The earlier fight between Samui and Uchiha Yuzuru had been watched with rapt attention by Uzuki Yugao.
Samui's attacks were like a violent storm, every strike aimed straight for a vital point.
Yuzuru, on the other hand, was like a butterfly dancing gracefully through the air, deflecting every assault with elegance and flair.
At this moment, Yugao felt that Yuzuru was no longer a swordsman, but a dancer.
It was the first time she had realized that a duel of blade arts could be so breathtaking to watch.
"In our Cloud Village, Lord Yuzuru's swordsmanship is unmatched. Even Lord Sakumo and Lord Killer B would admit inferiority," Yugito said softly, noticing the admiration in Yugao's eyes. "You're Yugao, right? Why not take this chance to ask Lord Yuzuru for some guidance?"
Yugao froze for a moment, then said hesitantly, "Th-that wouldn't be appropriate, would it? I'm just a chūnin. How could I possibly be worthy of Lord Yuzuru personally guiding my training…"
Yugito covered her mouth and laughed. "Relax. Based on what I know of Lord Yuzuru, he won't refuse."
Yugao asked curiously, "Then why don't you ask him to guide you?"
Yugito raised a hand, releasing Matatabi's chakra. "I'm a tailed beast jinchuriki. My strength comes from cooperating with the tailed beast inside me. Lord Yuzuru has already helped me reconcile with my tailed beast, so I don't really need guidance in that area."
While the two were talking, Samui and Yuzuru had already returned.
Urged on by Yugito's gaze, Yugao gathered her courage and stepped forward. "Lord Yuzuru, I also practice Swordsmanship. May I ask you to guide me?"
Yuzuru did not refuse and answered immediately, "No problem."
His straightforward response made Yugao freeze for a moment.
Back when Cloud Village attacked Konoha, Yuzuru had been utterly relentless, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu into becoming despised figures hunted by all.
Later, in a single night, he had exterminated every member of the Sarutobi clan, Shimura clan, Utatane clan, and Mitokado clan.
Was someone so ruthless in public really this easygoing in private?
"Yugao, are you all right? If you're not feeling well, you can come back another day."
Seeing the concern on Yuzuru's face, Yugao didn't know why, but her emotions suddenly surged, her eyes turning red.
Afraid her reaction would be noticed, she quickly lowered her head. "Lord Yuzuru, I'm fine. What should I do?"
"Attack me with everything you've got."
Yugao nodded, took a deep breath, and calmed herself.
She gripped her long blade and immediately used her strongest technique.
"Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
With two shadow clones, Yugao attacked Yuzuru simultaneously from three directions.
"Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu: Flash!"
A glint of blade light passed.
In an instant, Yugao's two shadow clones were cut apart, dispersing into white smoke.
A strand of purple hair drifted gently to the ground as Yugao staggered back several steps in shock.
She had clearly felt the chill of a blade passing across her neck just now.
If this were a battle to the death, her throat might already have been cut open.
To break her Crescent Moon Dance with a single move was simply unheard of.
"Continue."
Hearing Yuzuru's voice, Yugao snapped back to her senses.
She looked at Yuzuru standing not far ahead, feeling as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
He was just standing there quietly, yet he gave off an unprecedented sense of pressure.
Under his gaze, Yugao felt that even a momentary distraction—so much as twitching a finger—could get her killed.
"Gulp…"
She swallowed unconsciously.
As time passed, the pressure only grew stronger.
Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from her forehead, and her body gradually began to lose strength.
Realizing the gap between them—something called "levels"—she no longer even had the thought of drawing her blade.
Just as her hand was about to loosen its grip on the hilt, Yuzuru spoke again. "A truly outstanding swordsman must always possess firm conviction and the courage to press forward."
"Losing isn't frightening. Dying isn't frightening. What's frightening is lacking the courage to even strike."
Only then did Yugao remember that this was not a fight to the death, but a simple instructional spar.
She took several deep breaths and finally adjusted herself back to her best condition.
Pushing the chakra in her body to its limit, Yugao leapt high into the air. Her long blade swung rapidly, afterimages forming like the full moon of a Mid-Autumn night, densely layered together.
"Konoha-Style Kenjutsu: Hazy Moon Night!"
She dove down from the air, countless afterimages blanketing the entire space, making it impossible to tell illusion from reality.
For a moment, even Yugito and Samui, watching from the side, couldn't help but gape in shock.
"So strong!"
"Is this really a technique a chūnin can use?"
Compared to their astonishment, Yuzuru remained calm as he stood in place.
Facing Yugao's blade, he merely raised his arm slightly.
Clang!
With a crisp sound, the sky full of afterimages vanished completely, leaving only Yugao's true body standing before Yuzuru in shock.
Her long blade was firmly caught between two of Yuzuru's fingers.
"Blocked… with just two fingers?"
"As expected of Lord Yuzuru—so, so cool!"
Samui and Yugito couldn't help but swoon a little.
It wasn't that they were overreacting—the visual impact of stopping Hazy Moon Night with two fingers was simply overwhelming.
Not to mention that Yuzuru was a man flawless in looks, physique, strength, and status alike.
"Lord Yuzuru, I've lost."
Yugao spoke in a daze.
From that brief exchange, she had personally experienced the strength of the man before her—the strongest in the shinobi world.
That overwhelming pressure left her unable to muster even the slightest will to resist.
"Yugao, your blade arts aren't bad," Yuzuru said, "but they're flashy without a solid foundation. You're focusing on the branches while neglecting the roots."
"No matter when, fundamentals are always the top priority. Without a firm foundation, even the most dazzling blade arts are nothing more than castles in the air."
"Remember, swordsmanship is the art of killing!"
Yugao was already completely convinced. She nodded humbly and said, "Lord Yuzuru, I have learned a great deal."
Yuzuru thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, start with the most basic blade-swinging motion."
Yugao immediately complied, bending her legs slightly into a bow stance and gripping the long blade with both hands, holding it horizontally in front of her chest.
Yuzuru took a look, then stepped forward to help adjust her posture.
"Put more strength into your arms."
"Yes."
"Bend your legs lower."
"Uh."
"Keep your waist straight."
"Eh?"
"Open up your chest."
"L-Lord Yuzuru…"
Seeing this scene, Samui and Yugito burst into laughter in perfect sync.
Recalling the time when the two of them had also been guided by Lord Yuzuru, Yugito couldn't help but say, "That moment then…"
Samui immediately followed, "Is exactly like this moment now."
Just as Yugao, her face bright red, was receiving Yuzuru's guidance, a heroic, spirited voice rang out from behind them.
"You pervert who goes around stealing other people's food—I finally found you! And you even dare bully Yugao? Die!"