11-15

*Chapter 11: Phoenix Flower Blaze and Crimson Claw, Dragon Fire Technique! The Elder’s Decision*

“Relax. Take a seat,” said Uchiha Setsuna casually. He then drew a shuriken from the ninja tool pouch on his waist and tossed it to Shinji.

Shinji caught it effortlessly and examined it briefly, finding nothing particularly unusual about it.

If there was anything worth noting, it was that the Elder’s shuriken was a high-quality weapon—superior craftsmanship, sturdier, and more durable than the kunai he used for parrying.

“Elder, what’s this about?” Shinji asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Who taught you your shuriken techniques?” Uchiha Setsuna asked as he half-closed his eyes.

Shinji heart skipped a beat. Earlier, he had only made a brief move against Kiyoshiro, not even employing the thread manipulation technique from the Uchiha-style Shuriken Jutsu. Yet the Elder had already sensed something unusual about his shuriken skills.

This question, however, left Shinji at a loss for how to answer.

After all, he had essentially "borrowed" this skill from none other than Uchiha Setsuna himself. He couldn’t very well say, “Elder, I’ve admired you for ages. I learned it from watching you for a year.”  

In the clan, Shinji had no connections even close to someone like Uchiha Shisui, let alone access to such advanced shuriken techniques.

After a moment of hesitation, Shinji put on an earnest expression and replied honestly, “Elder, I’m just a genin. Apart from the training courses offered in the clan, I have no other way to learn ninjutsu. So, I just practice whatever costs nothing to try.”

“Oh?” A sharp gleam flashed from beneath the Elder’s half-closed eyelids.

Could this kid actually be a hidden genius? No wonder that proud brat Shisui seemed to regard him favorably.

“Is that so,” Setsuna mused for a moment, then nodded. He drew another shuriken from his tool pouch.

Balancing the shuriken in one hand, he formed a single Tiger Seal with the other.

A remarkable sight unfolded.

The shuriken in the Elder’s hand was suddenly enveloped in flames, hovering midair as it rotated rapidly.

“Phoenix Flower Blaze and Phoenix Claw Crimson share the same lineage. Their hand seals are nearly identical,” he explained.

“The technique is simple: you wrap the tool in chakra, change the chakra’s nature with a Tiger Seal, and then throw it.”

The Elder spoke calmly, but Shinji couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Was the Elder actually teaching him?

Phoenix Claw Crimson is an advanced version of the Phoenix Flower Jutsu, classified as a B-rank technique. Unlike the simple fireballs of Phoenix Flower, it incorporates spinning shuriken wrapped in flames.

This increases their sharpness while the spinning motion intensifies the fire-style jutsu’s power.

“Your turn. Give it a try,” Uchiha Setsuna instructed, withdrawing his chakra.

He didn’t catch the burning shuriken, letting it fall to the ground with a loud clatter.

Shinji stared wide-eyed, slightly disappointed.

He had hoped to see the Elder demonstrate some indestructible iron hands or something similarly awe-inspiring.

So even someone as skilled as Setsuna was still human after all.

Shinji followed the order, placing the shuriken before him. With a serious expression, he formed a Tiger Seal with both hands and infused the shuriken with chakra.

The shuriken on the ground flickered with faint flames, trembled slightly, and then toppled over with a dull thud, refusing to move further.

An embarrassed look appeared on Shinji face.

Meanwhile, Setsuna observed with narrowed eyes, nodding imperceptibly before speaking in his usual detached tone:

“That’s it. This is the basic form transformation of fire-style chakra. Keep that in mind.”

“From there, you can extend the use of fire-style in many ways. For example—”

The Elder tossed another shuriken, embedding it in a nearby tree trunk.

This time, the shuriken was attached to a steel wire.

Setsuna casually formed four seals with one hand—Shinji immediately recognized them as the sequence for the Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu.

Snake → Ram → Hare → Tiger!

A blazing line of fire climbed along the steel wire.

“This is the Dragon Flame Jutsu. Practice with this. Once you’ve mastered it, move on to Phoenix Claw Crimson. When you’ve reached that level, come find me again.”

Setsuna’s tone was flat as he tossed yet another wire-bound shuriken.

This time, he simply formed a single Tiger Seal.

Flames surged upward, the Dragon Flame Technique ignited with just one hand seal.

Shinji jaw dropped in amazement. So even among the Uchiha, there were people capable of such feats.

Using a fire-style jutsu with a single seal? That’s only a step behind Senju Hashirama’s legendary ability to summon anything with a mere clap of his hands!

“Once you’ve mastered the transformation of fire-style chakra, we’ll move on to the next step,” Setsuna said.

He then raised his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Shinji eyes. After a brief pause, he shook his head and added coldly:

“Forget it. Focus on staying alive for now.”

