191-195

*Chapter 191: Guaranteed to Complete the Mission!*

Clearly, even Danzo was starting to lose patience with Kaneki's unique way of speaking.

However, the success of the upcoming mission still hinged on Kaneki, so Danzo had no choice but to hold back his irritation for now.

As Kaneki finally shut his mouth, the scene quieted down.

Danzo cleared his throat and spoke sternly: “This mission is extremely important. It concerns the peace of the entire Leaf Village as well as the future of the Root. Everyone must stay focused!”

Hearing these words, everyone present immediately straightened their backs. Who were they?

They were the *Root* of the Leaf!

More importantly, they were Danzo-sama's subordinates!

Now that Danzo-sama was entrusting them with a mission that concerned the safety of the entire Leaf Village and his own future, how could they not feel excited?

Kaneki instantly stood at attention and declared with great confidence, “Danzo-sama, I will—”

“Stop!”

Before Kaneki could finish, Danzo promptly cut him off, worried that he might say something inappropriate.

Kaneki shut his mouth reluctantly, a hint of grievance flashing across his face.

After silencing Kaneki, Danzo finally revealed his goal: “The mission this time is to capture Uchiha Shisui!”

Hearing this, Kaneki’s expression showed that he wasn’t surprised at all.

That old man—he wasn’t just planning a sneak attack but had gathered so many people for an all-out ambush. It was a bit over the top.

But Kaneki kind of liked it.

Since Danzo was aware of Uchiha Shisui's terrifying abilities, it wasn’t excessive to prepare extra manpower.

After all, Shisui was known as *"Shisui of the Body Flicker"*—if he managed to escape, things would get complicated.

While Kaneki was lost in thought, Danzo began outlining his plan.

The plan was simple: Tomorrow, Danzo would lure Shisui to a temple. The Root members would hide in advance, and when Shisui arrived, they would strike together.

Simple, but effective.

Even *"Shisui of the Body Flicker"* wouldn’t be able to escape such a coordinated ambush.

After the briefing ended, on their way back to the dorms, Jia couldn't help but express his surprise: “I didn’t expect Danzo-sama to go to such lengths for a single Uchiha.”

While it suited Danzo’s character to use such schemes, Jia still found it surprising that he was deploying so much of Root’s strength.

After all, counting himself and Yi, this mission involved more than half of Root’s operatives!

Not to mention that Danzo-sama might even take action personally. Having returned to the village only half a year ago, Jia had never seen anything like this before.

“Maybe that Uchiha is really strong,” Kaneki replied lazily, chewing on a blade of grass. “But no matter how strong an Uchiha is, they’re no match for my Wood Release.”

His confident words left Jia speechless.

But as much as he wanted to argue, he couldn’t.

After all, Kaneki's Wood Release was ridiculously powerful.

Still, Jia couldn’t help but warn him: “Yi, even if you’re strong, Uchiha Shisui is one of the most talented members of the Uchiha clan. Don’t underestimate him.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Kaneki said dismissively, waving his hand. “Isn’t Danzo-sama also going to be there? If something unexpected happens, the great Danzo-sama will handle it.”

Hearing this, Jia decided not to say anything more.

After all, praising Danzo-sama's greatness was almost a form of political correctness within Root.

Especially when the one praising him was a loyal Danzo supporter. Speaking ill of Danzo in front of him might very well lead to betrayal.

“Just be careful,” Jia said at last.

“Alright, alright, why are you nagging like my grandma?” Kaneki complained impatiently.

“You’ve met my grandma?” Jia asked, his face full of curiosity—after all, he’d never even met his own grandmother.

Kaneki: …

Only a Wood Release user could be this clueless.

Under Danzo’s orders, all Root operatives participating in tomorrow’s mission began preparing. They checked their equipment and rested to conserve energy for the operation.

Only Kaneki stayed alone in his room, playing with insects.

Under his will, a group of black beetles moved toward the temple Danzo had mentioned, scouting the terrain and conditions in advance.

Meanwhile, Danzo stood silently, gazing into the darkness that enveloped the Leaf Village.

This darkness was where *Root* was buried—hidden deep underground.

