Hayate's eyes snapped open, and with a swift turn of his wrist, his blade shot forward like a silver flash—a strike as fast and relentless as a hunting predator.
Hui felt the danger before he saw it. His instincts screamed, and before Hayate's blade could reach him, his fingers blurred through hand signs. In a puff of smoke, Hui vanished—his replacement log splitting apart beneath Hayate's blade.
"Boom!"
The air rippled with the force of the strike, sending Hayate skidding back. Dust kicked up in waves, masking the aftermath. Through the haze, Hayate's silhouette shifted, already rising back to his feet.
From the sidelines, Yūgao Uzuki watched anxiously. Her eyes flicked between the swirling dust and the faint outline of Uchiha Hui. She had worried Hui would get overwhelmed—but so far, the five-year-old prodigy was holding his ground. Maybe even turning the tide.
Nearby, Kotetsu Hagane jabbed Izumo Kamizuki's arm. "Still think Hayate's got this?"
Izumo scratched his chin, staring at the battlefield. "He just got careless," he muttered. "He'll turn it around." But his voice lacked conviction.
The crowd murmured louder.
"Uchiha's dominating!"
"Did you see that? That taijutsu was insane!"
"Isn't Hayate supposed to be the fastest in the school? What's happening?"
Meanwhile, Hyuga Yufumi leaned back with a smug grin. "Your little 'hero' is in trouble," he sneered at Yūgao. "You sure you're not worried about him?"
Yūgao's gaze stayed locked on the field. "Shut up," she muttered through gritted teeth.
The dust settled, revealing Hayate's scowling face. His clothes were scuffed, his cheek streaked with dirt. He snatched his scabbard from the ground and slid his sword back in.
"That won't happen again," Hayate muttered. His grip tightened on the hilt, veins bulging beneath his skin. "I was careless. Just once."
Hui didn't respond. He formed a quick seal, and with a muted 'pop,' a shadowy clone flickered to life beside him. The clone stood motionless—silent and still as a statue.
Hayate's eyes narrowed. "That's just a basic clone," he scoffed. "What's the point?"
Hui's answer came in movement. He shot forward like a dart, racing straight at Hayate.
Hayate tensed. His ribs still ached from Hui's earlier kicks, and he knew another taijutsu assault would be brutal. He adjusted his stance, blade ready to intercept.
But Hui didn't strike. Mid-sprint, Hui planted his foot, dropped low, and sprang upward. His hands moved in a blur.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The air sizzled, and a blazing sphere erupted from Hui's mouth, roaring toward Hayate with the heat of a furnace.
"Damn it!" Hayate twisted away just in time, the fireball slamming into the ground where he'd stood. The blast tore through the earth, leaving a smoldering crater and sending chunks of stone flying.
From across the field, Hayate's voice rang out: "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, two identical Hayates appeared beside him, each one gripping a drawn blade. The trio stared Hui down with cold intensity.
"That's..." one of the teachers murmured from the sidelines. "The Shadow Clone Jutsu! A B-rank technique... and in a school match?"
"Shadow clones aren't like normal clones," another instructor added. "They can fight... and they can use jutsu."
On the field, Hui's eyes narrowed. Beneath his sunglasses, the blood-red glow of the Sharingan flickered to life, tomoe spinning slowly in his irises.