Chapter Eight Ends

Facing the simultaneous attacks of two Shisui Uchiha, Yu Higashino grew serious. He arched his body back to dodge a flying kick from the Shisui on the left, then swung his wooden sword to block the short blade thrust by the Shisui on the right.

Having neutralized their assault, Yu Higashino launched his counterattack. He knocked aside the intercepted short blade and, wielding his wooden sword, delivered a heavy slash toward the Shisui on the left. It was an utterly ordinary strike, yet its speed and subtle angle left the airborne Shisui with no chance to evade.

The blade struck its target with force, but the sensation transmitted through the sword immediately told Yu Higashino something was off; without a doubt, he hadn’t hit the real body.

At that moment, a third Shisui appeared. With no time to parry with his sword, Yu Higashino could only roll forward to narrowly escape the incoming short blade. But before he could recover, a fourth Shisui was already upon him.

Every Shisui here seemed like an afterimage, yet each one could have been the real body. Yu Higashino couldn’t distinguish between them; all he could do was muster his full concentration to respond to each and every attack.

At first, he managed to hold his ground. But as more and more Shisuis joined the fray, Yu Higashino began to falter.

He distractedly opened his skill panel for a quick glance.

[Swordsmanship Lv3: 6112/10000]

At this level, his swordsmanship was probably on par with an elite jonin in every respect—but only just. Against a Shisui Uchiha fighting nearly at full strength, it still wasn’t enough.

Having gauged his own ability, Yu Higashino had a rough estimate in his heart. If his [Swordsmanship] skill improved by another three levels, there truly would be no one in this world who could stand against him.

His objective was achieved, and since his defeat was becoming increasingly apparent, he no longer had any desire to continue the fight.

"I concede! I won’t fight anymore!" he shouted, halting the swing of his wooden sword.

In the next instant, a short blade halted at the tip of his nose, then was swiftly withdrawn. At the same time, the numerous afterimages converged not far from Yu Higashino.

When all was still, all the other Shisui Uchiha around him had vanished, leaving only one standing a short distance away.

Both men were breathing slightly heavily. Though the battle had been brief, its intensity had taken a toll.

Surprisingly, Shisui Uchiha’s chest rose and fell more rapidly than Yu Higashino’s—he had expended more stamina than Yu Higashino.

This fact astonished Shisui Uchiha most of all—or rather, he had been in a state of surprise since the battle began.

Yu Higashino’s strength, speed, and stamina were all beyond his imagination. He simply couldn’t fathom how an ordinary person without chakra could possess such physical prowess.

Was this truly something that could be explained by calling it a natural gift? Shisui Uchiha had his doubts.

Moreover, he was puzzled by the wooden sword in Yu Higashino’s hand. No matter how many times it clashed with his short blade, it remained completely unscathed.

Despite the tangled emotions of doubt, astonishment, and curiosity churning within him, Shisui Uchiha managed to restrain himself. He formed the seal of reconciliation toward Yu Higashino.

"Thank you for the match!"

Among comrades, ninja sparring customarily began with the seal of opposition and ended with the seal of reconciliation. It was a mere formality, symbolizing camaraderie.

Previously, Shisui Uchiha hadn’t made the seal of opposition toward Yu Higashino—perhaps he’d forgotten, or perhaps because Yu Higashino wasn’t a ninja, or for some other reason.

But now, Shisui Uchiha remembered.

"There’s no need to thank me. You’re the stronger one," Yu Higashino replied, though he made no move to form any seals.

He wasn’t a ninja, so there was no need to observe a ninja’s etiquette. Besides, he didn’t know how to form seals at all.