Slowly, Danzo began unwrapping the bandages on his arm. In the moonlight, Sharingan eyes glowed ominously, like countless demons lurking in the shadows.

---

The day of the Uchiha assembly came quickly. All the Root elites Danzo had named gathered at the designated location.

The mission site was a temple located in a forested valley behind the Hokage Rock. The surrounding vegetation was lush and dense, a place rarely visited by others.

Two massive statues flanked the temple entrance.

One was a serene six-armed Buddha with a glowing halo behind its head.

The other was a fierce, fanged demon with three heads and six arms, wielding a sharp trident.

These statues stood imposingly on either side of the temple.

A plaque hanging above the temple doors read *"Nin."*

Kaneki couldn’t help but silently criticize: The belief systems in this world are really strange.  

Before he could dwell on it further, Danzo called him over, along with Jia.

“Jia, Yi, I don’t need to tell you how important this mission is. You both know the success of this operation depends on you.”

Although Danzo spoke to both of them, Jia could tell that the comment was mainly directed at Yi.

Kaneki knew it, too. He flashed a confident smile. “Don’t worry, Danzo-sama. Forget Shisui— even if it’s that old man Hiruzen, I could—”

“Stop!”

Danzo’s temple throbbed with visible veins.

At that moment, he seriously considered using Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami on this brat once he got the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Just imagining the powerful genjutsu made Danzo’s blood boil.

If he could cast Kotoamatsukami on Hiruzen and manipulate him into stepping down…

Cough, cough.  

Realizing that his thoughts had wandered, Danzo dismissed the idea for now.

Pointing to the woods beside the valley, he explained, “I will launch a surprise attack on Shisui. He will likely flee in this direction. Your task is to ambush him here, block his path, and strike him down!”

Danzo’s expression grew more serious. “Additionally, avoid using large-scale Wood Release techniques during the mission to avoid attracting the ANBU’s attention. Understood?”

Kaneki saluted confidently. “Mission guaranteed!”

---

End of Chapter.  

Chapter 192: "Your Eyes Are Mine!" 

The sun gradually sank, and the slanting rays bathed the village of Konoha in a deep, golden hue. 

In the hazy light, Shisui stood wearing his Uchiha uniform, his gaze complex as he looked toward the temple ahead. 

Two statues. 

One good, one evil. 

One wore a gentle, kind expression, while the other had a fierce, demonic face. 

Shisui narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t unaware of the risks of this meeting, but for the sake of the village and his clan, he had to come. 

Root—a place darker than even the Anbu. 

And at the helm of Root was Danzo—arguably the darkest shadow over all of Konoha. 

Only by convincing this deep, twisted, and power-hungry elder could there be a possibility of peace between the village and the Uchiha clan. 

Besides, Shisui wasn’t entirely without a plan. He entertained the idea of using Kotoamatsukami to change Danzo’s will. 

Even though unease filled his heart, and even though he knew he was walking into a lion’s den, Shisui still strode toward the temple with unwavering determination as the sun set. 

Inside, Danzo, leaning on his cane, was already prepared. 

Genuinely prepared. 

The two of them stopped just in front of the temple’s gate, standing between the two statues—one good and one evil. 

“Lord Danzo, may I ask why you’ve summoned me here?”  

Though he suspected a trap, Shisui maintained his respectful demeanor. 

Danzo’s single, exposed eye scrutinized Shisui, and his raspy voice concealed a chilling killing intent. 

“The Uchiha meeting is soon. If you use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku and convince the Uchiha, but nothing in the village changes, what will you do?” 

Shisui, with his back straight and his short black hair framing his face, silently activated his three-tomoe Sharingan. 

He replied seriously, word by word, “The Hokage promised me that as long as the coup is prevented, the village will change.” 

Hearing Shisui’s confident response, Danzo’s eye narrowed slightly, and he tapped his cane against the ground. 

“Even if Hiruzen agrees, someone as distrustful as me won’t easily change his mind. What will you do then?” 

Those words sank Shisui’s heart to the pit of his stomach. 

His greatest fear had come true. Shimura Danzo, the shadow of the shinobi, had no intention of seeing peace between the village and the Uchiha clan. 

What Danzo truly wanted was to destroy the Uchiha himself—all in the name of protecting the village.  

