131-135

Chapter 131: The Flames of Konoha!

When the skies over the Land of Fire were shrouded in ominous clouds and torrential rain poured relentlessly,

the skies neighboring the Land of Rain unexpectedly cleared after a long stretch of gloom.

The starry night spread low across the heavens, so close it seemed one could touch it,

as if its tranquil beauty could sweep away the day’s worries.

The moonlight bathed the earth in a gentle glow,

casting a silver sheen over the coarse sands, pebbles, and wind-eroded rock pillars of the desolate wasteland.

The night wind blew strong and cold, biting at Shinji’s face, making his skin feel dry and eerily numb.

In front of him, the solemn and determined gazes of Jinichi and Shisui made him feel a twinge of unease.

Soon, Uchiha Jinichi’s eyes turned sharp. He reached into the ninja tool pouch strapped to his back and pulled out a kunai, gripping it firmly in his hand.

He cast a fierce glance toward the Sand Village encampment just beyond a rocky pillar, then spoke in a low voice:

“Shinji, remember this,”

“The elite operatives of the Reconnaissance and Assassination Unit are ten miles directly west of us.”

“They’ll launch signal flares—red, yellow, green, and blue—each with a distinct meaning.”

“Green means the operation has begun.”

“Blue means the mission is complete, and both teams should immediately retreat.”

“Yellow means the mission is facing complications, and we’ll need to buy more time.”

Shinji looked up, his gaze flickering. “And red?”

Uchiha Jinichi exhaled heavily, his expression grim.

“You’d best hope we never see that one.”

A suffocating silence fell over the group, and no one spoke another word.

Before long,

a ninja suddenly stood up behind them and shouted,

“Captain! Westward!”

The trio turned sharply at the voice, their gazes fixed on the western border of the Land of Wind.

There, at the edge of the horizon, a green plume of smoke rose high into the sky!

“Jinichi-nii, what now?” Uchiha Shisui sprang to his feet, drawing his blade and activating his Sharingan, his eyes filled with intensity.

“Hold on!” Jinichi’s breathing grew rapid as he gripped the handle of his kunai tightly.

“In a battlefield like this, Nara Shikaku’s orders are usually trustworthy.”

“No commands have been given yet. We wait—”

Before Jinichi could finish his sentence, a ninja from their squad leapt up, pointing toward the Sand Village encampment and shouting urgently:

“Captain! Look over there, at the Sand camp!”

Everyone turned to see,

and what they saw left them stunned.

Not long after the green smoke rose,

a swarm of Sand Village ninjas poured out of their camp,

almost like an unstoppable flood.

The Sand ninjas advanced swiftly, their feet kicking up coarse gravel and creating a billowing cloud of dust that rose more than five meters high, surging toward them like an avalanche.

Their tightly formed ranks and charging momentum were truly terrifying!

And they were heading straight for the ambush team’s position!

“Fifty… a hundred… two hundred… more than three hundred!”

“There are at least eight wearing jonin uniforms!”

“Jinichi-nii, something’s not right!” Uchiha Shisui widened his Sharingan, staring intently at the approaching force. His gaze trembled slightly.

“They aren’t heading to reinforce the border with the Land of Wind.”

“Their target—”

“Is us!”

“Our position has been compromised from the start!”

Jinichi’s breath hitched at Shisui’s words, and his expression froze in shock.

“This…”

Before he could react, a scout monitoring their rear cried out in horror,

“C-Captain! Behind us!”

Jinichi whipped his head around, his pupils shaking violently.

From the direction of the Land of Wind’s border, where the green smoke had risen,

a red plume of smoke suddenly shot up into the sky!

The unrelenting wind scattered the red smoke, causing it to waver like the swinging blade of a reaper’s scythe!

The meaning of that red smoke was unmistakable, and the realization made Jinichi’s mouth go dry. He swallowed hard, but his throat was so tight he could barely manage it.

Faced with such a dire and precarious situation, with mortal danger closing in from both front and rear,

the gathered ninjas stood frozen, their faces pale with terror.

Unlike Shinji, they knew exactly what the red smoke signified.

It represented one simple, ruthless command:

Fight to the very end!

Until death!

Shinji’s eyes widened slightly as he took in the scene, his heart sinking.

Piecing together Jinichi’s explanation with his own knowledge,

he realized that ten miles away, the elite ANBU tasked with destroying the lethal toxin chambers must include his superior, Aburame Ryoma.

And Aburame Ryoma was no ordinary ninja—he could even hold his own for a few moves against the future Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

What could have happened over there?

What did the red smoke mean?

Could Aburame Ryoma—the stoic man who had once saved his life—be in mortal danger?

A tangle of chaotic thoughts clouded his mind, and Shinji felt a growing weight in his chest.

But for now,

all he could do was…

He took a deep breath, bent his knees slightly, and raised his hand to grip the hilt of his Kusanagi sword.

With his gaze locked firmly on the three hundred Sand Shinobi across from him,

a pair of crimson Sharingan with two tomoe flared to life as he lifted his eyes.

But just then,

a hand reached out and grabbed Shinji's wrist.

Uchiha Shinichi, his own Sharingan with three tomoe glowing intensely, fixed his gaze on Shinji.

Breathing heavily, his expression was one of intense tension,

but his voice was as resolute as forged steel:

"Ci!"

"Trust me!"

"Trust us!"

His eyes reddened, and his face trembled as he spoke:

"Because of this war, I've already lost a clansman, a dear friend, and countless comrades!"

"I can't afford to lose the dream I swore to achieve, even in death!"

"You, a little brat, should stay in the rear, back in the village,

sucking on a pacifier while diligently training in martial arts until you grow into a towering tree!"

"Do you understand me?!"

As his words ended,

Uchiha Shinichi stood up abruptly, facing the eighty-nine members of the Konoha Assault Unit behind him.

He raised a kunai high into the air, his eyes fierce and bloodshot as he roared:

"Everyone!"

"The plan has changed—the reinforcements assigned by the higher-ups haven't shown up!"

