Shisui's first strike missed.
But he didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second.
With a subtle twist of his wrist, his blade shifted direction mid-motion, transforming what should have been a failed attack into a seamless continuation. His sword flowed like liquid mercury—smooth, fluid, and endlessly changing.
Parry.
Slash.
Sweep.
Each movement connected perfectly to the next, forming a relentless chain of attacks.
The angles were unpredictable, almost impossible to read.
The speed was terrifying.
And every strike carried precise, penetrating force—like a needle aimed at vital points.
This…
…was the famed Uchiha Style Swordsmanship.
Elegant. Agile. Deadly.
A style honed by generations of elite warriors from the Uchiha Clan.
And now—
It was bearing down on Ren like a storm.
---
Ren's eyes sharpened.
Without hesitation, he raised his blade.
The moment Shisui's second strike came, Ren responded.
Clang!
Steel met steel.
Then again.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The sound of metal collisions exploded across the training ground like a torrential downpour.
The two figures blurred.
To the onlookers, it was no longer a duel between two students—but two whirlwinds colliding.
Blades flashed like streaks of lightning.
Cold light danced through the air.
Their silhouettes overlapped, split, and reformed, as if reality itself struggled to keep up with their speed.
---
"...This is insane…"
Asuma Sarutobi muttered under his breath, his cigarette forgotten between his fingers.
Beside him, Rin Nohara clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her breathing shallow.
Her eyes never left the battlefield.
She didn't dare blink.
One mistake… and she might miss something crucial.
---
To be fair—
Among everyone present, Shisui's talent was unmatched.
Even at this young age, he already displayed the terrifying potential that would one day earn him the title:
"Shisui of the Body Flicker."
A prodigy who would shine in the Third Great Ninja War before even reaching adulthood.
Compared to him, even Kakashi Hatake—widely acknowledged as a genius—had only risen to fame after awakening the Sharingan.
And right now—
That brilliance was already beginning to show.
---
In terms of raw strength—
Ren was slightly stronger.
But swordsmanship wasn't just about strength.
It was about efficiency.
Control.
Execution.
And in that regard—
Shisui was terrifying.
Every movement he made maximized his power.
Every attack had a purpose.
Every step carried intention.
He wasn't just fighting in the present—
He was already planning two, three steps ahead.
Unlike Kakashi's aggressive and explosive style, Shisui's approach was subtle… yet suffocating.
Once he gained even the slightest advantage—
He would slowly expand it.
Tighten it.
Turn it into an inescapable trap.
A snowball that would eventually crush his opponent.
---
"…Troublesome," Ren thought.
This fighting style…
It was a natural counter to the Hatake Sword Style.
---
(By the way… shouldn't the system trigger an Encounter mission around now?)
The thought had barely formed—
When suddenly—
A mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
---
[Ding! Detected a high-potential conquest target: "Uchiha Style Swordsmanship."]
[Would you like to initiate Encounter? Yes / No]
---
Ren's eyes flickered.
"It's here."
He instinctively prepared to activate Transformation Technique: Partial Transformation, intending to prolong the fight and complete the Encounter.
But before he could decide—
Another voice cut in.
Cold.
Sharp.
And filled with unmistakable arrogance.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Hmph! Such shallow tricks, yet he dares to show off in front of me?]
[Hatake Sword Style: Little white-haired brat, ignore him. Give me time…]
[I will lead you to surpass the Uchiha Style Swordsmanship.]
---
"…?"
Ren blinked.
His grip on the sword tightened slightly.
This was new.
Very new.
---
Unlike the relationship between techniques like the Great Fireball Jutsu and Phoenix Flower Jutsu—where one derived from the other—
The Hatake and Uchiha sword styles seemed…
Hostile.
Not just different—
But fundamentally incompatible.
Almost as if they rejected each other.
---
Ren's thoughts raced.
If he rejected the Encounter…
Would that increase the favorability of the Hatake Sword Style?
---
He only needed a few seconds to decide.
---
"…I refuse."
---
The system responded instantly.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Hmph. At least you have some sense.]
[Favorability +3]
[Current Favorability: 9/100 (Stranger)]
---
And then—
Something changed.
