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Chapter 8: Clash of the Uchiha Youths
Uchiha Ryo spun his hand, holding several shuriken and kunai.
Under the noon sunlight, the jet-black shuriken reflected dark glints.
The Uchiha Clan, famous in the Ninja World for Sharingan and Fire-Style Ninjutsu, was also renowned for its unique Shurikenjutsu.
Whoosh!
Ryo's hands moved with practiced skill. The three kunai and two shuriken in his grip suddenly blurred into afterimages, twisting at tricky angles toward Uchiha Tatsumi.
Not bad—he was clever enough to predict Tatsumi's position.
The trajectory was complex, nearly blocking all escape routes. This was a clan technique: no matter which way Tatsumi dodged, one or two weapons would always be inescapable.
From a distance, Ryo's cold gaze was proud. This move had been taught by his father and took years to master.
Tatsumi's eyes narrowed slightly. The skill was impressive, but he wasn't concerned. The full potential of the Uchiha throwing technique required Sharingan activation—and Ryo's speed and strength were still mediocre.
Moreover, Ryo's mastery was just second-rank Shurikenjutsu.
Seeing the incoming weapons, Tatsumi quickly pulled out a few shuriken from his ninja bag.
Whoosh!
He launched them with incredible speed, sending the projectiles in unpredictable paths.
Clang! Clang!
The collisions rang out. Tatsumi's shuriken knocked away most of Ryo's attacks.
Yet one kunai still came at him.
Ryo's eyes widened in surprise. "This kid…"
Before he could react further, Tatsumi caught the kunai with a backhand, using its momentum to strike Ryo.
The kunai flew back, hitting him.
Boom!
A log appeared as a substitution—Ryo had used Body Substitution Jutsu, a long-practiced E-Rank technique. He had assumed it would handle ordinary students, and he had activated it to guard against Tatsumi's Taijutsu. Who knew Tatsumi's Shurikenjutsu was so strong?
"Here!" Tatsumi shouted, locating Ryo quickly.
In a ghost-like movement, he appeared atop a big tree near Ryo and kicked fiercely into his stomach.
Boom!
Ryo flew like a cannonball from the tree, crashing hard into the ground.
"Ouch… it hurts!" Ryo groaned, clutching his head.
Tatsumi landed silently, his figure disappearing into the dust.
Shigeru and Ling rushed forward, shouting, "Boss, are you okay?"
"Hateful! Tatsumi actually snuck up on you! Too despicable!"
Ryo, rubbing himself, said, "I'm fine! Trivial."
If it had been the old Tatsumi, he wouldn't have moved so fast—but with his new enhancements, his strength and speed had improved greatly.
"Let's go together!" Ryo gritted his teeth. "I was careless earlier. If I focus, he won't be able to handle the three of us geniuses!"
Shigeru and Ling hesitated, intimidated by Tatsumi's speed. After all, their boss had just been beaten.
However, thinking of the three of them, they couldn't allow Tatsumi to overpower them individually.
Shigeru threw a few shuriken. His technique was ordinary; the projectiles flew straight. Tatsumi barely moved and slid out of range.
Ling clenched his fists and rushed forward, shouting, "Uchiha Taijutsu, First Style!"
He swung with all his strength, aiming to strike Tatsumi.
But Tatsumi easily kicked him aside, Ling moving as slowly as a turtle.
Ryo, stunned by Tatsumi's speed, panicked. He pulled out more shuriken, hoping to overwhelm him.
Whoosh!
Tatsumi dodged them effortlessly, his speed unrelenting.
"Enough! I surrender!" Ryo yelled, lying on the ground.
"Boss, no!" Shigeru protested.
"Don't give up! We haven't lost yet!"
…
Tatsumi suddenly felt like a villain. The air was heavy, filled with the fear in the three youths' eyes.
"No! I'm not a villain!" he muttered.
After a moment, he felt the tension fade. He walked toward the forest, leaving the three on the ground, defeated and sobbing.
"Boss, am I useless? I couldn't protect you. Now you've been beaten…" Ryo cried.
"…It's not your fault. The opponent is too powerful," Shigeru comforted him.
"We'll keep training. Next time, we'll defeat him," Ling added.
"We are geniuses, aren't we?"
Sob… sob…
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