The site of the life-and-death duel lay deep beneath Konoha.
Such duels were never conducted openly.
Under the guidance of an ANBU operative, Yuya arrived at a vast underground space permeated with a thick, blood-soaked stench.
This place was not merely an arena for death matches.
It also served as an interrogation chamber—a torture hall.
All of Konoha's hidden darkness converged here. Even Danzō Shimura's Root headquarters was buried somewhere nearby.
Every day, Konoha shinobi were dispatched on missions, and many assassination-type tasks were finalized in this very place.
Enemy village spies and scouts, once captured, were also sent here to be interrogated using brutal, specialized methods.
In short, this was where every shadow of the village gathered.
The atmosphere was cold, oppressive, and reeked of blood.
Most of the shinobi here either wore masks—ANBU members—or passed by with icy expressions, their faces devoid of emotion.
After passing through several corridors, they finally reached their destination.
Yuya's gaze grew solemn. Since arriving in this world, this was his first time encountering such an environment.
Ahead of him stood several members of the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Han was among them.
The moment Han noticed Yuya's arrival, undisguised killing intent surged in his eyes.
Only by killing Yuya could he redeem himself and defend the honor and dignity of the Uchiha clan.
Yuya met Han's gaze calmly. Faced with Han's overflowing hostility, Yuya's expression remained tranquil, without the slightest ripple.
At the same time, Yuya scanned his surroundings, his brow subtly furrowing.
Above them were three tiers of walkways, yet very few people stood there.
In the entire arena, there were only three ANBU operatives and five Uchiha clan members—including Han.
No one else.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't come…"
A trace of confusion appeared on Yuya's face. Logically speaking, a duel between him and Uchiha Han was not something the Third Hokage would ignore.
Even if Hiruzen didn't attend personally, he should have at least dispatched more ANBU.
Yet there were only three present—fewer than the number of Uchiha shinobi.
It gave Yuya the distinct feeling that he had been abandoned.
"Something must have happened."
Yuya murmured softly, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
It seemed that today truly would be a battle of life and death for him.
Win—and live. Lose—and die.
Soon, the Uchiha members leapt up to the third-tier walkways, their cold gazes fixed on the arena below.
Uchiha Han stepped forward slowly, stopping at a distance to face Yuya.
The three ANBU exchanged glances before leaping onto the walkways as well, observing coldly from above.
At this moment, no words were necessary.
This was not an examination. Not a competition.
It was a duel to the death.
Neither spoke. No signal was needed.
In an instant, the battle erupted.
Meanwhile, as the fight began underground…
A fierce argument was unfolding inside the Hokage's office.
"Why didn't you stop this duel?!" Tsunade demanded, her face a mix of shock and fury. "This is completely unreasonable!"
She glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, her hand nearly slamming into the desk.
That was simply her nature. Once she took a liking to someone, she would never let go easily.
Even though she had yet to formally meet Yuya, after the Ninja Academy combat ranking exam, Tsunade had already decided to take him as her disciple.
Hiruzen remained silent, taking a slow puff from his pipe. He did not answer directly, instead speaking in a low voice.
"The Uchiha clan has dispatched three elite jōnin and ten elite chūnin to the battlefield along the Land of Fire's border."
"And because of that, you're abandoning that child?!" Tsunade shouted incredulously. "Is this some kind of bargain?!"
To her, such a trade was utterly unthinkable.
Hiruzen sighed softly. "It's not abandonment. If Yuya loses, Danzō may step in and save him."
"And what difference does that make?!" Tsunade snapped. "That's no different from death!"
If Yuya were rescued in a near-fatal state by Danzō, the outcome was obvious.
He would be reshaped into Danzō's most obedient and efficient killing tool.
"Perhaps," Hiruzen said gently, "Yuya's talent is great enough for him to win."
But not even Hiruzen himself believed those words.
The odds of Yuya defeating Uchiha Han were almost nonexistent.
"Hokage-sama," an ANBU suddenly appeared and reported, "the duel has begun."
Tsunade's face twisted with rage and alarm.
"What?! It's already started?! No one went to stop it?!"
Gritting her teeth, she spun around and stormed out of the Hokage's office.
"If no one else will handle this," she shouted, "then I will!"
Hiruzen stared after her in stunned silence, then let out a bitter smile.
But soon, that smile turned strange.
Tsunade represented the Senju clan.
If she managed to save Yuya, there might still be room for change. The Senju had never feared the Uchiha—after all, the two clans shared a deep-rooted and irreconcilable rivalry.
Tsunade rushed through the corridors, no one daring to stop her.
She descended into the underground levels—but just before reaching the arena, someone blocked her path.
"Move!!"
Tsunade glared at the man before her—Uchiha Kagami, the head of the Uchiha clan—with not a trace of fear, her voice sharp and furious.
Uchiha Kagami stood calmly, three tomoe spinning slowly in his Sharingan.
"There's no need to rush," he said evenly. "Wait here. Once things over there are finished, I won't stop you."
"You bastard! Try stopping me again!"
Tsunade was beyond restraint.
That was simply who she was—hot-blooded and fearless. Even facing the Uchiha clan head and commander of the Konoha Military Police Force, she attacked without hesitation.
But Kagami was no ordinary shinobi. As clan head and police commander, his strength was undeniable.
He firmly blocked Tsunade's advance.
No matter how fiercely she struggled, she could not break through his defense.
At this point in time, she was still only an elite jōnin—not yet the monster she would later become.
Tsunade's heart burned with fury and anxiety.
If this continued…
It might already be too late for Yuya.
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