Malphegor
patreon
HSU: Ch. 11
🕑 Added 2024-11-15 11:28:48 +0000 UTCIn the eyes of outsiders, the Uchiha clan, like the Hyūga clan, placed great importance on their image.
However, the Uchiha weren't quite as strict as the Hyūga. Once they return to their own territory, they were relatively relaxed.
According to the clan's notice, this open match required all members with the Sharingan to come and watch, which everyone was interested in.
Except for those on long-term missions outside who couldn't return, most ninja with Sharingan had come back.
Since everyone had been out frequently during this period, gathering together in the clan all at once sparked a renewed appreciation for life within the clan grounds. On the day of the match, before dawn, the area around the dojo where the match would be held was already lively.
When Masashi arrived, he saw a clansman selling steamed buns at the entrance.
Feeling hungry, he bought one, munching on it as he made his way inside. Entering the dojo, he saw the familiar faces waiting for him inside.
"Didn't have breakfast, Masashi?" Yaku handed him a carton of milk. "Eating like that is too dry. Here, take this."
"Think you'll win?" Tetsuka asked, looking excited. "I've made a little bet on you, so make sure to win, alright?"
"Fifty-fifty chance. If I lose, I'll just lie down in front of your house." Masashi declined without hesitation, knowing full well his friend was actually trying to comfort him.
He didn't know exactly what Shisui was capable of at this age in the original timeline, but here, Shisui was already recognized within the clan as the strongest of the new generation.
At that moment, he sensed a familiar gaze and looked back. Behind him was Shisui, also in battle gear, accompanying an elder as they walked over.
It was Setsuna.
"Masashi, you're already here," said he, looking at the young man before him.
Shisui might be the star of the new generation, but Masashi was also well-known. His strength had skyrocketed in recent years, prompting clan members to debate over his path.
Which one is better? Today's match was meant to put an end to this pointless discussion.
"You both are invaluable to the Uchiha clan. Sparring is just sparring—don't let it get to your heads," Setsuna said.
Then he muttered, as if to himself, "Better not lose control, or we'll just be watching embroidery."
As if any match between Uchiha is just sparring, Masashi thought, keeping his face neutral.
"Prepare yourselves, and we'll begin once Fugaku arrives." Hoping it would start soon, as he was already bored, Setsuna went upstairs.
Several jonin who had accompanied him exchanged greetings with Masashi and Shisui before also heading upstairs.
Seeing this, the other clansmen on the first floor followed them and took their seats.
After a while, Fugaku arrived, accompanied by his son.
Five-year-old Itachi still had a round, baby face, wearing an expression like a little philosopher. However, his philosopher persona instantly broke when he saw Shisui; he waved happily.
Fugaku, without saying much, took his young son upstairs.
Once all the spectators were seated, Masashi and Shisui glanced at each other, then leaped onto the ring, each standing on one side.
They wore identical outfits, and even their weapons were the same—both wielded small swords.
The audience's chatter quieted, and the scene fell into silence.
"Begin," Setsuna announced.
At that moment, both of them vanished simultaneously, with only occasional clanging sounds in the air but no visible figures.
The speed of their movement created slight distortions in the air, like heat waves on a summer day.
In the audience, one by one, the Uchiha activated their Sharingan. Setsuna propped his chin with one hand, watching with interest through his three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Quite impressive," he murmured to himself.
Now, dozens of pairs of scarlet eyes focused on the ring.
Both fighters moved so quickly that they left afterimages. Their mastery of the Body Flicker Technique was breathtaking, each displacement calculated to create openings while avoiding vulnerability.
It was expected for 'Shisui of the Teleporter' to have such skill, but the other participant hadn't earned any battlefield titles.
The next moment, the audience saw both of them activate the Sharingan.
As if ink had spilled and spread in clear water, their afterimages filled the ring.
Setsuna looked increasingly pleased, while Fugaku remained silent, his eyes tracking every minute detail of the match.
After another clash, Masashi and Shisui rebounded off each other, landing on opposite sides.
While in midair, Shisui flicked several shuriken from his sleeve, quickly forming hand seals faster than an eye could catch.
The shuriken multiplied in midair, turning into a dense storm aimed directly at Masashi.
However, Masashi simply raised his sword, generating a gust that reversed the shuriken storm, sending it right back toward Shisui.
Shisui's expression remained unchanged. He formed hand seals again, causing the multiplied shuriken to explode in midair, covering the ring in smoke.
In the next instant, a massive fireball emerged from the smoke, illuminating Masashi's silhouette. The heat wave reached even the spectators.
Through the flames, the audience saw Masashi form just a single hand seal. The previously heated air in the arena suddenly turned cold.
Waves rose, as if silver flowers were blooming.
The surge of water brought a refreshing coolness even to the audience.
A towering water barrier, resembling a turbulent wave, blocked the flames, expanding ferociously and forming a swirling vortex that protected Masashi from every angle.
"Tobirama's Water Release?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
It was one thing to hear about it, but seeing it firsthand was something else.
"If it isn't Tobirama's technique, I'll do a handstand right here."
"According to Masashi, he learned it," Fugaku replied.
"Then he should learn Wood Release—that would be even stronger," Setsuna snorted, continuing to watch.
On the field, Shisui's giant fireball had vanished completely. The layers of waves dispersed, revealing Masashi's figure. Steam rose from the now-damp floor.
