In the arena.
The battle had not started yet.
But the venue was already extremely lively.
Discussion broke out all over the stands.
Everyone was paying close attention to the upcoming match.
"Konoha's strongest genius, Seiryū, the disciple of the Sannin Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama, I keep hearing that name. I wonder if he can defeat someone from the Uchiha clan?"
"I think it's a bit doubtful. There's a gap of several years between them. Back in the selection matches, that guy defeated Kumo's Genin with a single genjutsu. And his eyes seem to be the three-tomoe Sharingan. Most Uchiha with three tomoe are already Jōnin in their villages!"
"That's true. Even if he doesn't have Jōnin-level strength, he should still be among the best of the Chunin."
"As long as the conditions are met, the Chunin Exam doesn't consider age. Iwa sent youths around twenty years old, and Konoha even has one guy who looks middle-aged."
"Luck is also part of strength."
A lot of people did not think Seiryū would win.
After all, his opponent was older.
And he was an Uchiha with three tomoe.
That kind of gap was hard to overcome.
Even though Seiryū had the title of strongest genius and was the disciple of the Sannin Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama.
His age was something that could not be changed.
Somewhere in the stands.
Uchiha Ryōta looked at the two facing each other below, his eyes full of confidence in his older brother.
But he was also a little nervous. "Come on, Nii-san, you'll definitely beat him!!"
Back at the Academy, he often challenged Seiryū during practical lessons.
And without exception, he always lost.
During his time at the Academy.
He had always been suppressed by Seiryū and Kakashi, permanently stuck in third place.
Although he was very confident in his brother's strength, his brother's opponent was Seiryū, that strongest genius.
So he was still a little nervous.
Beside Ryōta sat the Uchiha clan's great elder, Uchiha Setsuna.
"Ryōsuke cannot lose!"
Setsuna's silent gaze looked down below, his expression calm and unreadable.
He muttered inwardly, 'Let me see. If his emotions are pushed to their peak, and the hatred he has suppressed for around three years is fully released, can the Sharingan undergo a transformation...'
Today was the final step in his plan.
The hatred suppressed for three years would be released after Seiryū was killed.
Under that emotional stimulation, perhaps his grandson's three-tomoe Sharingan could transform.
And awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
If he could awaken a Mangekyō Sharingan with "the power of the gods," then the Uchiha clan would have the power to contend with the Hokage faction.
And perhaps one day, they might even seize that position which every member of the Uchiha clan dreamed of.
Down in the arena.
He was not in a hurry to make a move. Listening to the discussions and cheers around him.
A strange smile curled onto his lips.
At some point, his three-tomoe Sharingan had already activated, and it stared coldly at Seiryū. His tone was calm, but filled with intense killing intent and the pleasure of finally getting revenge.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time. The humiliation you left me with before will be washed away today with your life!"
"Don't worry, I won't give you the chance to surrender. You only have one ending, and that is to die by my hand!"
He had finally waited for this day.
If the preliminary round in the Forest of Death had not been interrupted by that accident before.
Then Seiryū might already have become a dead soul beneath his hands.
But now was not too late.
He had run into him in the very first match of the final round.
That only made him even more excited.
He could personally kill him in full view of the crowd, under the gaze of those close to him.
That would make him feel delighted.
As for whether there would be any consequences for killing Seiryū?
There would not be.
This was the Chunin Exam.
The Chunin Exam was itself a battle of life and death.
If someone died, it could only be blamed on their own lack of strength. No one could blame others for striking to kill.
At the same time.
He also would not give Seiryū the chance to surrender.
[Ding, the noble class still views the host as an enemy and wishes to put the host to death. On the road toward becoming the Soul King who will rule the Three Realms in the future, danger and hardship lie everywhere. Host, please remember, the noble class is only a stepping stone beneath your feet. A noble has already developed killing intent toward the host. This has violated a great taboo!]
[Mission issued: Kill the noble who has developed killing intent toward the host!]
[Mission reward: Bakudō #60, Kūkanten'i!]
Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Seiryū was not surprised at all. "As expected, a mission really did refresh. As expected of someone from the Uchiha clan!!"
The Uchiha clan, this "noble class" plus "lunatic" combo, really did make it easy to refresh missions.
This was great.
They were practically his lucky stars.
And the mission condition also suited his intentions perfectly.
His talent was not weak. He already had the three-tomoe Sharingan.
There was a high chance he could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He already had every reason to die!
Looking at him, Seiryū merely smiled and said calmly, "Was it really necessary to hold onto it for so long just because I nearly crippled you? Besides, weren't you the one who picked a fight with me first back then?"
Actually.
Even now.
Seiryū still could not understand why the other man held such deep hatred toward him.
Wasn't it just one spar, where he had been a bit heavy-handed?
Why hate him that much?
It really felt like there was something fishy going on.
His gaze remained gloomy and cold, and a sinister smile lifted the corner of his mouth. "That's exactly why, to me, it was a humiliation. In front of our Uchiha clan, you should have obediently gone down without resisting!"
"What a lunatic."
Seiryū's mouth twitched.
The other man's words had refreshed his understanding of the Uchiha clan yet again.
If this wasn't insanity, then what was?
"Forget it, I can't be bothered wasting words with you. Since you want to kill me, then be ready to be killed by me too, just like back then."
Seiryū gave a light laugh.
But his smile had changed a little.
Like a bloodthirsty beast slowly awakening.
"Hadō #4, Byakurai!"
With a quick hand seal, Seiryū pointed a finger, and a lightning beam shot at extreme speed toward the center of his forehead.
"Just like back then? Heh, then I'm really looking forward to it. Just wait properly for my revenge. Don't worry, I won't give you the chance to surrender."
As he spoke, the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes slowly spun.
Its powerful dynamic vision captured all of Seiryū's movements.
With a tilt of his head, he dodged Byakurai.
At the same time, he reached into the ninja pouch at his waist and pulled out more than a dozen shuriken.
With a flick of both hands, the dozen or so shuriken shot toward Seiryū, carrying sharp whistling sounds as they tore through the air.
His gaze locked onto Seiryū, he stepped forward and used the Body Flicker Technique to follow right behind them.
His hands rapidly formed seals, and his chest swelled. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing fireball nearly ten meters wide burst from his mouth.
Carrying a scorching heat wave, the Great Fireball roared forward, as if it wanted to swallow Seiryū whole.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)