"Our intelligence has been compromised, the mission has failed,

and now, there's only one road left for us—to die in battle!"

"I know you're scared—I am too!"

"But what I want to say is this:"

"There are two children in this squad—a twelve-year-old and a seven-year-old!"

"Their lives shouldn’t end here!"

"Forget the damn mission! From this moment forward, to hell with it all!"

"I will lead the charge!"

"And carve out a path of survival for them!"

"Just as the Third Hokage says every year during the academy entrance ceremony—"

'Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns bright. The flames will continue to illuminate this village and allow new leaves to sprout!'

"Now, it’s my time to burn completely!"

Shinichi turned his back, his eyes blazing with determination as he stared down the three hundred Sand Shinobi ahead.

Taking a bold step forward, he bellowed without looking back:

"If anyone wants to run, do it now!"

"I’ll even save deserters!"

As his voice faded,

the restless Assault Unit fell into a sudden hush.

One by one, the shinobi lifted their heads, gazing at the trembling man standing alone against the three hundred Sand Shinobi—

their captain, Uchiha Shinichi!

A chuckle broke the silence.

It came from Ichi, a civilian Jonin and captain of the Second Squad in the Assault Unit.

"Shinichi, stop trying to act like a hero!"

"You’ve never beaten me in cards!"

"And I’m not about to let you win now!"

His body trembling, Ichi stood and took his place behind Shinichi, drawing his blade with a determined glare.

In the next moment,

Shinji looked up in astonishment as all thirty members of the Second Squad followed suit,

stepping forward past him to stand firmly behind Shinichi, their expressions a mix of fear and steely resolve.

Then, another man stepped forward, carrying his dog.

Silent, stoic, and efficient,

he strode confidently forward, declaring in a low voice as he walked:

"Third Squad Captain, Inuzuka Mingyi, reporting!"

Another thirty shinobi rose in unison!

Uchiha Shisui, watching the scene unfold, felt the urge to stand and do the same.

But before he could, a young man placed a hand over his mouth and smiled.

"This is something for me, the Vice Captain of the First Squad, Yamano Tōma, to handle!"

With those words, twenty-nine more shinobi stood up!

A total of eighty-nine people stepped past Shinji and Shisui,

forming a thick wall in front of them.

Shinji stared at the scene, stunned,

his nose suddenly tingling with emotion.

These people had no connection to him; they’d never even met before this mission.

And yet,

simply because of Shinichi’s declaration of the Will of Fire,

for the sake of two children from the same village, for a seemingly insignificant reason and dream,

they stood up!

Hearing the commotion behind him, Shinichi couldn’t help but glance back.

Seeing the group standing resolutely behind him, his eyes filled with surprise,

and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

Soon, Shinichi turned back, his eyes wide and blazing!

He glared fiercely at the three hundred Sand Shinobi charging toward them,

his crimson Sharingan spinning rapidly,

the kunai in his hand twirling into a dazzling arc.

Then,

gripping the kunai tightly, he roared with fury:

"Konoha Assault Unit, assemble!"

For the Will of Fire, fight!

"Charge!"

(End of Chapter) .

Chapter 132: Are You Ready to Become a Legend of the Ninja World?

Eighty-nine Konoha Ambush Corps members stood at the ready, prepared to strike at a moment's notice.

*Formation:*

- *3 Jonin*

- *24 Chunin*

- *62 Genin*

*Opposing Forces:*

A 300-strong Sand Ninja unit. Among them, at least eight visible Jonin stood in clear view, with an uncountable number of Chunin and Genin behind them.

The enemies charged forward in a dense, chaotic formation:

- Puppet masters operating their creations

- Ninja armed with tools

- Others weaving signs for Wind and Earth Release techniques

- Support units preparing illusions and supplementary jutsu

- Rear guards lining up to unleash tiered waves of attacks

The 300 Sand Ninja surged like an ominous storm cloud, an oppressive force crashing toward them.

Uchiha Jinichi swallowed hard, shouting without looking back:

“Tsui! Shisui! Don’t retreat along the same path!”

“This is the Sand’s rear flank. Head southeast from here; you’ll reach the Valley of the Nation—”

Before Jinichi could finish outlining a rough retreat plan, an unexpected figure appeared before the Konoha Ambush Corps.

From the rocky pillars ahead, a ninja wearing an ANBU uniform and a bird-patterned mask leaped down abruptly. With a swift motion, they drew a long sword from their waist and pointed it directly at Jinichi’s face.

In a cold, commanding tone, the ANBU ninja barked:

“Uchiha Jinichi, Captain of the Konoha Ambush Corps—

Are you planning to betray the village?”

The sudden confrontation rendered Jinichi speechless. He furrowed his brow, stunned, and stared at the masked ninja before him.

“You’re a messenger assigned by Nara Shikaku, right? ANBU?” Jinichi asked, his expression tense, his gaze narrowing on the bird-patterned mask.

“No... you reek of a sewer rat. You’re Root!”

The Root ninja behind the mask remained calm, his tone icy:

“Uchiha Jinichi, your actions will be reported later.

But for now—

The time has come. Follow strategic orders and engage in combat immediately!

Otherwise, you’ll be deemed a traitor!”

Jinichi’s forehead veins throbbed as he fought to suppress his growing fury. He growled in response:

“You were here from the start!

You knew this was all a trap!

Why didn’t you inform us of the mission details?!”

He pointed toward the rapidly approaching Sand Ninja, then gestured toward the red smoke billowing behind him.

“You waited until everything was falling apart to show up—

Just to flaunt your authority?

To hell with your mission! Isn’t this situation just a ploy to sacrifice us, to use our lives to stall these Sand Ninja—

So your reconnaissance unit can finish their task?”

Jinichi roared with anger, baring his teeth:

“You want my life, my clan’s lives, my comrades’ lives—

All the lives of the ninja here—

To glorify Root’s achievements?!”

As his words echoed, all 89 members of the ambush corps turned their eyes on the Root ninja.

Ninety pairs of eyes burned with rage, threatening to tear him apart on the spot.