Shisui’s face darkened, but he remained calm. “Lord Danzo, I assure you—I will convince the Uchiha. And through my actions, I’ll change your opinion of our clan as well.” 

Hearing such naive words, Danzo couldn’t help but scoff. “Actions? What kind of actions are you willing to take?” 

A horrifying malice suddenly erupted from Danzo, so intense that Shisui’s entire body tensed involuntarily. 

Then he heard Danzo’s chilling voice: 

“Are you planning to use Kotoamatsukami to control me too?” 

The moment those words fell, Danzo attacked. 

The killing intent—accumulated from years of bloodshed—poured out like a tidal wave. His aged face twisted into a snarl, and the arm hidden beneath his robe shot out like a spear, aiming directly for Shisui’s eye. 

“*Your Sharingan—I’ll be taking it!*” 

The force of Danzo’s arm ripped through the air, producing a deafening sound. 

But just before it could reach Shisui’s eye, his arm froze mid-motion. 

Shisui’s crimson Sharingan swirled faintly as his powerful ocular abilities wove a genjutsu, instantly dragging Danzo into an illusion. 

Danzo had been prepared, but so had Shisui.  

During their brief conversation, Shisui had carefully observed Danzo’s every move. The moment any hostility surfaced, he was ready to release his illusion. 

Because of this, Shisui easily intercepted Danzo’s attack. 

“So peace between the village and the Uchiha can’t be achieved through dialogue after all...”  

Shisui’s voice held a hint of disappointment. Danzo’s actions today shattered his hopes of resolving things peacefully. 

“It seems I’ll have to use Kotoamatsukami to change your mind.”  

The three tomoe in Shisui’s Sharingan began to spin, gradually merging into a shuriken-like pattern. 

The Mangekyo Sharingan—unlocked. 

But in the next instant, Shisui froze. 

Danzo—who Shisui was holding—vanished. 

Yes, just like that. Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan’s unparalleled perception, Danzo disappeared without warning.  

Impossible. I confirmed earlier—this isn’t a clone. Even if it were, it wouldn’t vanish like this... 

Though doubt filled his mind, Shisui had no time to think. 

Because as Danzo disappeared, an overwhelming sense of danger made every hair on Shisui’s body stand on end. 

His Mangekyo Sharingan quickly pinpointed the threat. 

Shisui spun around—but Danzo was already there!  

A sinister smirk tugged at Danzo’s lips as his elbow smashed into Shisui’s stomach. 

The heavy blow briefly scrambled Shisui’s mind. The force spread from his abdomen to his entire body, leaving him paralyzed. 

The numbness made it impossible for Shisui to retaliate.  

His body flew upward from the impact, but before he could drift far, Danzo’s hand grabbed a fistful of his hair. 

With a harsh pull— 

And a devastating knee strike to his stomach— 

Danzo continued his assault. While Shisui was still immobilized, Danzo’s arm struck out like lightning, his fingers spearing toward Shisui’s eye. 

“Schlik!”  

Blood splattered as Danzo ripped the eye free, the force of the attack sending Shisui hurtling backward.  

Landing roughly, Shisui tumbled to gain distance.  

“How...” 

But before he could process what had happened, an even more shocking sight appeared before him. 

Danzo unraveled the bandages from his face. 

Where the wrappings had been, a familiar eye was revealed—  

Crimson, with three black tomoe. 

“*A Sharingan!*”  

Shisui’s lone remaining eye widened in disbelief. 

At the same time, the Sharingan in Danzo’s eye began to dim, losing its vibrant red hue and fading to a lifeless gray. 

To Shisui’s side stood the merciful Buddha. 

To Danzo’s side—the wrathful demon.  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 193: "Give Me the Other Eye Too..."

“Why do you have the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan?”

Shisui clutched his eye socket with one hand, blood streaming through his fingers. Despite the searing pain of losing an eye, he gritted his teeth and furiously demanded answers.

Danzo’s scarred and disfigured face betrayed none of the guilt one should feel after stealing from another.

To him, the cursed Uchiha clan weren’t even human—merely tools to fuel his rise to power.

Unmoved by Shisui’s anger, Danzo calmly plucked the now lifeless Sharingan from its socket.

