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"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
A series of whistling sounds came from the air! Fuyu Shirou, who was dashing through the forest, ducked to avoid a branch extending from the side.
Without raising his head, he jumped from where he stood. His figure adjusted mid-air, minimizing the angle to face the incoming shuriken attack.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Three shurikens grazed past his body, slicing through the air. Before he could celebrate his escape, another shuriken arced through the air at a precise angle, hitting one of the three shurikens that had just passed him.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Three sharp metallic sounds rang out. The three shurikens that had already flown in front of Fuyu Shirou, along with the fourth one, now aimed directly at his heart, throat, and head.
The sudden change caught him off guard. The last shuriken colliding with the first three triggered a chain reaction, altering their trajectories and sending them hurtling towards him. With no way to avoid them mid-air, he was left defenseless.
'Thud'—the sound of shurikens piercing flesh echoed. Blood splattered from Fuyu Shirou's head, throat, heart, and abdomen as he fell from the air, landing on the ground.
Uchiha Fuyu Shirou was 'defeated'.
[Just showing that brat what a little trick can do.]
Behind Fuyu Shirou, Uchiha Jūsai, who had been tracking him, pursed his lips, showing no concern for his student's death. Instead, he looked pleased, as if his plan had succeeded and he was genuinely happy about it.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, where Fuyu Shirou had fallen, a loud explosion scattered smoke. Only four shurikens remained on the ground, with no sign of Fuyu Shirou! Even Uchiha Honō, who had been running ahead, vanished in a puff of smoke.
[Sure enough, it was a Shadow Clone. But that should be enough to give the brat a taste of his own medicine!]
[Not bad, using Shadow Clones, Clone Technique, and Transformation Technique to lure the enemy!]
Jūsai, the teacher, was not surprised at all that his target had turned out to be a Shadow Clone. He had suspected it from the rustling sounds in the forest. He had simply let the students use their tactics, playing along with them.
For him, the outcome of this test was predetermined from the start. If the students performed well and satisfied him, he might let them take one or two bells. If they performed poorly, he would make them suffer.
At that moment, in another part of the forest, Fuyu Shirou, who was setting up a trap, suddenly gasped.
"Sss!"
"Ouch! So this is what it feels like when a Shadow Clone is taken down?"
"What's wrong, Fuyu Shirou? Is it over there?" Uchiha Honō, hearing the commotion, asked.
"Yeah, it's over! But Teacher Jūsai was really harsh. All four shurikens targeted the head, heart, throat, and abdomen!"
Upon hearing this, Honō's hand, which was still slightly trembling, faltered.
She was an appointed Elder's relative.
She hadn't taken the test too seriously. While it wasn't a mere formality, she thought it wouldn't take much effort to pass. However, hearing Fuyu Shirou's words, she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. Her initial fantasies were shattered, and she realized they might be in for a rough time.
"What's wrong? Is Teacher Jūsai coming?" A loud, carefree voice reached Fuyu Shirou and Honō's ears.
It was Uchiha Tetsu.
It turned out that as soon as Teacher Jūsai had entered the forest and chased after the Shadow Clone, Fuyu Shirou and Honō, who had been hiding in the treetops, quickly jumped down and ran to wake up Uchiha Tetsu, who was still in a deep sleep.
After a brief discussion, the three of them decided to set up traps in the forest to counter Teacher Jūsai's overwhelming strength.
"Everyone, be prepared. Teacher Jūsai could appear at any moment. Don't be careless, or you'll regret it!" Fuyu Shirou warned Tetsu sternly, though he didn't expect it to have much effect.
He was still reeling from the teacher's earlier attack. When a Shadow Clone is dispelled, the pain is transmitted to the original body. He knew this, but he hadn't expected the first experience to leave him so shaken.
Thinking back to the moment when the memory of the shurikens piercing his vital points was transmitted, he shuddered. No wonder the technique was classified as forbidden. If a hundred or so Shadow Clones were taken down simultaneously, the feeling would be unbearable.
"Oh! Here he comes again? Leave it to this great one!" As expected, Uchiha Tetsu's boastful voice rang out.
[How did this guy get selected for special training by the family?]
[Such a ridiculous statement. Is he really an Uchiha?]
[And his name, 'Tetsu,' such a profound name, you've ruined it. I don't even know how to comment.]
After silently criticizing Tetsu's statement, Fuyu Shirou, with a wooden expression, sped up his work and glanced at Uchiha Honō.
"Watch your Husky. He's scaring me!" ⊙﹏⊙|||
Seeing Fuyu Shirou's gaze, Honō understood his meaning. But she was also at a loss about her Childhood Friend's behavior.
Since childhood, she had enjoyed playing pranks on others. Almost all her peers had been pranked by her, often without even realizing it. It wasn't an exaggeration to say they were being led around by the nose.
As she played more pranks, her friends gradually became more aware, making it harder to trick them. Of course, there was one exception: Uchiha Tetsu.
This guy was always so gullible, falling for her tricks every time. Once, when she was eight, she convinced him to get honey for her. The poor fool went and disturbed a large bee's nest in the scorching summer to fetch the honey.
Seeing him with a head full of bumps and a silly smile, her attitude suddenly changed. Although she still couldn't resist pranking him, seeing his innocent and foolish smile always gave her a sense of comfort.
[Is this what Fuyu Shirou means by 'raising' someone?]
And Fuyu Shirou, that guy was the worst. Every time she tried to prank him, he saw through it. In the beginning, she even got tricked by him a few times.
This must be what they call 'opposites repel'!
(End of Chapter)