The audience began to murmur in astonishment.
Being able to perform such a large-scale Water Release in a dry environment made them raise their estimation of him once again.
They had always known his Water Release was impressive, but only when he faced Shisui did they realize how extraordinary his abilities truly were.
A masterful Body Flicker Technique paired with an overwhelming Water Release. Even with the elders watching, the Uchiha couldn't hold back their discussion.
As the water flow ahead began to disperse, Shisui finally understood why past Uchiha shinobi held such distaste for Water Release.
On the Kiri battlefield, Uchiha members generally shared the sentiment: Water Release just wasn't that impressive.
Especially for Shisui, who had only ever trained in Fire Release due to his focus. His Fire Release was particularly powerful, with intense heat and strength. It often evaporated Kiri shinobi's Water Release techniques with ease, leaving nothing but steam.
Though his last Great Fireball hadn't been his best, seeing Masashi dispel it so effortlessly still unsettled Shisui.
He decided to evaporate the Water Release, proving he was more than just Body Flicker and genjutsu. Among the Uchiha, strength is the only ticket to realizing one's ideals.
"Hmm?" Shisui suddenly sensed something off.
The Water Wall typically dissipated immediately after completing its defensive task. Yet ahead, as layers of water barriers peeled away, the remaining barriers remained intact.
Had he switched techniques?
Just as he thought this, Masashi's figure emerged from the thinning water walls, his hand signs changed.
The water layers, initially losing their force like wilting petals, suddenly halted as if frozen in time. The chakra signature shifted, becoming denser, more focused.
In the next second, the water flow reversed with intensity, increasing in volume and surging upwards, revealing two dragon heads. The heads, realistic and lifelike, flickered in and out within the waves, moving like real creatures.
It was said tailed beasts have a lazy way of fighting: extend their tails, spin in place, and flatten everything in the area.
For Masashi, simply replicating this would be dull, so there was a catch.
"Water Style: Furious Twin Dragon Jutsu."
Like a beast spreading its tail, two dragons rotated counterclockwise, circling him in a high-speed spin, creating powerful waves and gusts.
Everything on the platform, including Shisui, became part of this massive current.
"The pressure... he's containing this much power in such a confined space?" A jonin's eyes widened.
"Open the windows!" another shouted, already moving.
The high-pressure water instantly caused the dojo to creak as if on the verge of collapse. While the building could probably hold out a bit longer, everyone instinctively opened the windows, preparing to jump if necessary.
The sight of the massive water vortex and the rising water vapor had opened their eyes. Water Release could be used like this. Everyone knew this was just a spar between Shisui and Masashi, not a life-or-death battle; both were holding back immensely.
The whirlpool was clearly meant for battlefield use. When Masashi used Water Release to kill, he left no corpses intact. And Uchiha's specialty, after all, was genjutsu, where they left no blood.
The jonin watched intently, fully aware.
Any object drawn close to Masashi was shredded upon nearing him. The surging waves served as both shield and spear, combining offense and defense. With the Sharingan's insight, breaking this defense required an overwhelming force.
The jonin were puzzled by one thing: Sharingan isn't like the Byakugan; it has blind spots just like ordinary vision. But Masashi showed no indication of this weakness, not shifting his body at all, yet shredding anything that neared him, even from behind.
Was he using the water walls as mirrors? But the water surrounding him was in constant motion, unsuitable as mirrors.
They were perplexed. Setsuna and Fugaku speculated as well. They had a faint suspicion that perhaps the most unlikely explanation might actually be the truth.
"Remember in our youth, there was a theory about the Hyūga clan?" Setsuna looked at Fugaku. "Like us, only a few of them could activate their eyes, so they relied on ninjutsu in battle."
"That theory existed?" Fugaku responded calmly.
Setsuna was a young man in the late Warring States period when ninja clans and shinobi were one and the same. Every clan had its share of unverifiable legends.
"Yes, it was once widely believed, though the Hyūga dismissed it as nonsense," he continued. "Their Gentle Fist, while powerful, has obvious limitations..."
Fugaku quickly understood.
The Uchiha prized the art of killing with the eyes, with countless variations of genjutsu to develop the power of Yin Release.
The Hyūga's Gentle Fist, the Akimichi's Multi-Size Technique, and the famous Eight Inner Gates all harnessed Yang Release.
As the Sage of the Six Paths' hidden legacy to future generations, Yang Release training methods emerged in countless forms. Physical training was the most common, strengthening one's life force through rigorous exercise.
But Fugaku decided to drop the subject.
Just then, he noticed the shaking of the building had stopped.
Looking down, the surging dragons had vanished, and Masashi stood guarded by water barriers that seemed almost alive. The arena was in shambles; even the stone tiles had been uprooted.
Shisui stood drenched on the muddy stage, looking as if he'd been caught in a torrential downpour.
"Time to settle this with genjutsu?"
"Seems so. Masashi's Water Release is highly developed."
Everyone discussed this.
It was obvious: Masashi's Water Release was layered like nesting dolls, each technique hiding another. Shisui couldn't even get close.
Forget using Fire Release in this environment; even attempting Body Flicker was useless.
In this spar, whether it was physical or elemental techniques, Shisui lacked the advantage.
That left only the Sharingan.