“Don’t worry,” he said coldly, “your Mangekyō will replace this useless Sharingan and make me even stronger.”

“The power of Kotoamatsukami should belong to someone like me, not some naive child!”

Danzo's expression twisted into a menacing grin as he added in a chilling tone, “With your power, I will personally obliterate the Uchiha clan you sought to protect!”

These words, captured by the black beetle on the battlefield’s fringe, were transmitted directly to Kaneki’s mind. Kaneki could only marvel at the infamous "Darkness of the Shinobi World."

Damn! Not only does he kill people, but he crushes their souls too. How ruthless!  

And that quick, efficient strike from earlier—who would’ve guessed Danzo was over fifty years old? What a cunning bastard.  

No matter how Kaneki admired Danzo’s treachery, the battlefield situation remained unchanged.

Shisui’s genjutsu had somehow been countered by Danzo, who seized the moment to take one of Shisui’s eyes.

There was no doubt—the genius of the Uchiha was now in dire straits.

Even so, Shisui maintained his sharp analytical abilities.

Recalling the earlier moment when Danzo’s Sharingan turned gray and lifeless, Shisui quickly pieced together the puzzle.

The Uchiha’s forbidden technique, one spoken of only in legend.

A jutsu so dangerous it came at the cost of blindness: *Izanagi*.

This forbidden technique could erase unfavorable events within a certain time frame, choosing a beneficial possibility and making it reality.

A super jutsu capable of bending reality itself—a decisive technique in any battle.

But why did the Uchiha’s forbidden technique appear in Danzo’s possession?

And that arm...

Shisui’s gaze shifted to Danzo’s yet-to-be-unsealed arm. His years of combat experience told him that it hid even more terrifying power.

Wounded as he was, Shisui realized he had no choice but to retreat.

He knew Danzo wouldn’t face him alone. That sly fox would surely have backup plans.

Reading the hesitation in Shisui’s eyes, Danzo spoke again, his voice as cold as ice:

“Shisui, give me your other eye as well!”

The moment those words fell, it was as if a signal had been given.

In an instant, over a dozen Root operatives handpicked by Danzo appeared by his side.

Each operative wore the signature Root mask, their presence radiating overwhelming power.

I can’t let myself get caught up in this!  

Shisui quickly assessed the situation.

These were Root elites, and in his injured state, with one eye already lost, there was no way he could defeat them.

He had hoped his genjutsu would catch Danzo off guard, but the man had hidden his Sharingan’s true capabilities—and even possessed the Uchiha’s forbidden technique.

Damn it... I underestimated him.  

But regrets were meaningless now.

As the Root elites appeared, Shisui quickly formed hand seals. His chakra surged, igniting into searing flames that spewed from his mouth.

“Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!”

A massive wave of flames roared forward, distorting the air with its intense heat. The sheer magnitude of the fire left even his enemies momentarily awestruck.

This isn’t a fireball—it’s a sea of flames!  

Though impressed by Shisui’s mastery of Fire Style, the Root operatives reflexively responded, the results of their relentless training kicking in.

“Water Style: Water Wave Barrage!”

The Root shinobi formed seals in unison, releasing torrents of water to meet the incoming inferno.

The collision of water and fire created a massive explosion of steam, engulfing the battlefield in thick mist.

When the mist finally cleared, Shisui had disappeared.

“Not bad, Shunshin no Shisui,” Danzo muttered, begrudgingly impressed by Shisui’s speed.

If not for Izanagi allowing him to deliver a critical blow and steal one of Shisui’s eyes, Danzo doubted he would have been a match for the Uchiha prodigy.

But his expression soon turned cold again. “Pursue him!” he barked.

“Yes, sir!”

The Root operatives immediately vanished, chasing after Shisui’s trail.

Danzo stayed behind, gazing in the direction Shisui had fled, a cryptic smile forming on his face.

“Uchiha or Wood Style... which will prove superior?” he murmured to himself. “I look forward to finding out.”

Hidden deep within the forest, Shisui grimaced.

Although the bleeding from his eye socket had stopped, losing one eye had severely diminished his strength.

And worse...

The enemy was still on his tail.

