The Wind Release technique was just the beginning. Earth Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Water Release, and even Fire Release followed in a dazzling array of attacks unleashed by Sōgen. He completely overwhelmed Dairiku, leaving him with no choice but to rely on the Coming Welcome: Diamond Realm technique for barely sustaining his defense.
This sparring match had its outcome decided from the start, with no suspense whatsoever.
However, this did not dampen the spectators' enthusiasm. Whether it was the famed talents of the Senju Clan at the Temple of Fire or the renowned Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, these were not things one could easily witness, especially considering that of those who had seen the Sharingan in action, it was rare for even one out of ten to survive.
The only disappointment was that Sōgen rarely used the Sharingan's power during the fight. He relied solely on physical combat and the five elemental techniques, sweeping through 99% of his opponents using only the Sharingan's perceptive abilities, much to the dismay of those who had hoped to uncover its secrets.
Nonetheless, this was precisely why they could now witness the true meaning of the Flame Demon.
"Today, let's conclude our sparring with this!" Sōgen said, glancing at Dairiku, who was securely hidden within his "turtle shell." With a smile, he decided to grant Dairiku a graceful finish, considering the relationship between the Temple of Fire and the Hidden Leaf Village.
Then, with a shift in Sōgen's thoughts, flames surged forth.
An endless sea of fire erupted from around him in an astonishing manner, spreading outward like a tsunami, easily enveloping Dairiku and his Coming Welcome: Diamond Realm in this vast and magnificent blaze.
This was not some specific ninjutsu.
It wasn't a secret Fire Release technique exclusive to the Uchiha Clan.
It was the essence of Fire Release itself.
Indeed, after obtaining the Banana Palm Fan and combining it with his innate talent for Magic Power Release: Flame, Sōgen had finally mastered the true essence of Fire Release, no longer limited by the constraints of traditional techniques. Even without the aid of the Banana Palm Fan, he could freely wield the power of Fire Release at will.
The only limitation was chakra.
If he had an abundance of chakra to expend, incinerating the entire land would not be impossible!
"How beautiful!" exclaimed Hotarubi, her eyes filled with longing as she gazed at the dazzling sea of flames.
Though she was young, her admiration for strong and beautiful things was undiminished. Being from the Tsuchigumo Clan and raised by her grandfather, Eikichi, she had always dreamed of becoming a powerful ninja like him.
"Yes, it's beautiful... and terrifying," Eikichi murmured, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
Ah, how he missed his younger days!
Back then, he might not have been as formidable as this advisor to the Hokage, but when he was young, he always felt like he had endless energy. No matter how powerful the enemy was, he was fearless, and no matter how many times he failed, he always got back up.
Standing at the edge of the training field, Shōjūbō and Ishikirimaru wore grim expressions.
Feeling the oppressive aura of the immense sea of flames, they quickly assessed whether they could withstand such a terrifying attack. It didn't take much thought to come to the unpleasant but undeniable conclusion: they couldn't.
"This... is the Flame Demon?" Shōjūbō muttered.
It wasn't the first time he had seen Sōgen spar with someone, but it was the first time he had witnessed such an extraordinary Fire Release technique. In previous bouts, Sōgen had used common techniques like Great Fireball or Dragon Fire, which were more notable for their control than sheer power.
His previous skills never seemed to justify a nickname like "Demon."
But now—
He finally understood what it meant to be the Flame Demon. This power truly deserved that magnificent title.
Ishikirimaru's face turned pale as he realized how reckless his previous actions had been. If the Flame Demon, Uchiha Sōgen, were a petty man, Ishikirimaru might already have been reduced to ashes. While Ishikirimaru prided himself on his strength and held a prominent position among the Oniwabanshū, he could no longer deny that his behavior earlier was that of a foolish monkey pretending to be a man.
It was truly embarrassing.
"Don't forget, the most terrifying aspect of the Sharingan is its genjutsu!" Shōjūbō suddenly remarked.
Ishikirimaru's eye twitched. If Shōjūbō hadn't 'reminded' him, he might have forgotten that the most feared aspect of the Uchiha Clan was their nearly inescapable genjutsu. Once caught in the Sharingan's illusion, few could escape its grip. This is why confronting an Uchiha typically required two equally skilled people to stand a chance.
Facing an Uchiha alone often meant courting death.
After all, if one couldn't break free from the Sharingan's illusion, challenging an Uchiha alone was basically asking to be defeated.
"I was too arrogant..." Ishikirimaru muttered through gritted teeth.
Shōjūbō, though not particularly pleased, observed Ishikirimaru's humbled state. As a close confidant of the Fire Daimyō, even though certain things were never openly stated, they understood the Daimyō's unsaid wishes and unrecorded ambitions.
The stronger the Hidden Leaf became, the more distant the future the Daimyō desired would seem.
"So powerful!"
As for Dairiku himself, he couldn't help but inwardly marvel.
The flames, controlled with such mastery, were terrifying. Although Fire Release techniques weren't exclusive to the Uchiha clan, and countless shinobi in the ninja world could use them, the flames before him were different. The Uchiha's Fire Release stood in a league of its own, distinct from other ninjas' techniques.
