Uchiha Retsuyō's Collapse

But even though Uchiha Retsuyō was frantic with worry, his years on the battlefield had taught him that the more critical the situation, the more patient he had to be. His body was covered in wounds now, and he could barely keep himself upright.

He focused again, found an opening in Hane's attacks, and flashed away. At the same time, his hands rapidly formed seals.

[Fire Release: Dust Concealment Mist Technique]

Uchiha Retsuyō spewed a massive cloud of black dust from his mouth. As it drifted through the air, the entire training ground seemed to be shrouded in black fog.

It was quite a clever move. It blocked Hane's vision while concealing his own figure. With the Sharingan's powerful dynamic vision, 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 with them open.

Watching Uchiha Retsuyō cautiously move through the black mist, Hane had to admit that the man was exceptionally capable at handling battlefield situations.

But who told him to face Hane?

"Kid, let's see what other tricks you have!" Looking at Hane standing motionlessly in the fog, hatred surged through Uchiha Retsuyō's heart. That intense hatred directly added another two thousand Disgust Points for Hane.

Uchiha Retsuyō pulled a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and hurled it at Hane without hesitation. Hane's Sword Controlling Technique had made such a mess of him; it was time for the brat to taste what it felt like to dodge and flee.

However, as his Sharingan fixed tightly on Hane, his pupils abruptly contracted.

Hane, his eyes closed, merely tilted his head and turned his body, dodging nearly all of the kunai. At that moment, the Fire Swords suspended above Hane's head seemed like sharks that had caught the scent of blood, their tips all turning toward him.

Fear! Tension!

Uchiha Liehuo felt like a monkey trapped beneath someone's palm. No matter what he did, he could not escape Hane's control.

In the instant he lost focus, a Fire Sword streaked forth like a meteor and precisely sliced through his right shoulder.

The moment blood splattered, it was evaporated by the Fire Sword, and a scorched smell carrying the scent of cooked meat drifted through the air.

Uchiha Liehuo did not have time for any extra movements before the rushing Fire Sword sent him spinning three hundred and sixty degrees, then crashing heavily to the ground.

As a breeze swept past, the training ground became clear once more. Everyone stared blankly at Uchiha Retsuyō, who lay faceup in the dust.

For a time, 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.

Yet he could not hear Hane's calm, clear voice.

A ridiculous feeling rose in Uchiha Retsuyō's heart, as though he had been thrown into a cage and the entire world was rejecting him.

No, I absolutely can't lose like this, especially not to some little brat! At that moment, rage and unwillingness continuously stabbed 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 further out of control, the rapidly spinning circle suddenly stopped, taking the shape of a windmill.

Driven by his emotions, Uchiha Retsuyō barely rose to his feet, only to feel that the entire world had become clear again.

A faint consciousness told Uchiha Retsuyō exactly what had happened.

The fury in Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes was replaced by a trace of madness.

"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 an indifferent glance. If this man had not kept supplying him with a great deal of Malice Points, Hane would not have left him standing until now.

But what would happen if I shattered his pride at the moment he was most proud of himself? A faint smile curled Hane's lips.

Yet it was precisely Hane's contemptuous attitude that pierced Uchiha Retsuyō's heart once more.

"Uchiha Hane, I absolutely 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 katana raised high as he slashed down toward Hane's back.

However, Hane did not turn around. A Fire Sword in the sky swiftly blocked Uchiha Retsuyō's attack path.

Clang!

The sound of steel striking steel rang throughout the training ground as half a broken blade flew high into the air. Mikoto, Itachi, and Izumi, who had been tense, quickly relaxed at the sight.

"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 stubborn. Do you still have even the slightest resemblance of a ninja? You actually treat a mere tool as your final lifeline. How laughable. Once you no longer have those eyes, what will you have left? Is this your pride?"

"I always believed that the Uchiha were strong because they themselves possessed enough strength, not merely because of a pair of eyes. It seems I was mistaken."

"Since you believe in those eyes so much, then let me show you the true gap between us. It is not something a pair of eyes can erase!"

Uchiha Liehuo blankly stared at the broken katana in his hand, then dazedly raised his head to look at Hane.

How is this possible? I've already awakened the Mangekyō's power. My speed is almost on par with the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God, yet Uchiha Hane could block that attack from behind his back.

"Pick up your blade and make me feel some pressure. The same tool has different power in different hands. Why were the Uchiha ancestors so strong? It was never the Mangekyō that was powerful. It was the people!"

With 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 this the ability of your eyes? I have to admit, it's very useful. But someone like you, who relies entirely on its power, hasn't even brought out one-tenth of its potential. What's the point of merely flashing quickly? Your sword has to move fast too—so fast that I can't sense even the slightest breeze!"

Hane blocked Uchiha Retsuyō's attack with a single strike, then casually commanded a Fire Sword to leave another wound on Uchiha Retsuyō's body.

"The stronger the ability, the stronger the person needed to control it. Calm down and understand. Understand how I wield my sword!"

As he spoke, Hane grabbed the incoming 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 echoed across the training ground, no matter how Uchiha Retsuyō dodged, that crimson sword followed him like a shadow. Every time he appeared, the blade would be pressed against his throat.

Itachi and the others, standing in the distance, watched the scene with blank expressions.

Uchiha Retsuyō's expression gradually became helpless. 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 sank weakly to his knees. "Why? Why are you so powerful?"