Glancing back, he saw a group of fast-moving Root operatives closing in.

Their objective was clear: to stall him long enough for their comrades to complete the encirclement, trapping the Uchiha prodigy like a bird in a cage.

With that in mind, the operatives hurled a rain of kunai coated in paralyzing poison.

Shisui’s face remained calm as he deftly deflected the kunai with his own.

The Root shinobi weren’t surprised—after all, this was Shunshin no Shisui.

If he were so easily defeated, Danzo wouldn’t have mobilized so many operatives to take him down.

Still, even the greatest prodigy had limits. Prolonged pursuit was taking a toll on Shisui, who was already injured.

To escape, I need to reduce their numbers first.  

With this in mind, Shisui suddenly planted his foot on a thick tree branch, using the force to propel himself toward the pursuing shinobi.

Caught off guard, the operatives hesitated, but Shisui’s legendary speed gave them no time to react.

In an instant, the air filled with multiple Shisui clones, each one charging at the enemy.

Before they could comprehend what was happening, Shisui was upon them.

(To be continued)  

Chapter 194: Susanoo

The remaining eye of Uchiha Shisui gleamed with a scarlet glow. In an instant, as the Root ninjas gazed into the Sharingan, countless phantoms appeared before them.

Dozens of Uchiha Shisuis materialized at once in front of their eyes.

This was Shisui's signature technique—a unique jutsu combining genjutsu, body flicker, and cloning techniques—*Phantom Body Flicker Technique*.

By overwhelming opponents with numerous illusions and closing the distance with extraordinary speed, he could eliminate them in a single instant!

“Fall back!”

The lead Root ninja roared. Engaging in close combat with Shisui, the Body Flicker Master, was a surefire path to death! Unfortunately, none of them had anticipated that the severely weakened Shisui would suddenly turn and launch a counterattack.

By the time they realized their mistake and tried to pull back, it was already too late.

The phantoms conjured by Shisui had surrounded them all.

Before he made his move, no one could tell which of the illusions was real. At that moment, the odds of survival for any of them were slim.

Suddenly, a bright flash of a blade erupted like lightning. Before anyone could react, the closest Root ninja to Shisui was instantly slain.

But Shisui’s assault was far from over.

If he was going to make a move, he had to weaken the enemy’s forces as much as possible.

As one illusion was dispelled, a ninja exhaled in relief—only for his partner to shout a warning.

“Watch out!”

The next moment, Shisui, who had just appeared to vanish, materialized in the exact spot where the illusion had disappeared. With impossible speed, he struck again—another flash of light, and a head fell to the ground.

In less than a second, Shisui had taken out two elite Root ninjas!

Such terrifying strength left the remaining ninjas panicked and disoriented. Unable to distinguish between reality and illusion, they could only retreat quickly.

After cutting down two of them, Shisui didn’t linger. He once again used the Body Flicker Technique to put distance between himself and the group.

But as he landed, a sharp kunai appeared out of nowhere, like a venomous snake waiting to strike.

Having just touched the ground, Shisui chose to deflect it instead of dodging. He swung his blade, knocking the kunai away, and sparks flared as steel clashed against steel.

In the flickering light, Shisui’s expression changed drastically. He had seen something attached to the kunai—a small, purple pellet.

It was a Root-exclusive poison bomb!

He took a step back, attempting to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape the blast radius.

But as his foot touched the ground, a sharp, agonizing pain flared from his ribs, momentarily halting his movements.

That brief hesitation was enough—the poison bomb exploded violently.

A thick, purple gas erupted like a demonic entity, covering Shisui’s position completely.

“Did we get him?”

One of the Root ninjas stared into the mist, hoping the surprise attack had finally subdued their troublesome foe.

But their hopes were shattered by the team’s sensory ninja.

“He escaped.”

“Pursue him!”

Inside the cloud of poison, Shisui gritted his teeth and ignored the searing discomfort in his body. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he managed to break through the gas and escape deeper into the forest.

His body trembled slightly, his vision blurred, and his lips took on a faint shade of purple—clear signs of poisoning.

“Damn it, I must’ve inhaled some of the poison,” Shisui muttered, a hint of despair crossing his face. In his current state, breaking through the encirclement seemed nearly impossible.