In just two minutes, Uchiha Setsuna, a relic of the Warring States period, had imparted to Shinji the basics of both form and nature transformation for fire-style jutsu.

He certainly didn’t hold back.

To an ordinary ninja, Setsuna’s teaching method would likely make no sense at all.

However, Shinji had already mastered Setsuna’s advanced Uchiha-style Thread Manipulation Shuriken Technique and was proficient in Kiyoshiro’s Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu.

As the knowledge in his mind aligned, taking a high-level perspective to analyze—

The so-called Phoenix Sage Fire and Flower Claw Crimson, as well as techniques like Dragon Fire Jutsu, were nothing more than specific methods of application. With his mastery over his body at an extraordinary level, Shinji attempted to recreate them in his mind.

Then, Shinji made an unsettling discovery:

He actually understood them.

*[You have mastered Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu (Beginner, C).]*

*[You have mastered Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu (Beginner, B).]*

Two subtitles refreshed in front of his eyes. Shinji was momentarily stunned.

He then looked at Elder Uchiha Setsuna with a face full of grievance.

*Stop teaching! Stop teaching!*

His brain itched, as if it were about to grow new wrinkles!

At this rate, he’d max out his levels before even reaching the battlefield.

*Does this even make sense?!*

Just then, Uchiha Kiyoshiro returned from setting up perimeter traps, a heavy expression on his face.

"Elder, there’s a squad of Hot Water ninja searching the area nearby. I suggest we retreat for now."

However—

When Kiyoshiro saw Uchiha Setsuna teaching Shinji ninjutsu, he froze. Then, his eyes turned red.

He knew it!

No wonder Uchiha Setsuna picked this kid, Shinji, for the mission.

So, this smooth-talking brat was a war faction prodigy!

What’s more, this kid had deceived Lord Shisui, making Shisui believe he was aligned with the peace faction!

*Unforgivable!*

"What did you say?" Uchiha Setsuna frowned slightly and asked again.

Kiyoshiro suppressed his displeasure and reported:

"There’s a squad of Hot Water ninja ahead. They appear to be purposefully scouting the area."

Then he suggested:

"The ninja code states that, outside of missions, it’s best to avoid unnecessary entanglements."

"Moreover, Elder, given the current chaos in the Land of Hot Water, it would be wise to avoid direct contact with them."

Shinji furrowed his brow slightly. He had heard about this last night from Obito.

It was an experience taught by Minato Namikaze to his disciples. In short, the Land of Hot Water was currently in turmoil, and certain individuals on the road should be avoided.

Minimize contact with any ninjas unrelated to the mission.

One of these groups included local ninjas operating in the chaos.

During this period, Hot Water ninjas might no longer be serving their own Hidden Village.

Of course, Shinji wasn’t particularly concerned.

If anything, he was eager to encounter strange and unpredictable ninjas.

However, unlike his earlier suggestion to cross the border at night, he didn’t have a solid excuse to persuade the team to take risks this time.

Yet—

When Uchiha Setsuna heard the news, his half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open. His Sharingan, with three spinning tomoe, began to rotate slowly.

He kicked over the campfire, drew his long blade from his back, and commanded coldly:

"Prepare for battle."

"Kiyoshiro, lead the way. We’ll deal with the Hot Water squad you found first."

"Then, we’ll march at full speed and cross the Land of Hot Water’s border under the cover of night!"

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 12: The Bad News—Two-Tails Jinchūriki! The Rogue's Night Escape!

The forehead protectors of the shinobi from the Land of Hot Water bore a three-wave pattern, resembling the character "川" (kawa).

Upon learning that Hot Water shinobi were conducting a search ahead, Uchiha Setsuna quickly led his group in a flanking maneuver.

The capabilities of shinobi from the great nations were naturally far superior to those from smaller nations.

As soon as they spotted the targets wearing Hot Water forehead protectors, Shinji barely had time to ready his shuriken for a classic triple attack before the elder, Uchiha Setsuna, leapt into action.

All Shinji could see was Setsuna unsheathing his long sword, its blade engulfed in blazing crimson flames, as he launched himself forward.

Like a wildfire spreading across the barren plains, three Hot Water shinobi fell as swiftly as grass being mown, unable to utter a single word.

For Shinji, the experience was disorienting, akin to being a low-level player in an RPG carried by a maxed-out veteran.

After dispatching the three weaklings, Uchiha Setsuna pointed his sword at the throat of one remaining shinobi and coldly demanded:

"Who sent you?"

The shinobi flinched in fear, hesitating to speak.

Seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna activated his Sharingan, his icy gaze piercing through the man’s defenses. Moments later, Setsuna deactivated the Sharingan and ended the shinobi's life with a single slash.

From his position on the side, Shinji noticed a sudden change in the elder's expression.

