Naruto: I'm Really Not an Evil Uchiha!

Shimizu and Pakura both used Fire Release ninjutsu, creating a dazzling spectacle of flames in the arena.

Explosions from the flames rang out, leaving the battlefield pockmarked and uneven.

Whether nobles or commoners, everyone watched attentively.

Just this match alone was worth the price of admission, they thought.

The battle was so vibrant that it resembled a performance rather than a ninja duel.

"Amazing, is this the Uchiha clan's Fire Release?"

Uchiha Inabi's teammate looked at him in astonishment and asked.

"Uh... probably," Inabi hesitated before nodding.

The Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique was a signature move, one that nearly every Uchiha knew.

But that teleportation-like fire technique? He had never seen it before.

"Did Shimizu create this technique, or is it from some scroll that's been gathering dust in a corner somewhere?" Inabi muttered, stroking his chin.

"Uchiha...!"

Hyuga Tokuma clenched the water cup he brought with him, his Byakugan locked firmly on Shimizu's figure.

I've trained so hard for this moment—to face you in an honorable, open duel.

This way, no one can say anything; it's a legitimate sparring match.

"This time, I'll show Natsu that last time was just a fluke," Tokuma shouted internally. If the Hyuga clan's main branch recognized his talent, maybe they'd consider marrying Natsu to him.

"Enough!"

Pakura flipped backward several times, landing on the charred ground.

She had had enough of Shimizu's relentless pursuit. Gathering her chakra, she prepared to end the fight with a single decisive blow.

"Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Murder!"

Pakura raised her hands, forming a massive fireball that glowed a deep crimson, almost as if blood were about to drip from it.

She took a deep breath, exhaling a gale of wind that amplified the fireball's power severalfold.

"This ability is quite impressive," Shimizu thought. He wondered if acquiring the Scorch Release bloodline from the simulator in the future would enhance his Fire Shunshin technique.

By then, the fiery afterimages left in his wake wouldn't just obscure his movements; they'd become weapons capable of draining his enemies' moisture.

"Lightning Release—Rebirth Form."

In a voice so soft no one could hear, Shimizu activated his self-created jutsu.

The faint currents of electricity in his body suddenly surged, spreading throughout him.

Pain coursed through his entire being, only to be soothed by medical chakra that restored balance.

When equilibrium was achieved, Shimizu's figure vanished once more.

This time, not only did flames mark his path, but faint arcs of electricity shimmered in their depths.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."

From Shimizu's mouth came several small fireballs, each flickering with arcs of lightning. The fireballs scattered in every direction, resembling the fruits of the phoenix flower in their beauty.

Though only a C-rank jutsu, the fireballs' trajectories were controlled remotely by the user's chakra. If combined with shuriken, it could be upgraded to the B-rank Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Flower Claw Crimson.

With every cell in his body activated and his chakra more potent than ever, Shimizu felt a surge of energy.

"This speed won't work on me anymore," Pakura smirked, dragging her massive fireball as she sidestepped the flames with ease.

After acclimating to Shimizu's movements during their earlier exchanges, she felt confident in evading his attacks.

At this range, she could dodge with ease and then strike Shimizu with Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Murder.

"You're still..."

Pakura's lips parted slightly, her words almost visible on her soft lips, just as she prepared to taunt Shimizu and end the match. But suddenly, her body felt heavy, as if caught in a swamp, her movements slowing dramatically.

"Paralysis!"

Her pupils shrank in shock. When did she get hit?

Glancing over her shoulder, she retraced the source of her paralysis to a single fireball that had grazed her waist moments ago.

Distracted, she left herself open to the remaining fireballs, which all struck her directly.

Unable to maintain Scorch Release: Excessive Steam Murder, Pakura collapsed to the ground in disarray.

"Shimizu wins!"

The examiner rushed forward to announce the result and signaled the medical team to intervene.

"No need," Pakura said.

Her clothes, seemingly made from special flame-resistant material, hadn't burned away completely, though they were charred and singed.

She stood up, enduring the pain. Her fair skin had turned a shade of red from the heat.

"No burns?"

Shimizu's sharp eyes noticed her skin's resilience.

He quickly understood why Pakura's skin, despite her desert life, remained unblemished by the sun or wind.

Scorch Release, being a bloodline limit, could be inherited. This meant it fundamentally altered one's DNA, embedding traits such as enhanced fire resistance.

"I'll remember you, Uchiha Shimizu," Pakura said, her amber-brown eyes lingering on him for a moment before limping off the field.

"Shimizu, you were amazing!"

Uchiha Inabi, who had a decent relationship with Shimizu, was the first to congratulate him.

"Just lucky," Shimizu replied with a shake of his head.

Deep down, though, he felt a tinge of disappointment. Wasn't Pakura supposed to be the hero of the Sand Village?

And yet, she fell without him even going all out.

As Shimizu left the battlefield, he pondered whether he should still go to the rear lines as a medical ninja. After all, his strength had grown beyond his expectations.

The examiner quickly repaired the battlefield's surface using a jutsu, and the next match proceeded smoothly.

The sun dipped lower behind the mountains.

Ninja duels could last for minutes or be decided in an instant.

Before long, it was Shimizu's turn again.

This time, his opponent was a familiar face: Hyuga Tokuma.

The moment the match began, Tokuma started rambling incessantly, much to Shimizu's irritation.

With a single Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Shimizu ended the fight quickly, all the while covertly memorizing Tokuma's Gentle Fist techniques for later study.

As dusk approached, it was time for Shimizu to face Yuhi Kurenai.

The two stood on the empty field as the examiner introduced them.

"I'm glad no one else defeated you," Kurenai said.

Her delicate features gained a hint of vibrancy under the setting sun, her curled black hair cascading down her back.

Her previously sorrowful demeanor had taken on a trace of vitality in the golden light.

"If someone else had beaten you, I would've been disappointed."

After observing Shimizu all day, Kurenai felt she had figured out his combat style.

She was quietly thankful for dedicating herself to genjutsu. Though her other skills had lagged, she felt confident against Shimizu, whose flashy Fire Release techniques suggested a neglect of genjutsu training.

Kurenai was certain she could win this time, taking her revenge for everything he had done.

"Can't we reconcile?" Shimizu asked with a faint smile.

"Huh?"

Kurenai was stunned. After everything, he wanted reconciliation?

What a delusion!

Every night, she had been haunted by this, to the point of mental exhaustion.

"If we don't reconcile," Shimizu continued, his tone light yet ominous, "this might be your first step into the abyss. You do know we'll need a wager for this match, don't you?"

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