Fighting Uchiha Fugaku

After cutting through the formation of kunai, Qingyun prepared to close in on Uchiha Fugaku. But the instant he sensed a hint of danger, he abandoned that plan and rapidly formed hand seals with his left hand. "Lightning Release: Lightning Ball! Lightning Release: Lightning Bind Technique!"

He unleashed the two Lightning Release Ninjutsu in rapid succession. A ball of lightning slammed into the fireball behind him, while a silver beam swiftly coiled around the figure at his back.

That figure was Uchiha Fugaku's shadow Clone Technique, who had shaken off the paralysis and moved behind Qingyun to unleash a jutsu.

Seeing how quickly Qingyun reacted, Uchiha Fugaku's pupils contracted, and he hastily retreated. Qingyun pursued relentlessly, the Azure Edge Sword wreathed in sharp Sword Energy as he slashed at Uchiha Fugaku's shadow Clone Technique.

But Uchiha Fugaku's original body was hardly going to let Qingyun have his way. He rushed toward Qingyun. "Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

A dragon of fire surged toward Qingyun. With no other choice, Qingyun temporarily abandoned his attempt to destroy Uchiha Fugaku's shadow Clone Technique and turned to face the original.

The two fought for a long time, neither gaining the upper hand.

While fending off Uchiha Fugaku's attacks, Qingyun circulated his internal force and gathered it in his left little finger. After driving the original Uchiha Fugaku back with a slash, he extended that finger. "Lesser Marsh Sword!"

A thin streak of Sword Energy shot from Qingyun's left little finger. It darted up and down, left and right, making its trajectory impossible to follow.

Uchiha Fugaku's shadow Clone Technique's expression shifted slightly at the sight, and he desperately tried to dodge. But Qingyun's Lesser Marsh Sword was so unpredictable that he had no idea which way to evade.

Pop!

With a muffled sound, Uchiha Fugaku's Shadow Clone Technique burst into a cloud of Haku mist and dispersed into the air.

The instant his shadow Clone Technique vanished, the original Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brow. Clearly, the backlash from using the shadow Clone Technique had reached his mind as it dispersed, leaving him feeling somewhat nauseated.

Qingyun pressed his advantage. After destroying Uchiha Fugaku's shadow Clone Technique, he slid his feet into the footwork of Lingbo Micro-Step and raced toward Uchiha Fugaku.

As soon as he closed in, Qingyun unleashed a flurry of slashes with the Azure Edge Sword, abruptly bringing Quanzhen Swordsmanship into play. An unending stream of sword flashes surrounded Uchiha Fugaku, leaving him scrambling desperately as he tried to force Qingyun back.

But Qingyun had no intention of giving Uchiha Fugaku what he wanted. He stayed on him relentlessly, denying him any chance to escape. Before long, fine cuts appeared all over Uchiha Fugaku's body.

And that was with Qingyun holding back. Otherwise, Uchiha Fugaku would already have lost the ability to fight and collapsed with serious injuries.

Minato Namikaze, Kushina, and Nawaki watched the two combatants nervously. Only after Qingyun gained the upper hand did the three breathe a sigh of relief and watch quietly, no longer worried for his safety.

Using Lingbo Micro-Step, Qingyun circled Uchiha Fugaku and swung the Azure Edge Sword again and again. Only when Uchiha Fugaku's clothes were in tatters and blood flowed from countless tiny wounds did Qingyun lose interest in toying with him. With a turn, he moved behind Uchiha Fugaku and laid the Azure Edge Sword against his neck. "Don't move," he said evenly. "You've already experienced how sharp the Azure Edge Sword is. If you dare take a step forward, it will sever your neck."

Uchiha Fugaku clenched both fists tightly. He was the greatest genius of his generation in the Uchiha Clan, yet he had lost to Qingyun, who was two years younger. What could be more humiliating?

But feeling the icy menace against his neck, Uchiha Fugaku dared not move, terrified that his head would leave his shoulders. If that happened, he would not rest in peace even in death.

Seeing that Uchiha Fugaku had settled down, Qingyun said evenly, "I'll say this one last time. I've already left the Uchiha Clan. I don't want to get involved in its affairs, nor do I have the ability to do so. Stop disturbing the life I have now, or don't blame me for showing no mercy."

With that, he put away the Azure Edge Sword and turned calmly to walk toward Kushina and the others.

"But the Uchiha Clan's blood still runs through your veins. Besides, the clan head and elders have already severely punished Uchiha Ichigo. Why must you be so adamant?"

