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"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Mangetsu Hozuki gripped a kunai with both hands and swung it fiercely, sending a ring of water splashing outward and knocking the incoming longswords out of the air.
"Water Release: Great Water Burial!"
Columns of water surged up around him, forming a massive curtain that trapped Akira inside. The technique closed in from every direction, intending to drown him where he stood.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Akira crossed his arms. From the surrounding water, spears formed entirely from lightning rose into existence. With the force of a thunderstorm, they shot outward in every direction.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Countless lightning strikes pierced the watery barrier, sending ripples racing across its surface.
Cracks began to spread across the curtain. Within seconds it could no longer hold.
Boom!
The entire barrier shattered.
And in that instant, Akira had already appeared in front of Mangetsu, his fist thrust straight toward the man's throat.
Mangetsu's pupils shrank.
He hadn't expected Akira to break through the encirclement and reach him so quickly.
But since things had come this far, there was no point holding back anymore.
Bloodshot fury filled Mangetsu's eyes. A sphere of chakra condensed in his right palm, and he hurled it straight at Akira.
The attack was unusual, possessing terrifying penetration power. It was meant to pierce straight through Akira's body.
Boom!
But Akira's right hand snapped forward like iron.
He caught the strange chakra sphere bare-handed.
Mangetsu's eyes widened in shock. The technique was powerful enough that even Kage-level ninja would struggle to block it. Yet Akira had grabbed it with nothing but his hand.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Before Mangetsu could react, Akira clenched his fist.
Crack.
The chakra sphere shattered in his grip.
"Cough… cough…"
Mangetsu staggered, coughing violently. His face turned pale and his breathing grew ragged.
"Not bad," Akira said with a nod. "That move's definitely hard to guard against."
He had encountered a similar technique once before and nearly lost to it. He knew exactly how dangerous it was.
But he hadn't expected someone in this world to use it too… and even modify it into a ninjutsu.
That puzzled him.
The technique required an extremely profound level of skill. Normally, no one in this world should be capable of it.
Unless…
They possessed the same power he did.
The Rinnegan.
Still, speculation was speculation. Akira had no intention of losing. Right now, the advantage was clearly his.
"No matter what," he said coldly, "I'm beating you."
With a low shout, his body blurred and he vanished forward with a flash step.
"Hmph!"
Mangetsu snorted and retreated while trying to steady the chaotic chakra within his body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Akira's fists seemed capable of tearing through space itself. Each punch smashed into the ground and blasted open a massive crater.
"Damn it!"
Mangetsu grit his teeth. He hadn't expected this brat to be so troublesome. Every one of his attacks had been neutralized.
"Water Release: Water Tornado!"
Hand seals flashed.
A colossal tornado erupted out of nowhere, roaring toward Akira and shredding every building in its path.
But Akira's figure flickered like a phantom, weaving through the raging vortex.
One minute.Two minutes.Three minutes.
Boom!
A dark figure shot out of the tornado.
"AAAGH—!"
With a scream, Mangetsu was kicked flying through the air.
Akira landed, breathing heavily. He had just used far too many techniques.
While this ability allowed him to convert chakra into ninjutsu freely, it drained enormous stamina.
A prolonged fight would not be good for him.
"Haah… haah…"
His breathing grew rough. His face turned pale, and the blue glow covering his body began to fade as his strength rapidly drained away.
"You about done, kid?" Mangetsu sneered from a distance.
A mocking smile curled on his lips.
"What's wrong? Too scared to come closer now?"
"Hm?"
Akira frowned. His heart suddenly thumped hard.
He caught the cold glint of killing intent in Mangetsu's eyes.
Not good.
A warning bell rang in his mind.
But he was already too late.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
A massive blaze fell from the sky.
The flames instantly swallowed him whole.
The searing heat cracked his skin open as blood began to stream down his body.
"Hmph."
Mangetsu snorted through his nose, though his expression remained grim.
He knew Akira wasn't dead.
But the attack must have inflicted severe injuries.