---
A cold, razor-sharp intent surged into Ren's mind.
Not chakra.
Not emotion.
But knowledge.
Pure, precise, and terrifyingly accurate.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Three steps forward, one step left—use the pine shadow as cover.]
[His next strike will pierce through that gap—aimed at your lower leg, Zusanli point.]
[Lower your center of gravity. Sink your waist. Press your blade down—three inches.]
[After blocking, thrust forward toward his Danzhong. Force him to change his move.]
---
Ren's pupils shrank slightly.
"…Real-time guidance?"
And this precise?
Even specifying three inches?
---
There was no time to doubt.
He moved.
---
Clang!
Exactly as predicted—
A cold flash of steel burst from the shadow of a nearby tree, stabbing straight toward his calf from an impossible angle.
But Ren's blade was already there.
Perfectly positioned.
Blocking it.
---
A flicker of surprise crossed Shisui's eyes.
"…!"
That move—
Daybreak Dance.
One of the most deceptive techniques in the Uchiha style.
Hidden angle.
Explosive speed.
Even if someone noticed it—
They shouldn't be able to stop it.
---
And yet—
Ren had intercepted it flawlessly.
---
Before Shisui could react—
Ren stepped forward.
His blade shot out like lightning.
A direct thrust toward Shisui's chest.
---
"?!"
Shisui's body bent backward instinctively.
At the same time, his wrist flicked—
His sword exploded into motion.
A shimmering curtain of steel appeared before him.
---
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The sound came so fast it blurred into a single continuous burst.
In that instant—
They exchanged over a dozen moves.
Blades collided.
Slid.
Deflected.
Their afterimages overlapped like splashing water.
---
Then—
Shisui vanished.
---
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he created distance in an instant.
The battlefield fell silent.
For a moment.
---
Shisui exhaled slowly.
His eyes, now sharper than ever, locked onto Ren.
"…As expected of a senior who's already become a Genin."
His tone carried admiration—
But also excitement.
"Your taijutsu is excellent."
"And your swordsmanship…"
A faint smile formed.
"…is incredible."
---
His stance shifted.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
---
"I'm going all out now."
---
Ren rolled his shoulders, gripping his blade more firmly.
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Good."
"Come."
---
The next moment—
Shisui moved.
---
Faster.
Much faster.
---
His body blurred—
Splitting into two… three overlapping afterimages.
His sword transformed into a web of silver light.
Every angle covered.
Every path sealed.
---
Uchiha Style Swordsmanship: Gale Sword.
---
The pressure skyrocketed.
Even the air seemed to tremble.
---
But—
Ren didn't panic.
---
Because in his mind—
A calm, cold voice continued.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Feint.]
[His weight is on his right leg—his real attack is coming from an irregular angle toward your left rib.]
[Sidestep half a step. Raise your blade horizontally.]
---
Ren obeyed.
---
Clang!
The strike came exactly as predicted.
Blocked.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Now—follow through. Entangle his blade.]
---
Ren twisted his wrist.
Locked the angle.
---
Shisui's rhythm faltered for a split second.
---
[Hatake Sword Style: Move three inches back-right. Force him to rotate.]
[Next strike—your exposed right side.]
[Spin slash. Seventy percent power.]
---
Ren moved again.
---
Every action—
Precise.
Efficient.
Minimal.
He wasn't faster than Shisui.
He wasn't stronger.
But—
He was always in the right place.
At the right time.
With the right move.
Again and again—
He dismantled Shisui's offense.
Each clash—
A hair's breadth from danger.
Each defense—
Perfectly timed.
---
To the outside observers—
It looked like a miracle.
---
But to Ren—
It was something else entirely.
---
Control.
Understanding.
And…
Evolution.
[Hatake Sword Style: My philosophy is simple.]
[Speed. Precision. Ruthlessness.]
[One strike—one kill.]
The voice turned colder.
Sharper.
[Ignore his tricks.]
[Ignore his variations.]
A pause.
[Thrust straight at the center.]
Ren's eyes narrowed.
And then—
He moved.
--------------------------------
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