Once the Azure Edge Sword left his neck, Uchiha Fugaku breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Qingyun and spoke slowly.

Qingyun stopped in his tracks at those words. “Some things, once lost, can never be restored. It's like a mirror. Once you shatter it, even if you later gather every fragment and glue them back together, that mirror will still bear glaring cracks.”

"Enough. There's no need to say anything more. Tell the Uchiha leadership what I said! And don't say I didn't warn you: if you don't get those wounds treated soon, you might bleed to death. As you know, besides being fairly good at Taijutsu and ninjutsu, I'm also quite good at Medical Ninjutsu."

After saying that, Qingyun's expression returned to its usual calm. He gave Kushina, Minato Namikaze, and Nawaki a small smile. “Come on. Where should we go have fun next?”

“Wow, Qingyun, you're amazing! You actually beat the top student in our class! You're incredible! I've decided...”

At Qingyun's words, Nawaki jumped up excitedly.

Qingyun paused in surprise. “Decided what?”

Nawaki solemnly raised his right hand and pointed at Qingyun. “I've decided that from now on, you're my big brother!”

A dark look crossed Qingyun's face when he heard that. “But I refuse to take in a little brother as stupid as you.”

Minato Namikaze and Kushina burst out laughing.

Nawaki's expression froze at Qingyun's words. Then he rushed over to Qingyun, protesting loudly. “Why? What's stupid about me?”

"The way you're acting right now is plenty stupid. Too ugly. Rejected!"

Qingyun glanced at Nawaki, then spoke as he walked on.

Kushina and Minato Namikaze watched with amusement as Nawaki begged Qingyun to accept him. Laughing and horsing around, the four disappeared from Uchiha Fugaku's sight.

Uchiha Fugaku watched Qingyun's retreating figure with a complicated expression. He could never understand why Qingyun was so adamant. Only after awakening the Mangekyo and using it once did he realize that Qingyun had long since foreseen the Uchiha Clan's fate. In the end, he went to great lengths to persuade Qingyun to accept his eldest son as a disciple and teach him well, hoping to change the clan's destiny through him.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's office in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the four horsing around in the Crystal Ball with a smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had learned of the Uchiha Clan's investigation into Qingyun earlier, but he had not intervened. He wanted to see how Qingyun would respond.

Sure enough, once the Uchiha Clan learned of Qingyun's circumstances, it reacted swiftly. Both the Dove Faction and the Hawk Faction unanimously demanded that Qingyun be welcomed back into the clan.

Thus, they sent Uchiha Fugaku to inform Qingyun. Hiruzen Sarutobi witnessed everything that followed.

When he saw Qingyun bluntly refuse Uchiha Fugaku, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. When he saw Uchiha Fugaku resort directly to violence, a flicker of anger rose within him.

When he saw Qingyun fighting Uchiha Fugaku on equal terms, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief.

When he saw Qingyun defeat Uchiha Fugaku, his eyes widened further. He had never imagined that Qingyun had grown so powerful without his noticing.

Moreover, Qingyun had displayed another strange footwork technique in this battle. It was so exquisite that even Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help marveling at it. The finger sword Qingyun had shown so fleetingly also made his eyes light up, and he began considering what he should offer Qingyun in exchange for these two Secret Techniques.

Meanwhile, as Qingyun joked around with Kushina and the others, he felt the sensation of being watched disappear. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Not long after Uchiha Fugaku appeared before him, Qingyun had sensed a faint feeling of being watched. That was why, contrary to his usual behavior, he had deliberately provoked Uchiha Fugaku into fighting him today.

Qingyun wanted Hiruzen Sarutobi to see where he stood and recognize his talent, prompting him to invest more heavily in him. Only then could he grow stronger at the fastest possible pace.

Qingyun believed that although today's battle had thoroughly offended the Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi would certainly increase his investment in him. He would even approach Qingyun himself to negotiate an exchange for Lingbo Micro-Step and Six Meridian Divine Sword.

Of course, if Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted something for nothing, he could not blame Qingyun for turning his back on him once he grew strong. Moreover, the Prince would withhold the most essential portions of both Lingbo Micro-Step and Six Meridian Divine Sword, leaving anyone unable to practice them even if they obtained them.

Still, after spending this time together, Qingyun believed Hiruzen Sarutobi would not continue trying to get something for nothing.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not Danzo. Danzo was a genuine scoundrel. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi could not be called a true gentleman, he still maintained a respectable facade. At the very least, most of Konoha's Ninja and villagers had nothing but praise for him.