but before he had made it halfway there, faint movement came from beneath the rubble. Then a figure crawled out.

"What a domineering sword strike!" Enkō's upper garments had long since vanished, revealing his muscular body. The long blade in his hand was reduced to nothing but a hilt. He looked rather disheveled, yet there was not a single wound on him!

A trace of surprise flashed through Uzuki Dekima's eyes. He had guessed that Enkō would most likely be able to withstand this strike, but to take it without a scratch was unbelievable even to him.

"How... did you do that?"

Enkō stood up from the ruins and dusted himself off, not directly answering Dekima's question. "Senior, that strike truly opened my eyes. But now, I suppose I've won our wager?"

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

"I understand." Enkō nodded. "Then I'll trouble you for a few days' lodging. But please be as quick as possible, since this is still within the Land of Fire."

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

"Yes. Lord Enkō, please come with me. I'll arrange a place for you to rest." Though disbelief still lingered in Uzuki Riten's eyes, he stepped forward and took the initiative to lead Enkō away.

The two gradually left the training ground, while a wave of discussion slowly rose behind them.

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

"That was incredible. If it had been me, I wouldn't even have ashes 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 rang out in Enkō's mind. Hey! Enkō, do you know this old man is busy absorbing life energy? Your black chakra form could have blocked that. Why were you acting so cocky? If not for this old man's Sage Art, that attack would definitely have left you hurting.

Enkō replied inwardly, Come on, Little Fang, don't be mad. Who could've expected that move to come out so suddenly? I really did underestimate him and got caught off guard. But I had another move in reserve. I'm just not very familiar with it yet, so I thought of you.

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

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

You can call this old man Lord Mad Fang!

Okay, Little Fang.

This old man is definitely going to eat you!

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

Uzuki Dekima waved a hand. "I'm fine. I just used up a bit too much today. I really am old now, no match for 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 speak but hesitated. In the end, he still asked, "Clan Head, are we really joining the Flame Hidden Village?"

Uzuki Dekima slowly shifted into another position, then said unhurriedly, "A Ri, do you know why I did not choose to join Konoha? Even though they appear several times better than the Flame Hidden Village right now."

"Because Konoha has our enemies?"

"Heh." Uzuki Dekima smiled and shook his head, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. "How can there be eternal enemies in this world? So-called enmity is merely an unequal distribution of interests. Konoha may be good, but it has too many outstanding clans. Our joining them would only be icing on the cake. One more clan would make no difference, and one less would not matter either."

"In such a situation, our little second-rate clan would eventually be forgotten in some corner. But the Flame Hidden Village is different. The fact that Uchiha Enkō came all this way to find us proves that they need people, and need them badly. That makes us timely aid in a snowstorm. As long as we do not make any major mistakes, 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 lesson.

"There is one more, and most important, point." Uzuki Dekima suddenly said solemnly. "Konoha—or rather, the Senju Clan—lacks 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, they will surely be attacked from all sides."

"But the Uchiha Clan is different. They carry a restless desire within them. That is also a double-edged sword. Perhaps they will leap through the dragon gate like a fish, or perhaps they will rush into the flames like moths. But I still want to gamble. Just like today, I cannot really be said to have lost, can I? Hahahaha..."

"Heh." Riten also laughed in relief. He had not expected that the clan head had already thought through everything, but then he suddenly remembered something. His expression tightened as he said, "Right, 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 truly is troublesome. When that girl gets angry, even I cannot stop her. Sigh, leave it to that boy Enkō. 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."

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