206-210

Chapter 206: Departure, Return to the Battlefield! Centrifugal Force!

"How can you leave home without money?"

"Here, take this!"

It was early morning, around 8 a.m.

At the gates of Konoha, a heavily pregnant Mikoto Uchiha was helping Uchiha Shinji fasten the straps of his vest. She then discreetly handed him a bankbook, giving the young man a gentle, big-sisterly smile despite meeting him for the first time.

“This... this is too much!”

Uchiha Shinji’s face turned slightly red.

He couldn’t help but feel like it was Lunar New Year and an elder was slipping him a red envelope. Without even checking how much was in the blue bankbook, he raised his hands in polite refusal, gesturing to ward it off.

Mikoto, though visibly pregnant, was a skilled kunoichi who had once fought in the great ninja wars. Their playful back-and-forth became almost like sparring, neither side easily giving in, resulting in a surprisingly engaging exchange.

"If Mikoto’s giving it to you, just take it," came a voice.

Standing under the village gate with his arms crossed, Fugaku Uchiha chuckled and shook his head.

His gaze lingered on Uchiha Shinji, who was dressed in full uniform, looking sharp and ready. A hint of discontent flickered in his eyes.

The uniform of the ANBU was perfectly fine, and Uchiha Shinji did wear it well, but why couldn’t they add a big, bold Uchiha clan crest to the vest?

“Oh, and take these too,” Fugaku added.

Noticing the time, he retrieved a scroll and a small medicine pouch from his robe.

He looked down at Uchiha Shinji with a solemn expression and said, “Your training plan was delayed because of this mission, but remember, training is like rowing upstream—there’s no room for complacency.”

“I know you’ve mastered the power of a Tailed Beast, but don’t underestimate our clan’s unique ninjutsu that complements the Fire Release: Chakra Mode,” he cautioned, frowning slightly.

“The power of the Tailed Beast is ultimately external. Our clan’s true strength lies hidden in these eyes,” he said, pointing to his own Sharingan.

“Even this ‘Awakening Pill’ sent by Orochimaru is just another form of borrowed power. Don’t rely too much on it. A true warrior must draw strength from within.”

With that, Fugaku handed over the scroll detailing the Uchiha-style Dance of the Solar Halo sword technique and the pouch containing the Awakening Pill.

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji nodded in understanding.

In ninja battles, information was key. No matter how many techniques you had, once they were deciphered, countermeasures could be devised.

Unless someone reached the level of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, where sheer power alone could crush everything, pure external force was never foolproof.

Uchiha Shinji understood his own system well. It was a miracle constructed from a mix of forbidden techniques, but if even one component was removed, the entire structure could collapse.

So far, none of his enemies had noticed this vulnerability—except for Orochimaru, who was the only one to exploit it to any significant degree.

“I understand. I’ll train diligently,”Shinji said, taking the scroll and medicine pouch. He tucked the bankbook into the pocket on the back of his ANBU vest and prepared to say a few polite words of gratitude.

After all, they had given him money, medicine, and even a technique manual. Saying nothing in return felt wrong.

At that moment, however, Yamato came running from the village gate like a carrot-shaped whirlwind, waving his arms and calling out, “Senpai!”

“It’s time to go!”

Fugaku, recognizing Uchiha Shinji’s reserved nature, simply nodded and said, “Go on, to Hell Valley!”

“Complete the rest of your training there. The Great Elder is already waiting for you.”

---

Once again stepping outside the gates of Konoha,

Feeling the refreshing spring breeze on his face, Uchiha Shinji looked around.

Four elite squads, representing Konoha’s most advanced forces, were already assembled and ready to move.

Since it hadn’t been publicly announced that Uchiha Shinji would be the primary combatant for this mission, command of the team had been temporarily assigned to Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

Though young, Shinnosuke, the son of the Hokage, was a highly experienced leader. His calm and approachable demeanor was a stark contrast to the rebellious attitude of his future brother, Asuma.

“Everyone, the goal of this mission is to head to Hell Valley and reinforce the garrison there,” Shinnosuke announced.

“The route map has been distributed to everyone,” he continued.

“Our main combat unit has already departed ahead of us, so we need to pick up the pace.”

“We will spend two days crossing the vast hilly terrain from the Land of Fire to the Land of Hot Water, entering it from the side near the Land of Fields. This is also the closest route to Hell Valley.”

“Given the currently complex situation in the Land of Hot Water, once we cross it, there won’t be any rest stops in between. We’ll head straight for Hell Valley.”

“The formation will move in a wedge-shaped formation.”

Sarutobi Shinnosuke explained all the arrangements clearly to the group. Since his plan was reasonable, no one raised any objections.

Standing beside Uchiha Shinji were Aburame Ryoma and Yamato. The three of them had been assigned to the left wing of the formation by Sarutobi Shinnosuke, considering that the team included two younger ninjas and Aburame Ryoma, who could provide long-range support with his parasitic insects.

Before long, the group set out at a steady and swift pace.

This route was familiar to Uchiha Shinji since he had traveled it once before. Even with the young Yamato in the group, they were able to maintain the team’s marching speed.