The Root ninjas continued their relentless pursuit. After a few more brief clashes, Shisui’s condition had worsened significantly.

Sensing their opportunity, the Root ninjas closed in from all sides.

“You have nowhere to run, Uchiha Shisui!”

The leader, wearing a bird-beak mask, said coldly.

Seven or eight Root elites simultaneously drew kunai with explosive tags attached, aiming at Shisui, who was trapped in the center of their formation.

“Aim for his legs. Do not damage his eyes.”

Danzo’s orders were clear: stop Uchiha Shisui’s escape and retrieve his eyes.

“Yes, sir!”

From all directions, countless kunai embedded with explosive tags shot toward Shisui.

Half-kneeling on the ground, Shisui’s chest heaved violently. The poison sapped his strength with every movement.

As the sharp whistle of kunai cutting through the air approached, Shisui’s gaze became increasingly resolute.

“I…”

“…cannot die here!”

“I still have something I must do!”

Amidst the extreme crisis, an unyielding determination surged through Shisui’s mind. Blood vessels spread across his eyes, and the spinning three-tomoe Sharingan rapidly merged into something greater.

*Mangekyō Sharingan—awakened!*

A massive, overwhelming force erupted from Shisui’s body.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Explosions engulfed Shisui’s position, generating fire and smoke that consumed everything around him.

In his current state, Shisui couldn’t possibly dodge. His only fate would be losing his legs and being captured.

The force of the blasts turned the ground into a crater and shattered nearby trees.

The Root ninjas fanned out cautiously, watching the dissipating smoke. Though Shisui was at the end of his strength, their comrades’ sacrifices were still fresh in their minds. Until they confirmed his demise, they wouldn’t let their guard down.

But then, something unnerving occurred.

Before the smoke could naturally clear, a surge of powerful energy swept through the area, dispersing the black haze instantly.

The gust lifted the ninjas’ cloaks, and in the dissipating mist, a bright *green glow* emerged.

“Careful…”

Before the warning could be fully spoken, a barrage of glowing green arrows rained down upon them.

The Root ninjas hadn’t expected Shisui to have one final move left. Two of them managed to dive aside just in time, but the rest were forced to defend with their kunai.

However, the arrows were far stronger than they anticipated. The moment they made contact, the sheer force cracked their kunai, and they were struck down amidst the onslaught.

“What is that…?”

The two remaining Root ninjas stared, their voices trembling.

A *giant green figure*, composed entirely of chakra, slowly materialized before their eyes.

This was Uchiha Shisui’s newfound ability, unlocked in his most desperate moment—the Mangekyō Sharingan’s ultimate power:

*Susanoo!*

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 195: Wood Style vs. Mangekyo Sharingan

“What is that thing?”

The last two remaining Root ninja stared in disbelief at the scene before them.

A strange green chakra surged out of Uchiha Shisui's body, materializing into a colossal armored figure composed entirely of pure chakra.

The chakra giant resembled a traditional samurai, with a ferocious mask that concealed its face. Bright, piercing eyes scanned the battlefield from beneath the mask.

The giant's chest was open, revealing a crimson tomoe at its core. The green energy arrow that had been launched earlier had clearly originated from there.

Bathed in this massive cloak of chakra and protected by the giant samurai, Uchiha Shisui stood gasping for breath.

Although his chakra reserves were dwindling, it should still be enough to deal with these two opponents!

However, the two Root ninja showed no intention of giving up. Exchanging a glance, they swiftly began weaving hand signs.

“No matter what kind of monster you summon, you won’t stop Lord Danzo’s advance!”

“Water Style: Wild Water Wave!”

“Lightning Style: Lightning Strike!”

A massive column of water surged forth like a ferocious serpent, slamming toward Uchiha Shisui.

At the same time, the other ninja pressed his hand against the ground, sending brilliant streaks of lightning skittering along the earth. The electric current entwined with the water column, amplifying its destructive power as it barreled toward Shisui.

Due to the bulky size of his Susano’o, there was no way to evade such an attack. He could only brace himself for impact.

As the attack closed in, Shisui clumsily manipulated the protective Susano’o around him, raising its armored arm to intercept the incoming assault.

