A lesson in combat

"Hi, Uchiha Itachi! Nice to meet you! My name's Takuma Iwakawa, and I'm fourteen. This is my first time taking the Chunin Ninja Exams. You're really handsome! Um, how old are you? Can we chat a bit before we start fighting? You won't kill me, right?"

Although Iwagakure's supervising jōnin had told Takuma Iwakawa not long ago that Madara Uchiha had been forbidden to kill anyone, he still panicked once he actually stepped into the arena and saw Madara's indifferent eyes. Scratching the back of his head, he desperately tried to strike up a conversation, terrified that Madara might unleash a Majestic Destroyer Flame on him too.

He couldn't help it! Takuma Iwakawa had fought Sandō Raikō during the exams. Though Sandō had failed to break through his defenses, Takuma had been equally helpless against his speed and physical strength. Madara Uchiha had instantly defeated that formidable opponent, who had fought Takuma to a standstill. Naturally, Takuma didn't think he could withstand the Majestic Destroyer Flame.

"I won't kill you. I'll give you time to show what you can do. Just surrender when you've had enough."

The main tournament of the Chunin Ninja Exams drew attention from all the Five Great Nations. Madara Uchiha had never intended to kill anyone in front of such a crowd, and now the Hokage had specifically instructed him not to. Even if only to give the Hokage the illusion that he was obedient, Madara wouldn't entertain any more thoughts of killing these children.

"Thank you!"

Only after hearing Madara Uchiha's promise firsthand did Takuma Iwakawa finally relax completely. As Arakawa Kiba announced the start of the match, the boy from Iwagakure who had reached the semifinals of the Chunin Ninja Exams began his performance.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

Against an opponent like Madara Uchiha, Takuma Iwakawa opened with his best ninjutsu. As he completed his hand seals, an earthen dragon's head suddenly rose from the floor of Sunagakure's arena. It was so lifelike that it seemed a divine dragon had appeared in the flesh. The dragon opened its jaws, and countless projectiles made of earth hurtled toward Madara.

Takuma Iwakawa's Earth Dragon Bullet was outstanding, both in casting speed and in the power of the technique itself. Watching from the raised platform, the Third Hokage nodded appreciatively at the Iwagakure genin's impressive mastery of ninjutsu.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Facing Takuma Iwakawa, Madara Uchiha answered this impressive Earth Dragon Bullet directly with a Great Fireball. Although Madara held back while casting it, the fireball swept forward with enough force to bake both the earthen projectiles and the dragon itself into clumps of hardened dirt. Seeing that his strongest ninjutsu had failed, Takuma changed tactics and switched to close combat.

Despite his tall, bulky frame, Takuma Iwakawa moved with remarkable agility. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Madara Uchiha.

"How can someone that fat move so lightly?"

Takuma Iwakawa was not only fast but nimble as well. Watching his performance from the raised platform, Hayato Hyuga couldn't help murmuring under his breath.

"There's an Earth Release technique called the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique. It makes your body lighter and increases your movement speed. That should be what he's using."

Standing beside Hayato, Kazuhiko promptly explained when he noticed his confusion. While the two were talking, Madara Uchiha made his move.

As Takuma Iwakawa charged at him, Madara Uchiha reached out and caught his thick left wrist. Though the eight-year-old Madara still had small hands, the moment his hand closed around Takuma's arm, Takuma felt as though his wrist had been caught in an iron clamp. He couldn't move it at all.

After catching Takuma Iwakawa's arm, Madara Uchiha pressed down. Still charging forward, Takuma was instantly sent flying by the force Madara applied. Thrown off balance and under the effects of his Light-Weight Rock Technique, he sailed straight into the arena wall.

"Was that a miniature Rotation?"

From the second-floor spectator stands, Hayato Hyuga, who had activated his Byakugan, saw more clearly than anyone else. As Madara Uchiha redirected Takuma Iwakawa's momentum, he also released a burst of chakra from his palm. That burst was precisely what sent Takuma flying farther than expected.

If Hayato Hyuga could learn Madara Uchiha's exquisite chakra control, then, combined with his Byakugan, he could surely take the Gentle Fist to new heights.

After sending Takuma Iwakawa flying across the arena, Madara Uchiha stopped hiding it and openly adopted the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist stance. Since he had to hold back anyway, there should be nothing wrong with giving the Iwagakure ninja room to demonstrate his skills while also teaching Hayato Hyuga a little about practical combat applications.

After two exchanges, Takuma Iwakawa had gained no advantage over Madara Uchiha, while Madara hadn't even moved from his spot. Takuma now roughly understood that his opponent was at least a full level above him. Even so, for Iwagakure's honor, he had to keep fighting.

"Earth Release..."

If his taijutsu was inferior too, then he would use more ninjutsu to create a battlefield that suited him.

Just as Takuma Iwakawa began forming hand seals, Madara Uchiha shot toward him like a cannonball. With Takuma's technique on the verge of completion, Madara knocked his joined hands apart, then caught his left hand. A surge of Madara's chakra immediately disrupted the chakra circuit Takuma had just formed and dispelled the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique on his body. He had no choice but to fight Madara hand to hand.

With his left hand caught in Madara Uchiha's right, Takuma Iwakawa immediately tried to use brute strength to lift him up. But the chakra in Madara's feet had already anchored him firmly to the ground. Takuma's plan failed, and Madara answered with a palm strike.

Unlike Hayato Hyuga, Madara Uchiha couldn't see his opponent's chakra points. But if he struck enough places, whether or not he hit those points wouldn't matter.

Madara Uchiha's left hand deflected Takuma Iwakawa's attempts to block with his right while repeatedly striking his body. In the space of a blink, Takuma lost count of how many times Madara had hit him. When Madara's final palm struck his abdomen, the hulking Takuma dropped to his knees before him.

"Urgh! I surrender! Urgh!"

Madara Uchiha's chakra surged wildly through Takuma Iwakawa's body. Beaten until he vomited, Takuma surrendered, utterly convinced of his defeat. With that, Madara easily advanced to the finals of the Chunin Ninja Exams. Meanwhile, Hayato Hyuga felt he had learned a great deal from watching the match.