At this time, apart from the Sand Village forces being driven to the Land of Rain, none of the major nations had yet declared war on Konoha. Thus, the journey was relatively peaceful. After traveling a significant distance, the group would stop to resupply and rest.

During these breaks, Uchiha Shinji would pull out the scrolls he carried and look through techniques he thought he could master quickly.

This was essentially a case of last-minute cramming—better to prepare late than not at all.

By now, the number of scrolls in his possession had grown considerably, creating an urgent need to organize them and turn their contents into skills he could actually use.

At the moment, the techniques he could comprehend were limited to the “Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique” and a swordsmanship scroll he had recently obtained from Uchiha Fugaku.

Two days and one night into their journey, just before reaching the final resting spot near the Land of Hot Water, an uninvited guest unexpectedly approached the group.

At that moment, the campfire blazed in the night wind, its flames dancing wildly.

Uchiha Shinji was holding a skewer of flatbread over the fire with one hand while loosely gripping an invisible sword with the other, practicing sword techniques. His Sharingan glowed as he gazed into the rising flames, lost in thought.

The *Uchiha Style: Sun Halo Dance* was a swordsmanship technique developed based on the Fire Release: Chakra Mode. It incorporated the use of Fire Release chakra infusion and the ocular abilities of the Sharingan. This high-level swordsmanship allowed its user to leap and glide as though treading on flames, blending fiery destruction and genjutsu to create deadly precision.

Using the Sharingan, Uchiha Shinji broke down the movements of the technique frame by frame.

However, he soon encountered a significant challenge.

The process of infusing Fire Release chakra and integrating genjutsu into the sword technique posed no issues for Uchiha Shinji, as he already had experience in these areas.

The key difficulty lay in the technique’s seemingly impossible movements.

The scroll required the practitioner to leap and twist midair while striking with the sword, soaring like a firebird toward the heavens.

The description was bizarre—to put it plainly, it demanded the ability to perform a second or even third jump midair.

It was as absurd as trying to climb into the sky by stepping on one’s own feet, completely defying the laws of physics.

How was anyone supposed to learn this?

Uchiha Shinji spent half the day studying but couldn’t figure out a viable approach.

Frustrated, he wracked his brain but failed to make sense of how the technique was supposed to work.

Just then, a slightly raspy and amused elderly voice suddenly sounded in his ear:

“I’ve been watching you for two days!”

“How can you not grasp such a simple concept?”

Startled, Uchiha Shinji looked up and saw an elderly man approaching in the faint firelight. The man wore sunglasses, a yellow vest, and brown-green cropped pants. His thick eyebrows almost touched, and his face was etched with an expression of disappointment, as though lamenting Shinji’s incompetence.

“Listen up, kid—”

“To master this kind of technique, you’re missing one crucial thing: centrifugal force!”

“Got it? Centrifugal force!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 207: The Leaf Dragon God! Centrifugal Force!*

“Centrifugal force?”

Hearing the words from the small elderly man walking toward him, Uchiha Shinji's mouth twitched slightly.

Centrifugal force—of course, he knew what that was.

It’s a virtual force, a manifestation of inertia that makes a rotating object move away from the center of its rotation.

The core principle distinguishing the Expanding Rasengan from an ordinary Rasengan is precisely the violent chakra breaking free from this centrifugal force, expanding uncontrollably and causing an explosion.

But...

Can this concept actually be applied to taijutsu???

Such a bizarre statement instantly shattered what little scientific perspective Uchiha Shinji still clung to.

Then again, he should have been used to the ninja world by now—a world filled with seemingly scientific yet absurd powers, chaotic entities, and inexplicable phenomena.

At that moment, the small elderly man—wearing a yellow vest and sunglasses even in the depths of the night, like Aburame Ryoma—leaned forward, peering at Uchiha Shinji with a look that resembled a blind man scrutinizing another blind man.

“What? You still don’t understand?”

“So foolish, just so foolish!”

“How could the village entrust someone as clueless as you to be the primary elite in this mission?”

“Huh?” Uchiha Shinji raised his head in surprise at these words.

The information about him being a key elite was supposed to be classified. The Third Hokage hadn’t revealed it before the mission started.

He studied the old man’s appearance, thought for a moment, and suddenly remembered—this elderly man was none other than the person currently known in Konoha as the strongest taijutsu ninja. He was the master of the ultimate technique “Leaf Dragon God” and, in the future, would be a taijutsu master capable of overwhelming regular Might Guy and Rock Lee working together during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

His name was Chen Baojun. Yes, a very Chinese-sounding name—so much so that it bore a slight resemblance to a certain character famous for wielding a pinecone lightning whip.

At this point, Old Chen raised his bushy eyebrows and smirked.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think everyone here is blind?”

Uchiha Shinji quickly shook his head, but his gaze lingered on the sunglasses. He couldn’t help but wonder, Master, it’s hard not to suspect you’re blind when you’re wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night.  

Bonk!

As if reading his thoughts, the old man rapped him on the head with a flick of his finger.

“Your team’s position in the crane-wing formation is the ‘general’s.’ You’re protected by archers and foot soldiers, able to attack or retreat as needed.”