But the Root ninja responded with mocking laughter, throwing his head back:

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

From behind his mask, his eyes glinted with scorn as he sneered at Jinichi and the Konoha Ambush Corps.

Then, with a derisive smirk, he asked:

“Uchiha Jinichi, who do you think you are?”

He reached into his waist pouch, retrieved a scroll, and unfurled it before Jinichi.

“Take a good look. This is your real mission—” he sneered.

Pointing to the contents of the scroll, he read aloud:

“All members of the Konoha Ambush Corps are to stand by on-site.

This battle and mission will be handled by members of the Konoha Special Operations Squad.

Until the Special Operations Squad members are killed, you are not to interfere.

Otherwise, you’ll be deemed traitors!”

The Root ninja tossed the scroll to Jinichi, who caught it and stared in disbelief.

His eyes widened as he reread the text, repeatedly verifying the signatures stamped at the bottom:

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the Konoha Border Camp Command.

Finally, Jinichi looked up, his voice trembling with disbelief:

“What did you just say?

Special Operations Squad?

There’s no Special Operations Squad here!

Weren’t they sent to assassinate the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?!”

Clenching his teeth, Jinichi glanced at the advancing Sand Ninja, growing increasingly frantic.

“Can you at least tell me where this ‘key figure’ is now?!”

The Root ninja let out a scoff, shaking his head mockingly.

“You don’t have clearance for Root secrets.

Just sit tight and wait.”

Jinichi clenched his fists as the Sand Ninja drew closer, their movements growing louder and more menacing.

“If we don’t act now, if we’re not ready—” Jinichi’s voice trembled with rage and desperation,

“We won’t be able to stop them!”

“Now, are you seriously telling us to stay here and wait to die?”

“All for the sake of waiting for some so-called special operations squad member whose whereabouts are completely unknown?”

Uchiha Shinichi grabbed the Root ninja by the collar, his eyes glaring with rage as he shouted:

“Are you kidding me?!”

The Root ninja slapped his hand away, snorted coldly, and sneered:

“This is none of your concern.”

“On the battlefield, all you need to do is—”

“Follow orders!”

After finishing his sentence, the Root ninja turned around, calmly watching the advancing Sand ninja forces.

As the Sand ninjas drew closer and closer,

The ground began to tremble with a thunderous rumble, like the drums of the gods!

The wind howled, rocks shattered, and sand flew everywhere.

The assembled Sand ninja forces charged forward, creating a deafening commotion akin to an oncoming fleet of overloaded dump trucks!

Faced with such a sight,

Uchiha Shinichi and his ambush squad couldn’t help but turn pale.

Despite the cold wind blowing, sweat trickled down their faces uncontrollably.

Disregarding the Root ninja’s commands, everyone immediately assumed combat positions, fully alert and prepared for battle.

Three kilometers, two kilometers, one kilometer—

Until the faces of the Sand ninja vanguard became almost discernible.

At that moment, the Root ninja, who had been watching coldly the entire time, finally turned around.

His gaze, indifferent as ever, swept over the human wall formed by the ambush squad.

Then, in a cold voice, he barked:

“Step aside!”

His words provoked another round of glares from the ambush squad.

The Second Squad’s leader, Ichiji, ground his teeth in fury and leaned close to Uchiha Shinichi to whisper:

“Captain, this bastard’s too cocky. How about we take him out?”

Nearby, Inuzuka Mei nodded solemnly and added, shockingly:

“Let’s just do it.”

“Woof!”

Even the dog at his feet seemed to agree.

Uchiha Shinichi exhaled heavily, casting a frosty glance at the Root ninja.

“Let him pass. Everyone, stay ready for battle.”

With their captain’s order, the group reluctantly stepped aside, creating a path for the Root ninja to walk through.

Uchiha Shinichi shook his head, realizing he couldn’t rely on that arrogant bastard. It would be up to him to handle things.

Without looking back, he began issuing tactical orders:

“Mei, Third Squad focuses on diversion. Ichiji, follow me to carve a path through their formation. I’ll use my most powerful Fire Release technique to complement your Wind Release.”

But before he could finish, a sudden commotion erupted behind him.

“Huh?!”

Uchiha Shinichi frowned in confusion. With the Sand ninjas practically at their doorstep, what could possibly warrant this uproar?

He spun around, prepared to scold his subordinates for losing focus.

But what he saw left him speechless. The words caught in his throat as he stared, stunned, and inhaled sharply.

At that moment—

The Root ninja, wearing his bird-mask adorned with red markings, had walked through the path the ambush squad reluctantly cleared for him.

He stopped right in front of Shinji.

Then, the once unbearably arrogant Root ninja, who had acted as though everyone owed him a fortune,

Dropped to one knee without a word!

He held out a mission scroll with both hands.

Shinji blinked in confusion, took the scroll, and unrolled it.

Inside was handwriting unmistakably that of Orochimaru.

It contained only two sentences:

“Do as you see fit.”

And:

“Return alive!”

Still kneeling, the Root ninja looked up at Shinji, his gaze as if directed at a blazing sun that could illuminate the entire world.

He had been among those who followed Aburame Ryoma in witnessing Shinji’s overwhelming power in the Land of Hot Springs.

His eyes brimmed with fervent admiration.

Then, bowing even lower, he spoke in a resolute voice:

“Additionally, Shinji, Lord Orochimaru instructed me to ask you one more question—”

“Are you ready to become a legend in the ninja world?!”

His words left everyone staring at the young man.

Their gazes were filled with astonishment, bewilderment, and disbelief.

Shinji, however, simply looked at the scroll, then raised his eyes to the approaching Sand ninja forces, the Konoha ambush squad around him, and the wisps of red smoke rising in the distance.

He closed his eyes and rolled up the scroll.

Orochimaru’s message was clear—

The series of recent events, the dire circumstances they faced,

Were all real and part of a strategic trade-off.

To create an opportunity for a decisive ambush and a swift end to the war,

This squad was nothing more than a sacrificial pawn.

But—

He was the wild card, an unforeseen element Orochimaru had placed within this game.

