Chapter 23: Hanma's First Lesson in the Ninja World (Part 2)

As Hanma snapped his fingers, clusters of chakra emitted unsettling whistling sounds, attacking Fugaku from all directions.

Fugaku, who had just begun his dance of the solar halo, had to abruptly stop without fully gathering his sword energy and switch to a defensive stance.

He swiftly retrieved his blade, slashing to the left and right, his footwork constantly shifting.

Facing the incoming waves of chakra, he either attacked or evaded, as if he were battling an invisible opponent.

Observing Fugaku's evasive maneuvers, Hanma continued to gather his chakra, slightly increasing the frequency and speed of his attacks.

Streams of chakra wove through the air, confining Fugaku's movement space.

Shinshu watched Hanma in astonishment. In his understanding, his academy teacher's water dragon bullet was one of the world's strongest jutsu.

Gritting his teeth, Shinshu was about to muster the courage to support Fugaku when a streak of chakra grazed his face and effortlessly embedded itself into the brick ground like cutting through tofu.

Recalling Hanma's previous words, Shinshu battled internally but eventually moved beside Tsunade and watched quietly.

Hanma observed Fugaku's footwork, body dynamics, and mastery of sword techniques, evaluating his deficiencies.

Each piercing wave of chakra targeted the blind spots in Fugaku's swordsmanship, striking at his most vulnerable areas without his awareness.

Fugaku was undoubtedly talented. Initially, he struggled with the fierce and cleverly angled attacks.

Though not utterly disheveled, he was undeniably flustered.

Amazingly, as he defended against the chakra waves, it felt as though someone was guiding him by hand.

His swordsmanship became increasingly fluid, his attacking footwork smoother, and his force more coherent.

Even the long-elusive breakthroughs in his sword techniques began to feel within reach.

A smart man, Fugaku immediately immersed himself in concentrating and wholeheartedly enjoyed this one-on-one expert training.

The sound of his sword slicing through the air grew crisper, his footwork more straightforward and direct, his spine channeling power throughout his body quickly and fluidly.

Fugaku grew more energized as he practiced, fully captivated by the continuous cycle of correction and breakthrough.

Sweat soaked his clothes, his once neat bangs now clinging to his forehead, but his eyes shone fiercely with fighting spirit.

Internally, Hanma praised him—indeed, the future head of the Uchiha clan as described in the original work, with commendable perception and skill.

He advanced, delivering a kick towards Fugaku.

Fugaku's gaze hardened without a moment's hesitation; he swung his blade!

"Uchiha Style Kenjutsu, Mirror Leap Flame!"

The high-quality chakra metal blade, infused with fire chakra and prompted by Uchiha's secret technique, could unleash a massive flame shockwave, renowned as a sword art emerging from hell.

The sword clash and kick strike happened instantly, and Fugaku was directly knocked back, embedding into the wall.

Kushina gasped and clung to Minato's hand nervously, asking, "Will Fugaku be alright? I'm a bit worried about him."

Minato shook his head, lightly patting her to reassure her, "Don't worry. I've known Teacher Hanma for seven years, haven't I turned out just fine?"

The surrounding people gave Minato a peculiar look and then turned their eyes to Hanma, inwardly sighing—such a pair of extraordinary master and pupil.

Struggling to stand, Fugaku looked at Hanma unwillingly. He hadn't expected to be unable to withstand even one strike.

Gazing at him, Hanma calmly said, "The most terrifying thing on the battlefield is that you never know what kind of opponent you'll encounter."

As his brother-in-law, he felt obliged to give him a confidence boost, so he decided to offer Fugaku a bit of guidance.

However, Fugaku saw it differently. He deeply bowed and said, "I'm truly grateful for your efforts!"

Keeping his head lowered in a bow, he respectfully asked, "Teacher Hanma, may I witness your full strength?"

Fugaku suddenly raised his head—this boy, his deep bow was a ploy to gather illusionary chakra for a final desperate move!

"Genjutsu · Sharingan · Golden Binding!"

Golden Binding, a dojutsu in the original work that defeated Orochimaru in one glance, typically wielded by the three-tomoe Sharingan, is an extremely powerful illusion.

Fugaku, however, wielded only the two-tomoe Sharingan, needing extra effort to unleash this technique.

Initially, such sneak attacks were beneath him, but after hearing Hanma's lecture to Shinshu, he underwent a shift in thinking.

What good is pride? It's utterly superfluous! Victory, that's what's crucial!

The surging illusionary chakra transformed into several golden spears appearing from the void above, hurling towards Hanma!

Watching Fugaku with a hint of approval, Hanma thought, "A teachable student."

All the pride of being in the Uchiha clan, the legacy of a century-old prestigious family, paled in comparison to survival and growing stronger.

The golden spears neared Hanma, but before they could pierce his flesh, the tips fractured, unable to advance an inch.

Fugaku's eyes widened—this phenomenon could only occur due to a vast disparity in mental strength and illusion proficiency, too great for the technique to take hold.

I see now. No wonder the clan's renowned illusion users always remain silent about Brother Hanma's illusion prowess, all waiting for the next unlucky soul to suffer!

These bastards, so concerned about face—what's their problem? Fugaku thought indignantly.

Before he could decide his next move, the dread and powerlessness experienced during the clan meeting washed over him again.

Violent bloodlust flooded the training field, spreading across the entire Uchiha territory, taking the form of a ravenous tiger eyeing Fugaku.

"I'm pleased with your progress. However, for attacking your teacher, I must punch you."

"If you can't take it, you might die."

Though knowing Hanma was joking, staring at his demonic figure and menacing bloodthirst, Fugaku felt extreme unease.

It wasn't a matter of distrust but a biological fear of overwhelming power.

Fully alert, Fugaku watched Hanma, adrenaline surging, his heart racing uncontrollably.

Leaving only an afterimage, Hanma vanished.

Fugaku's two-tomoe Sharingan anxiously searched for Hanma. Seeing nothing ahead, a chill ran down his spine as he turned slowly.

Hanma was already behind him, poised to deliver a devastating punch!

In despair, Fugaku closed his eyes; overwhelmed by bloodlust, his mind was in chaos.

"Pop."

Hanma flicked his forehead, signaling Fugaku to open his eyes.

"Don't provoke the strong. That's another crucial lesson in the ninja world."

Hanma leisurely walked towards Shinshu, ready to provide some psychological counseling to the young lad.