Chapter 10: Flying Slash

'Interesting!

He is actually excited.

Just as the Third Hokage said, this kid is a lunatic.

Sasuke, the difference between you and him is that you're not crazy enough.'

Itachi thought after seeing Ryujiro.

"It seems you're ready."

"So..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Itachi's figure had already disappeared. Ryujiro was well aware that it was impossible for him to defeat Itachi head-on with his current strength.

The gap between himself and a shinobi of the Kage level was huge, but even so, Ryujiro hoped to unleash his full potential. 

Even if there was only a slight chance of defeating Itachi, he was unwilling to give up.

Two figures intertwined in battle.

"Clang!"

Two sparks burst forth, and Itachi's expression turned serious as he looked at the piece of kunai shaved off in his hand.

What kind of sword was that?

It could even shave off kunai.

Moreover, this kid's swordsmanship had reached a terrifying level. 

Although it was not enough to pose a threat to him, just from this initial probing, Itachi felt that even a Jonin might not be able to match Ryujiro at the moment.

The ground was marked with sketches. Although the incomplete Flying Slashes did not have the power of an A-rank ninjutsu, it was enough to give Itachi some trouble.

Figures darted around.

Substitution Jutsu! Body Flicker Jutsu! Shadow Clone Jutsu!

While diligently practicing swordsmanship, Ryujiro didn't forget his identity as a shinobi.

He had learned most of these jutsu from the scrolls his parents had left in the house.

"So you've mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu as well."

"Truly a genius."

Itachi sighed inwardly.

The gap between Sasuke and Ryujiro was too great. Was this kid really just a civilian?

If Itachi had witnessed Ryujiro's training, perhaps he wouldn't think so.

As the figures darted around and the river surged, influenced by Ryujiro's swordsmanship, a straight cut mark appeared on the river due to the impact.

'Not enough!'

'Not enough!'

Sweat dripped from Ryujiro's forehead.

By now, he was soaked through, but facing Itachi's, Ryujiro found himself increasingly enjoying the feeling of this battle.

At this moment, it seemed like he had grasped something, and he swung his sword, Ame no Habakiri, down!

"Whoosh!"

A dark red light flashed, and the dazzling Flying Slash pierced through the sky!

A fierce shockwave swept around, and the ground cracked for tens of meters where the Flying Slash landed.

At this moment, Itachi finally felt a sense of crisis.

Fire Style! Great Fireball Jutsu!

"Tear—!"

The Flying Slash was a pure slash, not a ninjutsu formed from chakra, and while the Great Fireball Jutsu was terrifying, it was split in half under the impact of the Flying Slash.

With a rumble, a huge wave surged like a category eight hurricane, shaking the surrounding area, and the ground and trees trembled.

The moment the slash touched the ground, a deep crater appeared on the ground.

Thick smoke covered the surroundings in an instant. 

Itachi, who had escaped using the Substitution Jutsu, looked at the destruction on the ground in shock, unable to calm down for a long time.

"What was that just now?"

"Ninjutsu?"

"But the attack just now didn't seem to have chakra properties."

"If I hadn't dodged..."

Itachi's gaze towards Ryujiro became more solemn. If he remembered correctly, Ryujiro was only eight years old at the time.

Seeing him he remembered Kakashi, who graduated early from the ninja academy, only became a Jonin at the age of twelve.

But to think the strength of this boy was comparable to a Jonin was simply unimaginable, especially the slashing technique that puzzled Itachi. 

What was the light that flew out?

"Hah..."

Ryujiro gasped for breath, collapsing weakly on the ground. At this point, he had completely depleted his strength.

He succeeded.

In battling with Itachi, a Kage-level shinobi, he had successfully crossed into the realm of Sword Mastery and unleashed the Flying Slash!

"What a strange guy."

Itachi looked at the collapsed Ryujiro on the ground and couldn't help but murmur.

The next moment, his figure disappeared.

Meanwhile after a while someone arrived at the scene, it was Hinata.

As Hinata rushed over, seeing Ryujiro collapsed on the ground and the terrifying craters on the ground, she shouted anxiously, "Ryujiro-kun!"

Hinata helped Ryujiro up.

Looking at Hinata in front of him with exhaustion, Ryujiro still smiled.

"It's you, Hinata."

"Ryujiro-kun, are you okay? What happened here?"

Hinata looked at Ryujiro, whose face was full of exhaustion and dust, feeling extremely distressed, her eyes becoming somewhat moist.

"Why are you crying? I'm fine."

"I just had a fight with someone and got a bit tired."

"Hinata, could you please help me get up?"

Hinata wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and softly replied, "Yes."

With Hinata's support, Ryujiro walked out of the woods step by step, and their bond quickly warmed as a result.

---

"What?!"

"You're saying that Ryujiro's strength is already comparable to that of a Jonin?!"

Hiruzen exclaimed in shock, his eyes revealing astonishment.

Itachi nodded.

"Hah!"

Hiruzen took a deep breath, finding it hard to calm down internally.

Eight years old!

Ryujiro was only eight years old!

Kakashi didn't become a Jonin until he was twelve, although becoming a Jonin and reaching the strength of a Jonin were different matters.

But having Jonin-level strength at the age of seven was unheard of.

At this moment, Danzo entered the room!

"Hiruzen, Leave Ryujiro to me!"

"I will definitely nurture him into the most outstanding shinobi!"

Hiruzen looked at Danzo coldly.

"I won't hand him over to you and let him become a ruthless killing machine, Danzo!"

"Don't even think about it, Danzo! I won't let that happen!"

Hiruzen's tone was firm.

"Why don't you understand, Sarutobi!"

"Enough!" Hiruzen rebuked, "My decision will be final after all, I am the Hokage."

Danzo looked at Hiruzen with a grim expression, then left the Hokage's office.

Itachi, who had remained silent on the side, had nothing to do with the affair between the Hokage and Danzo, but he did have something to report to Hiruzen.

"Hokage-sama, recently there has been increasing dissatisfaction within the clan. Father also spoke to me about it yesterday."

Itachi spoke slowly.

Listening to Itachi's words, Hiruzen felt even more headache.

One thing after another.

Couldn't that guy Danzo be a bit more peaceful?

Right now, the matter concerning the Uchiha clan was more important.

"Itachi, I leave the Uchiha clan's matter to you. With Shisui gone, you are the only one who can persuade the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen emphasized.

"Hokage-sama, I will do my best."

"Good."

After saying that, Hiruzen watched Itachi's departing figure, sinking back into deep thought.

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