Chapter 45: The Battle Against Uchiha Tetsuhi (Please Support with Monthly Votes)

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Shimura Torii was a figure Genichi Kusashita had no recollection of whatsoever. However, he did remember Uchiha Tetsuka—the future backbone of the Uchiha clan, a wielder of the three-tomoe Sharingan, a Konoha jonin, a key member of the security division, and once an opponent of Uchiha Itachi.

Genichi Kusashita could hardly believe that this guy was his contemporary.

“Genichi, you need to be careful. Tetsuka is a genius of the Uchiha clan, proficient in genjutsu, swordsmanship, and fire style jutsu. Right now, he has a single tomoe.”

“At our age, I’m no match for him,” Kusashita was warned by Uchiha Namiichi.

Namiichi was currently seventeen years old, while Uchiha Tetsuka, only ten, was already renowned within the Uchiha clan.

“Thanks, I understand!” Kusashita nodded and then leapt down from the stands.

Uchiha Tetsuka had a small black mole between his eyebrows and was about a head shorter than Kusashita.

At the examiners’ signal, the two took their positions on opposite sides.

“Ready!”

“Begin!”

The examiner gave the command.

The battle commenced, but Uchiha Tetsuka did not immediately charge forward. Instead, he leapt backward, waving both hands, unleashing a volley of shurikens toward Kusashita.

Kusashita was armed with two blades: a long sword hanging at his waist and a short dagger tucked behind his back. He swiftly drew the short dagger and blocked every shuriken.

After landing, Uchiha Tetsuka took to the air again, continuing his shuriken assault until a ring of blades surrounded Kusashita.

When the last shuriken was deflected, Kusashita didn’t hesitate to sheath his blade and form hand seals.

Water Style — Water Wall Formation!

Spitting out a stream of water, Kusashita created a curtain of water that swirled around him in a circular, spiraling ascent, culminating in an inverted bell-shaped barrier overhead.

This scene stunned everyone who had never seen Kusashita perform Water Style jutsu.

There was no water source nearby!

Meanwhile, Uchiha Tetsuka, suspended in midair and clutching iron wires to form a cage of steel mesh around Kusashita, was also taken aback.

Yet, the arrow was already drawn, and the seals silently completed. Tetsuka opened his mouth and expelled a torrent of blazing flames that rapidly spread down the iron wires.

Manipulating shurikens!

Fire Style — Dragon Flame Technique!

The Uchiha clan’s signature move. Just from this attack, Kusashita knew Namiichi’s warning was no exaggeration.

Without hesitation, Kusashita sheathed his blade and relied on Water Style.

Uchiha Tetsuka’s offense was undeniably fierce, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.

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Even as Uchiha Tetsuka raised the iron wires to form a dense net trapping Kusashita, many thought Kusashita was doomed.

Even the examiners subtly raised their hands, ready to intervene.

They knew well that once the shuriken manipulation was complete, the next move would be the Uchiha clan’s famed Fire Style.

But they never expected Kusashita to react so swiftly, nor to wield Water Style so brilliantly.

A genin level?

Kusashita’s Water Style immediately drew all eyes.

Uchiha Tetsuka’s shuriken manipulation was excellent and stylish—so much so that even jonin present might not perform as well.

Yet, it paled in comparison to Kusashita’s Water Style.

In an instant, Kusashita became the center of attention.

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t help but remark, “Genichi’s Water Style has improved again!”

Compared to before, it was clear Kusashita’s control over Water Style had grown enormously.

Hashirama Senju smiled and said, “Genichi’s talent in Water Style is exceptional; he might even surpass the Second Hokage.”

Danzo Shimura looked at Kusashita, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Of course, he didn’t suggest Kusashita go to the root village.

Even if Sarutobi ordered that, Danzo wouldn’t trust it.

Excellent Water Style?

Surpassing his own teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama?

So what?

Was mastery of Water Style the only measure of a shinobi?

If Kusashita relied solely on Water Style, his ceiling would be jonin at best—he wouldn’t become a powerhouse like Hashirama Senju.

Nor would he reach the heights of the Legendary Sannin.

In Danzo’s eyes, Kusashita’s performance was indeed dazzling—more so than the previous Kakashi.

But his potential was far less than Kakashi’s.

…

On the battlefield, roaring flames surged down the iron wires, clashing with the water swirling around Kusashita, erupting in thunderous crashes and thick plumes of steam that obscured everyone’s vision.

Uchiha Tetsuka landed and immediately yanked again.

One by one, the iron wires constricted toward the center, aiming to bind Kusashita.

This was only the chuunin exam, not a real battle, so Tetsuka had initially confined Kusashita in a steel cage before unleashing the Fire Style.

That would only cause minor injuries.

Now, this next step could directly bind Kusashita with iron wires.

Though impressed by Kusashita’s formidable Water Style, Uchiha Tetsuka’s fighting spirit surged.

He decided to unleash his full strength.

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Within the rising steam, the previously invisible iron wires became clear to Kusashita.

He drew his short dagger again, which hummed as it was covered with Wind Style chakra.

It wasn’t that only chakra blades could be infused with chakra; chakra blades simply consumed less chakra, unleashed greater power, and allowed remote control to perform ninjutsu.

Danzo had once used an ordinary kunai infused with Wind Style chakra to create a vacuum blade.

Killer Bee covered his pen with Lightning Style chakra and threw it, piercing a giant tree.

Now Kusashita hurled his short dagger, effortlessly slicing through a steel wire.

The trap was broken.

Feeling the sudden slack in the taut wires, Uchiha Tetsuka instantly understood.

He released his grip and drew his ninja sword, charging forward.

The steam gradually cleared.

Seeing Tetsuka rushing in, Kusashita decided against close combat with swordsmanship.

With a sweeping motion of his arms, the dispersed steam condensed into water, spinning upward like a top, then surged forward in waves toward Uchiha Tetsuka.

Tetsuka’s eyelids twitched wildly as he swung his sword, colliding fire waves against the water waves, instantly raising steam again.

He cleaved through the first wave of water and immediately leapt aside to avoid the following currents.

But Kusashita’s hand seals were relentless. Before Tetsuka could land, a water dragon coalesced from the rising water, snapping down at him.

Tetsuka’s expression changed. He dropped his sword, formed hand seals with both hands, and spat out a fiery line that gathered into a ball and exploded.

The diving water dragon burst into mist, and heavy droplets rained down.

Tetsuka also descended, his face flushed, with arms as red as cooked shrimp.

He was injured!

Though the burns were not severe.

Their eyes met—Uchiha Tetsuka’s Sharingan locked with Kusashita’s gaze.

Sharingan — Genjutsu!

Kusashita blinked and formed the tiger seal.

Genjutsu — Darkness Walking Technique!

Instantly, Uchiha Tetsuka was blinded.

“This guy completely ignored my genjutsu. How is this possible?” Tetsuka was shocked.

“Also, this… I’ve been deprived of my vision by him?”

“Could it be the Darkness Walking Technique? He actually mastered such an extraordinarily difficult genjutsu!”

Uchiha Tetsuka was stunned and remained frozen in place.

He was an Uchiha, yet had fallen victim to a genjutsu from a younger genin!