However, Sasuke couldn't help but think of Naruto's physical strength. Could a human even compare to a freak like him?
Chapter 112: Sharingan!
These past two years had made Sasuke realize that Naruto's physical abilities were truly extraordinary. Even most adults couldn't match him!
If he were to catch up to Naruto in this regard… it would be absurd.
"Naruto… that guy might even be physically stronger than you," Sasuke admitted reluctantly.
"Eh, sorry, but Naruto's physical strength still isn't as good as mine," Xia Li said confidently. Although his chakra didn't match Naruto's, his physical ability was certainly on par, if not superior.
"And my theoretical scores are almost the same as Sakura's."
"I think there's still a big gap between you two. Sakura got 100 because the total score was 100, and you only got 99 because your ability is worth 99," Xia Li said, her words cutting into Sasuke like a blade.
Most importantly, Sasuke had no way to argue. It was true—Xia Li's knowledge was accurate, and clearly, his abilities went far beyond what Sasuke had realized.
Sasuke fell silent. Finally, gritting his teeth, he looked at Xia Li and decided to set aside everything else. "Forget that. Let's fight."
"Alright, you attack first." Xia Li's casual attitude irritated Sasuke, but the fact that he held the rank of Jōnin reminded him of their teacher back in class…
Still, Sasuke reasoned that since Xia Li was a Special Jōnin, he shouldn't be stronger than a teacher, right? But caution was necessary.
Sasuke created some distance and tossed a few shurikens toward Xia Li.
"Hm, they are indeed more refined, but not fast, and the power isn't significant," Xia Li observed, nodding slightly, then shaking her head.
His shuriken technique was different—it emphasized speed and power.
Xia Li made no move, yet the moment the shurikens approached, arcs of electricity around his body seemed to jump, instantly stopping the shurikens in mid-air, blocking each one.
Sasuke frowned in confusion, then quickly formed hand signs.
"Too slow."
Next, Xia Li's voice suddenly rang directly in Sasuke's ears. Sasuke's eyes widened as he froze, stopping his hand signs just as Xia Li appeared before him.
"Boom!"
Xia Li's figure now stood in front of Sasuke, one leg pressing down on his arm.
Even though Sasuke tried to block, he was kicked away, flying a long distance before coming to a stop.
"How is he so fast?!" Sasuke gritted his teeth. How could he even form hand signs? Shurikens are useless, ninjutsu doesn't work—what could he possibly do to win?
"This is just a type of instant movement technique."
Watching Xia Li slowly approach, Sasuke felt a rising sense of despair. This sense of helplessness seemed even stronger than what Kakashi had instilled.
It wasn't an illusion—Xia Li was truly invincible.
"Damn it!" Sasuke flung shurikens again, thinking of using the Three Body Technique with minimal hand signs. Could it fool Xia Li?
But once more, the shurikens fell into Xia Li's hands.
Sasuke hesitated briefly but, considering Xia Li's Jōnin-level skill, he acted without further delay.
Xia Li looked at Sasuke, noticing even the slightest movements. It was slightly troublesome, yet amusing. Was such a small skirmish really worth using explosive tags?
Still, Xia Li understood the pressure he exerted on his opponent. Could it be that after losing the shurikens, this was Sasuke's only option?
A faint smile appeared on Xia Li's lips. "Let's see what you're capable of."
He glanced at the three kunai with explosive tags, seemingly ignoring them entirely. Using his electromagnetic control once again, he froze them midair.
Then…
An explosion occurred.
Surprise flickered in Sasuke's eyes. Did it succeed? Could such a force harm Xia Li? He immediately tried forming hand signs.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Fireballs shot from Sasuke's mouth toward Xia Li. Quickly, he fused the thrown shurikens with these fireballs.
The fireballs pierced the smoke from the explosions, as if striking something tangible.
Under such circumstances, these shurikens shouldn't be blocked by Xia Li's unusual techniques, right?
"Did it work?" Sweat formed on Sasuke's forehead as he nervously looked over.
"Not bad."
A voice reached Sasuke—not from the smoke, but from behind him.
He gritted his teeth, forcing his body to kick backward.
Yet, his ankle was grabbed by Xia Li's hand with such strength that escape was impossible.
"Too bad, attacking only me isn't enough," Xia Li said, throwing Sasuke aside.
Sasuke landed, glancing at the site of the explosion. A charred piece of wood remained.
Substitution technique? When did he use it?
He stared at Xia Li, but couldn't see him forming hand signs—or using the instant movement technique…
"Now it's my turn to attack. Be careful," Xia Li suddenly said.
Sasuke's heart sank. So far, Xia Li had barely made a move. He'd only kicked him once, but the pressure he felt was immense. What would happen if Xia Li truly attacked?