If he couldn’t defeat the Sand ninja forces, everyone here would die.

If he couldn’t quickly assist Aburame Ryoma, that kind-hearted superior might also perish.

Shinji stood silent for a moment, the weight heavy on his heart.

Then—

He opened his eyes abruptly—

His scarlet Sharingan shining with unwavering resolve!

Taking a deep breath, he tossed the scroll aside, glanced coldly at the kneeling Root ninja at his feet,

And stepped forward, forming hand seals with calm deliberation.

Without turning back, he spoke in a steady voice:

“Then watch closely.”

“This is my full power!”

The Root ninja, hearing this response, bowed deeply, placing a hand over his heart, and spoke with solemn respect:

“Then, I wish you victory in battle!”

Beneath his mask, his fervent gaze held secrets only he knew,

And a madness on the verge of revelation!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 133: What?! He’s a Special Forces Member?

The bright moonlight cast its glow upon the land.

The fierce winds from the Land of Wind howled, lifting the coarse sand and gravel into a frenzied dance in the sky.

The ambush unit, now split in two, stood still as all eyes focused ahead.

A young man, clad in a high-collared Uchiha black robe, strode forward with a calm demeanor.

He stepped past the kneeling Root ninja, through the crowd of onlookers with varied expressions,

brushing shoulders with the astonished captain of the ambush unit, Uchiha Shinichi.

Then—

Alone, he stood before ninety men!

“Wait, Shinji, what are you doing?! Stop moving forward!”

Uchiha Shinichi's eyes widened in shock. He leaped forward, reaching out to grab the boy’s arm, trying to pull him back.

“Come back! Hurry back!”

“This isn’t the time for you to show off—”

At that moment—

The howling wind surged, carrying the chaotic cries of battle as it swirled through the air!

The young man took another step forward, evading Shinichi’s grasp before halting.

His voice was calm, as if he had come to terms with everything. Without turning back, he softly replied:

“Shinichi-senpai, I’m here to save you.”

“I’m here… to save many people.”

Then, Shinji slightly turned his head, revealing only half of his face as he glanced back at Uchiha Shinichi.

On that half of his face—

A single, blood-red Sharingan glowed like a bronze bell, its sclera filled with countless intricate blood vessels.

One crimson eye, like that of a demon!

Staring into that eerie red pupil, Uchiha Shinichi’s body froze in place.

His breath suddenly became labored, as if the air around him had been sucked away in an instant!

A wave of overwhelming fear loomed over him!

*Genjutsu: Sharingan!*

Uchiha Shinichi immediately realized—he had fallen into a genjutsu!

And not just any genjutsu—this was on a level far beyond his own!

But how was that possible?

How could this boy—within mere hours—fully master the advanced Sharingan illusions that were already considered formidable within the Uchiha clan?

And not only that—how could he surpass them?!

A two-tomoe Sharingan, overpowering a three-tomoe user?!

So fast that he had no chance to counter with *Mirror Heaven and Earth Change*?!

This was absurd!

Uchiha Shinichi was in shock. He gasped sharply, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at the young man before him.

Inside this warped illusionary world—

The young man’s expression was grim, his face heavy with the weight of a mountain.

His lips, his teeth, even his skin trembled.

Then, with his single blood-red eye wide open, he stared at Shinichi and spoke in a cold, steady voice:

*"Carry the great cause, bear the dreams, save the hopeless."*

Shinji trembled as he formed the *Snake Hand Seal*, letting out a desperate, bitter laugh.

“Sorry… I no longer have the luxury of holding back.”

“If you must blame someone… then blame yourselves!”

A chill ran down Shinichi’s spine. A deep sense of unease gripped his heart as he gulped nervously, staring at the young man in front of him.

He struggled with all his might, his eyes widening in desperation as he frantically shouted:

“You… what are you saying?!”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Are you joking?!”

“Who the hell asked you to save them?!”

“Shinji!!”

“Get back here!!”

Shinji shook his head, his face returning to a cold, indifferent expression.

It was as if his moment of weakness had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Then, in a calm, detached voice, he said:

“Shinichi-senpai,”

“When you return to the village, please burn some paper offerings for me at my memorial stone.”

“And now—”

He formed his final hand seal and turned around.

A faint red chakra surged around his palm!

Then, he slammed his five fingers onto the ground!

On the desolate Gobi Desert, upon the rough gravel, before the three hundred Sand ninja charging behind him—

He struck the earth with all his might!

*Super Deathmatch Barrier!*

A circular array of intricate seals rapidly expanded, and a translucent red barrier flared to life—

separating the ninety Konoha ambush unit members from the three hundred Sand ninja behind them!

At this moment—the *domain was set!*

The colossal battlefield of death had once again emerged onto the ninja world’s stage!

Shinji slowly stood up, gazing at the warriors before him. A faint smile appeared on his face.

Then, he gently waved his hand, silently mouthing a final farewell:

*“Goodbye… forever.”*

After finishing his words, the young man turned away without hesitation, stepping forward resolutely.

"You... you... you..."

Uchiha Shinichi clenched his teeth so hard that his molars ground together, and his Sharingan spun wildly in his eyes.

Watching this scene unfold before him, a storm of emotions surged in his chest, almost breaking free.

"Wait! Wait! Stop!"

"Shinji, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"I'm begging you, come back!"

In the throes of his intense emotions, Shinichi finally broke free from the genjutsu's control. He surged forward, slamming his fist against the barrier's screen.

Yet that full-force punch only caused ripples to spread across the barrier.

It didn't even budge.

His expression froze, a look of blank disbelief overtaking his face as he stared at the boy's solitary figure walking away, stepping toward the three hundred Sunagakure shinobi.

His eyes widened, round as saucers, until they nearly burst from their sockets. Blood vessels spread like cobwebs across his sclera, and the three tomoe of his Sharingan spun furiously—faster and faster.

"Shinji..."

"He's actually... he's really going to fight three hundred Sunagakure shinobi alone?!"

This scene was beyond anyone's expectations.

The entire Konoha assault unit stared at the boy's back with stunned expressions, their hearts pounding in disbelief.

