Uchiha Hui took a tile from the roof and stuffed it into the inner pocket of his clothes at the moment of the stand-in. Before Hyuga Yufumi's strike landed, he adjusted his position so that Yufumi's attack hit the tile instead. If Hyuga Yufumi had the ability to pierce through the brick and complete his strike, then perhaps he could claim to be a genius. But clearly, he wasn't.
Uchiha Hui sneered. As he completed the final hand seal, he whispered, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, carrying an intense, searing heat. The flames surged forward like a rolling inferno, engulfing everything in their path as they blasted toward Hyuga Yufumi.
The latter's eyes widened in terror. He looked at his two fingers, then at the incoming fireball that was large enough to swallow him whole. His face contorted in shock and horror. There was no room to dodge. "How is this possible…?" he stammered.
"Boom!"
The fireball exploded on impact, sending waves of heat and flames surging in all directions.
Bricks and tiles shattered, debris flying through the air as thick smoke billowed. A large hole was left in the rooftop battlefield. Hyuga Yufumi, half-covered in soot, tumbled off the eaves, hitting the ground and rolling several times before coming to a stop. His eyes were blank—he had lost consciousness.
Hyuga Hayato stood frozen in place, his expression dull. The confident smirk he had worn moments ago was gone. He was unable to process what had just happened.
Uchiha Hui landed back on the roof effortlessly, then leaped down with practiced ease. He approached Yufumi and, ensuring he wasn't seriously injured, stomped out the lingering embers on his clothes.
He knew he couldn't afford to kill or maim Hyuga Yufumi. A fatal incident would bring unnecessary trouble to the Uchiha clan and, more importantly, to his father. Hui had intentionally dispersed the fireball's power at the last moment. The scorched marks on Yufumi's body were mostly from soot, not actual burns.
Hyuga Hayato looked between his fallen brother and the victorious Uchiha. He remembered the overwhelming pressure he had felt earlier in the morning—like standing before a beast ready to pounce. His legs trembled, and he unconsciously took steps backward until he was pressed against a wall.
Uchiha Hui removed his sunglasses, stuffing his hands into his pockets. His Sharingan faded, returning to his usual dark eyes. Staring at Hayato, he coldly uttered, "Scram."
Hayato's gaze darted to his unconscious brother. A dark stain spread at the front of his pants as panic overtook him. Without another word, he turned and fled.
Uchiha Hui confirmed that Yufumi was still breathing, then left. He had no intention of continuing his training here. Instead, he found a large tree, ensuring he was alone, and pointed two fingers at the trunk.
"Tch—"
Chakra surged through his fingertips as he struck the tree. The result: a small, two-centimeter-deep hole in the bark.
Hui narrowed his eyes. During his fight, he had used the Sharingan to analyze and replicate the chakra control technique behind the Hyuga's Gentle Fist strikes. However, without the Byakugan, its effectiveness was significantly reduced.
He sighed in disappointment and retracted his hand. "As expected… The technique alone isn't enough. Compared to a simple chakra-infused strike, the difference isn't that great."
The Gentle Fist, for all its versatility, relied heavily on the Byakugan. Without it, pressure point attacks were ineffective. The Konoha Whirlwind or even a basic taijutsu move would be more practical for someone like him.
Adjusting his mindset, Hui resumed his training.
Despite the unexpected delay caused by Hyuga Yufumi and Hayato, he still managed to complete his daily training regimen in time.
The rivalry between the Uchiha and Hyuga clans was a long-standing one. Though they never openly clashed on the battlefield, their competition off it was fierce. From mission assignments to influence within Konoha, the two clans constantly vied for superiority.
Konoha, aware of this, had implemented policies to prevent large-scale conflicts between them.
For example, heirs of the Hyuga clan received specialized mission training without the need for a traditional sensei. During peacetime, they could take the Chunin Exams directly, and in times of war, they had a separate nomination system for promotion.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan had exclusive rights over the Konoha Police Force. Upon graduation, Uchiha clan members were immediately assigned to missions within the police force. Squads that included Uchiha members were typically led by senior Uchiha shinobi, ensuring internal clan cohesion.
To further minimize direct conflict, ninja academy students from both clans were placed in separate classes whenever possible. This prevented young and easily-influenced minds from escalating tensions between the two factions.
While these measures prevented all-out war between the Uchiha and Hyuga, they also highlighted Konoha's reluctance to mediate their disputes.
Evening had settled over the village. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Hokage's office.
Inside, two figures stood in the dimly lit room.
The Third Hokage, clad in his ceremonial robes, sat behind his desk. Across from him, Orochimaru—dressed in his standard Konoha jonin attire—listened intently.
"We need to conduct some… experiments before the war fully erupts," the Third Hokage stated, his tone unreadable.
Orochimaru's golden eyes glimmered with interest. "What do you have in mind, Sarutobi-sensei?"