Silence.
The vast examination grounds within the Forest of Death fell into complete stillness, the air thick with tension. Not a sound could be heard—not even the faintest whisper of wind through the trees.
A pin drop would have echoed across the vast space, drawing every eye to its source.
A palpable pressure hung in the atmosphere, like an invisible hand pressing down, heavy and unrelenting.
Everyone could feel it in their chests, as if a boulder had taken residence on their hearts. The forest's usual ambiance had vanished, replaced by a foreboding sense of dread.
Higashi Shibito's typically charming smile slowly vanished, replaced by a coldness that seemed to freeze the very air around him.
His once-friendly eyes narrowed, now half-lidded with a malevolent glint. The chakra coursing through his body surged, crackling with intensity, sending tremors through the ground beneath him.
Spiderweb cracks spread from where he stood, hinting at the barely contained force.
"Not bad, but did you know?" Higashi Shibito's smile twisted into a grimace that stretched to the corners of his face, teeth bared like a predator about to pounce.
It was a smile, yes, but one that sent shivers down your spine. "The last person who acted this cocky in front of me? I unscrewed his head. He was an Uchiha, too."
Uchiha Sogetsu barely flinched. Instead, he beckoned with a casual wave of his hand, speaking in a voice laced with boredom.
"If you're up for it, be my guest and try to take my head. But let's not waste time—get down here, and let's get this over with. I've got a nap waiting for me."
Boom!
The explosion was instantaneous, the shockwave rippling through the air, distorting everything in its path. It felt like a punch to the gut, the sheer force of it making the entire tower tremble.
The blast was so intense that the sound it produced was deafening, like a peal of thunder that roared through the crowd.
"Everyone who doesn't want to get hurt, clear out!" Higashi Shibito flexed his fists, the sound of cracking knuckles like a roll of firecrackers.
He advanced with a smirk that could only mean trouble.
"Consider yourself lucky, kid. Because you're with the Hokage, I'll let you walk away with your life. Just leave both your arms behind as payment for provoking Iwagakure!"
Another boom echoed as the ground beneath them erupted like an earthquake. The neatly placed bricks shattered, sending shards flying in every direction.
Amidst the chaos, a figure surged through the debris, swift as a dragon cutting through waves.
"You're talking too much!"
The voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once, a chilling reminder of the speed and precision of the attack.
Higashi Shibito felt the wind whip against his cheeks, the force of it causing his skin to ripple. He couldn't even open his eyes against the blast of air.
Then came the strike—a powerful sweeping kick that seemed to tear through the atmosphere.
"Konoha · Strong Cyclone!"
The speed of the attack left no room for error. Higashi Shibito barely had time to react, instinctively throwing up his arms to block the incoming blow.
And with that, the real battle began.
Boom!
An overwhelming force burst out like a torrent, sending shockwaves through the air.
Higashi Shibito, the Iwa ninja, felt a searing pain in his arms as his bones audibly cracked. He had assumed a defensive stance but was pushed back more than ten meters.
His feet scraped harshly against the ground, leaving a pair of scorched, smoky trails in his wake.
"Is that all you've got?" Uchiha Sogetsu taunted, not even bothering to follow up with an attack.
It hurts. It hurts a lot. Higashi Shibito could barely believe the power behind Sogetsu's punch. His arms felt like they were on the verge of shattering.
This was their first encounter, and Higashi Shibito immediately dropped his arrogant attitude. His expression became serious as he considered the Uchiha's unusual strength.
"Is he a specialist in taijutsu?" he wondered.
But the idea seemed ridiculous. The Uchiha clan was known for their prowess in ninjutsu and their famed Sharingan. Why would one focus solely on taijutsu?
What Higashi Shibito didn't know was that Uchiha Sogetsu had another secret. The skin on Sogetsu's legs was covered with dragon-like scales, significantly boosting his physical power.
Without that enhancement, he wouldn't have been able to push back a high-level jonin like Higashi Shibito with such ease.
The Iwa ninja felt a pang of envy as he realized how talented Konoha's new generation was.
