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In truth, every one of Ye Dou's punches and kicks felt like striking steel.
Compared to others his age, Ye Dou's body was abnormally powerful. His physical conditioning was so intense that even a young Might Guy would be impressed. Though still a child, his endurance and muscle density far exceeded that of his peers—his training rivaled that of advanced genin. The fact that Sasuke Uchiha's fists weren't already fractured was a testament to his own talent. An ordinary academy student would've been reduced to tears by now.
After trading a few more blows, Sasuke made the smart decision to disengage. He knew continuing to fight Ye Dou in close quarters was pointless. He leapt back, withdrawing a kunai and hurling it with precision as he retreated, his sandals kicking up dust.
Ye Dou, however, remained composed. Pivoting smoothly on his right foot, he spun once and let the kunai fly past harmlessly. On the second spin, he launched himself into the air, whipping his leg around toward Sasuke like a steel blade.
"Konoha Senpū!"
(Konoha Whirlwind!)
"Damn it!"
Suspended mid-air, Sasuke couldn't dodge. He instinctively crossed his arms in front of his face to block.
Bang!
The kick landed cleanly on his guard. Despite bracing himself, Sasuke hadn't anticipated the force behind the blow. His arms went numb instantly—he felt like they had been crushed. His body flew backward, crashing through the air uncontrollably.
The ground rushed toward him, but he didn't hit the dirt. Unluckily, a thick old tree stood in his path.
The impact made the tree shake violently. Birds exploded from the branches, startled, and leaves rained down like green snowflakes.
Ye Dou calmly withdrew his leg and turned away without saying a word, resuming his training as if nothing had happened.
"Wait… I haven't lost yet!" Sasuke forced himself to his feet.
He looked beaten—his arms dangled limply, a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, and leaves stuck in his spiky black hair made him look more pitiful than proud. But none of that mattered to him. His black eyes blazed with Uchiha pride. He couldn't back down. He wouldn't back down.
And Ye Dou obliged.
Without a sound, Ye Dou reappeared in front of Sasuke. Sasuke barely had time to process it before a powerful punch was aimed at his face.
Boom!
Ye Dou's fist missed—intentionally—and struck the tree behind Sasuke instead. Bark exploded in all directions.
"Now!" Sasuke saw his chance.
He rolled to the side and drew a kunai with a flick of his wrist. Though he lacked his clan's Sharingan, his form was fluid. The kunai danced in his grip, spinning before settling in a reverse grip, aimed straight at Ye Dou.
"I've got you—!"
He lunged forward, stabbing toward Ye Dou's arm. The kunai connected… but no blood came out.
"Wait… what?"
Poof!
"Substitution Jutsu!"
(Kawarimi no Jutsu)
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as the Ye Dou in front of him transformed into a block of wood. He had been outplayed.
Before he could react, pain exploded from his left arm. Ye Dou had reappeared behind him in an instant, delivering a knife-hand strike to his elbow that made him drop the kunai.
Ye Dou caught it mid-air with a reverse grip and slashed across Sasuke's shoulder.
"When your eyes are finally opened," Ye Dou said coldly, "come find me again."
He let the kunai drop to the ground and turned away.
Clatter.
The blade landed beside Sasuke, whose legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed, defeated. His expression was bitter.
There was no denying it—he had lost. Completely.
Staring at Ye Dou's retreating back, Sasuke clenched his fists. "You just wait! Next time… I'll beat you!"
Snatching up his schoolbag, he ignored the kunai scattered around him and sprinted off. He didn't want his parents to worry about why he was home late—although the injuries alone would already do that.
"Ye Dou, that guy hasn't left yet."
The mongoose-like creature beside Ye Dou suddenly spoke, eyes fixed on the trees.
Though Sasuke had left, someone else was still nearby—watching.
Ye Dou didn't respond. He simply continued his training, as if no one else existed.
A few minutes later, a figure silently dropped from the treetops.
Ye Dou stopped and turned slowly. When he saw who it was, his eyes relaxed. "Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"
Uchiha Itachi stepped into the clearing. He had seen the entire fight and nodded faintly, reassured by what he witnessed.
Earlier, when the mongoose warned Ye Dou someone was hiding nearby, a faint twitch in Ye Dou's expression had made Itachi wary—but now, his doubts faded.
"Nothing," Itachi said softly. "Just out for a walk."
"It's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading home?"
Ye Dou glanced up at the darkening sky, then back at Itachi. His tone was casual, but there was a slight jab hidden in the words.
"What about you? Still training this late?"
"…This is my home."
At those words, Itachi fell silent.
He looked at the child standing before him and, for a fleeting moment, was reminded of a younger version of himself—driven, isolated, and burdened with a sense of purpose far beyond his years.
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