“With the deputy commander of the Root Division as your bodyguard and that other kid treating you with reverence, this unusual team structure was clearly noticed by Sarutobi Shininosuke. That’s why he arranged it this way. It’s a shame that you, the ‘general,’ remain oblivious.”

“You’re the ‘Asura’ who defeated Chiyo’s elder brother Ebizō during the Rain Country campaign, aren’t you?”

Old Chen gave Uchiha Shinji a disdainful glance before shaking his head and sitting down on a flat stone near the campfire. With his hands behind his back, he picked up a stick and roughly sketched the crane-wing formation and the arrangement of the four elite teams on the ground.

“Still, Sarutobi Shininosuke’s strategy is lacking. True military tactics involve combining reality with deception. If I can see the formation’s center, so can the enemy.”

“Actually, you should have been assigned the ‘cavalry’ position.”

Uchiha Shinji scratched his head, feeling utterly lost. Finally, he could only look up at the old man with admiration.

I have no idea what you’re saying, but it sounds incredible!

As expected of Kung Fu Chinese!

Seeing Uchiha Shinji’s blank yet awe-filled expression, Old Chen twitched his mouth slightly, realizing that all his effort was akin to winking at a blind man.

“Uh, Master Chen...” Uchiha Shinji finally snapped out of it and decided to ask about the earlier topic.

“I was wondering, um, how do you apply centrifugal force to taijutsu?”

He stared at the old man expectantly.

In the world of ninja arts, once taijutsu reaches a certain level, it becomes increasingly abstract. If Uchiha Shinji could at least understand techniques like Rock Lee’s Drunken Fist from the anime, many subsequent abilities went far beyond his comprehension.

For example, Rock Lee’s Reverse Lotus, Might Guy’s Evening Elephant, Might Duy’s Eight Gates Formation, or even Second Kazekage Purple Ra’s Seven-Day Breathing Technique—which practically turned him into a Super Saiyan.

(Here’s a visual for everyone to feel it.)

When fighting the Sand Hidden Fist King Ebizō, Uchiha Shinji had tried to improvise some of these moves on the spot, but his Uchiha-style taijutsu ended up looking more like a flashy boxing match.

That wasn’t very ninja-like!

Curious about these peculiar forms of taijutsu, Uchiha Shinji was eager to learn. Moreover, the idea that the Uchiha clan could have such abstract—no, powerful and stylish—taijutsu techniques made his heart itch with anticipation.

His first goal? To figure out how to double-jump, triple-jump, or even perform infinite air jumps and soar into the sky.

“Centrifugal force... Hmm, it’s actually quite simple.”

Old Chen tossed aside the stick, brushed away the ground sketch with his foot, and pondered for a moment.

“A ninja’s taijutsu incorporates chakra. When you combine chakra with centrifugal force, you can reach a state of ‘inner self,’ where your imagination flows freely and uninhibited.”

“A taijutsu practitioner’s consciousness is like a mirror—empty yet encompassing everything. It accepts everything yet clings to nothing. It is desireless, yet always ready to absorb and direct the entire awareness through unconscious intention.”

“How exactly should this be done? By constant ‘refinement,’ you must relax your mind to the fullest extent possible, achieving a state of true freedom. This inner freedom will allow your physical techniques to become equally free.”

Old Master Chen’s expression grew serious as he instructed:

“This is centrifugal force. Did you understand?”

Uchiha Shinji slightly widened his eyes, staring at the old man in shock.

Wait a second—so the ‘centrifugal force’ you’re talking about isn’t the kind I was imagining? It’s literally the force of separating from the ‘heart’ or mind?

No way, am I learning philosophy at a martial arts market now?

Blinking, Uchiha Shinji honestly admitted,

“Master Chen, I don’t understand.”

Master Chen furrowed his brows, his expression instantly shifting to one of disapproval, as if thinking, ‘This kid is hopelessly dense.’  

After a moment’s thought, he sighed deeply.

“Too stupid. Well, there’s no helping it—I’ll just show you with a practical example.”

With that,

Master Chen stood up and walked over to a lone zelkova tree nearby. With a sweeping kick, he unleashed a fierce gust of wind!

In an instant, all the debris near the campfire was swept away.

Leaves from the tree drifted down like scattered rain.

Standing under the tree with his hands clasped behind his back, Master Chen turned and asked in a calm voice:

“Do you know the Leaf Hurricane?”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes sparkled with intensity as he nodded quickly, like a chick pecking at grains.

The Leaf Hurricane? In other words, it’s a whirlwind kick. This, Uchiha Shinji understood!

Master Chen nodded back, then demonstrated by performing a slow-motion whip kick right on the spot.

This time, he followed up with two consecutive spinning whip kicks in mid-air, the powerful gusts of his kicks causing the sturdy tree to tremble!

Turning back, he asked again in a flat tone:

“The Great Leaf Hurricane—did you understand that?”

Uchiha Shinji nodded again. As one of the signature moves of Guy-sensei and Lee, of course, he had seen this technique before.

Then, Master Chen squinted slightly, his expression turning solemn as he said:

“Now, this is the crucial part!”

“Leaf—Sudden Gale!”

As the words left his lips, Master Chen leapt high into the air, his speed suddenly increasing more than tenfold!

