A challenge from the Uchiha radicals

Shisui cared deeply about the village and the Uchiha.

The clan and the village had finally begun to show signs of coming together. He would never side with Uchiha Setsuna at a time like this and destroy their hard-won stability.

As for Douyang, that went without saying.

Uchiha Setsuna's ambitions could never be realized. Following him was a road to certain death.

Not only would Douyang refuse to side with Uchiha Setsuna, but if necessary, he would also take action to eliminate this destabilizing factor.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Douyang headed to the Konoha apartments as agreed, to meet Kurenai Yuhi for a date and exchange Taijutsu techniques.

A teenage boy suddenly dropped from above and blocked his path.

The boy was slender, with delicate features, but a barely perceptible trace of hostility in his eyes spoiled his otherwise refined appearance.

He said coldly, "You're Uchiha Douyang?"

"If there isn't a second Uchiha Douyang in the clan, that should be me."

Douyang spoke indifferently.

At the same time, he recalled the intelligence Uchiha Fugaku had previously given him on a group of trusted followers of Uchiha Setsuna.

This boy was one of them.

Uchiha Kazekawa, Jonin, seventeen years old, Three-Tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire Release, swordsmanship, and Taijutsu.

With a slender finger hooked through the ring of a kunai, Uchiha Kazekawa spun it around and said indifferently, "My name is Uchiha Kazekawa. Elder Setsuna wants to see you. Come with me."

Douyang's expression darkened a little, and he shook his head. "I still have training to do. I don't have time."

Uchiha Kazekawa snorted. "Aren't you full of yourself? Don't think earning a title means you can look down on everyone. Don't forget, Setsuna was already an Uchiha elder during the Second Hokage's time. Even Clan Leader Fugaku has to show Elder Setsuna respect."

Judging by Uchiha Kazekawa's persistence, he clearly would not give up easily.

Douyang considered for a moment, then said coldly, "Let's find somewhere to spar. If you can beat me, I'll go with you to see Uchiha Setsuna. Otherwise, get the hell away from me."

Uchiha Kazekawa snorted coldly. "You overestimate yourself."

Although Douyang had earned the title of Uncanny Physician, his specialty was Medical Ninjutsu. Fighting was not his strong suit.

Uchiha Kazekawa was seventeen this year and had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. His fighting ability ranked among the best in the Uchiha Clan, and in his own honest assessment, he was second only to Shisui.

Wasn't Douyang challenging him to a spar a case of pitting his own weakness against someone else's strength?

"You'll find out soon enough whether I'm overestimating myself."

"Give me a straight answer. Are you willing or not?"

Douyang was utterly relaxed, looking at Uchiha Kazekawa as though he were a foolish son.

Uchiha Kazekawa pointed his thumb at himself and said confidently, "I'll show you the true power of the Sharingan."

"Tch."

Douyang scoffed inwardly.

No wonder the Uchiha Clan wasn't very well liked. Clansmen as easygoing as Shisui were a minority, after all.

The two arrived at a nearby training ground.

Douyang shrugged and told Uchiha Kazekawa, "Let's do it here."

Uchiha Kazekawa nodded slightly, his face full of confidence. "This may be a spar, but I won't go easy on you."

"Mm."

Douyang nodded unconcernedly.

"Hey, what I mean is, you could get hurt if you don't take this seriously."

Uchiha Kazekawa raised his brows slightly.

Uchiha Setsuna intended to recruit Douyang.

Kazekawa was afraid that injuring Douyang would ruin Uchiha Setsuna's plans.

But he could not possibly know that even ten of him could not hurt Uchiha Douyang.

Douyang said impatiently, "Hurry up and attack. I'm in a hurry."

"You..."

Hearing this, Uchiha Kazekawa immediately activated his Sharingan and glared at Douyang. "Has no one ever told you? Arrogance comes at a price."

With that, Uchiha Kazekawa rapidly formed hand seals and shouted, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

With light steps, Douyang narrowly dodged the orange-red fireball hurtling toward him.

However, Douyang did not take the initiative to attack Uchiha Kazekawa. Instead, he stood where he was with his arms folded, watching Uchiha Kazekawa casually.

He intended to wait until Uchiha Kazekawa had shown every trump card, then defeat him ruthlessly with overwhelming force and shatter his confidence.

He would make him understand that there were always greater heights and stronger people.

"Damn it."

After the attack missed, Uchiha Douyang spat and drew the katana at his waist.

Sunlight struck the katana, producing a dazzling gleam, and a trace of lethal tension appeared across the training ground.

Douyang grew inwardly alert.

Uchiha Kazekawa had managed to awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at seventeen.

Naturally, he had some ability.

If nothing else, the intimidating aura he exuded while holding his sword was enough to show that he was an expert swordsman.

Whoosh!

A shrill rush cut through the air as Uchiha Kazekawa stamped hard against the ground and surged forward, pouncing on Douyang like a hungry tiger on its prey.

But although his movements seemed fast, every move was plainly visible to Douyang.

Douyang remained calm, holding a kunai as he matched Uchiha Kazekawa in Taijutsu.

Clang, clang, clang.

The kunai and katana traded blows at close quarters.

Douyang did not clash head-on with Uchiha Kazekawa. Instead, he used agile footwork to engage him in a running exchange.

Crack!

With a sharp rush through the air, the katana split a waist-thick wooden post vertically in half.

More than a dozen wooden posts across the training ground had already fallen victim to Uchiha Kazekawa.

Yet Douyang still stood five feet in front of Uchiha Kazekawa, at the very limit of his attack range, watching him with a faint smile.

Unable to land a hit after attacking for so long, Uchiha Kazekawa grew somewhat impatient and shouted angrily, "Uchiha Douyang, stop running if you've got the guts! Take a slash from me!"

Douyang's face was expressionless. "You can't even hit your enemy. Why bother practicing swordsmanship?"

"Damn it!"

Uchiha Kazekawa had no answer. He then took a deep breath and launched an even fiercer assault on Uchiha Douyang.

In all fairness, Uchiha Kazekawa's fighting ability ranked among the best of the Uchiha Clan's younger generation. His consummate swordsmanship, combined with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, was enough to defeat many Jonin.

Time slowly passed. Uchiha Kazekawa's swordsmanship remained fierce, but it had grown more impatient and less fluid.

Seeing this, Uchiha Douyang realized his opportunity had arrived.

Whoosh!

He hurled the kunai in his hand at Uchiha Kazekawa and followed right behind it.

Uchiha Kazekawa took a deep breath and swung his sword, knocking the kunai away.

By then, Douyang had already closed in on Uchiha Kazekawa, driving his iron fist hard toward his chest.

Rather than retreat, Uchiha Kazekawa advanced, bringing his katana down furiously at Douyang.

"So impatient."

The corners of Douyang's mouth lifted slightly.

The next instant, his right hand, which had been striking toward Uchiha Kazekawa, suddenly changed from a palm into a fist, delivering a knife-hand strike to Uchiha Kazekawa's wrist.

Pain shot through Uchiha Kazekawa, and the katana slipped from his hand. Douyang caught it in the same motion.

Whoosh!

The katana swept upward in a reverse grip and came to rest against Uchiha Kazekawa's neck.

The entire sequence took less than a second.

The cold blade touched his skin before Uchiha Kazekawa had even reacted.