CHAPTER 18

Boom!

A fireball the size of a human head suddenly burst to life in the middle of the training field. The scorching heat distorted the air, sending shockwaves in every direction. The intense pressure stunned everyone watching, inside and outside the ring.

"Fire Style?! How the hell did that idiot Uchiha Fenghuo learn a Fire Style jutsu?!" Hyūga Shinmune's face twisted with disbelief. "This has to be a genjutsu. Yeah, that must be it! You bastard, don't think you can fool my Byakugan!"

His eyes flared open, veins bulging with chakra as his Byakugan activated. The world split into layers of gray and white, his vision turning near-x-ray — and yet, the flames still roared, real and menacing, rushing straight toward him!

A flash of panic flickered across his face. "It's real?! It's really real?! Damn it, stop! STOP!!"

But his momentum was already too great. He had charged in full force and now couldn't halt even if he wanted to. His face drained of color, his steps faltered, and his arms trembled uncontrollably.

"What... He...?" Sarutobi Asuma stood outside the ring, stunned speechless. Uchiha Fenghuo had been full of surprises lately — it felt like each week he broke through another wall Asuma thought defined him.

"Fire Style? Did Uchiha Fenghuo actually learn Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu?" Other students stared in disbelief. Fenghuo, who had always ranked at the bottom of the class, had mastered a high-level clan technique? It was unheard of!

"That's incredible!" Rin and Yūhi Kurenai's eyes lit up with awe, their breathing shallow from excitement.

"This is bad!" A boy named Aoba Kiyono, watching nearby with a frown, looked deeply worried. "Using a Great Fireball at that range… that's dangerous! I know sparring's supposed to be fair, but this is too much! Earth Style — Earth-Style Wall!"

Hum!

A thick wall of earth surged from the ground between Fenghuo and Shinmune just in time.

BOOM!!

The fireball and Shinmune's desperate Eight Trigrams Two Palms collided with the earthen wall, exploding in a shower of fire, stone, and force. The impact sent both boys flying backward.

The shockwave knocked them off their feet, but the flames and shards of shattered earth rained down directly toward Shinmune.

"No!" Shinmune's chakra was spent — after using Gentle Fist in desperation, he had nothing left to defend himself mid-air. He could only watch as fire and debris closed in.

"What a disgrace..."

Fenghuo was thrown by the blast but managed to twist mid-air, landing on his feet.

At that moment, Kiyono-sensei reappeared behind Shinmune using the Body Flicker Technique and quickly raised another Earth-Style Wall, shielding him from the firestorm.

"I'm saved..." Shinmune thought numbly — until he felt a sudden heat and wetness spreading beneath him. For a second, it reminded him of relaxing in a hot spring. Then the realization struck him.

His face went crimson.

"Sharp!"

"Amazing!"

"Now this is a ninja battle!"

The students erupted into cheers. Just minutes ago, they had mocked Fenghuo — now all voices of ridicule were swallowed by awe.

Behind the crowd, Mizuki narrowed his eyes, his expression dark with envy as he stared at Fenghuo. Sparks of resentment flickered behind his gaze. Why him? Why does he get this attention?!

"Haha! Fenghuo, that was awesome!" Uchiha Obito ran up and gave him a big thumbs up, beaming with pride.

Fenghuo stood still in the ring, listening to the cheers and praise around him. Yet… he felt nothing.

Was that too much? Getting serious against a six-year-old…

"Uchiha Fenghuo, you are the winner of this match!" Kiyono-sensei strode forward to officially announce the result. He glanced at the scorched ground and the battered earth wall, then at Fenghuo. "You really surprised me today."

"It was just luck," Fenghuo shrugged. "I've been unusually lucky lately."

"Is that so?" Kiyono didn't press, but his gaze lingered thoughtfully before turning to Shinmune. "Alright. Uchiha Fenghuo, Hyūga Shinmune — time to perform the Seal of Reconciliation."

In the Naruto world, the Seal of Reconciliation is a formal gesture of sportsmanship. Even Naruto and Sasuke used it after their Academy duels.

But—

Fenghuo glanced at the trembling Shinmune and wrinkled his nose. "I don't want to."

"Oh? Why not?" Kiyono raised an eyebrow.

"…He smells too bad." Fenghuo turned and walked off.

"Smells bad?" Kiyono blinked, confused.

The rest of the students looked at each other—until Obito suddenly burst out laughing.

"Pfft! Look! Hyūga Shinmune wet his pants!"

"Wha—he really did!"

"Wait—is that blood? No, it's pee!"

"The pride of the Hyūga clan, huh? Can't even hold it in."

"Guess Gentle Fist can't stop a bladder bomb!"

Mocking laughter erupted all around.

"Bastards! Shut up! You morons!!" Shinmune screamed, his face red to the ears, Byakugan flaring wildly.

Kiyono scowled. "Enough! Asuma, lead the class in warm-up laps. I'll take Hyūga-kun to the infirmary."

With that, he vanished with Shinmune using the Body Flicker Technique.

Fenghuo wandered off to the sidelines, leaned against a training dummy, and yawned. But his mind was already racing elsewhere.

Where can I learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu?

Obito, Rin, and Kurenai came over.

"Fenghuo, that was amazing! You made us Uchiha proud!" Obito grinned, practically glowing with excitement as he clapped him on the back.

"Fenghuo-kun, that jutsu… you're incredible," Kurenai said with wide eyes, cheeks faintly pink. "Was that really Great Fireball Jutsu?"

Fenghuo smiled. "You recognize it?"

"Mhm! My dad told me about it. He said the Great Fireball is the Uchiha clan's signature jutsu. It's not easy to learn — even some genin can't use it properly."

Looking at her earnest expression, Fenghuo couldn't help but reach out and pinch her soft cheeks.

"Hey!" Obito squeezed between them. "I'm the one congratulating you! Don't ignore me!"

Fenghuo twitched. No wonder Rin likes Kakashi instead of you. If you ever get a girlfriend, I'll eat my forehead protector.

Still, Kurenai didn't seem to mind. She was used to her dad pinching her cheeks anyway.

But off to the side, Sarutobi Asuma watched the scene unfold — and he felt a wave of sourness grip his chest.

"…Alright, before Kiyono-sensei gets back, everyone run three laps around the field!" Asuma shouted, using all his self-control to vent his emotions.

"Ahh, I just got injured!" Fenghuo complained lazily. "I should rest."

"I'll stay and take care of him!" Obito shouted with a grin.

Kurenai and Rin looked at each other, nodded obediently, and went to join the others.

Asuma exhaled slowly. At least someone was still listening.