Setsuna turned to his subordinates and gave a firm command:

"Depart immediately. Cross the border under cover of night!"

"Once past the border checkpoint, do not stop. Head straight for the capital of the Land of Hot Water and rendezvous with Fugaku from the Security Division."

"If we encounter enemy resistance, avoid prolonged combat and retreat immediately."

“Elder, what’s going on?”

Uchiha Kiyoshiro gulped, his own anxiety mirrored by the elder's grim demeanor.

Setsuna responded succinctly:

"The Two-Tails Jinchūriki has appeared in the Land of Hot Water."

"Their likely target is our clan’s garrison at Hell Valley. Moreover, there’s a high chance that more shinobi are lying in wait ahead."

"The situation is spiraling out of control."

"We must make haste to Hot Water's capital, Yuya City, locate the contact from the Ninja Cat Clan, and relay the information back to the Uchiha."

"What?!"

Uchiha Kiyoshiro’s face turned pale with shock and dread.

The thought of a Jinchūriki from the Hidden Cloud Village—a living weapon of war—approaching the undefended Hell Valley was nothing short of catastrophic for the Uchiha stationed there.

This was still the prelude to the Third Great Ninja War, and yet Hidden Cloud was already deploying Jinchūriki on battlefield.

Meanwhile, standing to the side, Shinji’s eyes gleamed with a peculiar intensity.

The Two-Tails Jinchūriki…

No matter how flashy his shuriken techniques were, facing such an opponent would result in him being reduced to nothing more than a smear on the ground with a single swipe.

It was only after sparring with Uchiha Kiyoshiro that Shinji realized something extraordinary—his mastery of shurikenjutsu had reached a near-divine level. Even against a Uchiha Chūnin with the dual-tomoe Sharingan activated, Shinji had a fair chance of victory.

In other words, despite being a Genin, Shinji currently possessed the strength of a Chūnin.

If shurikenjutsu could be considered a specialty, then perhaps Shinji might even qualify as a Special Jōnin.

Simple missions were no longer sufficient to ensure his survival.

Only by undertaking more dangerous tasks and facing deadlier enemies could he secure an honorable death!

And now, on his very first mission to the battlefield, he had already encountered the ultimate boss—the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Shinji feelings were a mix of despair and resignation.

Tears seemed ready to stream from his eyes… or perhaps from the corners of his mouth.

Uchiha Setsuna scanned the expressions of his two subordinates. He was preparing to deliver an encouraging speech.

Kiyoshiro, the cowardly pacifist, was visibly terrified. His darting eyes and shrinking posture made him resemble a frightened turtle, as though he wished to bury his head in his pants.

Still, Setsuna could understand. After all, encountering an opponent of this caliber could easily escalate the mission to S-rank. Fear was a natural response.

Then his gaze fell on Shinji, and Setsuna’s eye twitched.

What was wrong with this kid?

That eager glint in his eyes, the tears trailing down his cheeks, and the bizarrely exhilarated expression on his face—he looked like someone high on adrenaline.

To top it off, Shinji was muttering softly under his breath:

"Fight… Fight… Fight…" q(≧▽≦q)

It was almost like the words "I want to fight!" were etched on his face.

Uchiha Setsuna's brow twitched instantly, and he thought to himself, What is this nonsense?!

He startled himself!

Shaking his head, Uchiha Setsuna swallowed the motivational words he was about to say.

With a cold expression and icy gaze, he drew his blade and pointed it into the pitch-black darkness ahead.

“Let’s move out!”

---

Sinking into the darkness, they pressed forward.

In the lightless night, the mountain ranges loomed like slumbering dragons, eerily tranquil.

Thanks to Uchiha Setsuna's decisiveness, they had preemptively eliminated the guards—ninjas from the Land of Hot Water tasked with patrolling for the three Kumo-nin. The Uchiha squad had successfully and uneventfully crossed the border of the Land of Hot Water.

---

Meanwhile,

Under the fragmented night, they raced through the shadows.

The clouds shrouding the full moon split open, allowing cold moonlight to spill into the valley.

A Kumogakure Jonin named Ramui, who had been resting with his blade in hand, suddenly opened his eyes.

He frowned sharply and muttered,

“Something’s off. It’s too quiet.”

He quickly leaned toward his nearby teammate who was on night watch and asked,

“Moroi, has the messenger from the Hot Water ninjas reported back yet?”

Moroi, who was polishing his blade, also frowned slightly and replied,

“No, they haven’t.”

“It’s been over half an hour.”

Ramui furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and immediately ordered,

“Send a message to our spies in the border villages and ask them for an update.”

Hearing this, Moroi was just about to perform a summoning technique when he suddenly looked up.

In the moonlight, a carrier pigeon spread its wings and flew toward them. Moroi reached out and retrieved the note attached to its leg.

“Ramui-senpai, we’ve received news.”