The fierce wind from his movements blew back Uchiha Shinji’s hair at the roots.

Master Chen’s form reflected in Uchiha Shinji’s crimson Sharingan, with every motion broken down frame by frame.

But the speed was so overwhelming that all he could truly see were afterimages!

In mid-air, Master Chen spun wildly, executing a two-part hollow rotation kick, then used the momentum and centrifugal force to deliver a third spinning frontal kick directly into the tree.

BAM!  

The massive tree shook violently!

But it wasn’t over yet. Still airborne, Master Chen lowered his voice and shouted fiercely:

“Watch closely—”

“Kid, this is the perfect application of centrifugal force!”

Using the inertia from the third spinning kick, Master Chen continued to spin, launching yet another devastating kick!

His body, now propelled by the momentum of the rotation, spun like a whirlwind or a top gone mad.

Leaves and debris scattered on the ground were swept up in the powerful vortex created by his movements.

“This is... the Dragon of the Leaf!”

In the windstorm, Master Chen spun faster and faster until even Uchiha Shinji’s Sharingan couldn’t keep up!

All he could see was—

A human figure spinning at such high speed that it created a tornado, gradually morphing into the shape of a dragon roaring toward the heavens!

“ROAR—!!”

A massive surge of chakra combined with the furious winds erupted skyward!

The dragon in the sky twisted and coiled, majestic yet terrifying, as its entire form appeared to be composed of razor-sharp wind blades.

Even the slightest contact with its body would result in instant shredding.

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Watching an ordinary technique evolve step by step into a miraculous feat of taijutsu right before his eyes, he felt as though a giant bell had rung in his ears, shaking his soul!

At that moment, it was as if a bright door swung open before him.

Beyond that door lay—

A realm achievable only by pushing taijutsu to its absolute peak!

Uchiha Shinji had thought Master Chen was talking about the force of separating from the ‘heart.’

But to his utter amazement, Master Chen was talking about both the metaphorical ‘force of separating from the heart’ and the literal centrifugal force!

Reflecting on the vague descriptions in The Uchiha Style: Dance of the Solar Halo,  

In that instant, Uchiha Shinji seemed to reach an epiphany!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 208: The Seeker of Death, Mastery of Swordsmanship Begins! A Shocking Turn of Events!*

Under the cover of night,

a dazzling blue dragon soared into the sky, its massive form twisting and spiraling in the air, exuding an aura of overwhelming power and menace!

This was a freedom born of the heart, an anger birthed from within!

Hatred intermingled with release, wild and unrestrained like the final dance of life!

A ferocious gust of wind surged through the temporary camp set up by Konoha’s elite shinobi.

"Woof!"

A large yellow dog trembled under the oppressive force, its canine body shuddering.

Inuzuka Jaw quickly stepped forward, stroking the dog’s head to calm his companion.

He looked up with a hint of frustration, his gaze fixed on the distant commotion. Turning to the leader of their group, he grumbled,

“Why is Old Chen teaching someone that absurd taijutsu again? It’s impossible to master!”

Watching the chaos in the distance, Sarutobi Shinonosuke shook his head and sighed.

“We haven’t even left the Land of Fire yet. Just let Old Chen be.”

He paused, his tone softening.

“He has no family left, and his only disciple was cruelly killed not long ago during a mission. At his age, he shouldn’t have to take on such dangerous tasks anymore.”

Sarutobi’s gaze lingered on the majestic dragon soaring freely through the skies, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

“This time, Old Chen is likely marching to his death.”

“Maybe it’s his defiance, a desire to prove something, or perhaps he simply wants to find someone to inherit his techniques before he passes.”

Hearing this, the group gathered around the campfire fell silent.

Even Inuzuka Jaw sighed and muttered,

“I get it, I really do. But that taijutsu… who besides Old Chen could possibly learn it?”

“Only his disciple—who couldn’t even use ninjutsu or genjutsu and had to rely solely on taijutsu—would believe in something so far-fetched.”

“All that talk about heart, freedom of will, and centrifugal force… It’s way too abstract!”

“To be honest, this kind of taijutsu, which was accidentally developed and allows you to soar through the skies, is simply unlearnable by anyone else.”

---

*Elsewhere*

Old Chen descended slowly from the air, exhaling deeply.

Using the Konoha Dragon God seemed to stir some bitter memories, making his frail figure appear even more desolate.

The scene around him was a disaster—like a parking lot torn apart by a tornado, utterly destroyed.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Old Chen straightened up slightly, forcing some energy into his demeanor.

Seemingly nonchalant, he looked at Uchiha Shinji, who stood dumbfounded before him, and asked,

“Well, kid, do you understand what centrifugal force is now?”

“I—”

Old Chen coughed twice, already convinced that the clueless boy before him couldn’t possibly grasp the overly complex technique.

He had been observing for two days now.

This Uchiha kid had spent ages poring over the Uchiha clan’s swordsmanship scroll but hadn’t made any noticeable progress.

Clearly, this kid was just as dull as his late disciple.

Thinking quickly, Old Chen dismissed Uchiha Shinji’s reply and spoke with a tinge of solace,

“It’s fine if you don’t understand. After all, my taijutsu isn’t something just anyone can—”

“Master Chen, I get it!” Uchiha Shinji interrupted, his voice firm.