Even so, he didn't dare relax. His opponent was the most outstanding genin in all of Konohagakure.
Whoosh!
Mangetsu kicked off the ground and dashed straight into the forest.
"Running?"
Akira's eyes flashed with ferocity.
"In your dreams."
Ignoring the burning pain tearing through his muscles, he shot forward in pursuit.
A faint golden flame ignited around his body.
Bathed in fire, he looked almost like a god descending upon the battlefield.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
He raised his hand.
A pale-gold fireball shot from his palm.
It quickly caught up with Mangetsu.
"Damn it!"
Mangetsu's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected Akira to still possess such terrifying reserves of chakra.
He hurriedly coated his right hand in blue-green chakra and slammed it toward the fireball.
But even water techniques couldn't stop it.
The impact blasted him flying backward.
The fireball then slammed into nearby trees and exploded, engulfing a large area in flames.
Seeing this, Akira's cold eyes flickered with mild surprise.
But he didn't slow down.
His body accelerated again, charging forward to finish the fight while he had the chance.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Tree after tree snapped as he closed the distance.
Mangetsu had nowhere left to retreat.
"Water Release: Giant Rasengan!"
Mangetsu roared through clenched teeth.
Throwing his arms wide, he launched a massive blue-green chakra sphere the size of a basketball court.
It slammed straight into Akira's abdomen.
Pain exploded through Akira's stomach, sending numbness spreading through his body.
"What?! He's still alive?!"
Mangetsu shouted in shock.
That attack had been one of his ultimate trump cards.
And it still hadn't taken down this boy?
"This guy's recovery speed is insane… How is he already moving again?!"
A deep sense of danger crept into his mind.
But he absolutely could not fail this mission.
"Water Release: Water Tornado!"
He formed seals again.
Another massive tornado, hundreds of meters long, erupted into existence and rampaged toward Akira, determined to grind him into nothing.
"Earth Release: Rock Shelter Technique!"
Akira clasped his hands together and spat out a mouthful of blood.
A thick wall of mud and stone wrapped around him like a fortress.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The tornado smashed against it again and again, but it couldn't break through the defense.
"What?!"
Mangetsu's expression shifted.
Only now did he notice something shocking.
Akira's left arm was gone.
Mangetsu's face darkened.
In that condition… with that level of power… did this kid truly have the right to challenge the legendary Uchiha Clan?
"You shouldn't have provoked me."
Akira's figure suddenly appeared right beside him.
His voice was icy.
Whoosh!
Mangetsu's heart jolted in terror and he hurriedly twisted aside.
But behind him, Akira flicked his wrist.
Two kunai flashed into his hand before he hurled them forward.
Stab! Stab!
Mangetsu's face twisted as he dodged again and again.
"Too bad…"
Akira shook his head.
The kunai had struck Mangetsu's back earlier, but they only tore his clothes. His defense was far stronger than Akira expected.
"You're courting death!"
Mangetsu roared in fury.
Water surged around his arm as he spun his wrist.
"Water Release: Water Blade Severing Technique!"
A razor-sharp blade of water appeared out of nowhere and slashed straight toward Akira's neck.
Akira reacted instantly, raising his twin blades to block it.
Clang!
But Mangetsu had already used the moment to retreat.
Whoosh!
Hōzuki Mangetsu moved like a blur, closing the distance in the blink of an eye and appearing right in front of Akira.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Mangetsu thrust both palms forward. A towering wave erupted, roaring as it surged toward Akira like a collapsing sea.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Stream!"
Akira leapt into the air. Lightning burst from his hands, shaping itself into a sharp, crackling blade as he slashed straight at the incoming torrent.
Lightning's destructive power spoke for itself. One clean strike could split the sea in two, so ordinary water stood no chance.
Zzzzt—!
The massive wave split down the middle.
But the shockwave carried by the water still slammed into Akira. He was blasted backward and smashed hard into the ground.
A thin line of blood slipped from the corner of his mouth.
