Boom.
The fireball violently collided with the middle fire dragon, producing a deafening explosion sound. Flames splashed everywhere, temporarily obscuring vision.
Taking advantage of the shockwave and light from the explosion as cover, Sora, in the Gate of Life state, decisively chose to beastify his legs. Like a green bolt of lightning, he almost skimmed the ground and narrowly slipped through the gap under the fire impact.
The speed was at its extreme.
Boom.
Boom.
The other two fire dragons also slammed into the ground where Sora had just been standing at almost the same moment. With a dull thud, gravel flew and two charred deep pits were instantly blasted into the ground.
Across from him, Uchiha Takumi had just finished releasing the Great Fire Annihilation technique and was in a brief period of chakra adjustment. His Sharingan was also momentarily dazzled by the intense explosion light.
At the very moment his vision recovered, a fist wrapped in green energy was rapidly enlarging in his pupils.
"What. So fast." Uchiha Takumi had no time to make any effective reaction. He could only barely raise his arms to block.
Thud.
A heavy, dull impact sound rang out.
Sora's fist, wreathed in green currents, solidly struck Uchiha Takumi's crossed blocking arms.
The powerful force far exceeded before. Uchiha Takumi only felt an irresistible, immense force transmitted. His arms ached sharply, and his entire body flew backward uncontrollably.
Splash.
A dull splash sounded. Uchiha Takumi was directly smashed into the small river beside them, sending up a splash half a person's height.
He struggled a few times. With his high offense but low defense, he couldn't get up immediately and could only lean on the stones at the bank, panting heavily. His soaked clothes clung tightly to his body, looking utterly disheveled.
For a moment, only the crackling of burning flames and the sound of the green currents surging around Sora's body remained in the field.
Might Duy and Guy were dumbstruck, their mouths agape.
Sora slowly dispersed the Eight Inner Gates state, breathing slightly heavily. He looked at Uchiha Takumi lying in the distance and spoke calmly, "Takumi senior, I accept your concession."
He knew he had won by a fluke.
If Uchiha Takumi hadn't been wary of the dragon's aura and dared not use powerful genjutsu, if he himself hadn't decisively beastified and used the explosion as cover to close in, the outcome would still be uncertain.
With just a single tomoe, he possessed such strength. The Uchiha clan truly lived up to their reputation.
Uchiha Takumi clutched his numb, painful arm and struggled to sit up. Looking at Sora standing there, his breathing gradually steadying, his face was filled with shock, unwillingness, and a hint of complexity.
He had lost. Lost to an orphan less than seven years old with a meager amount of chakra.
And moreover, lost on the Great Fireball technique he had personally taught.
Uchiha Takumi gritted his teeth but ultimately said dejectedly:
"... I lost. According to our agreement, if Ryota troubles you again in the future, I will discipline him. The scroll for the Phoenix Flower technique, I will have someone deliver it tomorrow."
After speaking, he stood up somewhat awkwardly, took a deep look at Sora, turned, and silently left. His back looked somewhat desolate.
"You won. Sora. You're amazing." Guy quickly rushed over, shouting excitedly.
Might Duy also walked over and vigorously patted Sora's shoulder, his eyes full of gratification and excitement:
"Well done, Sora. You have perfectly mastered the power of the first three gates of the Eight Inner Gates. This is the victory of burning youth."
Sora smiled, feeling the slight soreness in his body transmitted from opening the gates, and the warm sensation of the Azure Dragon Fruit's power quietly repairing these injuries. His heart was filled with great confidence regarding future threats.
As for the term 'Ryota troubling him' mentioned by Uchiha Takumi, Sora didn't pay it any mind.
Because as long as one was a normal person, after the previous two experiences, they would absolutely not think of troubling Sora again. That would be seeking death.
"Senior Duy, Guy, let's end training here today. I need to go back and rest."
The sun was already about to set, so Sora spoke directly.
Although Sora's physique was formidable and he didn't need long rest after the fight, the cuts on his arms from the shuriken were already almost healed. If he didn't go back and someone discovered it, it would be troublesome.
Might Duy, upon hearing this, patted Sora's shoulder. "Good kid. You fought passionately enough today. You should go back and rest properly. Youth also needs a balance of work and rest."
Guy also chimed in, "Sora, you rest well. Tomorrow we'll train together again, five hundred squats. I'll definitely be able to keep up with your speed then."
As he spoke, he also gave a thumbs up.
Sora looked at this energetic father and son pair and couldn't help but smile. "Alright, see you tomorrow."
After speaking, he picked up his jacket and turned to walk in the direction of the orphanage.
...
Uchiha Clan Compound.
At this time, the Uchiha clan still lived on the outskirts of Konoha Village. Although they were viewed with suspicion due to Madara's rebellion, the Nine-Tails incident had not yet occurred.
After leaving the sight of Sora and the others, Uchiha Takumi also increased his speed to leave.
Now, dragging his slightly heavy steps, he walked on the streets of the Uchiha compound.
Occasionally, Uchiha clansmen wearing fan-patterned clothes passed by, nodding to each other, but rarely engaging in the warm, casual greetings seen among villagers outside. The air was filled with an atmosphere interwoven with arrogance and aloofness.
Uchiha Takumi was long accustomed to all this.
He walked straight to a not particularly conspicuous but very clean and tidy residence. This was the home he shared with his younger brother, Uchiha Ryota.
Their parents had died during the Second Shinobi World War, so the two brothers depended on each other.
Pushing open the front door, the entranceway felt somewhat desolate.
"Brother. Is that you back." A somewhat weak voice came from the bedroom.
Uchiha Takumi pushed open the bedroom door. He saw Uchiha Ryota lying prone on the bed, covered with a thin blanket. The exposed parts of his arms and face still showed some purplish bruises, left over from being "educated" by Sora a few days earlier.
However, they were all superficial wounds. With a shinobi's recovery ability, they were indeed mostly healed, though he still looked somewhat disheveled.
"Hm." Takumi responded, walked over, sat down, and poured himself a cup of water.
Uchiha Ryota struggled to turn on his side. Seeing his brother's wet clothes and the clearly unpleasant expression on his face, his heart skipped a beat. A bad premonition welled up in his heart.
"Brother... you... you went to find that Sora."
"Hm."
"Then... what was the result."
Uchiha Ryota held his breath, looking nervously at his brother.
Although he had been beaten badly by Sora, his brother was a talented chunin in the clan, possessing the Sharingan and formidable strength.
Even though his brother had also lost to Sora last time, that was a match under various constrained conditions and not a reliable reference.
Therefore, deep down, he still harbored a sliver of hope, hoping his brother could salvage a bit of the Uchiha clan's pride for him.
Uchiha Takumi set down the water cup, remained silent for a moment, and finally said honestly, "I lost."
Two simple words, but they struck Uchiha Ryota's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Lost... lost."
"How is that possible. How could you lose to that guy, Brother. He's clearly just a..."
Uchiha Ryota's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
"He is a true genius, Ryota." Uchiha Takumi interrupted his brother's words, speaking in a calm tone.
"His taijutsu far surpasses his peers. His reaction speed is extremely fast. His combat awareness is even more terrifying. And... his Great Fireball is used better than many clansmen."
Uchiha Ryota felt his worldview was being shaken. That orphan with ant-like chakra had actually defeated his brother.
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