"Clap, clap, clap."
A clear, powerful applause rose from the spreading dust on the right side, breaking the silence of the entire arena.
While clapping, Isshin strode out from the scorch marks and dust.
On his red face was a hearty, satisfied smile, and his blazing gaze was directed at Shinichi on the opposite side.
That gaze seemed to be admiring a peerless piece of jade, and also seemed to be evaluating a formidable opponent worthy of his full effort.
"Good! Good!! Good!!! Good!!!!"
The samurai of the Land of Iron said good four times in succession, each louder than the last, filled with undisguised and almost excited admiration.
"Your swordsmanship foundation is solid, and your transitions between moves are agile! Your staff techniques are extraordinary, your strength is powerful! Your physique is tough and powerful, transcending the ordinary! Your Fire Style attainments are astonishing and innovative! And your tactical thinking breaks free of conventions, unconstrained by fixed patterns! You are simply a peerless genius born for battle!"
Isshin stopped walking and no longer approached. Standing across more than half of the devastated battlefield, his voice spread clearly to every corner as he began to comment one by one, as if counting treasures.
"Shinichi Higashino, right?"
Finally, Isshin tilted his head slightly, looking up and down at Shinichi's youthful yet abyss-like calm face, and laughed loudly.
"You should only be about twelve years old, right? Incredible, truly incredible! At this age, to possess such comprehensive and astonishing combat power and such profound combat awareness, hahaha! I won't say there will never be another after you, but it can certainly be said that there has never been anyone before you!"
"Twelve years old? Never anyone before?"
The audience listened quietly, and strange expressions appeared on many faces.
Villagers and ninjas familiar with Shinichi, especially those from the same class or who knew him, had the same thought in their hearts at that moment: This samurai was mistaken. Shinichi was only ten years old this year, and there were still four months before his eleventh birthday.
But as soon as that thought of correction arose, it was immediately followed by even deeper shock and confusion.
Twelve years old?
No, ten years old!
Ten years old… never anyone before?
Thinking about it carefully, setting aside the inherent impressions brought by age and looking only at the performance just now, standing against the monster samurai head-on without falling behind, even forcing him to use an ultimate defensive Hidden Jutsu and unleashing a heaven-shaking destructive Ninjutsu, although the samurai's words sounded exaggerated, it really did seem to be the case!
At this age, reaching this level could truly be called unprecedented, perhaps even unmatched in the future!
"Has Shinichi actually already become this powerful?"
"We always knew he was a genius, but it seems we still greatly underestimated him."
"He's only ten years old! Ten years old!"
Countless spectators belatedly realized this fact, and the way they looked at the boy standing in the arena completely changed.
Isshin seemed very satisfied with the effect his words had produced. His smile faded, and his expression became extremely solemn, even carrying a ceremonial feeling as if making a declaration.
"Shinichi Higashino! I, Isshin, am willing to call you the strongest!"
The moment these words were spoken, the arena instantly fell into deep silence.
The words, the strongest, exploded like thunder in everyone's hearts!
A young samurai from a foreign country who had just defeated two veteran Konoha Jonin in succession and whose strength was unfathomable had, in front of the entire village of Konoha, solemnly bestowed the title of the strongest upon a ten-year-old Konoha Chunin!
This recognition was so heavy it was suffocating, and so glorious it was dazzling.
In the arena, Shinichi's expression did not change, as if the deafening praise had not stirred many waves in his heart.
He simply steadied his breathing, looked at Isshin, and calmly asked, "Shall we continue, Mr. Isshin?"
"Continue? Of course, we will continue!"
Isshin laughed loudly, his laughter full of boldness and anticipation, but what he said next stunned everyone.
"But not now!"
His gaze burned brightly, as if he had already seen the distant future. His tone became extremely serious, as if establishing a sacred promise.
"Your potential is endless, like the rising sun that has just appeared, its light only beginning to bloom, far from the time when it shines at its zenith with blazing brilliance! The current you have not yet shown the full extent of your talent! And my swordsmanship is still climbing toward higher peaks!"
"Today's battle was exhilarating, but still left me unsatisfied! Let the battle between you and me be left for the future!"
"When I ascend to the summit of the Land of Iron, achieve the ultimate path of swordsmanship, and become the strongest of the Land of Iron!"
Isshin's voice suddenly rose sharply, carrying the determination to cut through everything and the imposing spirit of challenging the world: "When you have gone through tempering, when your brilliance shines in all directions, and when you become the strongest in the Land of Fire!"
"Then we will meet again here in Konoha, or go to the summit of the snowfields of the Land of Iron, and decide the winner!"
"At that time, we will use our full strength to decide…"
Isshin spoke word by word, his voice echoing above the silent arena: "Who is the strongest in the Shinobi World today!"
Who is the strongest in the Shinobi World today!?
Upon hearing this, everyone in the arena fell into deep silence and shock.
What this samurai from the Land of Iron had said was extremely arrogant, one could even say extremely conceited.
But looking at his resolute and confident face and that convincing aura, inexplicably, everyone felt that he had the right to say such words.
With the strength this young samurai had displayed, in the future, he would inevitably reach the summit of the Land of Iron, becoming the strongest samurai of the Land of Iron, perhaps even the strongest samurai in history.
And what about Shinichi?
For a moment, everyone present turned their expectant and passionate gazes toward the boy in the arena.
"I look forward to that day arriving soon!"
As those words fell under the gaze of countless eyes, Isshin said no more. He turned around, hoisted the halberd onto his shoulder, and strode toward the passage he had come from. His departing figure was free and resolute.
He truly stopped the fight there and drifted away. Leaving behind a stadium full of stunned spectators, and a black-haired boy standing amid the ruins, the lingering warmth of battle still surrounding him.
Inside the arena, after a brief moment of silence and confusion, it was as if a barrel of gunpowder had been ignited.
"Shinichi! Shinichi!! Shinichi!!!"
"Amazing! You're amazing, Shinichi!!!"
"You are our pride!!!"
"The future strongest in the Shinobi World!!!"
Cheers, applause, and whistles exploded into the sky like a tidal wave, instantly flooding the entire arena!
The roar of sound seemed almost capable of lifting the roof. Countless people, their faces flushed and arms waving excitedly, poured all their shock, pride, and ecstasy into their shouts toward the boy in the arena.
"That's great! Shinichi is so strong!"
Kurenai Yuhi jumped up excitedly and grabbed Shizune's hand beside her. Her beautiful red eyes were filled with the joy of sharing the honor and the shock of her companion's powerful strength.
Shizune also revealed a sincere, relaxed smile.
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