Shiki barely managed to block Sasuke's blade once again, letting out a loud shout.
In an instant, three figures appeared before Sasuke. Each of them launched attacks at his vital points using Konoha Sword Technique.
It was like a three-part elegant dance, yet brimming with hidden danger.
"That's..." Neji's temple veins bulged even more intensely.
At this moment, Sasuke himself froze too. Even with the Sharingan, he couldn't immediately determine how to defend against this attack.
Chapter 134 [Dance of the Sword]
Seiji's eyes narrowed as he instinctively tightened his grip on the white sword scabbard.
Three lightning-fast strikes from Shiki slashed through the bright sunlight, gleaming coldly with chilling elegance — a signature move of the [Dance of the Sword].
This was the only technique in which he fully acknowledged Shiki's swordsmanship.
Throughout the match, although his expression had not changed at all, his palms had begun to sweat, leaving damp marks on his white sword scabbard.
Different from Shiki's Seiquan sword, which used a black scabbard, this sword of his had no name.
His father's voice echoed in his mind—words he had heard long ago: "A renowned sword often carries its own legend. Whether it has a name or not is irrelevant; however, when its wielder composes a legend for it, the sword naturally earns its title."
"For our Ito family, though we aren't powerful, we have always treated swords as extensions of our bodies."
"We never abandon our weapons. As we grow stronger, our swords undergo additional tempering with special metals until they match our strength."
"Even if your sword breaks during battle, you must repair it yourself."
"So, Seiji, once you choose this sword, it will accompany you for life."
His father's words rang in his ears once more. Though he could not speak, he always valued his companions just as much as he valued his sword.
He might've been rigid, but it only made him seem more like a true swordsman—one who lived by his blade.
By chance, he had once told Shiki about this tradition passed down through their family.
He had expected Shiki would smile playfully and say something like, "Never thought your family was so inflexible it becomes annoying. No wonder you don't know how to adapt."
However, who would've thought Shiki Uzumaki—the unpredictable one—would take those words so seriously and make them part of his own code?
Such an unexpected person he was—nobody knew when he might turn serious or when he might slip into humor again.
Yet each of his actions always touched people's hearts, making them trust him unconsciously and be inspired by him.
That's exactly why so many hearts raced at this very moment.
All eyes were fixed on him—his dazzling dance had just begun. What kind of result would follow?
As for Shiki, at this moment, he wasn't thinking much. The [Dance of the Sword], practiced thousands of times, had become an instinctive reflex within his body.
This sword technique was both magnificent and filled with endless killing intent. Yet it was meant for rapid offense.
Its essence lay in deeply piercing the opponent's body with the blade.
Perhaps one Shiki Uzumaki could be blocked by Sasuke using his Sharingan, but there was absolutely no way he could defend against three Shiki Uzumakis at once.
Seiquan pierced Sasuke's abdomen, and with that, the other two clones instantly dispersed.
"I told you," Shiki's voice carried a furious edge. "You've never even witnessed the true essence of Leaf Stream—not even in this sword strike."
Blood poured continuously from Sasuke's abdomen, dripping onto the ground and staining Seiquan red.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted loudly. Although Shiki himself was now covered in wounds too, comparatively speaking, the sword impaled into Sasuke's belly was far more alarming.
"Is this considered winning?" Shikamaru exclaimed in shock. He hadn't expected the outcome to end like this.
But when he thought about it further, he realized maybe this result was actually appropriate. Though Sasuke had grown stronger, he still hadn't mastered a trump card-level Ninjutsu technique.
As for Shiki, at some point, he'd managed to accomplish such an incredible swordsmanship technique.
Everyone admired Shiki while sighing for Sasuke—this defeat seemed to confirm the curse binding Sasuke would only dig deeper into his heart.
Tenten, perched on a tree branch with Neji, finally relaxed and let out a relieved breath. "Even though Shiki ended up hurting himself like this, at least he won. I won't mess with him next time."
"No," Neji abruptly interrupted Tenten. His eyes were locked on the battlefield, as if expecting something unexpected to happen any second.
"Sasuke hasn't lost yet."
As though fulfilling Neji's prediction, the sound of breaking metal rang out.
This crisp noise immediately drew everyone's attention back.
But when they looked over, they were horrified to discover one thing—the silver-colored blade in Shiki Uzumaki's hand had snapped.
Sasuke appeared to feel no pain at all. Gripping the blade directly with his bare hands, blood flowed freely—but he had already twisted and broken Shiki's sword right in half, leaving part of the blade embedded within his own abdomen, making his current condition look even more terrifying.
"Do you think you've won?" With those words, Sasuke pulled the remaining fragment of blade from his body and flung it carelessly away.
Natural Chakra began rapidly healing his wound.
"So then, Uzumaki Shiki—how will you fight me now that your sword is gone?"
"Not so fast," Shiki turned around, preparing to pick up the broken half of Seiquan—that was his promise with Seiji.
Sasuke hesitated, wanting to attack, but Shiki gave him no justification anymore.
Because Shiki already had his back turned toward him, just as Shiki had said. This match had ended. The pride of the Uchiha clan wouldn't allow him to keep attacking now.
Yet seemingly answering his confusion, Shiki's slightly weary voice rose again.
"You know I have some Medical Ninjutsu skills. Right now, your physical condition has reached its absolute limit. Even the power of that Cursed Seal can't enable you to keep fighting."
Sasuke wanted to rush forward and prove he could continue battling.
Just as Shiki Uzumaki had predicted, his body had started to betray him.
The pain from his abdominal wound felt like the same breaking point that had shattered him before. It made his body, already worn out from the fight, tremble violently.
I can't stop here—not like this. Not now.
I need power—more than ever.
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