"Bang!"
A dull crash erupted in the Uchiha's private training courtyard, blasting the air apart and sending dust flying.
The barrier seals surrounding the courtyard trembled slightly under the shock wave, but forcibly contained the aftermath of the battle, letting none of it escape to disturb the clan grounds.
At the center of the courtyard, Uchiha Zongyan stood steady, his black clan robes snapping in the fierce wind.
Though only eight, he was already a little over 1.6 meters tall.
Standing there now, he exuded an aura of slaughter.
Two years of relentless, hellish training, day and night, had transformed him completely.
Hand-to-Hand Combat, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and genjutsu—the four teachers' signature skills had all been mastered by him.
"Thank you for the match."
Zongyan withdrew his fist and straightened, his breathing steady and deep. He was barely even winded and looked nothing like someone who had just fought a hard battle.
Opposite him, the jonin specializing in close-quarters taijutsu knelt on the ground, his arm locked behind his back by Zongyan's right hand, and helplessly tapped the ground in surrender.
Uchiha Rei rose, his chest heaving slightly as he looked at the eight-year-old boy before him, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Within just a few exchanges, Zongyan had completely overwhelmed him in speed, reactions, and anticipation. A veteran jonin with countless battles behind him, he had not even found an opportunity to fight back.
"Young Master Zongyan's Hand-to-Hand Combat has reached mastery, far surpassing the standard of civilian-born jonin."
Uchiha Rei sighed, his tone filled with genuine respect.
Zongyan had no intention of stopping to rest. His gaze shifted to Uchiha Kiyoshi, who already stood ready nearby with a ninja sword in hand.
"Teacher, please give me your guidance!"
Uchiha Kiyoshi dared not take him lightly. His eyes flashed, scarlet light blooming in his pupils as he immediately activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
He pushed off in an explosive step, and a sharp flash of sword light instantly tore through the air toward Zongyan.
His sword strikes were swift and fierce, his technique seasoned. Every blow was a practical killing move honed through countless life-and-death battles, with very few openings and tremendous lethality.
Seeing his opponent draw his sword, Zongyan activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan as well.
All his opponent's movements, the paths of his force, and the openings in his attacks slowed in Zongyan's eyes, appearing clearly in his field of vision with nothing hidden.
He shifted slightly to the side, cleanly evading the deadly edge, and brought his ninja blade up with precision.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The sounds of weapons colliding erupted one after another.
The two figures darted and crossed through the courtyard, their ninja blades clashing as rapidly as a downpour pounding sheet metal. Every move targeted a vital point, and the shifts between attack and defense were almost dizzyingly fast.
Several exchanges passed in a flash.
With his even sharper reaction speed and precise control, Zongyan struck the web of his opponent's sword hand at the wrist with the back of his blade.
With a heavy clang, the ninja blade flew out of Uchiha Kiyoshi's hand.
Before he could launch another move, Zongyan's sword tip had stopped steadily an inch in front of his neck.
"I lost."
Uchiha Kiyoshi rubbed his numb wrist with a helpless, wry smile, thoroughly convinced of his defeat.
For two full years, he had watched Zongyan grow from a child who still needed to practice the basic movements into what he was now.
Such heaven-defying talent was rare throughout the Uchiha Clan's history.
Even Young Master Uchiha Itachi, whose reputation was now rising, fell more than a little short of the present Zongyan in talent.
"My turn."
Uchiha Makoto, the ninjutsu specialist, stepped forward and began testing Zongyan without wasting words.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson, Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique, Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique, Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame, Fire Release: Majestic Demolisher Flame...
Flames burst from Zongyan's hands one after another. His movements were practiced, his transitions fluid, and his chakra control for every ninjutsu met the strictest standards Makoto had demanded while teaching him.
After watching, Uchiha Makoto shook his head and sighed.
"Young Master Zongyan has thoroughly mastered every Fire Release Ninjutsu I know. Honestly, he executes them more cleanly than I do."
The last to take the field was his genjutsu teacher, Uchiha Xuan.
He activated his Sharingan and stood directly before Zongyan, his gaze focused as he rapidly formed hand seals to activate his ninjutsu.
An invisible wave of mental energy instantly descended. Any ordinary ninja caught by it would immediately fall into an illusion, helpless at his mercy.
