As the sun rose over the Uchiha training grounds, Ryuuji took his position on the battlefield, his heart steady and his gaze focused. His opponent, the strongest Genin of the Uchiha clan, wore a confident smirk as he stretched, casting glances toward the audience as if he'd already won.
The referee cleared his throat, calling out to the combatants. "This is a formal sparring match between Uchiha Ryuuji and Uchiha Xia Yu. Taijutsu only—no ninjutsu, no genjutsu, and definitely no weapons."
'Hmph. It worked.' Ryuuji inwardly smirked.
The reason being, that he found a loophole in the quest.
What was the loophole?
Simple. The System said he had to win using only Taijutsu. However, it didn't say that his opponent also couldn't be limited to using Taijutsu just like himself.
'Huh? Wait a minute.' Ryuuji realized something.
'The opponent's name is Uchiha Xia Yu? Pfft! The heck? The name sounds familiar, where have I heard if before.'
'Oh! That's right! It's the same name of the MC from another Naruto fanfic. Haah... I remember losing my brain cells reading that. It still gives me the shivers. But, I think that's to be expected considering it was an off-brand Chinese fanfic.'
'I've got an excellent idea.'
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. The restriction was particularly daunting for Ryuuji; he was known more for his sharp intellect and ninjutsu skills. Yet, as Ryuuji looked up, he caught his grandfather Elder Jima's watchful eyes, full of pride and trust. Today, he was here to prove himself, not just to his clan, but to himself. And he'd do it with nothing but pure, unfiltered hand-to-hand combat.
"Hey! Uchiha Xia Yu!" Ryuuji called out.
"What?" Xia Yu responded voice dripping with disdain.
"Want to make a bet?" Ryuuji asked.
'Hmm... well, I've got nothing to lose since I'm the one who's going to win.' Xia Yu thought to himself.
"Fine. What's it about?" Xia Yu asked.
"Simple. If you win I'll give you 100000 ryo. However, if I win, you'll change your name to Bob Uchiha." Ryuuji said trying to suppress his laughter.
"You. Are you making fun of me?" Xia Yu asked upon hearing the conditions of the bet.
"Not at all. Anyway, is it a yes or no?" Ryuuji asked with a teasing smile on his face.
"Hmph! Since this is basically getting money for free, I agree." Xia Yu agreed with a snort.
"Are you both ready?" the referee asked.
"Yes," Xia Yu replied, clenching his fists.
Ryuuji nodded, assuming his fighting stance.
"Hajime!"
Xia Yu dashed forward, wasting no time as he closed the distance with impressive speed. He threw a powerful punch aimed at Ryuuji's torso, but Ryuuji had trained long and hard with his grandfather and saw the attack coming. He pivoted to the side just in time, letting Xia Yu's fist miss him by inches.
Xia Yu narrowed his eyes, already irritated that his first strike had missed. He swung again, this time aiming low, and Ryuuji sidestepped, moving with a calm that was borderline infuriating to his opponent. As Xia Yu continued his relentless assault of punches and kicks, Ryuuji focused on dodging, and observing the patterns in Xia Yu's movements. His opponent was quick, but he was letting his frustration lead him—a mistake Ryuuji was more than ready to exploit.
Xia Yu's next strike came with even more force, his fist flying straight toward Ryuuji's face. This time, instead of dodging, Ryuuji blocked the punch, catching Xia Yu's wrist in mid-air. In one swift motion, Ryuuji twisted Xia Yu's arm and pulled, forcing him off balance. Using his momentum against him, Ryuuji brought his knee up to Xia Yu's midsection, but Xia Yu twisted just in time to avoid the full impact.
The crowd murmured with appreciation; it was clear that both fighters were skilled, and neither was willing to give in easily.
Up on the platform, Elder Jima watched with a proud glint in his eye, his arms folded as he exchanged glances with the other elders.
"Not bad," he muttered, his voice carrying an undercurrent of satisfaction. He knew his grandson was facing a fierce opponent, but he was confident in Ryuuji's abilities.