“Huh?”

Hearing this, Old Chen’s eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. His expression shifted as he stared intently at Uchiha Shinji, asking in disbelief,

“Wait a minute. What did you just say? You get what?”

“The technique!” Uchiha Shinji replied enthusiastically, nodding as he opened his hands, gesturing while explaining,

“The taijutsu technique—I understand it now!”

“Using taijutsu combined with chakra bursts, you rotate your body to generate centrifugal force. Pair that with a sturdy physique capable of withstanding high pressure, and then push your speed to surpass the human body’s limits!”

“This is remarkably similar to the principles of my swordsmanship technique. The only difference is that you use leg techniques, while I incorporate my sword into the rotation!”

After closely observing the detailed demonstration of the Konoha Dragon God, a system prompt flashed before Uchiha Shinji’s eyes:

*[After observing Chen Baojun’s Konoha Dragon God, you’ve gained some insights.]*

*[You have comprehended an advanced taijutsu technique (Grade A, Beginner).]*

This prompt confirmed to Uchiha Shinji that he could replicate the technique.

Hearing Uchiha Shinji’s vivid explanation, Old Chen froze, his expression blank.

He understood?

Impossible!

This taijutsu—even veteran shinobi with years of experience in taijutsu could only mimic its form at best, barely reaching the third stage of Konoha Gale.

This brat must be bluffing!

Narrowing his eyes behind his dark sunglasses, Old Chen hesitated before challenging,

“Then… let me see you try it!”

Uchiha Shinji nodded confidently.

He was just one step away from mastering the Uchiha Style: Solar Flare Dance.

This final piece of the puzzle would also help him integrate it with the Fire Release: Chakra Mode, creating a complete swordsmanship technique.

The complete "Uchiha Style: Dance of the Solar Halo" is a legendary, secret S-rank forbidden sword technique, hailed as the pinnacle of swordsmanship. However, the A-rank Fire Release: Chakra Mode serves merely as the core energy source driving this sword art.

Even so, Uchiha Shinji has leveraged this A-rank forbidden technique to develop various ninja sword techniques, including the "Great Blade: Flame Wind Dragon Dance" and "Ninja Art: Hurricane Whirlpool Blade."

However, rather than pure swordsmanship, these ninja sword techniques are more accurately described as sword-shaped ninjutsu reliant on the Kusanagi Sword.

At present, he still lacks a hand-to-hand combat taijutsu technique suitable for intense close-quarters battles against true masters.

Thus, under Chen Lao's slightly suspicious gaze,

in the midst of the suddenly silent forest,

beneath the oppressive night sky, as if foreshadowing an impending torrential downpour, illuminated by the flickering tongues of flame,

Uchiha Shinji slowly drew the Kusanagi Sword from his waist.

He closed his eyes slightly, recalling the transition Chen Lao made from "Konoha Whirlwind" to the execution of "Konoha Dragon God."

Clearing his mind, his thoughts grew calm and focused.

One by one, the seemingly fantastical and disjointed sword techniques described in the scroll flowed silently through his mind.

Through the connection of this taijutsu, they gradually formed a cohesive swordsmanship style—a style that soared between the heavens, the clouds, and the radiant sun.

The next moment, Uchiha Shinji abruptly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of crimson Sharingan with two tomoe spinning in each eye.

Within his gaze, a radiant flame quietly leaped and ascended.

However, at that very moment,

the night wind suddenly howled, almost like a mournful wail.

Tap, tap.

Amid the forest at the border of the hot springs and the flames, a series of calm footsteps slowly echoed.

The clouds parted slightly, and under the moonlight, a tall man appeared.

He wore the scratched headband of a rogue ninja from Takigakure and a black mask. Draped in a black robe, his piercing green eyes were filled with murderous intent as he approached.

Without a sound,

three bold red lines of text suddenly flashed before his eyes:

*[Alert! Kakuzu, the S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure, who seeks your head for a bounty, has arrived on the battlefield!]*

*[Alert! Ramii, an elite Jonin of Kumogakure harboring intense killing intent toward you, is on the way to the battlefield!]*

*[Alert! Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki with deep hatred for you, is on the way to the battlefield!]*

The very next moment—

In the distance, a dazzling flash of searing white lightning suddenly lit up the sky!

Immediately afterward:

Boom!  

A deafening explosion, flashes of lightning, anguished cries, and a sudden piercing howl erupted simultaneously.

"Enemy attack!!"

(End of chapter)  

*Chapter 209: The Old Story of the Cloud and Thunder, Serpent Devours the Bull Demon*

---

*One day earlier,*

Outside Hell Valley, Land of Hot Water.

The midday sunlight pierced through the faint red mist hovering over Hell Valley, casting its rays onto the towering cliff walls that jutted skyward like jagged spikes.

Birds flew around but never crossed it; springs gushed forth, their waters boiling hot.

On one of the cliffs, a robust young man with deeply tanned skin stood up. He wore a white single-shoulder vest typical of the Hidden Cloud Village over black inner clothing. He had just pulled his arm out of a scalding hot spring, taking a deep breath.