“The Uchiha team has already entered the Land of Hot Water. They’re not far ahead. They’ve changed their route and didn’t head toward Hell Valley but instead are heading toward Hot Spring City.”

Ramui was taken aback and immediately woke up the resting Dodai.

“This isn’t right. We need to catch up with them now!”

“Uchiha Setsuna may have already figured out our plan.”

---

Back to the Uchiha squad.

By this time, the team had crossed the border of the Land of Hot Water and passed through three villages without daring to stop for even a moment.

The moon had set, the sky was faintly glowing, and the calls of monkeys echoed through the mountain valleys.

The team had been marching since 8 a.m. the previous day, pushing through the border without rest, and had endured a night of forced marches. They were utterly exhausted.

Although Shinji had acquired some high-level skills and possessed considerable combat strength, his chakra reserves were a fixed limitation.

Now, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, he braced his hands against his knees, barely able to stand.

Fortunately, an abandoned village lay ahead, offering a chance to rest.

Uchiha Kiyoshiro, unable to take another step, voiced his exhaustion. Uchiha Setsuna frowned slightly but reluctantly ordered a break.

He instructed the still-active Kiyoshiro to clear a resting area and personally set up wires around the village, attaching explosive tags and bells. Taking on tasks meant for his subordinates, he ensured their safety.

As for Shinji, he was too exhausted to move but stubbornly tried to help.

The elder smacked him on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

Summoning a ninja raven as a sentry, Uchiha Setsuna exhaled deeply and solemnly told Kiyoshiro,

“It’s still half a day’s journey to Hot Spring City. Rest here for two hours, and then we’ll move immediately.”

With that, Uchiha Setsuna closed his eyes and began snoring loudly.

Kiyoshiro, too, collapsed to the ground, asleep like a rock.

The three finally had a moment of respite.

Little did they know that danger was rapidly closing in from behind.

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 13: Roar, Death Match, and Sacrifice!*

*Boom!*

A massive foot, as large as a building, stomped down, causing the ground to quake violently.

Shinji opened his eyes abruptly, only to witness the enormous figure of the Two-Tails Matatabi rampaging through an unfamiliar encampment.

Screams, shouts, the whistling sound of kunai slicing through the air, the deafening explosions of paper bombs—

And then,

The terrifying beast roared furiously at the sky!

A condensed orb of blue-black chakra steadily formed near its mouth.

And then—

*Boom!*

The Tailed Beast Bomb shot forth!

Its target was none other than Shinji!

Facing such an overwhelmingly terrifying jutsu head-on,

Shinji's heart raced uncontrollably. His mind was a chaotic mess, his pupils dilating as primal fear of the monstrous being gripped his heart.

But in the next moment—

*[Talent: Combat Intuition (S) activated.]*

Suddenly, Shinji’s vision went dark, and his body began to move on its own.

"Cloud Shinobi attack! Wake up, all of you!"

The enraged roar of Uchiha Setsuna erupted beside him, followed immediately by flying debris hurled by an explosion.

The sound of bells jingling echoed amidst the chaos.

Shinji shook his head, a layer of dust cascading down from his hair.

He opened his eyes, snapping out of his dazed state, only to find himself trapped in an awkward position between a flying half-wall and the broken beams of a house.

Ahead,

Uchiha Setsuna stood, confronting three Cloud Shinobi dressed in their village’s attire, all of them panting heavily.

Beside him,

Uchiha Kiyoshiro gripped a kunai tightly, his entire body trembling—from his hands, feet, and teeth to the glowing Sharingan in his eyes.

"Why? Why? Why am I, a mere Chūnin, facing enemies like this?!"

He shouted, his voice shaking with fear, tears almost choking his words.

---

"Finally, I’ve found you rats from the Uchiha clan!"

The elder Cloud Shinobi, Ramui, sneered coldly as he formed a series of hand seals.

Tiger – Snake – Tiger – Snake – Tiger!

A ball of lightning appeared in his hands, brimming with destructive potential.

This was Lightning Style: Scattered Thunder Dance.  

Similar to the Chidori technique, it gathered Lightning Release chakra in the hand. However, unlike the Chidori, this technique didn’t stimulate cellular metabolism. Instead, it released bursts of lightning to the surroundings, making it a small-scale, lethal jutsu.

The blue glow of the lightning reflected off Uchiha Setsuna’s face, which was marked with deep concern.

Clearly, the three opponents before him were formidable foes.

Especially the one standing in the center—a one-eyed ninja wearing a black hat, known as Dodai.

Dodai was one of the Third Raikage’s trusted aides, wielding the terrifying Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, with power nearly on par with a Kage.

He wasn’t much weaker than Uchiha Setsuna.

With Jonin-level Ramui keeping him in check and Special Jonin Moro’i blocking all routes of escape, this formation was undoubtedly designed to eliminate Uchiha Setsuna.