Watching this unfold, Uchiha Shinichi gasped for air.

Suddenly, he spun around, grabbing someone behind him with a crazed desperation. His voice trembled with urgency.

"Ichi! Ichi!"

"Your Wind Release squad, combined with my Fire Release, it has to work!"

"And Meiichi! Your Fang Passing Fang is powerful, too."

"Help me! Help me! Help me destroy this barrier!"

"I need to shatter it!"

"I have to save that kid!!!"

Shinichi's face was full of desperation as he pleaded frantically.

He didn’t even understand why he was so determined to go this far.

But this scene before him, and the boy’s actions, had completely shattered the defenses in his heart.

His mind went blank, leaving only one thought behind.

Yet at that moment—

A Root shinobi wearing a crimson bird-masked face guard appeared before them in a flash.

Without hesitation, he drew a long blade,

placing it directly against Uchiha Shinichi’s throat, and said coldly:

"Stop!"

"If you move one step further, your actions will be treated as treason against the village!"

"What did you say?!"

Shinichi snapped his head around, pressing his throat against the blade’s edge as he glared furiously at the Root ninja.

"Do you mean to let us stand by and watch as a kid goes to his death?!"

"Hmph!" The Root ninja sneered, showing no interest in explaining.

But in the next instant,

a tanto was unsheathed, slicing through the air in a beautiful arc, moving at a speed beyond what the naked eye could follow.

The blade pressed against the Root ninja's back.

Behind him, Uchiha Shisui—tears of blood streaming from his eyes—spoke in a hoarse and icy voice:

"You better give me an explanation."

"Or—"

"I’ll kill you!"

Hearing this youthful voice, the Root ninja slowly turned his head, only to see Shisui standing behind him, his right eye bleeding as it coldly fixed him with an unwavering gaze.

In Shisui’s right eye, the two-tomoe Sharingan had unknowingly evolved into three tomoe.

Gazing into that dark and ominous eye,

an inexplicable shiver ran down the Root ninja’s spine.

He sheathed his sword and looked calmly toward the boy's back inside the barrier.

Taking a deep breath,

he said in a deep voice:

"You’re wrong!"

"He’s not just a child!"

The Root ninja lifted his gaze, his expression fervent as he proclaimed:

"He is the disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin. He is Konoha’s secret weapon."

"He is someone who has embraced the Will of Root and walked out of the darkness—"

"A reincarnated Asura!"

"And—"

"The core member of this critical mission, a member of Konoha’s special operations squad—"

"Shinji!"

Hearing the Root ninja’s words,

everyone present flinched, staring in astonishment at the boy.

"What?!"

"He's part of that special operations squad?!"

But the Root ninja only scoffed, ignoring the ignorant masses.

He kept his gaze fixed on Shinji’s back, his vision blurring as he seemed to return to that submerged city, once more standing amidst the ruins.

Just like now, he gazed at the boy who shone like the sun,

looking up at his back,

and with this burning admiration, vowed to spread the legend of Shinji across the land!

Taking a deep breath, the Root ninja crossed his arms and coldly barked:

"Watch closely!"

"His mission is singular, and that is—"

"Victory!"

As the Root Ninja's words fell,

within the barrier,

a lone young man stood against an army of 300 Sand Hidden shinobi.

Then,

he took a step,

one step, two steps, three steps... countless steps!

Until he leaned forward and suddenly charged!

The fierce wind lifted his hairline, making his black robe billow violently!

Amidst the first wave of kunai raining from the sky,

amidst the fervent war cries of the Sand Hidden shinobi,

on this battlefield where only the victor could walk away alive,

Shinji strode forward boldly, forming hand seals!

*Boar – Dog – Rooster – Monkey – Goat!*

His eyes flared open as he leaped high into the air, his roar shaking the battlefield!

*"Summoning Jutsu!"*

*"Manda!"*

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 134: Cutting Through Enemy Lines, Beheading the Commander!  

At this moment, a head-on clash!  

Shinji couldn't help but recall the elegant and deadly dance of his distant ancestor in the Fourth Shinobi World War.  

Of course, he wanted to pay tribute to that moment.  

But Shinji was not Uchiha Madara.  

He didn’t have the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, a towering Susanoo, a lifetime of honed combat skills, 

nor the infinite chakra of an Edo Tensei body.  

Aside from his shuriken techniques, which might allow him to go toe-to-toe with his ancestor, 

his taijutsu, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu were nowhere near enough to let him "dance" amid an army.  

However—  

He had his own advantages!  

And,  

He needed to win this battle quickly!  

The sound of kunai slicing through the air filled his ears. A poison-tipped kunai grazed past his face.  

In midair, Shinji looked up at the countless poisoned kunai and various hidden weapons flying toward him. His eyes narrowed slightly.  

His Sharingan activated, and at that moment, both hands pressed down in midair.  

Boom!  

Smoke surged, swirling wildly. 

A massive summoning technique expanded instantly—  

Accompanied by a thunderous crash!  

Sand, white smoke, shattered stones, and severed limbs blown apart by the enormous summoned creature flew in all directions!  

The battlefield fell into sudden silence.  

Through the hazy moonlit mist, 

a massive, terrifying purple snake head broke through the fog and surged upward!  

On the rocky battlefield, the Sand Village jōnin commander swiftly leaped away, dodging a flying boulder. His eyes widened in shock.  

The moment he saw Manda, cold sweat poured down his face.  

As a veteran of the Second Shinobi World War, he had encountered this terrifying summoned beast before.  

And he had also heard of this snake’s notorious cruelty.  

Realizing the situation, his eyes sharpened, and he shouted:  

“That’s Orochimaru’s summoning beast! All units, regroup! Use Wind Release to push it back!”  

“Do not—”  

“*Do not let it charge into the formation!*”  

If Manda rampaged into their ranks, even he would struggle to contain it—let alone the many chūnin and genin in the unit.  

A single swipe of its tail, and they wouldn’t even find their heads afterward.  

Following the order, the Sand shinobi immediately responded, splitting off several squads originally preparing to cast ninjutsu to counter the threat.  