This was none other than the son of the Third Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village and the one who had inherited the name "A."

Gazing down at the turbulent, fog-filled depths of Hell Valley—a seemingly bottomless pit devoid of any trace of humanity—A frowned.

“This terrain... It’s like a natural prison. Trying to make contact with the Blood Pool Clan trapped in such conditions without alerting the Uchiha acting as wardens? Impossible.”

“And yet, they’ve even increased security here.”

He turned around, facing an older man who stood respectfully behind him. The man, partially crippled, had lost an arm at the shoulder, leaving a grotesque burn scar on his body. A asked in a low voice:

“Ramii, how did you contact the Blood Pool Clan last time?”

“Lord A, it’s always been the Blood Pool Clan that reaches out to us first. This terrain... Only the Blood Pool Clan knows a secret path out of the valley that doesn’t alert the Uchiha. But the only person who knew that path, Tsuchidai, was killed by Uchiha Setsuna.”

“—Ehhah!”

A’s forehead twitched in anger, his fury rising.

With a sudden motion, his lightning-clad fist smashed into a tree trunk as thick as a man’s embrace, shattering it instantly.

Standing beside him was another young man with dark skin, light yellow hair, and black sunglasses, equipped with seven swords. This was Killer Bee. Ignoring the tension, he grinned, raised an arm in a rap pose, and started moving his body:

“Baka yarou, kono yarou! Big bro’s got a headache, true! But we move ahead with power anew! Our Lightning Guillotine Combo will break them in two! Oh yeah!”

Hearing his younger brother’s usual antics, A’s forehead twitched again. But having long grown accustomed to Killer Bee’s eccentricities, he chose to ignore him. Instead, he continued to question Ramii, staring him down:

“So, you’re saying we can only sit here and wait for news from the Blood Pool Clan?”

Seeing A’s massive, clenched fists, Ramii instinctively shrank back, not daring to respond.

After all, he already felt deeply ashamed. This critical mission had initially involved three elite Hidden Cloud shinobi. Yet he had returned alone, missing an arm, and now the village had to send in the "A-B Combo" to clean up the mess.

Just then, a bolt of lightning suddenly descended before them, striking the cliffside!

When the lightning dissipated, a white scroll with a special design lay on the ground.

Seeing the scroll appear out of thin air, Ramii exclaimed in surprise:

“This is... Heaven-Sent Technique! Has the village sent us updated intelligence?”

The Heaven-Sent Technique was a unique Hidden Cloud Village ninjutsu, capable of transmitting objects instantaneously at the speed of light to any location, regardless of distance or terrain.

This technique was primarily used to send items, as transmitting humans often resulted in them being torn apart due to the incredible speed. So far, the only known success case was the Third Raikage himself.

A raised an eyebrow slightly before picking up the scroll and unrolling it.

As his eyes scanned its contents, his expression turned complex.

“Uchiha Shinji?”

“The apprentice of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin? This kid killed Ebizō of the Hidden Sand at just 12 years old?”

“The village wants us to cooperate with the Hidden Sand to take this kid’s head... And this mission has a higher priority than freeing the Blood Pool Clan?”

Hearing this, the expressions of the two men behind A changed simultaneously.

At the mention of this name, Ramii began trembling uncontrollably.

His mind was dragged back to that harrowing battle in the abandoned village of the Land of Hot Water. Three Hidden Cloud elites had fought two insane Uchihas, barely escaping with their lives.

He remembered the crazed boy who had fought to the death with Moloi, willing to exchange his life for his enemies’. The mere thought brought a wave of PTSD-like chills over him.

He wanted nothing more than to never see one of those insane Uchihas again!

And yet, this boy, in such a short time, had grown to the point of killing Ebizō, one of the Hidden Sand’s senior leaders?

How was that even possible?

Just a month ago, he had been nothing more than a weakling who relied on shuriken and exploding tags to fight!

Meanwhile, Killer Bee’s attention was drawn to another detail in A’s words:

This kid was Orochimaru’s apprentice!

Key point: *Orochimaru!*

Bee’s usually carefree demeanor instantly darkened. His face turned grim, his eyes burning with hatred.

His strong emotional reaction stemmed from a painful memory:

The death of the previous Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Blue Bee, due to a rampaging tailed beast.

Blue Bee—real name Fukai—had been an exceptional shinobi, excelling in jutsu, bloodline, and character. As a result, he was chosen to host the Eight-Tails, Gyūki.

For Killer Bee, this person was undoubtedly a mentor-like figure.

Three years ago, after passing the rigorous "Thunder Plow Hot Sword" test from Dodai, Killer Bee was selected as the next candidate for hosting the Eight-Tails.

At that time, he followed his older brother, Young A, and Burubi in defeating numerous Sand and Stone Village ninjas on the eve of the Third Great Ninja War. However, during a mission against Stone Village, Killer Bee found himself in grave danger.

It was Burubi and Young A who rescued him in time. During this incident, Burubi taught Killer Bee invaluable lessons, including how to maintain control and avoid losing himself in the presence of the Eight-Tails. This guidance ultimately allowed the young Killer Bee to find a way to harmonize with the Eight-Tails and become its perfect host.

