Chapter 175 - God of Fire

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"You have spies in all these locations?" Shisui asked, tracing some of the pins with his finger.

Horyu nodded, his posture relaxed but confident. "As of now, I can confidently say that I have 40% of the Shinobi world covered. Especially the other four great nations, and five smaller nations have my spies."

"Great. That is good," Shisui acknowledged, his tone indicating his satisfaction as he momentarily forgot about reprimanding Horyu for his prolonged absence. "And your strength?" he then asked, shifting the subject to gauge Horyu's combat readiness.

Responding silently at first, Horyu's eyes morphed into the three tomoe Sharingan as flames suddenly wrapped around his body, casting a warm glow throughout the dimly lit office. Shisui observed the intensity and control of the fire, nodding in approval.

"Further testing is required, but at least Jounin level," he concluded after a moment of watching the flames flicker and die down as Horyu retracted his jutsu.

Both men stood in silence for a moment, contemplating the gravity of Horyu's return and the assets he brought with him. Shisui finally broke the silence, "With your network and this power, you'll be instrumental in our war efforts. We need to strategize your reintegration and deployment."

Horyu nodded, understanding the weight of his role. "I'll need to brief on the current strategic positions and enemy movements."

"Right," Shisui agreed, tapping the map. "I'll arrange for detailed briefings. The war's dynamics are shifting, and with your spies, we might just outmaneuver them yet."

As they were talking, the office window swung open, and an elderly shinobi with a mane of white hair stepped through, a black-haired teen at his side. The teen's eyes flickered with a battle-ready gleam as his Sharingan mirrored Horyu's own. "Horyu," Sasuke said, standing next to Jiraiya.

"Oh, you too returned, Sasuke," Shisui remarked, a note of excitement in his voice.

"We have returned, Hokage-sama," Jiraiya reported.

Horyu glanced at Sasuke, noting the same intense demeanor. Sasuke, perhaps sensing Horyu's indifference, seemed ready to snap, but the presence of the Hokage cooled his temper. "Hokage-sama, I have returned and didn't disappoint your trust in me. I am Special Jounin level now," Sasuke declared.

Shisui nodded approvingly. "Great. Just in time. Horyu has returned now too. Two of you should fight, so we can see the result of your training."

Horyu gave a casual nod, while Sasuke grinned, eager for the challenge. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."

They were led to training ground 7, where Itachi appeared seemingly out of nowhere, flanked by Sakura and Kiba. Itachi, the Jonin sensei of Team 7, which included Sasuke, Sakura, and Kiba, observed the setup with a keen eye. From another direction, Kurenai approached with Shino, her own team's calm demeanor contrasting with the charged atmosphere around Sasuke.

As the groups converged, the air was thick with anticipation. The training ground, often a site for sparring and tests, felt like an arena as the two Uchihas prepared to face off.

Horyu and Sasuke took positions at opposite ends of the field, their teammates and senseis forming a loose circle around them. Sasuke was visibly eager, his Sharingan spinning wildly as he sized up Horyu, who stood relaxed but alert.

"Begin," Shisui commanded from the sidelines.

Sasuke wasted no time. He dashed forward, chakra surging as he aimed a series of quick, precise strikes at Horyu, who parried effortlessly. The clash of their skills was a dance of aggressive power and controlled counters.

Horyu's style was fluid, absorbing and redirecting Sasuke's energy, his moves a testament to his rigorous training. Sasuke, on the other hand, was all about force, trying to overwhelm Horyu with sheer power and speed.

The battle between Horyu and Sasuke erupted into an explosive showcase of Uchiha prowess. Sasuke initiated with a barrage of rapid fireballs, each one larger and more ferocious than the last, tearing through the air towards Horyu. The crackle and roar of the flames filled the training ground, the heat pressing against the onlookers like a physical force. Horyu, his expression one of calm concentration, deftly sidestepped, his body blurring in an almost spectral dance that left afterimages in his wake.