Meanwhile—  

Standing atop Manda’s massive head, Shinji scanned the battlefield and quickly locked onto the Sand jōnin barking orders—the one who seemed to be in command.  

As for Manda beneath him, the moment the enormous snake realized that the brat standing on its forehead was that same annoying little punk, 

its rage surged instantly.  

“Huh?!”  

“You again, you little idiot! I’m going to eat you!”  

Shinji raised an eyebrow. Before Manda could react and start getting "affectionate" with him, 

he smirked and kindly reminded it:  

“Dumb snake, watch your head.”  

Then, without looking back, he leaped off Manda’s forehead.  

Manda froze for a moment.  

Looking up, it saw a rain of kunai descending like a storm.  

At once, the snake let out a sharp, furious hiss:  

“*HISSSSSS!!*”  

“Damn you, you wretched Uchiha brat! You summoned me just for this?!”  

Clang! Clang! Clang!  

The sound of kunai and ninjutsu slamming into Manda’s head soon drowned out its angry screams.  

In Shinji’s ears, only a monotonous ringing remained.  

Using Manda’s massive body as cover, he leaped down, flipping midair to land gracefully.  

The lingering summoning smoke concealed his movements.  

Pressing himself against Manda’s snake-like body to stay hidden, 

he used his Sharingan to scan the battlefield.  

Summoning Manda had cost him nearly a third of his chakra.  

But in return, he had a shield to take the enemy’s attacks.  

At the same time, Manda’s presence drew the first wave of the enemy’s attention.  

Even with his immortality, he couldn’t afford to take direct hits from coordinated shinobi attacks.  

A single Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel or Wind Release: Great Breakthrough might not pose much of a threat to him individually, 

but when executed in unison by multiple shinobi, their combined force was no joke.  

If he got caught in those attacks—  

At best, he’d suffer broken bones. At worst, half his body could be flayed off, severely limiting his movements and leaving him vulnerable to capture.  

That was not an option.  

To break through and win quickly, he had only one choice—  

Charge straight into the enemy ranks!  

Engage in the close-quarters combat he excelled at!  

And as for Manda—he didn’t even need to use Sharingan genjutsu to force obedience.  

With so many shinobi ripe for slaughter, that dumb snake was probably secretly celebrating beneath all its feigned rage.  

Shinji carefully monitored the shifting Sand Village formation.  

The moment he saw their specialized ninjutsu squads being redeployed to deal with Manda, 

his eyes gleamed.  

Without hesitation, he sprinted at full speed toward the newly exposed gap in their ranks!  

Sand kicked up beneath his feet, the wind howled past his ears.  

A lone figure charging ahead—seemingly insignificant amid the chaos caused by Manda’s rampage.  

Yet—  

The moment he kicked aside a blocking Sand genin and burst into the enemy formation—  

The perception of every single Sand shinobi would be irreversibly shattered!  

A manic grin spread across Shinji’s face as he continued his charge.  

Raising his hand—  

A single strike landed directly on his heart! 

Along the way, the Sand Shinobi saw him and immediately shouted in alarm, charging forward to intercept: 

"That brat is here!"  

"Kill him!"  

Shinji tilted his head to dodge the kunai aimed straight at him, sidestepped, flipped his body, and used a Cloud-style cross-shaped taijutsu technique. With a vicious side kick, he knocked over the ninja in front of him, stepped on his back, and leaped high into the air, landing in the middle of the enemy formation.  

Immediately, seven or eight Sand Shinobi hurled kunai at him, slashed with their blades, and performed hand signs to unleash jutsu. For a moment:  

Blades closed in, wind blades tore through the air, and the ground began to collapse. 

However, 

Shinji ignored it all.  

He allowed the blades to strike, the kunai to pierce his abdomen, and the wind blades to rip open a gaping wound across his chest.  

Inside his abdomen, the little Zero-Tailed Beast was puffing and panting, opening the gates of dark chakra.  

From within his chest,  

The area around his heart suddenly lit up, and a white-hot flame burst forth from him, creating a fiery whirlwind! 

The surrounding Sand Shinobi were all blasted away, burned, and violently flung aside!  

Boom! 

A brilliant sun rose from where he stood. 

A massive sphere of flames condensed toward the center and gathered entirely into the boy's right arm.  

The arm shone so brightly that it seemed it could blind anyone who looked at it! 

The next moment, 

Shinji, who was now riddled with wounds and covered in blood, raised an eyebrow slightly and remarked: 

"Whew! I feel like I could punch a bull to death right now!"  

He gently waved his right hand, glowing as brightly as daylight. He could feel an overwhelming power coursing through this "Kirin Arm."  

This technique involved concentrating the chakra from Fire Style: Chakra Mode into his right arm.  

While using Fire Style: Chakra Mode, the flames would not sever his threads of mobility, allowing him to retain full control. His left hand could still utilize the Uchiha-style Wire Manipulation Shuriken Technique, ensuring swift maneuverability.  

In extreme situations, he could even sever the arm and throw it like a high-explosive grenade!  

Apart from the fact that it burned his hand a little, everything about it was perfect! 

Feeling quite satisfied, Shinji's mood brightened.  

On the other side, however, the Sand Shinobi commander was utterly dumbfounded. 

He had just managed to hold off Manda, and now this reckless lunatic had charged into their formation. 

What should he do next?  

Staring at Shinji, who looked like a blood-soaked porcupine—someone who, under normal circumstances, should already be dead—the Sand Shinobi commander couldn't stop his eyelid from twitching uncontrollably.  

"How is that brat still able to fight with injuries like those?"  

"Could it be… is he one of the Sannin Tsunade's disciples?"  

"But why does he have Manda as his summon? And why is he wearing Uchiha attire? This is just too strange."  

"Is this guy Tsunade’s disciple, or Orochimaru’s protégé?"  

"And what on earth is that technique?"  

The commander’s eyes trembled as he stared at Shinji’s blinding right arm.  

Although he couldn’t understand what it was, he instinctively knew it was nothing good.  