But this mentor-like figure, Burubi, recently died due to the Eight-Tails' rampage, causing severe destruction to the Hidden Cloud Village.

The Third Raikage led an elite group of ninjas to reseal the rampaging Eight-Tails, but even then, eight elite Hidden Cloud ninjas lost their lives.

In this battle, Young A accomplished the remarkable feat of severing one of the Eight-Tails' horns.

Initially, Killer Bee believed this was nothing more than an unforeseen disaster of nature and mourned Burubi's death.

However, after becoming the perfect host of the Eight-Tails, he learned the truth behind the incident—

Burubi's rampage was orchestrated by Orochimaru of the Hidden Leaf. Orochimaru exploited Burubi's moment of mental vulnerability, infiltrated the Hidden Cloud Village, and used a special genjutsu drug to paralyze Burubi entirely.

Following this, Orochimaru released the "Iron Armor Seal" that bound the Eight-Tails, triggering the beast's rampage!

This led to Burubi's death, and Orochimaru seized the opportunity to steal the severed horn of the Eight-Tails, bringing it back for research and experimentation.

During the incident, the Eight-Tails itself couldn't recall what had happened due to the effects of Orochimaru's special drug.

However, not long ago, the effects of the genjutsu drug inexplicably wore off, and the Eight-Tails suddenly remembered the events of that day, revealing the truth to Killer Bee.

Thus, the real culprit behind everything was—

Orochimaru!

"Big Brother..."

Recalling this, Killer Bee couldn't help but step forward, ready to request permission from his brother to eliminate Orochimaru and make him feel the pain of losing someone important.

At that moment, standing on the cliff's edge, Young A pondered silently.

The seemingly rough and impulsive man narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low, resolute tone:

"This is the perfect opportunity!"

"Bee, Ramui, there's no need to conceal your movements. The two of you will depart immediately,"

"Collaborate with the Hidden Sand and take down that Uchiha kid called Shinji!"

Hearing this, Ramui was stunned.

Me? Take down Uchiha Shinji?

Wait, wasn't it clearly stated in the intel that this kid just defeated Chiyo?

How am I supposed to fight this lunatic of a kid?

On the side, Killer Bee was equally surprised by his brother's orders. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what his brother was planning.

However, this was precisely what he had been hoping for!

A cheerful grin spread across Killer Bee's face. Turning to the bewildered Ramui, he patted his shoulder and, with his rhythmic style, rapped:

"Ramui, let’s charge forward like we’re insane,

Take down that Uchiha brat and end his reign!"

"The battle has begun; it's time to fight!

Push forward with all our might!"

"Oh yeah!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 210: The Battle Begins Instantly—Lightning Blade Clash!

Under the gloomy sky, blue lightning roared and crackled, momentarily illuminating the world in a stark white hue.

The wailing night wind was accompanied by the thunderous roar of lightning from the heavens.

Within the mountain forest marking the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire—

Crack!  

A pair of sturdy boots snapped a dry branch, skimming past pools of blood, crushing the dust beneath, and halting firmly in place.

A tall figure, clad in a hooded black robe, walked forward calmly, tossing the youth he held by the throat onto the ground with a casual flick. The man sighed softly.

"Tch, what a pity. Your heart isn't quite... savory enough."

Seeing this man, Uchiha Shinji's pupils shrank instantly.

He immediately recognized the figure before him—the S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure, Kakuzu, who had once pushed him to the brink of death.

"Suigetsu!"

"How could this be!?"

Behind him, the elderly Chen gasped in horror at the sight of Suigetsu Yuki, the young ninja responsible for the night watch, lying lifelessly at Kakuzu's feet. His voice trembled as he exclaimed in shock, then quickly turned to glare furiously at Kakuzu.

"What have you done, you bastard!?"

However, Kakuzu didn't even spare Chen a glance. Instead, he fixed his eerie gaze on Uchiha Shinji and spoke in a cold, detached tone.

"As expected, just as I thought. With this formation, finding the 'commander' would inevitably lead me to you."

He paused briefly, his voice suddenly chilling and resonant.

"Uchiha Shinji!!"

Uchiha Shinji exhaled sharply, gripping the hilt of his Kusanagi blade tightly. Without turning back, he spoke to the elder behind him.

"Master Chen, stand down."

"What did you say, boy?" Master Chen was momentarily taken aback byShinji's words, then retorted,

"Don't underestimate me! I am the strongest in Konoha—"

Uchiha Shinji shook his head, cutting him off without hesitation.

"Master Chen, your mission is only to support the elite forces in combat."

Though Master Chen was reputedly the strongest taijutsu user in Konoha at the time, he lacked techniques like the Eight Gates.

With just the Dragon God of Konoha title, bridging the gap between him and a true Kage-level opponent was simply unrealistic.

"And as for me—"

Uchiha Shinji took a deep breath, planting his feet firmly on the ground as he gripped his sword with both hands. His voice grew resolute.

"I am the trump card!"

As the words fell, Uchiha Shinji's eyes snapped open. Shifting his stance, he twisted his feet into the ground and lunged forward.

From his waist pouch, he drew a kunai in reverse grip and hurled it.

Whoosh!  