Realizing this, Uchiha Setsuna’s eyes narrowed slightly, his decision already made.

He turned to the two subordinates behind him and commanded coldly:

"Shinji, Kiyoshiro!"

"Go!"

"You two must complete the mission. I’ll create the opening you need!"

Hearing this, Ramui’s face darkened.

Narrowing his eyes, he spoke to Moro’i, the shinobi beside him:

"Go eliminate those two. Uchiha Setsuna likely has critical intel. We cannot let them escape and report back."

Moro’i frowned slightly. "Ramui-senpai, if I leave, I won’t be able to maintain the blockade on Uchiha Setsuna’s escape route."

"That’s why you must finish it quickly. Kill those two and return to reinforce the barrier immediately."

Ramui’s gaze was filled with cold killing intent:

"Uchiha Setsuna must die today!"

"If not, with his sharingan powers, he might contain the Two-Tails in Hell Valley and completely ruin our plans."

Hearing this, Moro’i took a deep breath and nodded.

He then moved swiftly, bypassing Uchiha Setsuna, and charged toward Shinji and Kiyoshiro.

Seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna instinctively moved to intercept.

However, two figures immediately stepped in to block his path.

Dodai smirked coldly. "Old man, in a head-to-head death match, I might not be your equal. But with the two of us here, we can dispel any genjutsu and stall you long enough."

Uchiha Setsuna clenched his teeth but maintained a cold and steely expression. "Is that so?"

"young people today really know how to talk big."

*Clang, clang, clang!*

Uchiha Shinji flipped his hand, pulling a kunai from his ninja tool pouch. He smashed through a wooden beam and crawled out from beneath a half-collapsed wall.

Hearing Uchiha Satsuna's command, he quickly pieced together the intelligence he'd gathered so far.

After a brief analysis of the situation:

First, this operation by the Hidden Cloud was premeditated.

Their plan was to deploy the Two-Tails Jinchūriki into Hell Valley to destroy the Uchiha clan's stationed forces there, aiming to liberate the Chinoike clan.

To achieve this, the Hidden Cloud's first target was Uchiha Satsuna, whose formidable eye powers posed a potential threat to the Two-Tails' actions.

Second, there was the current predicament.

The three Jōnin dispatched by the Hidden Cloud were here to ensure Satsuna's complete elimination. Judging by the battle's progression, it took all three working together to achieve this.

Now, however, one of the three had split off to target him and Kyoshiro, intending to prevent their mission intelligence from reaching the Uchiha clan.

This was dangerous—but also an opportunity!

Uchiha Shinji grinned, dusted off his clothes, and took a bold step forward.

In the original timeline, Shisui, who possessed the Body Flicker Technique, would have fled from such a scenario. The pacifist Kyoshiro beside him likely became the catalyst for awakening his Sharingan.

For Uchiha Shinji, dying here was not an option. He couldn't afford to do worse than the original history.

At the very least, he had to ensure the information reached the clan.

After all, Heavenly Way Corporation had its standards. As a "descended hero," he couldn’t underperform compared to the original timeline.

Facing the charging Moroi, Shinji stepped forward, his gaze turning sharp.

He tilted his head slightly and decisively ordered Kyoshiro beside him:

"Kyoshiro-senpai, you retreat. I’ll hold them off!" ᕦ(▀̿ ̿ -▀̿ ̿ )つ

(cue song : royalty )

"What?!" Uchiha Kyoshiro was startled by Shinji words.

"Are you insane? That man—I’ve seen his profile in the archives. He’s a Special Jōnin skilled in swordsmanship and sealing techniques!"

"You absolutely cannot be his match!"

Uchiha Shinji shook his head, glanced at Kyoshiro, and replied calmly:

"Kyoshiro-senpai, if no one stays behind, both of us will die here, and the intelligence will never make it back to the clan."

"Furthermore, if you die here, there’s a high chance someone will extract your Sharingan, leading to the loss of the clan’s bloodline limit."

"So, comparatively, I’m the better choice to stay behind."

"You…" Kyoshiro's face twisted in shock as he stared at Uchiha Shinji.

He couldn’t comprehend how someone could regard life and death so casually.

And more than that, how could anyone willingly sacrifice themselves to save him?

The enemy was a Jōnin!

Kyoshiro was nearly moved to tears.

He nodded resolutely.

But in the next moment, his face turned deathly pale. Turning back, he exclaimed to Uchiha Shinji:

"But Shinji, I don’t know how to contact the Ninja Cats Clan!"

Uchiha Shinji nearly spat blood in frustration. (╬▔皿▔)╯

"This… this is indeed a problem."

Shinji hesitated for a moment, then pulled a piece of parchment from his summoning pouch and shoved it into Kyoshiro’s hand.