The massive column of electrified water twisted violently, crashing into the green chakra giant’s arm guard with tremendous force.

To the despair of the two elite Root operatives, their combined full-strength attack did nothing to harm the green giant summoned by Shisui.

The devastating force of the water and lightning shattered instantly upon contact with the Susano’o’s armor, utterly destroyed.

Sensing the immense power radiating from his Susano’o, Shisui once again activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.

The green giant, having just obliterated the enemy's assault, flared its eyes brightly. Under Shisui’s control, it conjured a long, spiraling lance from its hand, adding another layer of lethality to its already intimidating form.

A suffocating aura of death enveloped the two Root ninja.

In the next instant, the spiraling lance was thrust forward.

With an earth-shattering roar, the attack gouged a massive trench into the ground. The two Root ninja were caught in the blast and killed instantly.

After delivering this devastating strike, Shisui immediately deactivated the Susano’o without hesitation.

Although the technique was immensely powerful, it drained too much chakra, especially given Shisui's current injuries. It wasn’t a technique he could rely on for long.

Clutching his fractured ribs, Shisui began sprinting toward the Uchiha clan compound.

His top priority now was finding Itachi!

Unfortunately, just as he prepared to leave, several tree roots shot out of the forest with incredible speed.

“Wood Style: Silent Strangling Jutsu!”

Startled by the sudden attack, Shisui quickly unleashed a stream of fire, incinerating the incoming roots.

He then raised his guard, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the attack had come.

It was now clear to him—this was Wood Style!

“I told you, didn’t I? These low-level Wood Style techniques are practically useless…”

A lazy voice echoed from the forest. Moments later, two figures emerged from the shadows.

“Yeah, yeah. The problem is I haven’t mastered any large-scale Wood Style techniques yet,” replied the other figure, shrugging helplessly, as if he wasn’t already trying his best.

Hearing their conversation, Shisui felt his heart sink.

Since when did the Root have two ninja capable of using Wood Style?

Wood Style was supposed to be the unique bloodline limit of the First Hokage—the legendary God of Shinobi!

Although Kaneki couldn’t read minds, Shisui’s expression was enough for him to guess what he was thinking.

"Another person in awe of Wood Style, huh? How original," Kaneki thought, unimpressed.

Before Kaneki could respond, Shisui made his move. Determined not to be delayed, he hurled several kunai at them.

“Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall!”

Without hesitation, Jia formed hand seals.

Wooden planks interlocked in front of the two, forming a sturdy shield that effortlessly blocked the incoming kunai.

However, the kunai were armed with explosive tags, which detonated in a burst of smoke. Though the explosion wasn’t powerful enough to destroy the wooden barrier, it generated enough smoke to obscure their vision.

Seeing this, Kaneki clapped his hands without bothering to chant the jutsu name. A strong gust of wind burst forth from his mouth, clearing the smoke in an instant.

Shisui, who had been preparing to flee, was once again exposed.

This guy’s jutsu activation speed is insane…

Realizing he couldn’t escape unseen, Shisui quickly formed hand signs for his Phantom Body Flicker Technique.

In an instant, a dozen identical copies of Shisui charged toward the forest.

“There’s no way they can block all of these at once!”

That was Shisui’s thought.

Jia initially thought the same, but when he saw Kaneki place his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, he silently dismissed the idea.

Sure enough, a massive surge of chakra erupted from Kaneki’s feet. The next second, a towering wooden wall, 60 meters high and over 100 meters long, rose from the ground with a deafening crash, sealing off all possible escape routes.

Staring at the colossal wall and the charred remnants of the earlier Wood Style techniques, Jia sighed inwardly.

Shisui, too, was stunned by the sight.

When his phantom clones approached the wooden wall, they were effortlessly pierced by spears that jutted out from the wall's surface.

“I can’t get through…”

That was Shisui’s grim assessment.

If he tried to scale the wall, he’d have to leap into the air, leaving himself vulnerable to attack until he landed.

Going around it would take too much time...

That left only one option.

He’d have to break through the wall head-on!

Once again, he forced his Sharingan to activate. Green chakra exploded from his body!

(To be continued…)