No, even within the Uchiha, this "Flame Demon" must be unique. The massive blaze would transform, sometimes into a fierce dragon with formidable horns, other times into a roaring lion, and even into a towering, muscled bull-headed giant. These changes demonstrated the full complexity of chakra transformations, becoming something unfamiliar yet deeply intimidating.
Not once did Sōgen form a hand seal.
Controlling the flames seemed as effortless to him as breathing.
The fierce blaze felt as if it could reduce everything to ash, scorching the earth into barren wasteland.
If not for his Sage talent defense, he doubted he'd last even two seconds under ordinary means. Only his Sage talent, which drew on surrounding natural energy to form an invisible yet unbreakable barrier, allowed him to endure the flames for ten seconds.
But even that reached its limit.
Despite the formidable "Welcoming the Vajra Realm" defense, the intense heat seeped through, sapping the moisture from his body, leaving his lips cracked and dry—he could no longer endure.
Suddenly, the air filled with a sound like shattering glass.
"I concede."
With a hoarse voice, Dairiku proclaimed his defeat to everyone present.
And in an instant, the flames receded, the turbulent sea of fire vanishing as swiftly as a blink. Dairiku was wide-eyed at Sōgen's precise control over his technique, shaking his head in amazement. Truly, genius is a relative term.
As the top talent among the younger monks of the Temple of Fire, Dairiku was undoubtedly a prodigy. But after experiencing Sōgen's overwhelming power firsthand, he realized his own genius paled in comparison.
"Thank you for the guidance, Assistant Hokage," Dairiku said, managing to bow despite his fatigue.
"Likewise. Your Sage talent from the Temple of Fire was impressive," Sōgen replied with a smile. "Now, go get checked by the medical ninja. Dehydration's no small matter."
Dairiku didn't argue.
In truth, he didn't have the energy to continue with pleasantries. Though the brief sparring session had left him mostly unscathed, the dehydration from the intense heat felt worse than a physical wound. Sometimes, a bit of blood loss might have been easier to bear—so long as he wasn't missing any limbs.
Luckily, the Konoha embassy was equipped with top medical ninjas. Since they were stationed in the Daimyō's domain, the embassy was well-prepared and fully staffed with skilled personnel. Soon, the medical ninjas whisked Dairiku away for treatment.
Spectators came forward one by one to bid farewell to Sōgen.
"Leaving so soon, Shanzubō, Ishikirimaru? Not staying for tea?" Sōgen asked.
"Not today; we have matters at the palace. We're already on break, and if we stay any longer, we'll lose our whole month's salary," Shanzubō responded, friendly and without the slightest generational gap.
Ishikirimaru, saying nothing, opted to act the part of a silent observer.
"Alright then, perhaps next time," Sōgen replied, his tone void of emotion.
"Next time, for sure," Shanzubō said with a grin, and both he and Ishikirimaru hurriedly departed for the palace. They needed to report today's events to the Daimyō and, he thought, warn him against pinning too many hopes on certain individuals.
The current Konoha was indeed formidable, untouchable, even intimidating.
Back at the embassy, as all non-embassy spectators dispersed, the elderly Yajin the Walker also retired for the day. His granddaughter, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, was training diligently, though Sōgen only gave her a brief reminder to keep an eye on her and avoid any mishaps.
Then, Sōgen returned to the tea room.
Reflecting on the intricate elements of Dairiku's Sage talent, he noted the unique skill of using specialized chakra to harness natural energy. Even though unraveling the full mystery of the Temple's Sage talent would take time, understanding this technique was already a notable gain.
Even if it couldn't immediately translate into new combat power, it laid the groundwork for future breakthroughs.
---
Fire Country, eastern coast, at a seaport:
A massive warship bearing the flag of Kirigakure from the Land of Water slowly entered the harbor. Standing on the bow, Hōzuki Mangetsu gazed at the unfamiliar scenery, so unlike the misty landscapes of his homeland. After half a year, he had returned to this country.
And this time, he would likely remain here for a long, long time.
"Big brother, is this the Land of Fire?" A white-haired boy with purple eyes and shark-like teeth, nearly identical to Mangetsu, looked around with curious eyes.
"Yes, Suigetsu, we're in the Land of Fire."
"Oh, awesome!" Suigetsu exclaimed excitedly.
It was his first time outside the Land of Water. Unlike his elder brother, who seemed burdened by worries, Suigetsu had no concerns, only boundless excitement.
"So, big brother, when can we reach Konoha?"
"It might take a few more days. This is Konoha's territory, so we can't act on our own," Mangetsu replied, noting the Konoha ninjas waiting at the dock. "Suigetsu, get ready. We're disembarking."
He took a deep breath, shaking off the disappointment of not becoming the Fifth Mizukage, and readied himself to face the Konoha shinobi. He would be here for a long time, and building good relations with Konoha was essential.
After all, he was the leader of these elite Kirigakure shinobi, and his second-in-command, Ameyuri Ringo, depended on him. Only he could represent Kirigakure in these official dealings; he couldn't delegate this responsibility.
Forcing a stiff smile, he approached the Konoha shinobi waiting on the dock.
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