Yet, Sasuke was left speechless.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead, his body trembling, unable to move.
Because Xia Li's intent to kill was completely focused on him. This was the first time Xia Li actively used such a killing intent, and it was purely mental. Sasuke couldn't resist it.
Xia Li initially intended to use the Black Shadow Sword, but remembered it was sealed. Though the battle didn't require the sword, he was simply used to it.
With that thought, his chakra suddenly surged, forming the shape of a sword before Sasuke's disbelieving eyes. Even if he drew the Black Shadow Sword, it would be useless here.
Xia Li advanced step by step toward Sasuke, who couldn't move. His killing intent remained unchanged.
Sasuke's eyes widened, staring at Xia Li, watching him approach with a chakra sword. His eyes seemed covered in blood… was he really going to kill him?
Move…
Hurry!
Sasuke shouted in his mind, but his body refused to obey. Cold sweat poured from his forehead.
Xia Li slowed his pace intentionally, giving Sasuke time to react. Yet, in the end, Sasuke remained motionless. Perhaps the killing intent was stronger than he had ever experienced.
Xia Li remembered Sasuke's dark past, when the young boy had been so overwhelmed by Zabuza's presence that he had considered taking his own life…
Yet, in the face of mortal danger, fear must not paralyze action.
Xia Li raised the chakra sword, observing Sasuke's dilated pupils, pale face, and sweating body.
Is that all?
Without hesitation, Xia Li swung the chakra sword with full force.
The next moment, Sasuke moved slightly, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth—he had bitten his tongue—but by the time he reacted, it was too late. The chakra-imbued blade had already passed…
Pain…
So much pain…
Is this what death feels like? Sasuke hesitated, feeling the strike, unable to believe it.
Had he really died? He should have… Surely, one such strike shouldn't leave him alive.
Damn it, I haven't even killed that guy yet—how can I die here!
Sasuke didn't realize this was only a battle, nor why Xia Li struck him. He only felt a world soaked in blood and the excruciating pain of a blade wound. Helpless, he screamed…
He couldn't die here—he still wanted revenge…
At that moment, Sasuke felt as if he were falling into an abyss, unable to struggle or surface…
Xia Li looked at Sasuke lying on the ground, unsure what to say, crouching to stare at him. Even fallen, Sasuke's eyes were wide open, filled with endless fear.
Yet, his eyes weren't pitch black—they were blood-red, each with two small black tomoe.
Xia Li realized that in this life-threatening moment, Sasuke had instinctively unleashed his strongest power: the Sharingan, and both eyes had evolved to two tomoe each.
Xia Li remembered that Sasuke's Sharingan had already awakened long ago, but hadn't shown two tomoe in both eyes. Now it had, proving that when his life was threatened, Sasuke truly tapped into his potential, reaching a new level.
After breaking through his defenses, Sasuke's first act was to cast a genjutsu—a desperate attempt to survive. In that critical moment, he judged that dodging was impossible and tried to force Xia Li to stop using the instant movement technique.
Yet this was also the root cause of Sasuke's defeat…
Someone like Xia Li, with immense mental strength, wouldn't fall for genjutsu easily. Especially while in a void state, immune to most illusions. Faced with Sasuke's double-tomoe Sharingan, Xia Li instinctively controlled his chakra to release and reflect it back.
Sasuke collapsed, his eyes showing ongoing fear. The genjutsu clearly disturbed him, but Xia Li didn't know how long he would remain trapped. Perhaps leaving him in it a while wouldn't hurt.
The chakra sword seemed tangible, but touching Sasuke caused it to dissolve.
Xia Li glanced at the Sharingan and nodded, satisfied. As the saying goes, life and death are filled with fear—and he had achieved his goal, perhaps even exceeding expectations.
Chapter 113: Convincing Sasuke
Sasuke's gaze gradually focused, and his energy returned.
"I… I'm not dead?"
He touched his long-painful wound—but felt nothing. Confused, he asked himself, Where's the wound?
"Hey, you're finally awake. You've been lying here for a while," Xia Li's voice reached him. Sasuke sat up sharply, tense and alert.
Yet he froze, touching his body. Perfectly intact. Everything that had just happened seemed like a lie.
"Genjutsu? When did you use it…" Sasuke reacted, looking at Xia Li with relief.
Xia Li had always treated him like an elder. Helping him brought no benefit, yet he had always agreed to assist…
What Sasuke didn't know was that Xia Li's decision to help was only out of sympathy for his previous work and to secure a capable ally for the upcoming battles. If Xia Li had refused, no one would have blamed him.
Warmth surged through Sasuke. He never expected Xia Li to swing a sword at him…
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