"Damn you…!"
He forced himself up, eyes bloodshot as he glared at the tall figure ahead, hatred burning in his gaze.
"Cough—!"
Clutching his chest, he gasped for breath. Blood continued to trickle from his lips.
Still, he refused to yield.
Akira drew a deep breath. Suddenly his legs tensed and he shot forward again, moving so fast it made the air whistle.
"Water Release: Great Water Sphere!"
Mangetsu had already expected another charge. This time his Water Release was far stronger than before.
Rumble—!
A massive column of water shot skyward, tearing upward as if piercing the heavens. The forest lit up like daytime beneath the torrent.
Yet Akira didn't slow down.
He plunged straight into the raging current.
"What?!"
Mangetsu's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively he tried to retreat.
But he had barely taken a step when Akira seized his shoulder.
Bang!
One punch.
Mangetsu was smashed to his knees.
"Urgh—!"
A mouthful of bright red blood spilled from Mangetsu's lips as he struggled back to his feet.
His body bent slightly forward. When he looked at Akira again, his eyes were filled with venomous hatred.
"Heh… you think that means you've already won?!"
Akira's face was pale, but he still stood tall before him.
"So what if I have?" he replied calmly.
At some point, a kunai had appeared in his hand.
It was the very weapon that had once killed Itachi.
"That thing is a forbidden weapon of the Uchiha clan."
Mangetsu narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.
The moment he saw the pitch-black kunai, his heart tightened.
Akira might be weaker right now, but the potential he showed was unlike anything Mangetsu had ever seen.
And that made him intensely jealous.
"Doesn't matter who it used to belong to," Akira said with a cold laugh. "It belongs to me now."
A bloodthirsty gleam flickered across his eyes.
Mangetsu's heart jolted when he met that gaze.
Those were the eyes of someone almost obsessed.
In that instant, he understood.
Akira no longer feared death.
"Bold brat!"
Mangetsu's expression hardened. His hands flashed through seals as he shouted again,
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Crash—!
The surging waves roared forward, sweeping toward Akira like a tidal disaster.
"Haa!"
Akira clenched his fists, fingers forming a blade. Lightning gathered again as Chidori tore forward toward the rushing water.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the forest as Lightning Release clashed head-on with the Great Waterfall.
But under Akira's full power, the massive wave was ultimately ripped apart.
"No!"
Mangetsu's expression changed instantly.
He saw Akira's leg shoot forward.
Mangetsu tried to dodge, but Akira was far faster than before.
Crack!
Akira's foot slammed straight into Mangetsu's face.
His nasal bone shattered instantly.
"Mgh!"
Mangetsu groaned as his nose collapsed inward. His airway was blocked in an instant, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
He lifted his head slowly.
His blood-red eyes locked onto Akira, filled with unwillingness… and fear.
He had actually lost to some kid he had never even heard of?
And that kid's strength had surpassed his own completely.
Even the Three-Tomoe Sharingan hadn't been enough.
"Pfft—!"
Blood surged up his throat and sprayed from his mouth.
"Die."
Akira's eyes glinted with savage intent as his lightning blade came down.
Slash!
Blood sprayed through the air.
Mangetsu's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the wound in his chest.
His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
His head slowly drooped.
In the end, his body slipped into the river, the last traces in his eyes still carrying unwillingness, fear, and confusion.
Akira reached out and touched the corpse.
Muttering softly, he said, "Nothing in this world lasts forever. Your ambitions will fade away with time… just like everything else."
He lowered his gaze toward Mangetsu.
The man wasn't much older than him. Maybe only a few years at most, which wasn't surprising given he was a direct descendant of the Hōzuki clan.
But Akira knew this man had never been as simple as he seemed.
Even among the Hōzuki clan, Mangetsu's strength far surpassed people his age.
Akira had noticed it long ago.
It always felt like Mangetsu had been deliberately hiding his real strength, making sure no one discovered just how powerful he truly was.
Still…
At least now he was finally dead.
"…"
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