The kunai tore through the air with a sharp whistle, leaving a sonic boom in its wake as it flew directly toward Kakuzu’s face.

Kakuzu, however, tilted his head slightly, dodging the projectile with ease.

Simultaneously, the cursed mark on Uchiha Shinji's neck began to spread, its inky black lines snaking across his body in an instant.

Cursed Mark—First Stage: Fully Activated!

With a single step, his entire body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

"So fast!"

Barely avoiding the kunai, Kakuzu was startled to find that Uchiha Shinji, moving after the throw, was even faster than the kunai itself.

Almost simultaneously,Shinji closed the distance, his sword slicing straight toward the heart beneath Kakuzu's black robe.

Kakuzu leapt backward immediately, raising his hand to harden it with Earth Release: Earth Spear. With his arm reinforced like steel, he countered by throwing a powerful punch.

The air before him compressed with a dull roar as his hardened fist collided with the Kusanagi blade.

Clang!  

Sparks flew as the two forces clashed.

Using the momentum of the impact, Kakuzu flipped backward and landed steadily.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the blade of the Kusanagi sword with his left hand and launched a fierce punch at Uchiha Shinji’s face with his right.

Boom!  

Kakuzu’s diamond-hard fist tore through the air, creating a gust that lifted strands of Shinji’s hair.

Uchiha Shinji quickly tilted his head, clenching his teeth as he pulled on the kunai’s thread with a sudden jerk.

The kunai, embedded in the distance, went taut, revealing a near-invisible steel wire that slashed toward the elbow joint of Kakuzu’s right arm.

Silent and invisible, it was as sharp as the finest blade.

Based on his experience with Earth Spear, Uchiha Shinji immediately deduced that Kakuzu had hardened only his fist to maintain the fluidity of his attacks. The joints of his arm remained unprotected!

However, Kakuzu suddenly changed his attack style. Opening his fist and deactivating his hardened state, he quickly pulled down to avoid the threads while grabbing Uchiha Shinji’s collar with one hand. With a sharp tug, he shifted his footwork and kicked at Uchiha Shinji’s left foot in an attempt to trip him and slam him to the ground with a shoulder throw!

Uchiha Shinji, however, realized Kakuzu’s intent. But he was no longer the weakling who could only be dominated by Kakuzu’s taijutsu!

Reacting immediately, he stepped back and spun around, drawing his sword with his right hand. Allowing Kakuzu to tear his collar apart, he twisted mid-spin, swinging the blade in a circular motion. Using the momentum, he followed up with a leaping slash aimed at Kakuzu’s neck!

His left hand pulled back, forming the "Chen" seal!

A fierce wind surged from his palm, rising and transforming into a vacuum blade, which shot straight at Kakuzu’s heart beneath his black robe!

But it didn’t stop there. Uchiha Shinji activated the "Wild Lion’s Mane Jutsu," a technique inherited from Jiraiya!

The ends of his hair silently extended, ready to launch a barrage of hair needles straight at Kakuzu!

Under the combined assault from three directions, Kakuzu frowned deeply, sensing imminent danger. He had no choice but to abandon his attack. Stepping back, he leaned his body to avoid the sword slashing toward his neck, placed one hand on the ground, and flipped sideways to evade. With a quick leap, he put some distance between himself and Uchiha Shinji.

At the same time, Uchiha Shinji also frowned slightly. Despite his taijutsu, honed through countless battles, he still couldn’t gain an upper hand against Kakuzu.

If that’s the case, defeating Kakuzu would require showcasing the true essence of ninjutsu!

Just as Uchiha Shinji considered unraveling the sealing technique on his body to activate his Fire Release: Chakra Mode and Zero-Tails, Kakuzu spoke.

“Hmph, your taijutsu has improved somewhat,” Kakuzu remarked, glancing at the tear in his robe before shifting his gaze to Uchiha Shinji. A trace of apprehension flickered in his mind.

The growth of this brat was entirely beyond his expectations!

However, Kakuzu soon sneered.

“But, you penniless brat, I’m not your opponent!”

With those words, Kakuzu abruptly turned away and leaped toward the nearby gathering point of Konoha ninjas without looking back.

Uchiha Shinji was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

We barely exchanged a few moves, and not even enough to warm up properly, and you’re already running, Kakuzu?!

Just as he was about to give chase, taking a step forward, he suddenly felt a wave of unease, a chill running down the back of his neck.

Instinctively, he stopped in his tracks and, disregarding elegance, dropped into a crouch, covering his head.

At that moment, a wild and rhyming voice boomed from behind!

“Unstoppable charm, dazzling style, the Killer Bee of the Eight-Tails arrives in style! Oh yeah!”

“Brains! Exploding!”

“My moves, fully unleashed! Yeah!”

Accompanied by the rough, intense voice, a flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the forest behind him!

A large, muscular figure with dark skin charged through the mountains, breaking four giant trees in succession as he approached at a terrifying speed!

From an incredible distance, he tore through the air, slicing through leaves, dust, and heatwaves in an instant!

With his arm crackling with lightning, he aimed a devastating strike at the back of Uchiha Shinji’s head, slashing horizontally!

“Lightning Lariat!!”

(To be continued)