Sword Control Technique
"Hmm, this kid…"
From the moment they clashed, Kitsuchi noticed something different about Shirō. His presence was sharper, his movements more confident, as if some hidden sense had awakened within him.
Indeed, having just unlocked the Mind's Eye, Shirō brimmed with reckless confidence. He even dared to declare that both Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi were "nothing but trash, unworthy of mention!"
But reality struck quickly. In their sparring, Shirō realized that a mere flash of insight and Reinforcement Magic could not completely close the gulf between them. Kitsuchi, heir to the Third Tsuchikage, possessed raw strength and battle sense honed since childhood. Even reinforced, Shirō's strikes could barely parry Kitsuchi's heavy blows.
The difference was clear: Kitsuchi was several years older, his physique naturally superior. But with Reinforcement Magic, Shirō's body pushed closer to that level, narrowing the gap enough for the fight to be exhilarating rather than hopeless.
Neither side fought with weapons at first. Victory wasn't the point anymore. The bout became a clash of philosophies—skills tested against each other, pride sharpened in the fire of combat.
Taijutsu duels were rare in the shinobi world. Most ninjas leaned on ninjutsu or genjutsu. Pure close combat was dangerous, leaving no room for mistakes. As the saying went: "The shorter the weapon, the greater the danger." Why risk a fist when a jutsu could strike from afar?
That was why Shirō relished this battle. Few could truly match him hand-to-hand. Might Guy came to mind, but facing Guy was a one-sided beating, not a contest. Kitsuchi, however, was a different story—his ninjutsu and taijutsu were balanced, his strength grounded and steady. Shirō suspected that if Kitsuchi never became Tsuchikage, it was less about talent and more because Ōnoki's standards were impossibly high.
With a double bang, both combatants stepped back, grinning.
"Earth Release: Fist of Stone!" Kitsuchi roared, his arm hardening as he threw a punch.
"Reinforcement—commence!" Shirō answered, his own chakra surging as he met Kitsuchi's strike.
Boom!
Their fists collided, a shockwave rustling Shirō's hair and tugging at Kitsuchi's headscarf.
"Not bad, kid," Kitsuchi said with a grin. "But I'm getting serious now."
"Heh. My pleasure."
"Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
Kitsuchi's body instantly lightened, his speed sharpening. He had already judged Shirō's raw strength inferior, so this technique would let him pressure Shirō with faster, sharper movements.
Shirō only smirked. "Perfect. I was hoping to test something new."
"Reinforcement—commence. Projection—commence!"
In a surge of chakra, Shirō projected the twin swords Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, his aura flaring wildly as both blades hummed in resonance. For the first time since learning Reinforcement Magic, he poured everything into it. His chakra overflowed so much that his hair fluttered as though caught in an invisible storm.
But the strain was tremendous. Even with his control, this kind of reinforcement burned through chakra rapidly. At most, he could hold this state for ninety seconds.
Kitsuchi felt the shift immediately, his eyes narrowing. "Interesting… I'm starting to look forward to this."
"Ha, I hope you won't be disappointed!"
Shirō hurled Gan Jiang straight at Kitsuchi, dashing after it.
Kitsuchi dodged, slamming his hands together: "Earth Release: Hardening Technique!" His body gleamed like stone, his defense at its peak.
But Shirō's plan had already begun. The moment Gan Jiang flew past Kitsuchi, it whipped back through the air, pulled by the resonance between the paired swords. Mo Xie swung from Shirō's hand at the same time, catching Kitsuchi between two converging blades.
Kitsuchi reacted fast, kunai flashing to deflect Mo Xie. The impact sent a vibration up his arm—but then Gan Jiang came slashing back. Shirō caught it seamlessly, continuing the flow.
Attack, rebound, catch. Attack, rebound, catch.
Steel sang through the air as the swords constantly switched hands, one always flying, the other always striking. It was a relentless rhythm, offense and defense blending in a ceaseless cycle.
Homura Mitokado, watching from the stands, leaned forward. He could see it clearly: Shirō's fundamentals hadn't changed, but his swordsmanship had entered a new realm. Each transition was smooth, his adaptability sharper, his creativity unmistakable.
This was no ordinary kenjutsu.
This was the birth of a new style.
"Sword Control Technique!" Shirō declared, the name ringing in his heart.
It wasn't the Crane Wing Triple Strike, nor Uchiha shurikenjutsu, nor the Heroic Spirits' techniques he drew inspiration from. It was his own.
Kitsuchi found himself hard-pressed. His Hardening Technique could block one slash, maybe two, but the rhythm never let him rest. With every clash, he understood: this boy was dangerous.
But then—
Crack!
Gan Jiang suddenly shattered mid-swing, dissolving into fragments of chakra light.
"Hm?" Kitsuchi blinked. "It broke?"
Shirō froze. His chest heaved, sweat dripping. The truth hit him a heartbeat later: his chakra reserves were spent. The projection had collapsed.
He fell to one knee, gasping, his voice hoarse. "…Ha… I lost."
Kitsuchi lowered his guard, exhaling. For all his words, he couldn't help but smile. This kid—reckless, arrogant, and brilliant—would one day become terrifying.