"Inuyasha, don't be impulsive!" Kagome hurriedly stepped forward, trying to stop him.
But before Inuyasha could respond, Uchiha Lie raised his hand slightly and interrupted her.
"Miss Kagome, there's no need to stop him." His gray-black eyes narrowed faintly, and his tone carried open teasing. "If a dog is disobedient, a proper beating will teach him manners."
For a second, silence filled the courtyard.
Then—
"You bastard! I'll cut you in half with one strike!"
Inuyasha completely exploded.
With a furious roar, he raised the Tessaiga and charged forward. The massive blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle as he swung down with full force.
But Uchiha Lie did not even blink.
He merely shifted his body slightly.
The heavy blade brushed past his clothes and smashed into the wooden floor with tremendous force.
Boom!
Wooden planks shattered instantly, splinters flying everywhere.
Uchiha Lie glanced at the destroyed floor calmly.
"This room is too small," he said casually. "I can't move properly here."
He turned and walked toward the door as if nothing had happened.
"Let's take this outside, Half-demon."
"Hmph! Fine by me!" Inuyasha growled, lifting Tessaiga onto his shoulder. "I'll beat you into the ground!"
He followed him into the courtyard without hesitation.
Behind them, Kagome and Myoga exchanged worried looks.
---
Uchiha Lie's Assessment
As he walked ahead, Uchiha Lie's lips curved into a faint smile.
He had deliberately provoked Inuyasha.
The reason was simple.
He wanted to test him.
After that first strike inside the room, he already had a rough understanding.
Without the demonic amplification from Tessaiga, Inuyasha's personal combat ability was… extremely crude.
There was no proper swordsmanship. No refined technique. No structured training.
It was pure instinct and brute force.
If stripped of demonic durability and power, and relying only on hand-to-hand combat—
He might not even match a trained academy student from another world.
Inuyasha had grown up without formal training. After his mother's death, he wandered alone. Everything he knew came from survival instinct.
That made him fierce.
But not refined.
Still—
Since they were going to fight anyway, Uchiha Lie decided he might as well enjoy teasing this fiery half-demon.
---
The Courtyard Showdown
The moonlight bathed the courtyard in pale silver.
The two stood facing each other.
Uchiha Lie slowly extended one finger… and wagged it lightly at Inuyasha.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" Inuyasha snapped.
Kagome, watching nervously from the doorway, muttered, "Maybe… he means he'll finish this in one minute?"
Myoga added cheerfully, "Or perhaps in one move, Master Inuyasha~"
"Shut up!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Don't rush," Uchiha Lie said calmly, still holding up one finger. "You're too weak. I won't even use both hands."
He beckoned with that single finger.
"This is enough."
The insult hit harder than any blade.
"You bastard! Die!"
Inuyasha launched forward like an arrow. Demonic Power surged through Tessaiga, causing it to glow brilliantly.
He leapt high into the air, gripping the sword with both hands.
Then he brought it down with overwhelming force.
The air screamed under the blade.
"Too slow."
Instead of retreating, Uchiha Lie stepped forward.
The tip of Tessaiga passed dangerously close to his nose.
But it missed.
By less than a breath.
At the same time, pale blue chakra gathered around his finger.
He struck upward lightly—
Thud!
His fingertip slammed into Inuyasha's chin.
Inuyasha's head snapped backward violently.
For a split second, his vision turned white.
His strength scattered.
His anger collapsed.
Before he could recover—
Uchiha Lie's finger was already poised in front of his forehead.
Then—
Flick.
BAM!
The sound echoed clearly across the courtyard.
Inuyasha was launched backward like a ragdoll.
He crashed into the dirt, sliding several meters before slamming into the house wall with a heavy impact.
Clang—
Tessaiga flew from his grasp, spinning through the air before embedding itself into the ground. Its demonic glow vanished instantly, reverting to its rusted, ordinary form.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
---
Shock
"So… strong…" Kagome whispered, her mouth slightly open.
"In just an instant… Inuyasha was sent flying?"
Myoga trembled.
"The difference in strength is enormous. Master Inuyasha is like a child before him."
Inuyasha groaned, clutching his forehead as he staggered to his feet.
"Dammit… he flicked my forehead!"
The flick had looked harmless.
But the force behind it was terrifying.
His forehead throbbed painfully.
Uchiha Lie lowered his hand slowly.
"Your demon body is durable," he said calmly. "That's your only saving grace."
He looked at Inuyasha with open disdain.
"Your attacks are simple. Direct. Predictable. Like a child swinging a sword."
He paused.
"To put it simply… your movements are clumsy."
The words struck harder than the blow.
Inuyasha's fists trembled.
---
The Reward
Without another word, Uchiha Lie took out the shard of the Shikon Jewel.
He flicked it lightly with his finger.
Ting.
The pink shard streaked through the air like a shooting star and landed precisely in Kagome's hand.
"Here is your payment."
He turned away.
"Until we meet again."
"Wait—!"
Kagome called out.
But before she could say more—
Uchiha Lie's figure blurred.
He dissolved into an afterimage.
And vanished completely.
Only the quiet moonlight remained.
"He's gone?!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Dammit! Don't run!" Inuyasha roared, preparing to chase.
Myoga immediately jumped onto his shoulder.
"Master Inuyasha! You're no match for him! Chasing him is useless!"
"What did you say?!" Inuyasha snapped, grabbing the flea demon angrily.
Kagome sighed.
"Inuyasha…"
He ignored her.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Inuyasha. Sit, boy."
BOOM!
Inuyasha slammed face-first into the ground.
The courtyard trembled.
"Damn it—!"
Kagome crossed her arms.
"You're impossible."
She looked down at the glowing shard in her hand.
Her expression became thoughtful.
That mysterious man—
He wasn't purely human.
He wasn't fully demon.
And he possessed power far beyond what they had expected.
Their first meeting had ended in conflict.
But she had a feeling—
This would not be the last time their paths crossed.