Defeating Uchiha Onibi Again

Boom!!!

The fireball collided violently with the fire dragon in the middle, producing a deafening explosion! Flames scattered in every direction, temporarily obscuring the view.

Using the shock wave and light from the explosion as cover, Lin Ze, with the Gate of Life open, decisively beastified both legs. Like a streak of green lightning, he skimmed almost flat against the ground and narrowly slipped through a gap beneath the surging flames!

His speed had reached its limit!

Boom!!

Boom!!!

Almost simultaneously, the other two fire dragons slammed into the ground where Lin Ze had just been standing-with a dull boom, shattered stones flew everywhere, and two deep, blackened craters instantly appeared in the ground.

Across from him, Uchiha Onibi had just finished unleashing Fire Dragon Flame Bullet and was in a brief period of chakra readjustment. The intense light of the explosion had also dazzled his Sharingan for a moment.

The instant his vision recovered, a fist wrapped in green energy was already rapidly growing larger in his pupils!

"What?! So fast!!" Uchiha Onibi had no time to react effectively and could only barely raise his arms to block.

Thud!!!

A heavy, dull impact rang out.

Lin Ze's fist, wreathed in green currents, slammed squarely into Uchiha Onibi's crossed arms.

The force far surpassed what it had been before. Uchiha Onibi felt an irresistible surge of power strike him, his arms searing with pain as his entire body flew backward uncontrollably.

Splash!!

With a heavy splash, Uchiha Onibi was knocked straight into the nearby stream, sending water spraying half a person's height into the air.

He struggled a few times, but with his strong offense and weak defense, he could not immediately get back up. He could only brace himself against a rock on the bank and gasp for breath, his soaked clothes clinging tightly to his body, leaving him looking utterly bedraggled.

For a moment, only the crackling of flames and the sound of green currents surging around Lin Ze remained.

Might Duy and Might Guy both stared, their mouths hanging open.

Lin Ze slowly released the Eight Gates Released Formation. Breathing slightly hard, he looked at Uchiha Onibi lying on the ground in the distance and said calmly, "Onibi, thank you for the match."

He knew he had been lucky to win.

Had Uchiha Onibi not feared Dragon Might and refrained from using powerful genjutsu, and had he not decisively beastified himself and used the explosion as cover to close in, the outcome would still have been uncertain.

Even a single tomoe granted such strength. The Uchiha Clan truly lived up to its reputation.

Clutching his numb, aching arms, Uchiha Onibi struggled into a sitting position. He looked at Lin Ze standing there, his breathing gradually steadying, his face filled with shock, resentment, and a trace of something complicated.

He had lost. He had lost to an orphan not yet seven years old, with very little chakra.

And he had even lost to the Great Fireball Technique he himself had taught him.

Uchiha Onibi gritted his teeth, but finally said dejectedly:

"...I lost. As agreed, if Ryōta troubles you again, I'll discipline him. I'll have someone deliver the Phoenix Flower Jutsu scroll tomorrow."

With that, he rose somewhat awkwardly, gave Lin Ze a long look, then turned and left in silence, his retreating figure looking somewhat forlorn.

"You won! Lin Ze! You're amazing!" Might Guy hurried over, shouting excitedly.

Might Duy also walked over and clapped Lin Ze hard on the shoulder, his eyes full of gratification and excitement:

"Well done, Lin Ze! You've already mastered the power of the First Three Gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation perfectly! This is the victory of blazing youth!"

Lin Ze smiled. Feeling the faint soreness in his body from opening the Eight Gates, as well as the warmth of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon's power quietly repairing the damage, he felt greatly confident about facing future threats.

As for Uchiha Onibi's mention of "Ryōta troubling him," Lin Ze paid it no mind.

After all, any normal person who had experienced those first two encounters would never think of troubling Lin Ze again. That would be courting death!

"Duy, Guy, let's stop training here today. I need to head back and rest a while."

The sun was nearly setting, and Lin Ze spoke directly.

Although Lin Ze's constitution was powerful and he did not need a long rest after the fight, the cut a shuriken had left on his arm was already nearly healed. If he did not head back before someone noticed, it would be troublesome.

Hearing this, Might Duy patted Lin Ze's shoulder. "Good lad! That was a hot-blooded fight today. You should go back and get some proper rest! Youth needs a balance of work and rest too!"

Might Guy added from beside him, "Get some good rest, Lin Ze! Tomorrow we'll do another five hundred squats together! I'll definitely be able to keep up with your speed then!"

As he spoke, he gave him a thumbs-up.

Looking at the energetic father and son, Lin Ze could not help smiling. "All right. See you tomorrow."

With that, he picked up his jacket, turned, and headed toward the Orphanage.

The Uchiha Clan Compound.

At this time, the Uchiha Clan still lived on the outskirts of Konoha. Although they were viewed with suspicion because of Madara Uchiha's rebellion, the Nine-Tails' Rampage had not happened yet, after all.

Once Uchiha Onibi was out of sight of Lin Ze and the others, he quickened his pace.

Now, with somewhat heavy steps, he walked along the streets of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Occasionally, Uchiha clansmen wearing Gunbai Attire passed along the streets, nodding to one another. But they rarely exchanged warm greetings like the villagers outside, and an atmosphere of intermingled pride and distance filled the air.

Uchiha Onibi had long since grown accustomed to all of this.

He headed straight toward a residence that was not particularly conspicuous but was kept very clean-this was the home he shared with his younger brother, Ryota Uchiha.

Their parents had died during the Second Shinobi World War, leaving the two brothers to depend on each other.

He pushed open the front door. The entryway felt rather quiet and empty.

"Brother? Are you back?" A somewhat weak voice came from the bedroom.

Uchiha Onibi pushed open the bedroom door and saw Ryota Uchiha lying facedown on the bed, covered by a thin blanket. Some purplish bruises were still visible on his exposed arms and face, left behind by Lin Ze's "lesson" a few days earlier.

They were only superficial injuries, however. With a shinobi's recuperative powers, he had indeed mostly recovered; he merely still looked somewhat battered.

"Yes," Onibi answered. He sat down nearby and poured himself a cup of water.

Ryota Uchiha turned onto his side with difficulty. Seeing his brother's soaking clothes and distinctly unpleasant expression, his heart lurched, and a bad premonition rose within him.

"Brother... did you... go looking for that Lin Ze?"

"Yes."

"Then... how did it go?"

Ryota Uchiha held his breath, watching his brother nervously.

Although Lin Ze had beaten him badly, his brother was a genius Chunin of the clan, possessed the Sharingan, and was powerful!

Although his brother had also lost to Lin Ze last time, that match had been subject to all sorts of restrictions and was not worth using as a reference.

So deep down, he still held on to a sliver of hope, hoping his brother could restore a little of the Uchiha's dignity for him.

Uchiha Onibi set down his cup and remained silent for a moment before finally admitting frankly, "I lost."

Those simple words struck Ryota Uchiha's heart like a heavy hammer.

"You... lost?"

"How is that possible?! Brother, how could you lose to that guy?! He's clearly just a..."

Ryota Uchiha's eyes flew wide open, disbelief written all over his face.

"He's a true genius, Ryōta," Uchiha Onibi interrupted his younger brother, speaking calmly:

"His taijutsu far surpasses that of his peers, his reactions are extremely fast, and his combat awareness is even more frightening. And... he uses the Great Fireball better than many of our clansmen."

Ryota Uchiha felt his understanding of the world shaken. That orphan, whose chakra reserves were like an ant's, had actually defeated his brother!