But even though Uchiha Retsuyō was frantic with worry, his many years on the battlefield had taught him that the more critical the situation, the more he had to endure. His body was covered in wounds now, and he could barely support himself.
He focused and found another gap in Hane's attacks. In a flash, he moved, rapidly forming hand seals at the same time.
[Fire Release: Dust Concealment Mist Technique]
Uchiha Retsuyō spewed a large amount of black dust from his mouth. The dust drifted through the air, and the entire training ground seemed to be shrouded in black fog.
It was a remarkably clever move. It blocked Hane's vision while concealing his own figure. With the powerful dynamic vision of his Sharingan, Uchiha Retsuyō had returned to the same starting line as Hane within this black mist.
But Uchiha Retsuyō was destined to be disappointed. He did not know that Hane was even stronger with his eyes closed than open.
Watching Uchiha Retsuyō cautiously move through the black mist, Hane had to admit that this man was exceptionally capable when it came to battlefield responses.
But who told him to face Hane?
"Brat, let's see what other tricks you have!" Seeing Hane standing motionlessly in the mist, Uchiha Retsuyō's heart filled with hatred. That intense hatred directly added another two thousand Disgust Points for Hane.
Taking a kunai from his ninja tool pouch, Uchiha Retsuyō hurled it at Hane without hesitation. Hane's Sword Controlling Technique had toyed with him so miserably; it was time for this little brat to taste the feeling of constantly dodging and hiding.
Yet as his Sharingan stared intently at Hane, his pupils abruptly contracted.
Hane, whose eyes were closed, merely tilted his head and turned his body, evading nearly all of his kunai. At that moment, the Fire Swords suspended above Hane's head were like sharks that had scented blood, their tips all turning toward him.
Fear! Tension!
Uchiha Liehuo felt like a monkey trapped beneath someone else's palm. No matter what he did, he could not escape Hane's control.
In the instant he lost focus, a Fire Sword streaked like a meteor and accurately slashed across his right shoulder.
The moment blood splattered, it was evaporated by the Fire Sword, and the charred smell of cooked flesh wafted through the air.
Uchiha Liehuo had no time for any extra movement before the Fire Sword's rushing momentum spun him three hundred and sixty degrees, sending him crashing heavily to the ground.
As a breeze swept through, the entire training ground became clear once more. Everyone stared blankly at Uchiha Retsuyō, who had fallen face-up into the dust.
For a moment, the entire training ground fell silent.
Uchiha Retsuyō forced himself to stay alert. He could hear insects chirping in the distance and leaves rustling in the wind.
But he could not hear Hane's calm, clear voice.
A sense of absurdity rose in Uchiha Retsuyō's heart, as though he had been placed inside a cage while the entire world rejected him.
"No, I absolutely refuse to lose like this—to some little brat!" At that moment, rage and unwillingness stabbed relentlessly at Uchiha Retsuyō's nerves.
The Three-Tomoe in his eyes spun continuously, faster and faster, until they nearly formed a circle. As his emotions spiraled out of control, the rapidly spinning circle suddenly stopped, taking on the shape of a pinwheel.
Driven by his emotions, Uchiha Retsuyō barely managed to stand. He felt as if the entire world had become clear again.
A vague awareness told Uchiha Retsuyō exactly what had happened.
The incomparably furious Uchiha Retsuyō suddenly revealed a trace of madness in his eyes.
"Hahahaha! Uchiha Hane, I should thank you. Without you, how could I have gained these eyes? Let me show you the power of the ultimate Uchiha! You'll regret being unable to awaken these eyes!"
"Oh! So it's the Mangekyō. I didn't expect losing to me to leave you so unwilling." Hane gave Uchiha Retsuyō a calm glance. If this man had not constantly provided him with massive amounts of Malice Points, why would Hane have kept him around until now?
"But what will happen if I shatter his pride at the height of his triumph?" A faint smile curled at Hane's lips.
Yet it was precisely Hane's contemptuous attitude that once again pierced Uchiha Retsuyō's heart.
"Uchiha Hane, I definitely won't lose this time!"
"Mangekyō Technique, Flash Step!"
In an instant, Uchiha Retsuyō vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already behind Hane, his raised katana slashing down at Hane's back.
Yet Hane did not turn around. A Fire Sword in the sky swiftly blocked Uchiha Retsuyō's attack path.
"Clang!"
The sound of blade striking sword echoed across the training ground as half of a broken blade flew high into the air. This sight made the tightly wound nerves of Mikoto, Itachi, and Izumi swiftly relax.
"Brother Retsuyō, I'm deeply disappointed in you. As an Uchiha, you actually lost your wits in battle."
"Look at yourself now. You're mad and paranoid. Do you still have even the slightest trace of a ninja? Yet someone like you treats a mere tool as your last lifeline. How laughable. Once you lose those eyes, what will you have left? Is this what you call pride?"
"I always thought the Uchiha were powerful because the Uchiha themselves possessed sufficient strength, not merely because of a pair of eyes. It seems I was mistaken."
"Since you trust those eyes so much, I'll let you experience the true gap between us. It is absolutely not something a pair of eyes can erase!"
Uchiha Liehuo blankly stared at the broken katana in his hand, then raised his head in confusion to look at Hane.
"How could this be? I've already awakened the Mangekyō's ability. My speed is nearly as fast as the Fourth's Flying Thunder God. Yet even at that speed, Uchiha Hane was able to block my move from behind."
"Pick up your blade and make me feel pressure. The same tool possesses different power in different hands. Why were the Uchiha ancestors so strong? What was powerful was never the Mangekyō, but the person!"
After saying that, Hane unhesitatingly commanded five Fire Swords to stab toward Uchiha Retsuyō.
Uchiha Retsuyō's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly activated his Mangekyō ability and flashed behind Hane once again.
Holding half a katana, he thrust it toward Hane.
"Is that your eyes' ability? I have to say, it's very useful. But you, who rely entirely on its power, haven't even brought out a tenth of its potential. What use is flashing quickly? Your sword has to swing fast enough too—so fast that I can't sense even the slightest breeze!"
After blocking Uchiha Retsuyō's strike, Hane casually commanded a Fire Sword to leave another gash on Uchiha Retsuyō's body.
"The stronger the ability, the stronger the person needed to control it. Calm your heart and comprehend it. Comprehend how I wield my sword!"
After saying that, Hane grabbed the flying Fire Sword amid Uchiha Retsuyō's pained expression. "Hand and foot in harmony, elbow and knee in harmony, shoulder and hip in harmony, spirit and intent in harmony, intent and qi in harmony, qi and strength in harmony..."
As Hane's words rang through the training ground, no matter how Uchiha Retsuyō flashed and dodged, that crimson sword followed him like a shadow. Every place he appeared, that sword would inevitably be pressed against his throat.
Itachi and the others standing in the distance watched this scene with numb expressions.
Uchiha Retsuyō's expression gradually became powerless as well. With one final attempt to evade Hane's attack, the longsword in Hane's hand once again pressed against his throat like a fiery serpent.
Uchiha Retsuyō closed his eyes in despair and collapsed to his knees. "Why? Why are you so powerful?"
Before you continue