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"Bang!"
The pale blue Rasengan struck directly through the Kazekage's body, but Qin Yi's sharp gaze immediately noticed something was off— the Kazekage's form crumbled into flowing sand.
"A clone?"
The thought barely crossed his mind when he felt a sudden constriction around his neck.
On a nearby tree trunk, the Kazekage stood, his hands forming seals.
"Doton (Earth Release): Sand Binding Technique!"
A thick, earthen whip coiled tightly around Qin Yi's throat before violently flinging him aside.
"Whoosh!"
The rush of wind roared past his ears. Reacting instantly, Qin Yi drew a short blade with his right hand, slicing through the earthen restraint in one fluid motion. With a quick series of flips, he landed steadily on a tree branch, his stance composed.
"Impressive, Lord Kazekage. Your reaction speed is commendable."
His piercing gaze locked onto his opponent.
"The one worthy of admiration is you, QinKage! Just who the hell are you?" the Kazekage barked, his voice edged with wariness.
Their clash had been brief, but every exchange had been layered with feints, counters, and rapid adjustments. Both fighters had read each other's intent multiple times, yet neither had gained the upper hand.
"Do you recall the army stationed in the Konoha Forest four months ago?" Qin Yi asked, his voice calm.
His eyes shifted suddenly— deep crimson now, with three tomoe spinning within.
"Sharingan?! You're Uchiha?!" The Kazekage's expression twisted in shock.
Qin Yi chuckled darkly. "Uchiha? Heh."
In the next moment, his Sharingan morphed, the tomoe converging into a Mangekyō pattern.
"Since you've chosen to start this battle, let's end it here." His voice was indifferent, yet it carried an overwhelming pressure.
The Kazekage barely had time to react before Qin Yi vanished.
"Katon (Fire Release): Grand Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball, spanning thirty meters in diameter, blazed toward the Kazekage, engulfing the space in searing heat.
With swift reflexes, the Kazekage leaped skyward, forming seals.
"Suiton (Water Release): Wind Curtain Barrier!"
A swirling dome of wind formed in front of him, dispersing the flames upon impact.
But before he could catch his breath, Qin Yi flipped over the flames, appearing directly above him.
"You can't escape, Lord Kazekage. Today, you die!"
His voice carried an undeniable finality.
His right hand moved in a blur, forming hand seals.
"Scorch Release: Great Fire Explosion Slash!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions erupted in quick succession, obliterating trees and sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.
The Kazekage darted through the chaos, narrowly avoiding the blasts, his expression grim.
"This brat… he's too strong!"
Meanwhile, the Mizukage, engaged in battle with the Three Generals, momentarily diverted his attention, his eyes narrowing.
"Even the Kazekage is being pushed back like this?"
"Ting! Ting! Ting!"
Kunai streaked through the air, grazing the Kazekage's hair as they embedded into the ground ahead, momentarily disrupting his movement.
Qin Yi's expression remained icy as he pursued relentlessly.
Under his Mangekyō Sharingan, the Kazekage's every move was crystal clear. No amount of trickery or clones could deceive him now.
"Lord Kazekage, there's no need to run. Against these eyes, you have no escape." His words struck deep, and after a final leap, the Kazekage landed and came to a stop.
Taking a slow breath, he stared at Qin Yi with renewed wariness.
"I have never heard of a warrior like you possessing the Sharingan."
Qin Yi remained composed. "I prefer to keep a low profile."
Then, he raised an eyebrow. "Has Lord Kazekage given up?"
"Give up? Ha!" The Kazekage suddenly burst into laughter. "I am the Kazekage! There is no way I'd be defeated by a mere brat like you!"
His bloodshot eyes burned with fury and killing intent.
The Kazekage acknowledged Qin Yi's strength but refused to believe he could be killed so easily.
In truth, despite the unknowns, this battle remained a coin toss. Either one of them could live— or die.
The two warriors locked eyes, their hands at their sides, their expressions unreadable. Their bodies remained deceptively relaxed, like two gunslingers standing face-to-face, waiting for the first one to draw.
Qin Yi's Sharingan spun, and in that instant, he moved.
At the same time, the Kazekage flicked his wrist, hurling a kunai with deadly precision.
The blade shot forward, far faster than any hand seals could be completed, forcing Qin Yi to break off and shift sideways to dodge.
The moment he evaded, the Kazekage's jutsu was already complete.
"Wind Release: Binding Net!"
A massive wind-formed net descended upon Qin Yi, but before it could trap him, his figure flickered.
And then— he was gone.
"What speed!"
The Kazekage's breath caught.
In the span of mere moments, he had already witnessed Qin Yi's frightening agility—so fast it was almost indistinguishable from teleportation.
"Swish!"
Before he could react, Qin Yi materialized behind him, a swirling blue sphere forming in his palm.
"Rasengan!"
Without turning, the Kazekage instinctively flicked his kunai backward, driving it straight into the heart of the Rasengan.
Qin Yi's eyes widened in surprise.
But in the next moment, the Kazekage's expression twisted in shock. The sheer force of the spiraling chakra distorted his body and sent him hurtling backward.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Only when he crashed into a tree did the realization hit him—Qin Yi had executed that attack with no hand seals.
"A jutsu without hand seals?!"
Though he was injured, it was only superficial. His instincts and razor-sharp reflexes had saved him from a fatal blow.
Qin Yi's gaze darkened, his voice cold.
"You truly live up to your title, Lord Kazekage. Even my finishing move wasn't enough to end you."
The Kazekage narrowed his eyes but gave a slow nod.
"Kid, your strength is beyond what I expected— truly surprising."
He paused before continuing.
"But if you think you can kill me, it won't be that easy."
Then, unexpectedly, he smirked.
"Why don't we call this fight here? A grudge like this... can always be settled another day."
Qin Yi raised an eyebrow. The Kazekage was actually trying to withdraw?
Yet letting him go was not an option.
For the rise of the Nation of Qin, this man's death was a necessary step. Sacrificing the Kazekage— especially given their past conflict— would only accelerate his kingdom's ascent.
War wasn't always the best solution.
But it was often the fastest.
Qin Yi's gaze sharpened, his lips curling into a mocking smirk.
"Hard to kill you?"
His voice was calm, yet laced with quiet menace.
"Actually… it's quite simple."
The Kazekage's expression shifted as a surge of unnatural flames erupted around him.
Black fire.
Wherever Qin Yi's eyes fell, the flames ignited— consuming all in their path.
At that moment, his gaze was fixed directly on the Kazekage.
"What the hell is this?!"
A chill shot through the Kazekage's spine as he instinctively leaped away, but not before the cursed fire licked at his right hand.
Pain. A searing, inescapable agony.
Frantically, he slammed his burning limb against a tree, desperate to smother the flames— only to find they would not go out. Worse, the moment of contact set the tree ablaze as well.
His heart pounded.
The five great nations had always been wary of one another, yet their knowledge of each other's techniques remained limited.
They had heard of Qin Yi's name.
But they had never understood his power.
That ignorance had just cost the Kazekage everything.
(End of Chapter)