Now

As Tobirama Senju's subordinate, how could Maruboshi Kosuke lack experience dealing with Uchiha Clan ninja?

To counter the Uchiha Clan's ability to track motion, all one needed to do was disappear from their sight and attack from behind.

Although that method was as difficult as telling someone, "Here's a sword. Go kill Hashirama Senju,"... for some people, it really was a good method.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Gen was no ordinary Uchiha.

Within the perception of his Observation Haki, Maruboshi Kosuke's figure was perfectly clear.

The instant he "saw" Maruboshi Kosuke's position clearly, Uchiha Gen's body snapped back like a taut bowstring. Pivoting on his left foot, he unleashed tremendous torque from his waist and hips, spinning his entire body at high speed!

At the same time, a long, straight, pale-purple blade, its body seemingly fragmented yet whole, instantly appeared in Uchiha Gen's hand.

The Demon Blade Thousand Blades!

Riding the momentum of that fierce spin, Uchiha Gen swept the demon blade through a full arc, slashing upward from below to meet the strike coming from behind!

Clang!

A crisp metallic clash rang out across the training ground!

Sparks flew between the two crossed blades!

One exchange of slashes.

Maruboshi Kosuke immediately felt the web of his hand go slightly numb, and he was forced half a step back.

His sword arm trembled faintly, and his blade continued to ring.

"Such strength, and that sword... is it a special ninja tool... or..."

With a light flick of his slender blade, Maruboshi Kosuke shook the numbness from his arm, his gaze involuntarily settling on the Demon Blade Thousand Blades in Uchiha Gen's hand.

He certainly did not remember the Hokage or Shibi Aburame mentioning that Uchiha Gen knew swordsmanship.

"Shall we continue, sir?"

Giving the demon blade a light flick, Uchiha Gen looked at Maruboshi Kosuke with a smile and spoke softly.

"Of course we'll continue."

Almost before his words had faded, Maruboshi Kosuke became a swift blur that ordinary eyes could barely follow and slashed straight toward him.

The familiar Body Flicker Technique slash.

Only this time, Uchiha Gen did not choose to keep dodging.

Uchiha Gen held his long blade loosely lowered in one hand, sinking slightly as the muscles and joints of his shoulders and back quietly loosened.

"Since you want me to use more swordsmanship, then..."

In an instant, crimson fire-release chakra spread across the blade, condensing entirely onto its fragmented edge.

Uchiha-Sword Leaping Flame!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

As the two met, a dense succession of crisp blade clashes rang out, like a sudden downpour beating against the silence of the training ground.

The collisions came as rapidly as popping beans, and dozens of sword marks of varying depths instantly appeared across the ground of Training Ground Three.

After another head-on clash, Maruboshi Kosuke quickly put distance between himself and Uchiha Gen.

After their second exchange, Maruboshi Kosuke also understood that unless he held an overwhelming advantage, it would be difficult to break through Uchiha Gen's defenses with swordsmanship alone.

Moreover, his swordsmanship did not focus on breaking through with attacks.

The instant he drew away, Maruboshi Kosuke formed a hand seal before his chest.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

One seal!

The air abruptly grew damp and heavy.

With Maruboshi Kosuke's low shout, a thin layer of rippling water immediately spread over the ground. The next instant, three water dragons, condensed to the utmost, burst out of the earth at strange, tricky angles, hugging the ground as they swiftly converged on Uchiha Gen to tear him apart!

And the Sharingan saw this entire scene clearly.

Three water dragons with one seal? Even that seal was unnecessary!

Watching the water dragons rush toward him, Uchiha Gen's mouth twitched slightly.

He raised his hand and flicked it, instantly separating three slightly larger fragments from the Demon Blade Thousand Blades.

Crackle!

Pale-blue arcs instantly danced across the fragments. The next moment, three laser-like streaks shot forth!

Electromagnetic Cannon!

He used electromagnetic energy to launch the fragments of the Demon Blade Thousand Blades in an instant!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Under Uchiha Gen's fine control, the three lasers simultaneously pierced the water dragons converging on him.

As the dragons' heads exploded, mist instantly spread throughout the training ground.

Whoosh-

A shuriken shot out of the mist, then one became two, two became four...

Until, visibly, they blotted out the sky!

Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!

Maruboshi Kosuke had struck again.

Moreover, every shuriken's edge carried a high-pressure water blade.

Anyone struck by these shuriken would clearly be cut into mincemeat.

"Crimson Red Lotus!"

Facing countless water-bladed shuriken, Uchiha Gen raised his hand toward the sky and gave a low shout!

A wisp of flame instantly bloomed in Uchiha Gen's palm, rapidly expanding into a fist-sized fireball before shooting out.

The fireball spun through the air with a hum that tore through it. With each rotation, fresh flames were drawn from empty space, wrapping around it layer upon layer.

Within a single breath, the flames had swollen to several yards across. Surging currents of crimson and gold fire instantly engulfed every last water-bladed shuriken.

The contact between intense heat and water instantly raised vast amounts of scalding steam.

The sight made Maruboshi Kosuke frown.

A fire-release special single attribute! Didn't Shibi say this child had awakened Lightning Release?

At that thought, Maruboshi Kosuke used the spreading vapor as cover, swiftly breaking through the mist and thrusting his sword straight at Uchiha Gen.

At the same time, countless blades drifting like willow catkins began appearing and floating before Uchiha Gen's eyes.

Konoha Style: Swordsmanship-Willow.

"Using something imbued with genjutsu against an Uchiha isn't a very good tactic, sir."

Watching Maruboshi Kosuke charge toward him amid the countless drifting blades, Uchiha Gen spoke softly with a smile.

Maruboshi Kosuke had already closed in before Uchiha Gen, his slender ninja blade sweeping diagonally upward with seeming ease, like drooping willow branches brushing the breeze.

Clang!

The crisp ring of clashing metal sounded again. Before the Sharingan, the willow-catkin blades meant to disrupt his vision were as good as nonexistent.

As the crisp clang rang out, Uchiha Gen immediately felt the force coming through his opponent's blade ease.

The "eternal Genin's" fighting spirit vanished with it.

"Excellent. Truly excellent. What a blessing for Konoha's future to have a genius like you."

Sliding his slender ninja blade back into the large iron pot on his back, Maruboshi Kosuke spoke with a warm smile on his face.

"So, when do we leave? Teacher Shibi, you should be part of this mission too, right?"

Uchiha Gen was unmoved by Maruboshi Kosuke's praise. He had no intention of risking his life for Konoha. As he spoke, Uchiha Gen turned toward a tree outside the training ground and addressed it calmly.

As Uchiha Gen's words fell, countless tiny black insects flew onto a branch of that tree, quickly gathering into a familiar figure: Team 8's jonin leader, Shibi Aburame.

Shibi Aburame had already been hiding there when Uchiha Gen first arrived at Training Ground Three.

He had witnessed their entire battle.

"Now."

Shibi Aburame answered succinctly.