But Zongyan narrowed his eyes slightly. With the powerful mental strength enhanced after his transmigration, he instantly saw through the falsehood and broke free of the genjutsu's restraints.
Before Uchiha Xuan could change techniques, Zongyan's fingers completed his hand seals in an instant, and he called out in a low voice.
"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"
Invisible mental shackles instantly formed, locking Uchiha Xuan's limbs firmly within the mental illusion realm and completely restricting his movements.
A single exchange had decided the outcome.
After dispelling the genjutsu, Uchiha Xuan came back to his senses, his face filled with shock and admiration, and sighed sincerely.
"Young Master, your mental resistance and ability to break illusions are exceptional. My genjutsu is now completely ineffective against you."
With that, Hand-to-Hand Combat, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and genjutsu had all been tested.
The four jonin teachers who had taught him for two years were now thoroughly won over by his strength.
The immature child whom they had needed to train in the most basic things, bit by bit, two years ago had now grown to heights far beyond them.
The four exchanged a few pleasantries with Zongyan. After confirming that his training was proceeding without issue, they respectfully bowed and took their leave, no longer disturbing his solitude.
Once the courtyard fell quiet again, Zongyan stood alone at its center, calmed his mind, and silently summoned the System Panel.
A pale blue screen unfolded before his eyes, clearly listing all his current information:
[Host: Uchiha Zongyan] [Age: 8] [Rank: Jonin] [Bloodline: Uchiha (Two-Tomoe Sharingan)] [Skills: Three Basic Techniques, Advanced Uchiha Fire Release Complete Series, Uchiha Swordsmanship (proficient), Hand-to-Hand Combat (proficient), Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique (proficient), Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change...] [Draws remaining: 1] [Owned items: Fragmented Bloodline Altar, basic stamina recovery potion ×3, complete compendium of low-level gene editing studies, one iron mine, Complete Manual of Alloy Forging Techniques, Biological Anatomy Reference Atlas, anti-fatigue nutritional paste ×4, Tranquility Incense ×4, senzu bean ×1]
Seeing the changes to his rank and skills, Zongyan could not help raising the corners of his mouth in a proud smile.
"A jonin at eight? Those two years of hard training weren't wasted."
But his delight did not last long. His gaze swept over the item list, and his smile instantly faded as he gave a helpless, bitter chuckle.
"...Two years, more than twenty draws altogether, and barely anything decent. A pile of white and green items, with just one blue senzu bean. What even is all the rest of this junk?"
Looking at the draw chance that had only recently refreshed on the panel, he thought briefly, then simply issued a command in his mind.
"System, draw now."
[Ding! Draw chance ×1 consumed. Starting draw!]
The large wheel in his mind spun again, faster and faster, its multicolored segments blurring into a colorful haze.
A moment later, it slowed sharply, and the pointer gradually settled.
[Ding! Draw complete! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a blue item-Cursed Blade: Murasame.]
Zongyan shifted his gaze to the newly appeared weapon in his inventory, and its detailed information automatically surfaced.
[Cursed Blade: Murasame] [Quality: Blue] [Description: From the world of Akame ga Kill!] [Effect: A scratch triggers Cursed Poison, causing death. A cursed blade imbued with the rule of a death curse.]
After reading the description, a gleam flashed through Zongyan's eyes. He was quite satisfied with this blade.
"Now this is an interesting draw. It makes up for my lack of a good weapon perfectly."
With a thought, he drew the coldly gleaming Murasame out of thin air and gripped it in his palm.
The slightly cool blade felt smooth, its edge bitingly sharp, with a faint trace of eerie, sinister cold.
He raised his hand and gave it a few light swings in the empty courtyard. The blade flowed swiftly and fiercely, slicing through wind and air, every slash carrying an indescribable sense of pressure.
It matched his swordsmanship style perfectly and felt excellent in his hand.
After briefly testing the blade, Zongyan sheathed Murasame and secured it at the ninja tool position on his waist, where it fit close to his body, neat and easy to carry.
It was already broad daylight. Morning light spread across the entire courtyard, and it was just time for breakfast at home.
Zongyan brushed the dust from his clothes and turned toward the hall, his stomach already beginning to growl.
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