On the arena of the Ninja School's second round competition,
The battle between the Hyuga brothers finally reached its conclusion.
Hiashi assumed his final stance, his form as stable as a mountain,
The Soul Blade of his Doublade gleaming with silver light.
Hizashi was already breathing erratically, with multiple Chakra Pathways forcibly severed by the Gentle Fist.
Yet he still gritted his teeth and gripped his own Soul Blade.
"Brother... I will never retreat!"
Both stepped forward simultaneously, the same Gentle Fist, the same Byakugan, the same Sword Soul radiance intertwining in the air to form a dazzling white arc.
Boom!
An intense Chakra storm sent both flying.
When the dust settled, it was Hizashi who landed on one knee.
He could no longer stand.
The referee raised his hand high:
"Winner, Hiashi Hyuga!!!"
The entire venue erupted!
"So spectacular!!"
"This is the true Hyuga!"
"Brothers fighting to such an extent!"
In the Hyuga clan leader's seats, several elders nodded repeatedly:
"Hizashi may have lost, but he brought honor."
"Hiashi is steady, truly the future of the main family."
Hizashi looked up at his brother, silent for a moment.
Hiashi reached out and pulled his brother up, "Hizashi... you were truly strong."
The two brothers exited the arena side by side amid the audience's applause.
However, in an inconspicuous corner, there was an indescribable glint in Hizashi's eyes.
The round announcement
The host stepped forward energetically and called out the next pair in one breath:
"Might Duy versus Fugaku Uchiha!!!"
Whoosh!
The entire venue shifted from cheers to an eerie silence in two seconds.
Followed by explosive discussions: "Might Duy!? The one who never graduates?"
"What's he here for? To warm up for Fugaku?"
"Fugaku Uchiha is the future clan leader of the main family..."
"Isn't this just pushing Fugaku into the third round in advance?"
Even in the judges' seats, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but rub his forehead.
Puffing on his pipe, he tried to appear calm: "Hmm... let's see, it might be an exciting match."
Danzo beside him snorted coldly and said nothing more.
Pitting a dead-last against the talent of the Uchiha?
An insult to the exam?
Hiruzen merely blew smoke rings.
He too thought it was absurd.
On the stage
Fugaku Uchiha stepped onto the platform with a composed expression.
As the future leader of the Uchiha, his presence automatically quieted the audience a bit.
After activating his two tomoe, Houndour appeared by his side, waiting quietly for Fugaku Uchiha's command.
Glancing at Houndour, Fugaku ordered it not to participate in the battle; deep down, he disliked Houndour.
Seeing his Trainer like this, Houndour could only leave the arena pitifully.
The flames on its body dimmed considerably.
Fugaku, however, was preoccupied with his thoughts.
Mikoto hatched a Vulpix, awakening Sunlight.
Kushina also had a Vulpix, awakening Snow Warning.
And him?
Only a Houndour with the Glare skill.
The gap was too wide.
Therefore, he had to win without relying on Houndour.
He had to prove the Uchiha's dignity.
At that moment, Fugaku looked up and saw the figure opposite him.
Might Duy strode into the arena with exaggerated steps.
With a smile on his face that was incredibly sincere, passionate, and radiant like the sun.
He raised his thumb and shouted loudly to Fugaku:
"Burn with youth—, Young Master Fugaku!!!!"
The audience instantly burst into laughter.
"The Uchiha young master must be about to cry, with an opponent like this..."
"Duy is just going to feed kills."
Fugaku's expression stiffened.
But in the next moment, Might Duy's aura suddenly stabilized.
In those seemingly simple and honest eyes,
A light of utmost seriousness and purity appeared.
Fugaku's heart suddenly beat violently.
Might Duy put away his smile, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
The floor around him actually trembled slightly from the force of his step.
Fugaku's pupils slightly contracted:
Might Duy suddenly assumed a peculiar stance, his entire body's muscle lines tense yet not rigid,
"Young Master Fugaku, today... let us burn each other with the flames of youth!"
The next second.
Uchiha Fugaku's figure vanished from his original spot,
The Body Flicker Technique under the Two-Tomoe Sharingan was as fast as a black lightning bolt,
Directly appearing behind Might Duy.
Whoosh!!!
Over a dozen kunai shot out from his sleeves,
Each one carrying a subtle rotational force field, a unique Uchiha precision throwing technique used for instant kills.
"It's over."
Fugaku didn't hesitate at all.
He didn't consider Might Duy an opponent at all, only planning to end it quickly.
Just as the kunai were about to pierce Might Duy's body...
Boom!!!
Around Might Duy, a ring of scorching flames suddenly erupted.
It wasn't ninjutsu. It wasn't Fire Release.
But rather, burning thermal energy bursting forth from within his body.
The flames carried the wild intensity of youth, the explosive passion of hot blood,
As if his spirit had turned into fuel, igniting his entire body.
The moment the kunai touched the flames, the metal emitted a distorted, mournful cry...
The next second, they all melted into molten iron, dripping onto the ground.
The audience outside the arena collectively gasped in shock:
"What's going on!?"
"The kunai were melted!?"
"Is that... Fire Release?"
Uchiha Fugaku was also stunned for half a second.
"What kind of technique is this—"
Might Duy looked up with a smile, his eyes full of brilliance, and then a small fire pig appeared on his head.
"This is the power granted by my Ninja Beast... Blaze!!"
Word by word, like a hammer striking Fugaku's nerves.
"So that's it, even you obtained such a powerful Fire Release Ninja Beast..."
Might Duy's entire body was enveloped in red-orange flames,
His hair flying, his aura like the sun rising from the horizon.
"Young Master Fugaku!"
Might Duy's smile was like the sun, "For the sake of youth, I won't run away!"
He took a deep breath and suddenly formed hand seals.
Fugaku, who had calmed his emotions, immediately tracked the movement with his Sharingan, but the next second, his pupils sharply contracted—Might Duy seemed to have no openings!?
How is that possible?
"Bodybuilding!"
Might Duy shouted loudly!
Boom!!!
A shockwave like a sonic boom exploded from the center of his body.
His muscles swelled, tightened, and strengthened as if infused with steel.
His bones made cracking sounds, as if rearranging and combining into a stronger form!
His energy skyrocketed wildly.
It wasn't a simple Chakra enhancement, but a completely different system of physical attribute boosting skill.
Attack and defense soared simultaneously!
Might Duy seemed to transform from a pale, dull pebble into a burning meteor in an instant.
Fugaku took half a step back in shock.
Under the Sharingan, he sensed that Might Duy's condition was unusual.
"This..."
Might Duy continued to smile, but this time his smile held a confidence no one had ever seen before.
"Young Master Fugaku."
He raised his fist, flames dancing wildly upon it.
"I have no talent, no Bloodline Limit, but I have my own youth—I am a genius of hard work!"
Boom—!!!
With one stomp of his foot, the ground beneath him sank three inches deep.
Flames enveloped his figure as he shot toward Fugaku like a blazing meteor!
A genius of hard work!?
What kind of nonsense is that!?