"Uchiha Hikaru..." Shinji Hirako opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.
"Go on. Even if you want me to leave you some dignity in front of the others, I can understand that."
Hikaru could understand the turmoil in Shinji's heart right now.
He had seen countless people like this—arrogant and overconfident, convinced they were invincible—suffer a crushing blow.
"Thanks, but I still have to see how your Fire Incinerates City Walls differs from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's!" Madness and fighting spirit flashed in Shinji's eyes as the white Hollowfication mask on his face suddenly spewed out a massive red blaze.
"Hollowfication, Cero!"
"Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Great Fireball Technique!"
"Sage Art, Yang Fire Rebirth Burst!"
Within a sea of crimson flames, Hikaru unleashed three powerful Fire Style techniques.
The fiery glow collided with the red blast, breaking through two Fire Style ninjutsu before stopping in front of the pure Yang flames.
Shinji panted heavily, as though he had exhausted every last bit of strength.
Even the hand gripping Sakanade trembled slightly. After a long silence, he finally voiced what was in his heart.
"I lost!"
By the time Shinji fired his final Cero, nearly all his strength was gone. He could no longer continue fighting, and the white Hollowfication mask slowly faded from his face, revealing his true features.
The Inverted World returned to normal after Shinji spoke those final words.
Suddenly, Hikaru lowered his voice and shouted.
"Flash. Slash!"
The immense space of flames seemed to be cleaved apart down the middle. After a burst of white light, it shattered into scattered flames that gradually vanished into the air.
Two figures slowly emerged from the flames, Hikaru and Shinji standing face-to-face.
Shinji's face was filled with shock. "Uchiha Hikaru, you!"
He was deeply moved. Shinji knew Hikaru had not needed