On the Plains.
The autumn wind howled, whipping yellow sand and dust into the air. As the sun set, Shinji and Nobihi stood facing each other.
Rows of spectators lined the nearby cliffs.
Nobihi stared at Shinji eagerly, excitement written all over his face. He held out a hand. "Nii-san!"
"?"
Shinji tilted his head. "Is that really necessary?"
Nobihi froze. "..."
The next second.
Boom—
Shinji moved like lightning, his fist cutting through the air. Before Nobihi's stunned expression could change, Shinji was right in front of him.
He drove a fist into Nobihi's stomach!
"Gah—!"
Nobihi's face flushed, and his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. Then a terrifying shock wave burst from where Shinji's fist met his body, shaking even the distant mountains!
Rock shattered and rained down.
Nobihi doubled over and flew backward, a mouthful of bile spilling from his lips.
Skrrr—
He twisted in midair and landed, skidding several meters before he stopped. But there was no discouragement on his face. As Shinji's younger brother, he knew just how strong Shinji was!
A smile tugged at Nobihi's lips. A golden ripple flashed through the Golden Rinnegan in his left eye.
Hum—!
An strange fluctuation spread through the small area around him.
Shinji paused.
He sensed something.
Almost at the same instant, a vicious gust came at him from the left!
Bang!
The moment he heard it, Shinji raised his left arm by reflex and blocked a heavy blow!
Skrr—
Shinji slid back a step.
A powerful jolt and a burst of pain ran through his arm.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Nobihi's defiant gaze and confident grin...
Just as he thought.
Shinji had seen through him long ago. Nobihi's supposed ruthlessness had only been a mask, a means of self-preservation when he