The high-speed rotating water gathered on Yuichi's arm in the blink of an eye.
At that moment—
Yuichi suddenly flickered.
The Body Flicker Technique was launched!
The figure that had been standing on the earth-flow wall just a second ago—
vanished, reappearing five meters away, directly in front of the Third Generation.
Even the Third Generation was impressed by such mastery of the Body Flicker Technique.
He raised his hand, ready to form a seal.
But before he could—
Two water clones surged from the puddles at his sides. One grabbed at the Third Generation's arm, the other at his wrist.
His eyes lit up with surprise.
If earlier he had merely been satisfied with Yuichi's ability—
now, he was completely shocked.
When did he create those water clones?
Did he already plan out this entire series of attacks?!
Use a torrent of water to create impact and buy time.
Take the chance to unleash an S-rank jutsu.
Prepare a clone in advance to prevent the enemy from escaping.
Deliberately keep distance, lulling the opponent into lowering their guard.
And once the jutsu was unleashed—close the gap instantly with the Body Flicker Technique.
This was no simple improvisation.
This was a plan.
Not subtle, perhaps—but undeniably clever.
Attacking from range forces the opponent to relax while also keeping them out of reach.
The Water Style clone prepared in advance prevents escape at the last second.
And the Body Flicker Technique immediately reestablishes position after casting.
This wasn't just tactics.
It was talent.
Astonishing talent.
To control chakra for an S-rank jutsu while simultaneously executing Body Flicker—
that required a huge chakra reserve and flawless control.
Even Isshin couldn't pull that off.
The Third Generation couldn't help but feel deeply impressed with Yuichi.
Such a child… Konoha's future will surely be stronger with him.
But while the Third Generation admired Yuichi, Yuichi was secretly studying him as well.
"Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
The violently spinning stream of water shot forward like a javelin, aimed straight at the Hokage.
At the same instant—
the Third Generation broke free from the watery restraints, shifted his stance, and sprang left.
He dodged in a flash, avoiding the strike.
Yuichi clicked his tongue. "As expected, it won't be that easy to hit you. But that's fine…"
Smirking, Yuichi vanished with the Body Flicker Technique once more.
Whoosh!
He reappeared twenty meters away in an instant.
The javelin of water struck the ground—
BOOM!
It shattered, expanding outward into a violent cyclone of water.
Crashhh!
The whirling torrent became a raging tornado, consuming everything around it.
The Third Generation's expression shifted. So the range can expand as well…!
Before he could react further, the Hokage was already swept into the swirling waters.
The roaring tornado reached skyward, spraying water violently.
The ground trembled as cracks splintered outward like a spiderweb, torn apart by the sheer force of the vortex.
Yuichi stared intently at the maelstrom.
He hadn't landed a direct hit, but even the Third Generation couldn't be unscathed inside that storm.
After all, this was an S-rank technique.
And the Third Hokage, for all his skill, was still a man—neither Jinchūriki nor Sage, without any monstrous durability to rely on.
BOOM!
The raging water finally collapsed, exploding outward after more than ten seconds.
Rain scattered through the air.
A massive crater remained, gouged deep into the earth as though torn open by some colossal hand.
Yuichi scanned ahead, searching for the Hokage.
Suddenly—
A sharp whistle of wind came from his right.
Yuichi's reflexes flared. He raised his arm.
CRACK!
A heavy fist smashed into his elbow.
Yuichi slid back half a step, then countered with a punch of his own.
He withstood an S-rank jutsu and came out unscathed… unbelievable!
His fist met the Hokage's guard.
The two immediately locked into close combat.
But Yuichi didn't realize—
The Hokage fighting him was only a Shadow Clone.
From behind a wall, the real Third Generation watched with wide eyes.
His taijutsu is this good?!
His clone was being pressured, about to be struck.
The Hokage was forced to intervene.
In a blur of Body Flicker, he appeared behind Yuichi, grabbing his right fist mid-swing.
The instant Yuichi was caught, he realized—the one in front of him was just a clone!
His left hand shot up to form a seal.
One-handed seals… Even rarer than ninjas with three chakra natures. But I won't let you cast so easily!
The Hokage twisted Yuichi's wrist, pinning it to the ground.
But Yuichi's one-handed seal was only symbolic.
His ninjutsu was already at a perfect level—it couldn't be interrupted so simply.
Water surged from both sides, converging into two more clones.
The Hokage frowned. It didn't stop him…
But then—
The clones didn't strike him. Instead, they attacked his Shadow Clone.
The odd tactic made him hesitate—
CRACK!
The sound of a bone snapping rang out.
Yuichi, pinned to the ground, used one hand for support, driving his leg up into the Hokage's abdomen with brutal force.
If the Hokage let go, he'd be humiliated by a Genin's counterattack.
But the moment Yuichi sprang up—he vanished again with the Body Flicker Technique.
The Hokage stood there, looking at his hand. He dislocated my right arm…!
Turning, his expression grew heavy.
He couldn't help but feel conflicted.
This boy's physical ability was monstrous. Combined with his massive chakra, he was like a copy of the Second Hokage himself.
And Yuichi was still so young.
Promising… but also dangerous.
If he failed to subdue Yuichi now, how could he maintain the authority of Hokage?
A Hokage who can't capture a Genin… am I really getting old?
Meanwhile, Yuichi reattached his arm, gritting his teeth.
I was almost caught just now… too careless.
But the Third's taijutsu isn't much higher than mine. By the system's standard, he's only at the peak of advanced, maybe intermediate physical skills.
With my Wood Style, my stamina and resilience surpass his. Pure taijutsu isn't a major threat to me.
Still, Yuichi knew his shorter reach in close combat was a disadvantage.
One final test remained.
Yuichi smiled faintly.
As the Hokage rushed toward him, Yuichi formed a seal.
Body Flicker activated!
A single hand seal, 0.5 seconds—
and a maximum range of twenty-five meters.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Yuichi flickered repeatedly, darting across the battlefield in blinding succession.
The Third Hokage, chasing after him, was left dumbfounded.
This brat's mastery of Body Flicker… he's already reached this level?
In that moment, the Hokage felt as though he were watching Shisui himself—using the Body Flicker to chain together seamless, lightning-fast movements.
It wasn't just chakra control.
Without monstrous physical durability, no one could withstand the strain of such speed.