Half a Year Later
In the woods near Konohagakure, two figures darted across the training field at high speed.
Might Dai stood nearby with his hands on his hips, watching the sparring session with a solemn expression.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Mid-sprint, Might Kai suddenly halted, pivoted on his left leg, and launched a powerful right roundhouse kick. The force of the technique, fast and precise, cut through the air like a blade, exuding an aura of inevitability.
Feng Huo remained calm, the faintest smile on his lips. He tapped his right foot lightly and launched into the air with ease.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Whoosh!Whoosh!
The force of Kai's legs sliced the air with the sharpness of an eagle's cry. But Feng Huo's counterattack enveloped Kai in an instant, catching him in midair and kicking him backwards.
Boom!
Kai flew into a small tree, snapping it clean in two.
"So strong!"
Rolling to his feet like a carp, Kai launched himself forward once more.
They exchanged blows again and again—high-speed taijutsu clashing midair, the force of their strikes whipping up erratic gusts of wind around them.
Bang!Boom!Bam!
Kai was knocked back repeatedly, but under Might Dai's relentless training, his stamina and resilience were far beyond average. With neither side using chakra, the battle relied purely on physical prowess. Each time Kai was sent flying, he rose again, determined as ever.
Might Dai nodded approvingly, pride swelling in his chest.
Feng Huo's talent is exceptional, he thought, smiling. In just six months, he's mastered my taijutsu and even developed new variations like the Konoha Whirlwind and Konoha Great Whirlwind. And he shares them freely—with me, with Kai—so we all grow together. Truly, the posture of a brilliant young flame.
"There's a gap!"
Kai dashed behind Feng Huo and launched his own Konoha Cyclone with full force.
But Feng Huo's smirk deepened. He countered with explosive speed and strength.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
CRACK!
Their feet collided midair with tremendous force. After a brief stalemate, Feng Huo's superior momentum broke through, and Kai was swept away again, flattening a patch of vibrant greenery.
"Nani?!" Might Dai exclaimed in shock. "Feng Huo! What was that technique just now?"
"Ah... just something new. A backspin kick I came up with recently."
Feng Huo sighed internally. These moves originally came from Kai... I just brought them out early.
"Sou ka! Feng Huo, you're a genius of taijutsu!" Dai shouted, overwhelmed with emotion.
Kai stood up again, his face bruised and swollen, yet his thick eyebrows remained immaculate.
"Feng Huo, you've gotten stronger again," he said, eyes burning with passion. "But you—YOU are my eternal rival! I'll become stronger! Stronger than you, and I'll surpass you! Youth never loses!"
Waves of passion surged. Dai and Kai embraced dramatically, both sobbing into each other's shoulders.
Feng Huo watched with a visible shudder. "Can you two tone it down? Readers have emotions too."
After drying their tears, Kai turned back. "Feng Huo, you should go back to class for a few days."
Over the past six months, Feng Huo had been sending a shadow clone to attend the Academy in his place. The clone absorbed knowledge, kept up social appearances, and no one noticed the deception. He had built strong bonds with Rin, Kurenai, and others.
Still, trouble had a way of finding him.
Hyūga Shinmune had challenged him several times. Uchiha Rana, from another class, seemed to grow increasingly agitated by Feng Huo's ties to Sarutobi Asuma. Now, many classmates began whispering—saying Feng Huo had fallen behind, forgotten, wasted potential.
But Feng Huo remained composed. "It's fine. My shadow clone has half my chakra and real combat experience. Shinmune and Rana won't beat it."
Kai nodded slowly. "Yeah... I guess that's true."
Later, at the Academy (Noon)
Feng Huo's shadow clone sat with Obito, Kurenai, Rin, Asuma, and a bruised-faced Kai, eating lunch.
Then trouble swaggered in—Uchiha Rana, flanked by followers.
"Yo, Uchiha Feng Huo! How long are you gonna hide, you little turtle?"
His underlings jeered, full of arrogance.
"Hiding among girls—disgraceful!"
"You shame the Uchiha name! Should exile you!"
"I heard you're learning taijutsu from that forever-genin! What a joke!"
Snap!
Both Kai and Feng Huo's chopsticks broke in unison.
"What did you say?" Feng Huo stood slowly, his eyes cold.
Kai rose beside him. "My father is NOT incompetent. He's an exceptional shinobi!"
"Exceptional?" Rana sneered. "A man who's never advanced past genin isn't worthy of the word!"
Kai clenched his fists, ready to charge, but a hand stopped him.
"Kai... this is my fight," Feng Huo said.
"But... you're just a clone," Kai whispered.
"Doesn't matter. Dai-sensei's training saved me five years of effort. I won't let his name be disrespected."
Might Dai's training was brutal—designed to break limits, sometimes damaging the body. But it worked. More than anything else Feng Huo had tried.
Kai finally nodded. "Be careful."
Rin turned to Obito. "Should we get Teacher Kiyono?"
Obito, unfazed, leaned back. "Don't worry. Feng Huo beat Rana half a year ago. He'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Rin frowned.
Asuma, who had enjoyed Feng Huo's lunchboxes for months, looked away awkwardly. "You don't have to fight, Feng Huo."
Rana snapped, "Stay out of it, Asuma! This is a Uchiha matter!"
"Tch," Asuma scoffed.
Feng Huo stood and smiled. "Let's go outside."
Rana grinned darkly. "Fine. This time, I'll crush you."
To be continued…