Among the ranks behind Uchiha Tonghu, several figures froze the instant they recognized Uchiha Yuan.
Uchiha Gaozai, Uchiha Qingcang, and a few others stared at the unmoving figure standing ahead. After the initial shock, their expressions turned complicated.
So that guy… is our new squad captain.
Only a few days ago, they had personally experienced Yuan's terrifying strength.
The memory of having their bodies completely hijacked—moving like puppets without any control—made fear flicker uncontrollably across their faces.
"So that's Uchiha Yuan…"
"Can Brother Tonghu really beat him?"
At that moment, a trace of wariness flashed through Tonghu's eyes.
The reason he had stopped was simple—an abrupt warning had surged through his instincts.
He had intended to suppress Yuan with sheer presence, to force him back through pressure alone. Yet the moment he closed to within a few steps of Yuan, a sharp sense of danger erupted in his mind.
If he took even one more step forward, something terrible would happen.
This kid is dangerous.
Tonghu sized Yuan up from head to toe, silently reaching that conclusion.
Tonghu actually stopped… I thought he'd strike immediately.
What happens now?
Did Tonghu sense the danger too?
The gazes of the other eight squad captains shifted back and forth between Yuan and Tonghu.
They all knew Tonghu's strength well. He was no weaker than any of them and fully qualified to hold a captain's position.
Boom!
Suddenly, an overwhelming, tyrannical aura erupted from Yuan's body.
So strong!
The eight squad captains' expressions changed instantly, shock flashing across their faces.
Tonghu's face paled. He felt a terrifying killing intent lock onto him.
"You dare show such audacity."
Yuan abruptly raised his eyes and looked straight at Tonghu.
A violent gale roared outward from his body.
Nearby Police Force members were forced to stagger backward under the pressure, leaving a rapidly expanding empty zone around Yuan.
Tonghu's eyes gleamed with ferocity as he glared at Yuan.
"Brat, let me see whether you're really worthy of being a squad captain."
"Hmph."
Yuan snorted coldly.
In that instant, everyone present felt as though a thunderclap had exploded beside their ears.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ground in front of Yuan shattered in an instant, exploding apart as an invisible shockwave surged straight toward Tonghu.
Cries of alarm rang out as several Police Force members who failed to dodge in time were blasted into the air.
Tonghu reacted instantly. Just before the shockwave reached him, he vanished with Body Flicker, reappearing midair.
Sharp whistling sounds followed.
Tonghu's hands swept behind his waist, then snapped forward together.
Eight kunai shot out like bolts of lightning toward Yuan.
Yuan stamped his foot. A chunk of stone leapt up before him.
He flicked a finger against it.
Whoosh!
The stone shattered, fragments exploding outward and striking the incoming kunai, knocking them aside.
But at that moment, Tonghu hurled several shuriken.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
As his hand seals completed, the number of shuriken multiplied instantly, forming a dense web that enveloped Yuan from all sides.
Yuan's hands brushed past his waist, a kunai appearing in his grip as he slashed toward the incoming weapons.
For a moment, the air filled with the clash of metal and the dull detonations of exploding ninja tools.
Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, several strange detonations rang out.
Three of the shuriken abruptly changed trajectory, slipping past Yuan's blade before transforming midair into massive Fūma Shuriken, each one flying straight at him.
Yuan flipped backward, narrowly dodging one.
But the remaining two crossed paths around him, looping once before tightening.
Only then did it become clear—nearly invisible steel wire connected the Fūma Shuriken.
It was this wire that allowed their flight paths to change so abruptly.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Seeing the wire bind around Yuan, Tonghu broke into a triumphant grin. He roared, hands flashing through seals.
The next instant, a surging, dragon-shaped torrent of flames burst from his mouth, racing along the steel wire straight toward Yuan.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the roaring flames engulfed him.
Yet almost simultaneously, Tonghu's expression changed.
He felt it—the steel wire had snapped.
The flames shrouding Yuan shattered in an instant.
From within them, a terrifying slash tore free.
Tonghu twisted violently.
A razor-sharp arc grazed past him.
A few strands of hair drifted down.
When Tonghu landed, he discovered that part of his sleeve—and a section of hair at his temple—had been cleanly severed.
He turned to look.
Yuan still stood there, frozen in the posture of a completed slash.
Their eyes met.
Tonghu's vision blurred—and Yuan vanished.
Not good!
Tonghu realized the danger too late.
A tremendous force slammed into his back.
Yuan appeared behind him in a flash and drove a kick into his spine.
Tonghu was launched dozens of meters away, crashing into the training field and carving out a massive crater.
Before he could climb out—
A figure flashed behind him.
Yuan appeared again and delivered another kick, sending Tonghu flying once more.
This time, Tonghu was kicked straight into the air.
Damn it!
Where is that brat?!
Tonghu steadied himself midair, frantically searching for Yuan's position.
He could clearly feel it—those two kicks had been deliberate humiliation.
The realization filled him with rage.
On the training field, countless Police Force members stared upward.
So fast!
Before their eyes, Yuan flickered into existence above Tonghu's head, his leg descending like a massive axe.
Found you!
At the critical moment, Tonghu snapped his head up.
Scarlet eyes met scarlet eyes—three tomoe spinning as his Sharingan locked onto Yuan.
Boom!
Yuan's kick was forced off course, but it still grazed Tonghu.
Tonghu's body shot downward like a cannonball, smashing straight into the ground.
Almost at the same time, Yuan landed lightly and stood still, unmoving.
"Hahaha!"
Tonghu burst into laughter as he leapt out of the crater, blood streaming from his mouth and nose.
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly as he stared at Yuan in triumph.
"I admit your taijutsu is terrifying. But in the end, you still fell to my Sharingan."
Not far away, Uchiha Xun frowned as he watched Yuan standing motionless.
"It looks like Yuan was caught in Tonghu's genjutsu," he said. "Seems like he's lost."
Beside him, Uchiha Yi spoke calmly,
"I heard he hasn't awakened the clan's bloodline yet. What a pity. Only the Sharingan can defeat the Sharingan."
Some people die… but they don't die completely.
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