There was the sound of rushing water within the flames!
Sasuke stared at the Great Fireball he had cast.
The next second—
Hissssss!
White steam rose into the sky.
"You blocked it… with Water Style!?"
"Damn it!" Sasuke gritted his teeth. He's just a civilian! How did he learn a Water Style strong enough to counter my Great Fireball Jutsu!?
Thick mist spread out, shrouding both Yuichi and Sasuke in an instant.
Their vision was swallowed whole.
Sasuke quickly drew a kunai, tense and defensive, watching for any sign of Yuichi's movement.
But a few seconds passed…
Nothing. No sound of footsteps.
Then—
A sudden gust of wind blew through, dispersing part of the mist.
It revealed a faint shadow of Yuichi.
Sasuke was the first to spot him. Without hesitation, he launched forward.
Bang!
His body shot out like an arrow, the explosive force carrying him over ten meters in mere steps.
Kunai gleamed coldly in his grip.
When he was five meters away, Sasuke leapt, spinning his body at high speed.
The centrifugal force sharpened his attack.
Kunai aimed straight for Yuichi's chest.
With this blow, Sasuke only wanted to carve a scar—
A permanent reminder of Uchiha's strength, proof that a commoner should never look down on him.
But as the distance closed and Yuichi's figure became clear—
Sasuke saw a faint smile on Yuichi's lips.
He's smiling? At a time like this?!
Fury surged. Sasuke pushed harder, kunai piercing through Yuichi's chest.
Yet—
Something felt wrong.
Bang!
Yuichi's body burst into shimmering water droplets, scattering into the mist.
Soaked, Sasuke froze in shock.
Hydration Technique!? This guy can liquefy his body too!?
"Hey… where are you looking?"
A voice came from behind.
Sasuke spun around in alarm.
There, on the riverbank, stood Yuichi.
His hands finished forming seals just as Sasuke turned.
"Water Style—Great Waterfall Technique!"
The instant the words left his lips, the river behind Yuichi roared to life.
The water churned, boiling as if awakened by a storm.
With a natural water source nearby, Yuichi wouldn't waste the chance.
Backed by the river, his jutsu swelled with terrifying force—
its scale rivaling even Kakashi's.
The waters surged higher and higher, towering ten meters like a raging wall.
The thunder of the torrent echoed through the forest.
Sasuke's eyes twitched, his heart sinking.
The Great Waterfall Technique!? This is what he was training before…?
He had seen Yuichi practice before—
Every attempt only produced a larger-than-average water ball.
But now… the same jutsu shook the earth itself.
Boom!!
The raging torrent crashed forward like an avalanche.
Sasuke was engulfed instantly, his body thrown back and slammed into a massive tree.
The impact rattled him to his core. He clung desperately to the trunk, resisting the current as water battered him from all sides.
The onslaught lasted five, six endless seconds before finally easing.
The waters receded, spreading out across the forest floor.
Thud!
Exhausted, Sasuke collapsed against the tree, coughing violently.
His body ached, his chest heaved for breath, and his pride burned worse than the pain.
The small river behind Yuichi now lay nearly drained.
Had it been a wide river instead, the entire forest would have been wiped clean.
Sasuke's mind churned in despair.
So I'm not number one after all…
A civilian ninja… stronger than me.
He looked up. Yuichi stood calmly by the river, his breathing steady, his face betraying no fatigue despite casting multiple high-level jutsu.
That fact alone crushed Sasuke's pride.
Born with Uchiha blood, heir to vengeance… yet defeated by someone with no clan, no bloodline.
How can I kill that man… if I can't even defeat a civilian?
But Yuichi paid Sasuke no mind.
This battle had only confirmed what he already suspected—
That his combat ability far outstripped Genin, and even Chūnin would fall before his ninjutsu.
Against Jōnin, it would depend.
As long as he maintained distance, even they would struggle against the endless bombardment of chakra-fueled jutsu.
But closing that distance would be dangerous.
Still, Yuichi wasn't concerned.
Thanks to Sasuke, he had unlocked two more techniques: Water Barrier and Water Whip. Both needed practice.
But not here.
If Anbu or Root agents witnessed his true power… trouble would follow.
Especially men like Danzo—scheming in the shadows.
And even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, smiling outwardly while suppressing threats in secret.
Yuichi had no interest in drawing their gaze.
He gave Sasuke one last indifferent glance, then turned away, leaving the battered Uchiha behind.
A new training ground awaited.
Preferably far from Konoha.