"Here, take this. It’s a one-time contract with the Ninja Cats Clan. Use it and ask the ninja cat messenger."

Looking at the contract scroll in his hands, Kyoshiro was overwhelmed.

A summoning contract with the Ninja Cats Clan was an invaluable treasure countless people dreamed of acquiring.

On the battlefield, such an item could be a literal lifesaver!

Yet Uchiha Shinji handed it over so casually. Kyoshiro had never met someone so peculiar yet so magnanimous.

It was as if Shinji were entrusting his last wishes.

Before Kyoshiro could shed tears and express his gratitude, Uchiha Shinji expression changed. He shoved Kyoshiro aside in an instant!

A barrier suddenly rose between the two of them!

The Hidden Cloud’s Moroi clapped his hands to the ground, erecting a deathmatch barrier that enclosed him and Uchiha Shinji.

Only the survivor could leave!

If not for Shinji shove, both of them would have been trapped inside!

Kyoshiro froze, as though the world had gone silent.

Through the transparent barrier, he saw Uchiha Shinji silently shouting at him:

"Go!"

Kyoshiro’s pupils constricted, tears streaming down his face.

In that moment, all grievances between them vanished like smoke.

Kyoshiro’s heart was filled with a towering image of Shinji, radiating divine light.

He clenched his fists, nodded fiercely, and ran as fast as he could, clutching the summoning contract.

"Shinji, wait for me!" ┗( ●-﹏ ｀｡)づ

"I’ll definitely find someone to save you!"

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 14: Fierce Battle! Divine Thread Manipulation and the Dragon’s Inferno!*

Amid the ruins, the battlefield was divided. A circular barrier stretched skyward, trapping Shinji tightly within.

“Tch, one of them managed to escape.”

Moroi’s icy gaze fell on Shinji, his lips curling into a menacing smirk.

“But no matter. I’ll make sure you die quickly.”

Shinji studied the man before him—a red trench coat, blond hair, and a scruffy beard. His eyes narrowed slightly.

This man had appeared in the original story.

During the Fourth Great Ninja War, this individual had set up 36 regeneration barriers on Dragon Island, blocking Naruto and Killer Bee from reaching the battlefield.

The barrier’s defense was terrifying; Naruto and Killer Bee had to join forces to break it.

He was the head of the Cloud Village’s Barrier Squad at the time, a ninja adept in powerful sealing techniques.

However, times had changed. Now, he was merely a Tokubetsu Jōnin (Special Jōnin).

Despite this, Shinji felt a sense of unease.

Could a ninja specializing in sealing techniques really possess such offensive capabilities?

Still, a Tokubetsu Jōnin outclassed him in taijutsu alone, not to mention the rumors of the man’s swordsmanship.

“Am I about to die here?”

“Kid, what’s with that look?” Moroi sneered as he drew a long blade from his back, pointing it at Shinji.

“You’re incredibly unlucky. A useless Genin who hasn’t even awakened the Sharingan meets a master like me so early in his ninja career.”

Moroi’s tone was calm, as though he was certain of victory.

“One strike is all it will take—I guarantee you won’t survive.”

*[Your enemy, Moroi, is taunting you.]

Hearing this, Shinji ignored the floating subtitles before him. He couldn’t help but grin and nod in agreement.

“Not bad, Cloud Village senpai. I like what I’m hearing!” t(—_—t)

“Make sure not to hold back later. Remember, even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit!”

“Use everything you’ve got. Don’t give me any chance to fight back,” Shinji added, his tone suddenly serious as he issued a stern reminder:

“Most importantly—”

“Whatever you do, don’t drag this into a prolonged battle!”

“You’ve got guts, kid! Now you’ve really made me angry!” Moroi’s brow twitched, his anger flaring instantly.

Was this brat mocking him? Suggesting he couldn’t handle endurance fights?

Even so, Moroi didn’t dwell on Shinji’s words. As a barrier ninja, he had basic sensory abilities.

From what he could sense, Shinji’s chakra levels were only at a Genin’s level.

This brat was likely stalling for time, hoping to help his teammate escape.

Realizing this, Moroi’s smirk deepened. He cast a disdainful glance at Shinji before twisting his foot and forming a seal for the Body Flicker Technique.

In an instant, he vanished from sight, reappearing above Shinji’s head.

With both hands gripping his blade, Moroi brought it down in a powerful horizontal slash aimed directly at Shinji’s neck.

Moroi’s eyes gleamed with a savage glint. I’m a Tokubetsu Jōnin—cutting down a mere Genin is child’s play.  

The blade howled through the air, its edge gleaming with deadly sharpness.

The impending death sent a chill down Shinji’s spine.

The fine hairs on his neck stood on end.

At that critical moment—

A sudden surge of electricity coursed through Shinji’s body, dispelling his fear and restoring control of his limbs.