After White Fang's death, he thought the village might have lost some of its strength, but new waves of talent were emerging. Uchiha Sogetsu was just one example.
While Higashi Shibito pondered the sorry state of his own village and its lack of promising ninjas, he knew there was no backing out now.
If he stopped the fight, Sogetsu would never let him go without a confrontation.
"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"
Given Sogetsu's extraordinary taijutsu skills, Higashi Shibito opted for a long-range strategy. The ground trembled as sharp rock spears erupted, shooting toward Sogetsu at incredible speed.
But Sogetsu's scarlet Sharingan eyes, with their three tomoe spinning, caught every detail of the incoming attack. He was ready for whatever Higashi Shibito threw at him.
In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Sogetsu moved with the speed and precision of an arrow, facing the incoming barrage of rock spears. He darted forward with no fear, his movements smooth and fluid like a dancer's on a sword's edge.
He weaved through the spears, each one missing him by the narrowest of margins as he closed the distance between himself and his opponent.
Higashi Shibito's expression darkened as he saw Sogetsu's swift approach. He retreated half a step to create space, then drove his palm into the ground with force.
"Earth Release: Rock Shield!"
The ground shook as Higashi Shibito's muscles tensed, veins bulging from the strain. A massive wall of rock erupted from the earth, forming a fortress-like barrier between him and Sogetsu.
Behind the safety of the earth wall, Higashi Shibito's hands flew into a series of hand signs. But Sogetsu was undeterred by the obstacle.
With a confident smirk, he clenched his fingers into a claw-like shape, veins bulging on the back of his hand as he channeled sharp, compressed chakra.
"Do you really think a wall of rock is enough to stop me?"
"Wind Release: Eight-Point Light Wheel!"
The wind attribute chakra gathered in his hand and began to oscillate at an intense high frequency, creating a high-speed cutting light that spun like a serrated wheel.
The sound it made was a sharp whistle, almost a roar, as it cut through the air.
In the stands, Pakura, observing the battle, couldn't hide her concern when she saw Sogetsu's technique. Her calm demeanor gave way to deep apprehension as she muttered under her breath, "No hand signs? That's not good."
The wall of rock, as thick as a fortress, seemed to melt like butter as the high-speed wind chakra sliced through it with ease. The sheer power of Sogetsu's attack was unmistakable, leaving no doubt that he was a force to be reckoned with.
The rock face was sliced cleanly, as smooth as a mirror. The eight-pointed light wheel, driven by the Wind Style technique, cut through the stone wall effortlessly, then continued hurtling toward Higashi Shibito without losing any speed.
It was extremely dangerous.
Just from his experience, Higashi Shibito knew this ninjutsu was a serious threat.
He didn't hesitate. Abandoning the jutsu he was forming, he rolled away in a clumsy manner, narrowly dodging the flying light wheel.
Even though his reflexes were quick, it still grazed his shoulder, fracturing bones and tearing tendons.
Blood spurted out in a series of crimson bursts.
Clutching his injured shoulder in pain, Higashi Shibito struggled to regain his balance, only to be hit hard across the face with a brutal punch.
Boom!
He was slammed into the wall, leaving an impression of his body in the stone. It hurt, but more than that, he was shocked. He was an elite Jonin, but he was being crushed without any opportunity to counterattack.
"Unbelievable!" he roared, freeing himself from the wall and glaring furiously. "You asked for this, Uchiha brat!"
Being beaten like this by a mere brat, getting overwhelmed from start to finish—it was humiliating. If word got back, the Tsuchikage might take his head off!
"Enjoying the show? Ready to jump in?" Uchiha Sogetsu brushed off the dust from his clothes and took a moment to catch his breath.
He looked up at Pakura in the stands and said calmly, "Don't make me ask twice. You all, come at me together."
This was a rare opportunity for him. He wanted to make the most of this moment to build his reputation in Konoha.
After all, reputation would play an essential role in his future plans for the upcoming rituals for promotion to higher Sequence.
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