He immediately signaled to the Sand Shinobi nearby. 

Before long,  

The Sand Shinobi spread out, forming a tight encirclement around Shinji. In the next moment, ninjas who had already prepared their hand seals moved forward, creating an impenetrable barrier.  

The next wave of attacks was about to erupt.  

However, the boy in the middle of the encirclement remained calm and even grinned, revealing his white teeth.  

Then, with his dazzling right hand, he drew the long sword hanging at his waist and raised it high into the air! 

The next moment, 

Within the barrier, flames erupted, accompanied by a raging storm!  

What happened next was even more terrifying than Manda rampaging through their ranks! 

A massive flame sword that seemed to pierce the heavens appeared.  

The Sand Shinobi stared in horror, their expressions akin to witnessing a god descend. The sword grew taller and taller.  

Then,  

The sword pointed straight at the Sand Shinobi commander at the rear of the formation. 

With a single slash, it came crashing down!  

(End of chapter) 

*Chapter 135: Shattered Sword Hurricane, Chaotic Footwork!*

Faced with a forty-meter-long blazing greatsword slashing down—

The mere motion of the sword’s swing stirred up violent gusts, sending turbulent air currents in all directions.

The sheer force of the wind made the Sand Shinobi slide back nearly two meters, their feet struggling to maintain grip on the ground. Their skin rippled from the pressure, their balance teetering as they barely avoided being blown away.

Even their hand seals faltered for a moment.

All they could do was stare in horror as the colossal blazing sword came crashing down from the heavens!

*"Ninjutsu squad, regroup with me! Hurry!"*

*"And all Jonin leaders, bring your teams forward! Form a joint ninjutsu unit!"*

The Sand Shinobi commander’s scalp tingled as he took in the sight before him. His eyes widened in shock, and he bellowed with all his might.

The sheer size of this incoming slash was overwhelming—there was no way for him to dodge from his position in the central command.

And as the brain of this army, if he were to be taken out—

Then any hope of organizing an effective counterattack would crumble.

They would be left defenseless against that seemingly unkillable brat.

If this attack landed—

*The Sand Shinobi’s only fate would be total defeat!*

Their formation shifted at lightning speed. Seven elite squads stationed at the left wing, right wing, and central forces—along with those holding the front line against Manda—immediately pulled back toward the center on command.

The Sand Shinobi commander roared out his next order—

*"Everyone!"*

*"Fire indiscriminately at the sky! Blow that sword to pieces!"*

In the next moment—

The Sand Shinobi forces, staring up at the heavens in terror as if they had just laid eyes on a god, gritted their teeth and began forming hand seals.

With a synchronized battle cry, they unleashed their techniques skyward!

*"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"*

*"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"*

*"Water Release: Water Spray!"*

*"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"*

*"Earth Release: Earth Spears!"*

Countless techniques filled the air—wind blades, towering stone pillars, fireballs, rock bullets, kunai, saw-blades launched from puppets, even tiny poisoned needles desperately thrown by outmatched Genin.

A dense storm of attacks surged upward—

Yet beneath the monstrous greatsword, which blanketed the entire battlefield like a falling meteor, all these assaults were instantly crushed, vaporized, and obliterated!

Even so, the onslaught of counterattacks continued to rise from the ground!

Under such an unrelenting barrage, the descent of the blazing greatsword slowed.

And that slight delay—

*Was all they needed!*

The seven elite squads, along with the Sand Shinobi commander himself, had now taken their positions.

Eight Jonin, fifteen elite Chunin!

With grim determination, they locked eyes with the sky, formed synchronized seals, and raised their hands in unison.

With a powerful roar, they unleashed their combined technique—

*"Joint Ninjutsu: Wind Release—Super Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"*

A storm of wind, far surpassing a normal Great Sickle Weasel Technique, erupted instantly!

A massive hurricane, over ten meters in radius, surged skyward!

It roared like an explosion, draining the air, creating a vacuum!

Countless air currents clashed, endless wind blades sliced—

It was as if ten thousand invisible swords materialized, hacking wildly at the heavens!

The colossal flaming sword collided with the superstorm in an instant!

Blinding flames erupted, violent winds howled!

From the center of impact, a terrifying sandstorm burst forth—

The very ground trembled. Desert shrubs and camel-thorn bushes were uprooted and flung skyward, while coarse sand and shattered stones shot out like shotgun blasts in all directions. Jagged cuts and crisscrossing scars instantly carved into the earth.

And then—the sky cleared in an instant!

The mighty, awe-inspiring blazing greatsword—

*Had been completely shattered by the joint attack!*

It exploded into a dazzling shower of embers,

Illuminating the entire battlefield like a grand fireworks display—

Before vanishing into the dark night sky!

Standing at the center of the encirclement, Shinji’s expression darkened, his teeth clenching.

*So, the elite of a great nation’s shinobi force isn’t as easy to handle as I thought!*

Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel was only a B-rank technique, but when wielded in perfect unison by a trained elite force, they had just pushed its power to the level of an S-rank jutsu.

*"Tch—this is going to be a problem."*

Shinji scowled as he glanced toward the Sand Shinobi central forces.

The blazing greatsword—just like the flaming fist that had shattered Hiramekarei’s light blade—was a variation of his Fire Release: Chakra Mode.

Both techniques relied on an immense amount of dark chakra and the forbidden jutsu, *Flesh Rebirth*, to extract chakra beyond normal limits.

In other words, such large-scale jutsu could only be used *one more time* with his current reserves alongside Reibi.

This attack had been his strongest ambush—executed while the enemy was still preoccupied with Manda.

But next time—

With his abilities now exposed and the enemy watching his every move—

A second *decisive* strike would be nearly impossible.

As the battlefield regained clarity—

Three hundred Sand Shinobi stared at the remnants of the shattered sword and the ember-lit sky.

*Their morale soared!*

The way they looked at the boy in the center of their encirclement—

Had *completely changed.*

Shinji instantly felt a wave of malicious, murderous, and intense emotions lock onto him from every direction.