He ducked and twisted his head, narrowly avoiding the blade. His sharp eyes gleamed as his fingers instinctively found his ninja tool pouch.

Swish! Swish! Swish!  

Three black shadows shot upward, forcing Moroi to hurriedly block with his blade.

Clang! Clang! Clang!  

As Moroi deflected the kunai, Shinji had already put distance between them.

Estimating the gap between them, Shinji’s heart sank. He glared at Moroi with frustration, nearly cursing aloud:

“I told you to throw everything you had at me!”

"You son of a—! A barrier ninja, and you're dabbling in taijutsu?!"

"Why won’t you just listen to reason?!"

Hearing this, Moroi clenched his teeth as fury surged in his chest. He took large strides forward and lunged toward Shinji with a blade aimed straight for his vital point.

"Stop pretending to be crazy! Die already!"

Shinji narrowed his eyes at Moroi’s movement. Without hesitation, he flung eight shurikens, releasing them from various angles. They spiraled through the air in arcs, all locking onto Moroi.

Startled, Moroi abruptly halted in his tracks, narrowly dodging the shurikens as they sliced through the air before him.

But before he could make another move, his vision went dark.

Shinji swiftly unrolled a scroll, wielding it with a deft motion before hurling it into the fray.

Out of the scroll burst dozens—no, hundreds—of kunai, raining down in a torrent. Moroi could hardly stop himself from cursing out loud.

"Are you kidding me?! Even genin are this well-funded these days?"

"Buying ninja tools by the ton? Are you even human?"

Under this relentless assault of weapons, Moroi could do nothing but swing his blade frantically to deflect the incoming kunai.

After what felt like an eternity—

The battlefield around Moroi was littered with kunai, embedding the ground in every direction.

Gasping for breath, Moroi glanced around. Just to catch up with Shinji’s squad, his team had already pushed themselves to the limit, expending significant energy.

And now, here he was, up against this impossibly tricky foe—Shinji, a veritable porcupine of a ninja. His shuriken techniques were so polished it was hard to believe he was just a genin.

Finally, Moroi thought he could take a breather, close the distance, and finish this brat off with a single slash—

But then, Shinji twitched his fingers and pulled.

The tails of the countless kunai scattered across the ground suddenly began to glow with thin, bright lines of light.

As the glow intensified, the surrounding ruins—the walls, the ground, and the withered branches—shattered like blocks of tofu.

Dust and debris filled the air, and Moroi felt a sudden stinging sensation on his cheek.

Bloodied threads shimmered through the rising dust, pulled taut and gleaming menacingly.

Instinctively, Moroi touched his cheek.

His outstretched palm dripped with searing, crimson blood.

Frowning, he scanned the web of threads crisscrossing the battlefield.

The dense threads had fully revealed themselves, interwoven into a massive, inescapable trap that encased Moroi like a prison!

A forest of wires—slicing winds and shredding faces!

Moroi swung his blade at the web in desperation.

But the blade bounced back, repelled by the tightly knotted structure of the wires.

"What the hell is this?!" Moroi cried out in shock, his face contorted in horror as he stared at Shinji.

"This is impossible! So many ninja wires, woven into a structure like this!"

"In such a short amount of time... how the hell did this kid manage it?!"

Shinji shook his head.

A special jonin losing to a genin—even with all the advantages—it’s no wonder people call the Cloud Village ninjas a bunch of brutes.

As expected, they aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.

The excitement in Shinji’s eyes faded, replaced by icy indifference.

"For your arrogance, you’ll pay the price!"

With those words, Shinji slowly formed four hand seals:

*Snake → Monkey → Rabbit → Tiger!*

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Taking a deep breath, he fixed his gaze on Moroi, who now looked like a lamb to the slaughter caught in the web.

With a flick of his finger, the dragon flames ignited!

Raging fire surged through the threads, consuming Moroi in an inferno of terror.

Not satisfied with leaving things undone, Shinji, ever the perfectionist, formed more hand seals:

*Rat → Tiger → Dog → Ox → Rabbit → Tiger!*

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

But he didn’t stop there.

After completing the final Tiger seal, Shinji reached into his pouch and drew eight more shurikens.

He hurled them in tandem with the fiery phoenix jutsu, merging the spinning shurikens with the flames.

The wind fueled the fire, and the shurikens screeched through the air, emitting a piercing cry like a phoenix’s wail.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Crimson Claw!"

Finally, Shinji pulled the wires once more.

The web of ninja threads straightened with a harsh creak, converging and tightening around Moroi’s position, aiming to shred him to pieces.

At this moment—

Dragon flames turned the battlefield into a furnace, and the phoenix’s cry echoed through the chaos!

