Chapter 77: A Clash of Speed
"...Kyosuke, be careful. You might run into him in the next round. I don't want to see you lose too badly."
Kyosuke ignored Hyuga Saori's words, his gaze fixed on the screen.
There, the next match's pairings were being randomly selected.
Seeing that Kyosuke was ignoring her, Hyuga Saori could only shrug helplessly and turn to return to her post.
But just as she was about to leave, she suddenly felt an unfriendly gaze from the side.
She turned her head and saw that the source of the gaze was a cute little girl with a ponytail.
At this moment, the little girl was staring at her with a wary look.
Hyuga Saori was stunned for a moment before recognizing her. It was the same little girl who had been shopping with Kyosuke that day.
As for why she was looking at her like that, Saori had a rough idea.
A precocious little brat, Hyuga Saori thought with a smile. Just as she was about to tease the little girl, a huge uproar suddenly erupted in the venue.
"Kyosuke, take him down!!!"
"Go for it, you Uchiha kid!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Kyosuke ignored the various shouts around him, his expression calm as he looked at the matchup on the big screen.
Uchiha Kyosuke vs. Kuro.
This was the pairing for this match.
At the same time, this was the second clash between a Konoha ninja and a Sand ninja.
And because of the first match, this clash was destined to be anything but peaceful.
"Well, I'm off," Kyosuke said, turning to his clansmen and Torune to say goodbye before preparing to enter the arena.
But just then, Namikaze Minato suddenly walked over.
"Kyosuke, this match..." Minato said, looking at Kyosuke's expressionless face, unsure of how to phrase his words.
"Brother Minato, are you here to relay Lord Third's instructions?" Kyosuke said coolly.
"...That's right. The Third's meaning is... to try and spare your opponent's life. After all..." Minato's voice grew softer and softer, until he finally trailed off without finishing.
Kyosuke understood his predicament and didn't make things difficult for him. He simply nodded slightly and then walked past him toward the edge of the stands.
However, although Kyosuke seemed to have agreed to Minato's, or rather, the Third's, request, a battle between ninja was no child's play. It was normal for "accidents" to happen.
Just as Kyosuke reached the edge of the stands, he suddenly heard Minato's voice from behind him again.
"What I just relayed were Lord Third's orders. As your team leader, I also have something to say to you..."
"Take him out. Avenge Yōmyō."
Hearing the whisper from behind him, a corner of Kyosuke's mouth curled up slightly. He then leaped down from the stands into the arena.
Only a single, firm reply from Kyosuke was left hanging in the air.
"Alright!"
"I won't say any more than necessary. Be mindful of your limits," the Anbu referee said, giving the sneering Kuro a cold look. The corner of his mouth, hidden beneath his mask, curled into a sarcastic grin. He then announced the start of a match.
Instantly, a visible chakra wave emanated from Kuro's body.
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: First Gate, Open!"
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Second Gate, Open!"
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Third Gate, Open!"
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Fourth Gate... Open!!!"
In just a few short breaths, the chakra wave from Kuro's body had increased exponentially.
Finally, it stopped when his entire body was enveloped in a faint yellow chakra.
Kyosuke silently watched him power up. It wasn't until he looked up again that he said coolly, "Is that all?"
"Heh, you arrogant brat. Let's see how I torture you to death," Kuro said, then instantly moved.
However, although his movement speed was fast, under the gaze of Kyosuke's three-tomoe Sharingan, his figure could still be clearly tracked.
You want to win with speed? Interesting, Kyosuke thought, drawing the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi from his waist. He said with a faint smile, "Then let's see whose Body Flicker is faster."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kyosuke's figure also vanished from the spot.
Then, a bright flash of fire suddenly appeared at the edge of the venue, drawing the attention of the numerous spectators.
But just as they turned their gazes there, the fire flashed again in another location.
In an instant, the entire venue was like a firework display, with flashes of fire everywhere.
It could be said that, aside from some of the more powerful Jounin, the others had already lost sight of the two on the field.
"Kyosuke's speed... when did it become so fast?" In the Uchiha's stands, the Great Elder and Fugaku and the others exchanged a look, a question rising in their hearts.
Of course, for the many Uchiha with the Sharingan, it wasn't difficult to see the two of them clearly.
What truly surprised them was Kyosuke's unconventional rate of growth.
However, surprise was one thing. The many Uchiha clan members were still quite relieved.
The title of "The Uchiha's Strongest Genius" was truly well-deserved.
"Hmph," the Second Elder didn't pay any attention to their surprised expressions. He just snorted smugly, as if to say that he wasn't scared by this little brat.
At this time, the two who were clashing at high speed on the field finally stopped.
Seeing this, everyone looked closely.
Kuro's body was covered in wounds of varying depths. Some places had even been scorched by Kyosuke's "Flame" sword technique.
In contrast, besides his slightly disheveled clothes, Kyosuke was completely unharmed.
With this comparison, the gap between the two was almost immediately clear.
This duel of speed was, without a doubt, won by Kyosuke.
"Of course. Although their actual movement speeds are not that different, in terms of perceptive ability, Kyosuke is miles ahead of him," the Second Elder couldn't help but explain, seeing his granddaughter's puzzled expression.
The same explanation was being echoed by the Jounin in various parts of the stands.
At the same time, the blood-soaked Kuro also finally understood this.
However, it was clear that he was not convinced.
"You waste who relies on the power of his bloodline," Kuro cursed. Then his expression suddenly turned grim. "I'll show you now just how big the gap between us is."
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Fifth Gate..."
"Open!!!"
Instantly, an even more massive chakra erupted from his body.
Even the ground beneath his feet began to crack.
Although the wounds on his body were also gushing blood, Kuro seemed to not feel it at all and continued to power up.
Everyone understood that when he moved again, it would be a devastating blow.
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