And then, as if mocking him—

A long string of subtitles seemed to appear before his eyes:

*[The 300 Sand Shinobi think you’re nothing special after all!]*

Before his eyes, massive red dots lit up above the heads and faces of every Sand ninja.

It was as if a group of gaudy jesters were striking provocative poses, flaunting themselves in seductive gestures, seemingly enticing Shinji.

They appeared to be saying:

"Come on, just try it! Hurry, give it a shot~!"

Shinji: "..."

He took a deep breath, his gaze narrowing slightly, locking onto the commanding jonin in the Sand ninja's central forces.

Then, with a furious outburst, he cursed:

“Damn it! I really didn’t want to join this dance!”

“This is all your fault!”

The flames on his body suddenly extinguished, and his charred, carbonized right hand rapidly regenerated before everyone’s eyes.

Shinji methodically pulled out the kunai, longswords, and senbon embedded in his body, tossing them to the ground one by one.

Clink, clank, clatter.  

Afterward,

he opened his pair of scarlet, sinister Sharingan!

Coldly, he stared at the seemingly endless Sand ninja forces before him (endless only because he was short).

He took a large step forward!

With that single step,

the Sand ninjas in front of Shinji simultaneously swallowed hard, a bead of cold sweat silently sliding down their foreheads.

They stared at the boy in front of them—his face expressionless, his black hair framing his crimson eyes, his body drenched in blood.

They saw his injuries healing at an impossible speed.

They saw the scorn and indifference in his gaze.

They saw how he strolled leisurely through their ranks, as if he were wandering through his own backyard.

The wind fell silent.

On the battlefield, all that remained was the sound of hurried breathing, the gulping of saliva,

and the piercing cries of vultures in the night sky, drawn by the scent of blood:

“Cawww~!”

The Sand ninjas' faces were filled with terror, their eyes wide, their hands gripping their weapons trembling uncontrollably.

Their expressions mirrored those of the shinobi who had faced the Demon of the Shinobi World, Uchiha Madara, during the Fourth Great Ninja War—completely identical!

After that stunning decapitation assault earlier,

they didn’t know if Uchiha Madara was truly as terrifying as the stories said.

But what they did know was—

the boy before them could absolutely kill them all with a single strike!

“Hah...”

“Well then, let’s begin,” Shinji exhaled deeply.

He raised his head.

The Sharingan spun rapidly, its scarlet glow cutting through the darkness like trembling threads of light.

His eyes swept over the battlefield, which had been utterly transformed.

Under the earlier devastating sword strike, the Sand ninjas had been forced to unleash countless Earth-Style jutsu.

Now, the landscape had turned into a forest of layered rock pillars!

Combined with the wind-eroded columns that had already dotted the Gobi Desert,

this terrain couldn’t have been more perfect for Shinji to engage in combat!

Adrenaline coursing through his veins, he memorized the terrain in an instant, constructing countless routes in his mind for infiltrating the enemy lines.

He reached both hands back, brushing against the six ninja tool pouches on his waist.

His fingers skimmed over them, then flicked his wrists.

In an instant,

a rain of shuriken scattered across the sky!

Shinji’s Sharingan flared as he lunged forward, his leg pressing downward. His lips curled into a high, wicked grin.

Under the influence of his dark chakra,

a surge of extreme excitement bubbled up within him.

He grinned even wider and shouted in a resonant voice:

“Come on, Sand scum! Try to stop me!”

“Well then—”

“Here’s my opening move—”

“Ninja Art: Shuriken Barrage!”

Under the bewildered gazes of the Sand ninjas,

Shinji unleashed his full power. His arms moved so fast they seemed to twitch, leaving behind an indistinguishable blur.

And then—

eight shuriken, sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four… two hundred and eighty!

Countless wires, countless shuriken!

Like a torrent of bullets, they shot forward in every direction!

In just three seconds, this boy had hurled a number of shuriken equal to what it would take an entire Sand ninja squadron to launch in a coordinated volley!

“Holy crap! What is this kid’s deal?!”

The twenty or so Sand ninjas directly in front of Shinji froze, their breaths catching.

They watched as the shuriken before them flew in arcs, ricocheting, crisscrossing, and forming mesmerizing trajectories.

Against such a simple yet absurdly effective attack,

their faces showed pure horror. They dove to the ground one by one, frantically searching for cover.

Their hearts trembled with disbelief.

What the hell?! Why is this kid so good at throwing things?!

When the shuriken rain finally ceased, they cautiously looked up,

only to discover with dread—

the boy was gone!

“Where is he?!”

“Is he hiding somewhere now?”

“No, he might be trying to sneak up on the commander again!”

The Sand ninjas frantically scanned their surroundings, the absence of their enemy making them as panicked as ants on a hot stove.

One of them shouted angrily, attempting to quell the chaos:

“Damn it! Someone, go report to the commander immediately!”

But the next moment—

a chilling sword light suddenly gleamed in a deadly arc!

Behind one of the Sand ninjas, a figure shot forth like an arrow.

Holding a gleaming, moonlit Kusanagi sword in one hand and trailing a nearly invisible Earth Grudge Fear thread in the other,

he leapt and spun through the air like a phantom thief under the moonlight.

His steps were chaotic, his movements erratic,

but his strike was precise and devastating.

With a violent swing of his blade,

“Slash~!”

the loudest of the Sand ninjas fell to the ground, lifeless.

The remaining Sand ninjas gasped in shock and spun around,

only to see the boy hook his sword with one hand, his foot tapping lightly on the blood-soaked ground.

With a bizarre, untraceable rhythm, he leapt back into the air,

finally landing atop a towering wind-eroded rock pillar.

Behind him, the enormous full moon illuminated the sky.

His face hidden in the moonlit shadows, only his spinning, blood-red Sharingan could be seen, glimmering ominously.

He gazed down at the terror-stricken Sand ninjas below, who felt their scalps tingle and chills run down their spines.

Then, they heard him speak:

The boy chuckled softly and declared in a cold voice:

“Although plans have changed...”

“This place—”

“is now my hunting ground!”

(End of Chapter)