Around the training ground, the crowd of onlookers erupted in gasps and cheers of astonishment. All eyes were fixed on the intense clash within the arena.
This combination of Ninja Tools and Ninjutsu application had already surpassed the level of an ordinary Genin.
A faint crimson light flashed in Makoto's eyes. The two-tomoe Sharingan instantly activated and began to rotate slowly. The trajectories of the projectiles, which had been so fast they were mere blurs, immediately became clear and discernible in his vision, as if playing in slow motion.
Even the ripples of disturbed air were perfectly clear.
He simply raised his hand casually, his index finger slipping precisely through the ring at the end of a kunai.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A series of sharp metallic clashes erupted. Makoto, holding a single kunai, deflected each of the rapidly incoming projectiles with perfectly timed swings.
His movements were relaxed and casual, as if he weren't blocking a dense barrage of attacks, but merely brushing aside falling leaves.
By the time the last senbon was knocked away, Yuu had already drawn the Ninjato from his back and was charging forward, the blade tearing through the air straight towards Makoto.
"Samui," Makoto even had the leisure to call out to the sidelines.
Hearing this, the highly intelligent Samui instantly understood his meaning. Without the slightest hesitation, the short sword at her waist left its scabbard.
With a flick of her jade-like hand, the short sword traced a precise arc through the air and landed in Makoto's grasp.
Screech-!
Blades met, sparks flying.
The moment Makoto caught the sword, his knees bent slightly, Chakra erupting from his feet with a boom that created a shallow crater.
Using this recoil force, his entire body shot forward like an arrow from a bow, the short sword descending with a piercing shriek!
Yuu raised his sword horizontally to block, but was forced back half a step by the astonishing force. A wild gust of sword wind blew against his face, whipping his hair back.
Just as he was about to meet Makoto's two-tomoe Sharingan, his pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly shut his eyes… the Raikage's warning echoed in his ears.
Never look directly into Makoto's Sharingan during the spar!
He had started practicing swordsmanship at two and a half years old, accumulating nearly a decade of experience. Now, though his eyes were closed, he relied on the heightened perception cultivated through years of immersion in the sword to desperately trade blows with Makoto.
The Ninjato cut through the air with a whooshing sound. The Yotsuki Clan's sword techniques unfolded one after another in his hands, his attacks coming in relentless waves.
Yet Makoto's movements grew increasingly relaxed. Holding the short sword in one hand, he blocked and evaded with minimal movement.
His young age, short stature, and agile frame actually made things extremely difficult for Yuu, who was defending with his eyes closed.
The two-tomoe Sharingan intently captured every minute muscle twitch, every shift in the opponent's center of gravity, continuously analyzing, copying, and absorbing the highly refined Yotsuki Clan's sword techniques.
"He's learning Yuu's swordsmanship..." A look of surprise flashed in Dodai's exposed single eye.
Yondaime Raikage remained silent, his thick arms crossed over his chest. No expression could be read on his bronze face, but his slightly tightened jawline revealed he wasn't entirely unmoved.
On the training ground, cold sweat gradually soaked Yuu's back. He could clearly feel that Makoto's swordplay was rapidly transforming from initially stiff and unfamiliar to fluid and precise.
It even began to incorporate the unique power application techniques and rhythm characteristic of the Yotsuki Clan's swordsmanship!
The swordsmanship he had painstakingly practiced for nearly a decade was being swiftly learned, at least in its basic form, by his opponent mid-battle.
"Did I teach you? And you just learn it?!" Yuu couldn't help but roar in a low voice. This was his Yotsuki Clan's secret sword technique! His attacks became even more frantic.
"Don't you worry about that. I'm just looking."
Makoto's voice held a hint of laughter, but his sword technique suddenly changed, employing the very killing move Yuu had just used, forcing him into a flustered defense.
After several dozen more exchanges, Makoto, watching Yuu who still didn't dare open his eyes, felt his rate of learning the sword techniques slowing down, and spoke up.
"Open your eyes. I won't use Genjutsu."
It wasn't that he wouldn't, but that he couldn't yet. After all, Makoto hadn't learned Genjutsu. If he had, this kid would have been under a Genjutsu the moment the fight started.
