Madara Uchiha In Solo Leveling

Madara almost chuckled when he heard the announcement of a so-called "simple spar." It was anything but simple.

It was clear that the Japanese hunters—no, more specifically, Goto Ryuji—wanted to assert their dominance through this sparring match. This wasn't just about testing each other's abilities; it was a demonstration, a message to the Korean hunters. A declaration that the Japanese team would be the ones leading the Jeju Island raid while the Koreans would merely follow behind like obedient dogs, taking orders without question.

The intention behind this match was as blatant as daylight.

As soon as the announcement was made, Chairman Go Gunhee descended from the upper viewing area, stepping onto the floor of the training center. Walking alongside him was the hunter Madara had taken an interest in—Sung Jinwoo.

The elderly chairman walked with his hands behind his back, a warm yet unreadable smile spread across his aged face. His gaze swept over the gathered hunters before he finally spoke.

"Alright," Go Gunhee said, his deep voice carrying a natural authority. As he moved toward the center of the training hall, he added a condition to the sparring match. "But let's exclude mage-class and non-combatant hunters since it would be harder to judge their abilities in a match like this."

Baek Yoonho, one of Korea's S-Rank hunters, stepped forward. His expression was composed, but there was a sharpness in his gaze as he proposed another rule.

"Let's add one more condition," Baek Yoonho suggested, his tone firm. "Whoever manages to touch their opponent's back or knock them to the ground will be considered the winner as well."

Instead of a traditional one-on-one match, he wanted to turn it into a group competition.

Standing beside Goto Ryuji, Hanekawa—a Japanese hunter—explained the details of the proposed rules to him. Goto, who had been standing still with his arms crossed, gave a slight nod after listening.

"I see. That should be fine." His voice was calm, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.

With both sides coming to an agreement, Chairman Go Gunhee subtly turned his head to the side and glanced at Madara. There was a slight smile on his lips, as if he was silently conveying something to him—perhaps a silent acknowledgment, or maybe just amusement.

Meanwhile, the hunters on both teams began choosing their representatives. It didn't take long before each side had selected their participants for this so-called "friendly" sparring match.

Once everything was settled, both groups moved toward their designated starting positions.

Madara observed the Japanese hunters as they took their positions, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"They're stronger than some of the Korean S-Rank hunters," he muttered under his breath. His voice was barely above a whisper, but there was an unmistakable certainty in his tone.

He could see the magical energy flowing from their bodies. Their auras flickered like flames, burning bright with raw power.

For someone like Madara, assessing another person's strength was as easy as breathing. It wasn't just a skill—it was second nature. After all, in war, the ability to accurately judge an opponent's capabilities was the difference between life and death. If one wished to survive, they had to know exactly who and what they were up against.

A moment later, the match began.

And just as expected, it erupted like a bomb.

The ground of the training center trembled under the sheer force of the combatants' clashes. In a matter of seconds, the entire battlefield had turned into a chaotic mess. The sound of fists colliding, the sharp crackle of mana-infused attacks, and the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground filled the air.

(A/N: The fight plays out the same way as in the manhwa, so I won't be covering the detailed exchanges. Skipping ahead to the crucial moment when the creepy guy goes berserk on Chae In.)

….

As the dust settled and the final exchange came to an end, Madara watched the scene before him with an indifferent expression.

He let out a quiet hum, his arms still crossed over his chest.

"Hmm… That ended fast." His voice carried a trace of disappointment.

Even though it was just a sparring match, he had expected it to last a little longer. It ended too quickly for his liking, giving him only a brief glimpse of both sides' strength. While it had been somewhat interesting, it wasn't enough to truly entertain him.

Still, he had gained something valuable from observing the battle.

The battle was reaching its climax.

Baek Yoonho stood his ground against three Japanese hunters, his breathing steady but his muscles tensed like a coiled spring, ready to counter their next move. Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Chae In had already dealt with her opponent—a female hunter who now lay unconscious on the ground.

Just as she turned to assess the situation, she sensed something off.

A creeping chill ran down her spine.

Before she could react, a shadow approached from behind.

The curly-haired hunter, Kumamoto, had broken away from the ongoing fight and was now making his way toward Chae In's side. His movements were unnatural, his posture hunched as if he were stalking prey.

But Chae In's instincts kicked in.

Without hesitation, she spun around, her aura surging, and unleashed a flurry of blindingly fast sword strikes—like the relentless fire of a gatling gun.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kumamoto barely managed to guard against the overwhelming assault, but he wasn't left unscathed.

Blood splattered across the floor.

Even through his mask, dark crimson liquid trickled down, dripping from his chin. His entire face was now drenched in blood, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. His hands trembled slightly as he touched his wound, staring at the blood on his fingers.

Something inside him snapped.

His vision blurred, his thoughts twisted, and his mind was overtaken by something primal—pure, uncontrollable rage.

A bloodthirsty aura erupted from his body, seeping into the air like a suffocating miasma.

The moment it spread, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Kumamoto's breathing grew erratic, his fingers twitching violently. His eyes, now devoid of reason, locked onto Chae In with only one thought in mind—kill.

This wasn't just a spar anymore.

For Kumamoto, this had become a battle to the death.