Xia Yu growled, his pride stung. "Stop dodging and fight me properly!" he snarled, throwing a high kick toward Ryuuji's head.
Ryuuji ducked under the kick, and as Xia Yu'sfoot passed above him, he shot forward, ramming his shoulder into Xia Yu's chest. Xia Yu staggered back, clutching his ribs as he glared at Ryuuji.
"You'll pay for that!"
Xia Yu advanced again, his movements wild with anger. His Sharingan activated, its one tomoe spinning in his eyes as he tried to anticipate Ryuuji's next move. But Ryuuji had noticed a key flaw in Xia Yu's strategy—he was relying on his Sharingan, assuming it would give him an edge. However, the Sharingan could only predict moves if the user's mind was calm and focused.
Ryuuji smirked. "What's the matter, Xia Yu? You're not looking so confident anymore. Do you like the name Bob Uchiha so much, that you're trying to lose this miserably?"
Xia Yu's face reddened with rage, and he charged forward, fists flying. But Ryuuji remained calm, allowing Xia Yu to come closer before slipping under a punch and sweeping his leg around. His foot connected with Xia Yu's ankle, and before he could react, Xia Yu found himself sprawled on the ground.
The crowd gasped, and Xia Yu scrambled to his feet, more furious than ever. He rushed at Ryuuji, throwing a punch aimed directly at his jaw. This time, Ryuuji sidestepped and brought his elbow down, intercepting Xia Yu's punch and forcing his arm down. Xia Yu tried to counter, but Ryuuji quickly shifted his weight and used his shoulder to shove Xia Yu back.
"Is that all you've got?" Ryuuji taunted, his voice steady.
Xia Yu gritted his teeth, his Sharingan whirling with desperation as he attempted to keep up with Ryuuji's fluid movements. In a burst of fury, he leaped forward, aiming a spinning kick at Ryuuji's chest.
But Ryuuji was ready. He shifted his weight, pivoting on his back foot as he spun around Xia Yu's kick. Before Xia Yu could regain his balance, Ryuuji stepped forward and delivered a powerful punch to Xia Yu's midsection, forcing him to stumble back. Seizing the opportunity, Ryuuji followed up with a swift sequence of strikes, each one landing precisely, breaking Xia Yu's guard.
Xia Yu staggered, gasping for breath, his face flushed and eyes wide with disbelief. Ryuuji stepped back, lowering his fists. "You've got speed, Xia Yu, but that won't help if you let anger cloud your mind. Fighting is about more than just strength."
Xia Yu glared, but he couldn't deny the truth in Ryuuji's words. He charged forward one last time, determination etched on his face. But this time, his movements were slower, more hesitant. Ryuuji easily dodged his punch and retaliated with a clean uppercut that sent Xia Yu stumbling back, finally landing on his knees, unable to continue.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand. "The winner is Uchiha Ryuuji!"
The crowd erupted into applause, and Ryuuji straightened up, taking a moment to steady his breathing. He glanced up at his grandfather, who gave him a small nod of approval, a proud smile tugging at his lips. The other elders whispered among themselves, clearly impressed by Ryuuji's skill in taijutsu alone.
Xia Yu, still kneeling on the ground, looked up at Ryuuji, his face a mixture of frustration and admiration. Ryuuji offered him a hand. "You fought well, Xia Yu no... Bob. You just need to stay focused."
Bob took his hand reluctantly, pulling himself up.
"Yeah… thanks." His expression softened, and he managed a small smile. "Guess I've still got a lot to learn."
Although he didn't like the name Bob, he was a man of his word and wasn't going to fuss about it. And, if he was being honest, Bob Uchiha sounded better than Xia Yu Uchiha.
With the match over, Ryuuji walked off the field, his head held high. Today, he had proven not just his strength but his control, his discipline. Elder Jima met him at the edge of the battlefield, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've done well, Ryuuji. But remember, this is only the beginning."
Ryuuji nodded, determination burning in his eyes. The road ahead was long, but he was ready for whatever challenges lay in his path.