Hearing this, Yuu hesitated for a moment, afraid that the moment he opened his eyes he would be met with Makoto's crimson Sharingan. There was no such thing as fighting fair in one-on-one combat between Shinobi.
But if this continued, defeat was inevitable. After hesitating for an instant, he snapped his eyes open.
Those crimson Sharingan were still there, but there were indeed no signs of a Genjutsu being activated. He breathed a silent sigh of relief. He hadn't expected this half-grown kid to be quite honorable.
If it were him, he would definitely have used a Genjutsu sneak attack.
Yuu felt slightly reassured, but soon discovered that even with his eyes open, the situation didn't improve.
Makoto's swordsmanship was still progressing at a terrifyingly fast pace, and he was growing increasingly composed in their duel.
Yuu felt extremely frustrated. How could he let you freeload off the sword technique he had worked so hard on for nearly ten years, a secret of his clan no less?
The more he fought, the more aggrieved he felt, his mindset almost exploding. Yuu gritted his teeth fiercely and suddenly threw his Ninjato to the ground with a loud clatter.
"Hmm?" Makoto raised an eyebrow at this.
"Enough sword sparring! If we're still sparring, let's compare Taijutsu!" Yuu retorted, falling into a Taijutsu stance.
Hearing this, Makoto casually tossed the short sword back to Samui outside the arena and curled his lip. "Stingy!"
But if he couldn't learn swordsmanship, learning Taijutsu was also good. He could quickly freeload either way.
As the words fell, the two charged forward almost simultaneously.
Bang…
A direct punch exchange.
Both were forced back several steps, with Makoto retreating more. Seeing this, Yuu sneered, "The Uchiha Clan, famed throughout the Shinobi World, is just this?"
If it were Uchiha Sasuke, he would have instantly seen red. But Makoto just smiled and retorted, "You don't even have the strength to hit someone, and you call yourself the top student of Kumogakure's Academy?"
"By the time I reach your age, you won't even be qualified to see me!"
Yuu, looking at Makoto who was noticeably younger than him, instantly saw red. He hadn't expected this half-grown kid to not only have high talent but also a sharp tongue.
Seeing he couldn't gain an advantage verbally, he simply charged forward.
Bang! Bang! Thwack…
The heavy sounds of flesh impacting flesh were incessant. Yuu had the advantage in height, reach, and clearly in strength. He unleashed a set of the Yotsuki Clan's secret Taijutsu.
Fingers, palms, elbows, shoulders, knees, legs, feet… all transformed into lethal weapons. His attacks were like a storm.
Makoto was initially at a disadvantage, forced to constantly block and retreat. But his Sharingan rapidly captured the opponent's methods of generating power, shifts in center of gravity, the linking of techniques, and various other unique skills.
Gradually, he began to predict Yuu's every attack, always managing to intercept and counter at the very instant before the other committed to a move.
His counters precisely disrupted the rhythm, continuously breaking the flow of Yuu's offense.
Soon, Makoto stopped retreating and even began to counter-attack.
Yuu grew more and more alarmed the longer they fought. He felt like he was fighting an increasingly knowledgeable mirror image of himself. Every intention was seen through, every killing move was neutralized.
His initial advantage in strength, because his power generation was constantly interrupted, actually put him at a disadvantage.
On the sidelines, Mabui and Samui watched Makoto intently, their beautiful eyes shining with unusual brilliance.
By now, the situation on the training ground had completely reversed.
When the entire rhythm of the duel fell under Makoto's control, his movements became as smooth as flowing water. Every single move of his opponent was completely within his grasp.
And his movements were graceful, like a dance. Another budding Dance King was emerging from the Uchiha Clan!
Following one particularly exquisite counter, Makoto suddenly used the force to leap upwards, spinning in mid-air… his small hand shot out with lightning speed, precisely clamping onto Yuu's throat!
All movement ceased abruptly.
Under the stunned gazes of countless people outside the arena, Yuu's body went partially limp, collapsing to the ground, his face flushed red from the choking sensation. He looked up at the half-grown boy before him.
Those crimson Sharingan looked down on him calmly, holding neither mockery nor triumph, only a kind of matter-of-fact indifference.
Makoto's voice, calm yet clear, spread across the training ground, which had fallen so silent you could hear a pin drop.
"Do you want to dance too?"