Harnessing his Shadowmeld Tactics, Horyu vanished into thin air, leaving Sasuke's fiery onslaught to scorch the earth where he stood just a moment earlier. The crowd gasped as Horyu reappeared behind Sasuke, a faint smirk playing on his lips. His hand moved in a blur, launching a devastating palm strike aimed at Sasuke's back. However, Sasuke, reacting with the heightened senses afforded by his own Sharingan, spun around and parried with an elbow strike, their arms clashing with a thud that resonated through the field.

The two combatants broke apart, each reassessing the other as they circled with predatory grace. Sasuke, frustration beginning to edge into his tactical thinking, decided to switch tactics, opting for close-quarters combat. He surged forward, lightning crackling around his fist, a clear demonstration of the techniques he'd honed with Jiraiya. Horyu, undeterred, met Sasuke's charge with a flurry of precise, targeted strikes, utilizing his Fluid Counter Style to turn Sasuke's own momentum against him. Each connect sent a jolt through Sasuke, testing his endurance and flexibility.

Horyu then transitioned seamlessly, chakra threads whispering from his fingertips to manipulate the environment subtly. Stones and small debris lifted from the ground, swirling around Sasuke, distracting him and obscuring his vision. Sasuke growled, dispelling the debris with a burst of chakra, his eyes never leaving Horyu. With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance, his fist enveloped in crackling energy, aiming directly at Horyu's chest.

The strike was fast, almost too fast for the eye to follow, but Horyu's sharingan flickered, precognition kicking in. He sidestepped at the last fraction of a second, grabbing Sasuke's wrist and using his momentum to throw him over his shoulder. Sasuke tumbled but recovered gracefully, rolling back onto his feet and without pause, sent a sweeping kick towards Horyu's legs.

Horyu jumped, flipping backward and creating distance. As he landed, he clapped his hands together, forming rapid seals. In response, a burst of intense fire encircled him, a defensive barrier that roared like a beast. Sasuke halted, analyzing the ring of fire. With a defiant yell, he channeled his lightning chakra, his entire body sparking with electric fury as he charged through the flames, which seemed to banished around him, his training with Jiraiya showing its effects.

The two clashed again in the center, a storm of blows exchanged in mere seconds, each strike parried or dodged with supernatural agility. Sasuke attempted to gain the upper hand with a combination of fire and lightning, creating a hybrid technique that crackled with red and blue energies. Horyu countered with his own impressive display of chakra control, his fire techniques adapting and morphing, not just defending but also attacking, pressing Sasuke back.

Sasuke howled with a mix of rage and determination, "Your mastery of fire is meaningless, Horyu!" His hands blurred, forming one seal after another, culminating in the explosive release of the Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu. A monstrous orb of fire, three meters in diameter, surged towards Horyu, its heat distorting the air around it.

"Watch out!" Shino exclaimed, his voice breaking its usual reserve, a rare crack in his composed demeanor. Kurenai's hands clenched into fists, her eyes wide with concern. Jiraiya, Itachi, and Shisui, each typically a picture of stoic control, narrowed their eyes, tensing as they observed the unfolding drama. Kiba snorted dismissively, "Typical arrogance," while Sakura bit her lip, her loyalties torn as she watched the scene unfold.

Undeterred, Horyu stepped forward, his stride calm and measured as he approached the oncoming inferno. To the astonishment of everyone present, the flames seemed to recognize their master. As Horyu neared, the fireball split apart, swirling around him like a cyclone of obedient serpents. Within moments, the flames transformed into a blazing cloak that draped elegantly around him, its tongues licking the air but never scorching his skin. Each step he took seemed to be on a staircase crafted of fire itself, elevating him above the battlefield.

"Fire Mastery?" Horyu's voice was laced with amusement as he turned his gaze towards Sasuke, who stood frozen in shock. With a confident grin, he declared, "I am not just a master—Sasuke, I am the God of Fire."

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