Facing the Uchiha

Inoichi gave a fair assessment.

"Even so, as long as no one can counter Eiji's technique..."

Shikaku murmured under his breath, recalling the commotion in their classroom—the moment Eiji had stopped a flying chair in midair without forming any hand seals.

What a drag. Why are all my classmates monsters? Shikaku scratched his head helplessly at the thought.

"The first match of the ninja selection exam will now begin! Ryuuzaki Eiji versus Uchiha Yai!"

Since this was the first match, the crowd was brimming with enthusiasm. Hearing the name Uchiha sent wave after wave of cheers rising from the Spectator Seats.

Who in the shinobi world hadn't heard of the Uchiha?

They were legendary—a mighty figure from their clan had founded Konoha alongside Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi. The Uchiha Clan, who possessed the same Sharingan as him, had naturally gained renown throughout the shinobi world as well.

Eiji and Yoruichi exchanged a glance, then walked into the Circular Training Arena together.

As Eiji felt the thunderous cheers washing over him, his composure began to stir.

Should I hide my strength because I'm not truly invincible yet?

Maybe.

But that was a loser's way of thinking!

I'd finally gotten my cheat. What was wrong with showing off a little?

He raised his hand and clenched it. Starting with this match, he would make his name ring out across the shinobi world!

With that thought, he looked up at Uchiha Yai, who was already standing opposite him.

The Arena was five hundred meters across, with plenty of trees and rocks inside to provide varied terrain for combat.

Having both contestants stand at the edges would waste time, so they had been positioned only about forty meters apart.

For ninja accustomed to fighting at range, that distance was enough to quickly create space, making it reasonably fair.

"Look! Eiji's coming out!"

Seeing Eiji and the other contestant enter the Arena, Kushina turned excitedly to Minato beside her, her large eyes shining with anticipation.

"Go, Eiji! Win this match in one shot!"

Kushina's cheers were drowned out by the villagers' chatter about the Uchiha. After all, Ryuuzaki Eiji's name was only well known among the Ninja Families and Konoha High Command. To Konoha's ordinary citizens, the Uchiha were far more famous.

"What's wrong with that Ryūzaki kid's eyes? Does he have some weird disease?"

"Hahaha! Even a brat like that is taking the graduation exam? He doesn't even look ten. Did he lie about his age?"

"Blue eyes, huh? Another freak. If he loses, let's all laugh at him."

The Konoha villagers' will of bullying had activated, leaving Kushina pouting in displeasure. How could they all be so blind?

My friend is going to be the strongest person in the shinobi world! Not only is his cooking the best in the world, but his ninjutsu leaves everyone else in the dust. You'll see how amazing he is any second now!

"Facing an Uchiha right off the bat... Not much luck there."

Jiraiya folded his arms, looking regretful. Orochimaru said nothing, but he frowned without disagreeing.

He had wanted to gather more information about those eyes, yet the boy was being pitted against an Uchiha from the start?

Still, they truly were beautiful eyes. He wondered just what sort of power they held.

Tsunade sneered inwardly at their reactions. Just watch. Once Eiji gets serious, he won't even need ten seconds to deal with an opponent at this level!

"Are they the kind that show outwardly, like the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan?"

"Eiji's eyes are very different from the Byakugan. The Byakugan needs chakra to activate, and when it's fully activated, the veins around the eyes bulge. Eiji's eyes, on the other hand, are always ready."

Listening to Jiraiya and Tsunade's exchange, Orochimaru pondered inwardly. He can't turn them off at will?

Then the chakra consumption must be astronomical. Is this a kekkei genkai with a drawback?

"Go, Yoruichi! Beat him!"

"Don't disgrace our Uchiha Clan!"

Cheers came from the younger members of the Uchiha Clan.

"So you're Ryuuzaki Eiji, the one everyone's been telling those strange stories about lately? Everyone in the clan says you're a genius, but as far as I'm concerned, even dojutsu bloodline abilities have their differences

in strength. I'll show you right now that the Sharingan is the greatest dojutsu bloodline ability in the shinobi world!"

With that, he wasted no more words. Red light flashed in his eyes, and a single tomoe began spinning within them.

Obito Uchiha awakened his Sharingan when he was on the verge of death at eleven. This Uchiha Yai has awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan at twelve, so he probably isn't mediocre, Eiji thought.

In the VIP Box, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the Sharingan in Uchiha Yai's eyes. It seems Uchiha Yōichi isn't the Uchiha Clan's only prodigy. This Yai barely qualifies as a capable talent himself.

His gaze shifted to Ryuuzaki Eiji, who still looked rather relaxed on the other side.

But against Ryuuzaki Eiji as he is now, how many exchanges can you last?

Yoruichi rapidly formed hand seals. With the distinctive sound of the technique taking effect, an identical figure appeared beside him.

Not the Clone Technique from the Three-Body Technique, but a Shadow Clone?

Ordinary clones were merely illusions, useful only for confusing an enemy's vision. Shadow Clones, however, had physical substance.

Through his six eyes, Eiji sensed that each figure possessed half of Yoruichi's original chakra. In other words, it was just as the original story had described.

Shadow Clones divided the original's chakra equally, and when a clone was deliberately dispelled or destroyed, its remaining chakra returned to the original.

Yoruichi pulled a Smoke Bomb from his Ninja Tool Pouch and hurled it at his feet. Thick smoke billowed upward, completely concealing him.

Then two identical figures charged out of the smoke toward Eiji, each holding a Kunai!

In the original story, Neji Hyuga had once said that as long as chakra was divided equally among the clones, even the Byakugan couldn't distinguish the original.

But the six eyes were different.

Although Yoruichi had used a Smoke Bomb to confuse him, the six eyes could clearly see that the clone's energy originated from the original body. That was the six eyes' ability, "See Through the Nature of Techniques," at work.

Well, it wouldn't matter even if I couldn't see through it. For now, Limitless's defense was absolute.

"Go, Eiji—!"

"Go, young man! Youth will never let you down! Let it burn!"

Hearing Kushina and Might Duy cheering him on, Eiji gave the Grandstand a thumbs-up.

Eiji raised one hand and activated Azure. The powerful gravitational pull instantly whisked Yoruichi and his Shadow Clone right in front of him.

"Wha—!?"

Yoruichi's vision blurred, and he abruptly appeared in front of Eiji. Before he could even understand what had happened, he saw Eiji's fist hurtling toward him!

This is bad! I have to get some distance!

But he discovered that his body no longer obeyed him. He was pinned firmly in place!

His Shadow Clone wore the same expression. He had absolutely no way to resist this technique!

BAM!!!

Even from a hundred meters away, amid the noisy spectator stands, the dull impact sounded devastatingly heavy!

Ignoring the Shadow Clone entirely, Eiji drove his fist hard into Yoruichi's stomach. His opponent's eyes instantly bulged, and his body shot backward like a cannonball!

"Aaargh!"