With a cold expression, Shinji stared at the fiery center of the web and offered a final farewell:

"Ja na!~ (Goodbye!)" ♬♪♫♩ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

(Eternal Sasuke Ultimate Move Sound Effect.avi)  (－‸ლ)

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 15: Seal the Flames, Bind the Thunder, and Destroy!*

The deadly combination attack was finally complete.

Shinji wiped the sweat off his brow as he gazed at the Dragon Flame Prison, still blazing furiously. He let out a small sigh of relief.

By this point, both his physical and mental reserves were nearing their limits. He hadn't had any real chance to rest since yesterday. Even after waking up to an exploding tag's shock, there was hardly any time to recover.

Using a combination of 1C 1B techniques and Uchiha-style wire-guided shuriken, Shinji had almost entirely depleted his stamina and chakra reserves.

Yet, as he observed the black smoke billowing from the Dragon Flame Prison, unease stirred within him.

Throughout this battle, he hadn’t felt an overwhelming amount of pressure.

Moroi, despite being a high-level jōnin specializing in sealing techniques, hadn’t displayed the skills one would expect at his level.

And considering fire-style jutsu’s inherently "merciful" nature...

Could Moroi really be so weak that he was defeated this easily?

Shinji's swift actions had caught even his allies off guard, including the elder, Uchiha Setsuna.

To be honest, Setsuna’s heart had been in his throat ever since Shinji had pushed Uchiha Kiyichiro aside to face the enemy alone.

Sure, Shinji’s skill with shuriken reminded him of his younger self, but the enemy was still a jōnin.

When Shinji became trapped in the Kumogakure barrier, Setsuna’s heart sank.

There was no way Shinji could match a jōnin from the Hidden Cloud.

But in just a few moments—

The tide of battle had turned!

From a professional’s perspective, Shinji decisive actions under pressure, combined with his flawless execution of the Uchiha-style wire-guided shuriken, had elevated two weak C-rank fire-style jutsu, Dragon Fire Technique and Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, into something extraordinary.

It was nothing short of a masterpiece!

Both jutsu had clear limitations.

The Dragon Fire Technique and Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, as C-rank jutsu, excelled in coverage and suppressive power but suffered from scattered and diluted damage.

Yet Shinji had used ninja wire to guide the Dragon Fire and upgraded the scattered Phoenix Fireballs into a concentrated, claw-like form known as Phoenix Sage Fire: Crimson Talons. By combining the two, he successfully focused their destructive power into a single, devastating blow.

The result was a force rivaling that of an A-rank jutsu!

Additionally, the taut ninja wire’s razor-sharp cutting power created a deadly net.

When it closed in—

It was like being struck by dozens of ninja swords simultaneously!

This combination of techniques left Uchiha Setsuna in awe. Even he, with his years of experience, felt that replicating such flawless execution would be difficult.

“This kid’s talent in battle is terrifying!” he thought.

The techniques he’d just taught Shinji days earlier were now being used with incredible precision and creativity.

“He’s even better than me when i was young—shocking and unstoppable!”

“Moroi!” Kumogakure’s Dodai shouted in alarm, his face twisting with horror.

Who would have thought that in just a few moments, Shinji would achieve an underdog’s triumph, overturning the odds with a display of sheer skill?

“Damn it! That brat actually took down Moroi!”

Dodai’s expression turned grim, his face dark as coal, veins bulging on his forehead as he barely restrained himself from rushing into the barrier to deliver a Lava Style: Fist Rock to the boy.

He knew that losing Moroi would leave him and Ramui at a disadvantage. While they could still hold the upper hand against Uchiha Setsuna, there was no way they could completely suppress him now.

This failure could spell the end of their mission.

“Stay calm!” Ramui, older than even Uchiha Setsuna, clamped a firm hand on Dodai’s shoulder.

“Dodai, don’t act rashly. Focus on what we came here to do!”

“Moroi isn’t as weak as you think. Look carefully—the barrier is still intact.”

“He’s alive!”

Despite his words, Ramui’s furrowed brows betrayed his concern.

Shinji’s relentless assault had been alarmingly swift and methodical, leaving no openings for counterattacks.

The world of combat revolves around one ultimate truth: speed triumphs over all.  

Moroi, as a barrier specialist, relied primarily on his sealing techniques.

Even for someone as seasoned as Ramui, adapting to such rapid and unrelenting attacks would be challenging.

He could only respond defensively and adapt to the situation.

This realization weighed heavily on him.

The Kumogakure shinobi unconsciously slowed their attacks as their peripheral vision remained locked on the barrier and the battle within.

Though it was just a fight involving a genin—

It had unwittingly shifted the entire battlefield’s momentum and could even affect Kumogakure’s strategic plans in the Land of Hot Water!

---

*Within the barrier...*

Thick black smoke curled upward, and the flames roared fiercely.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of razor-sharp threads sliced through the air like blades, rapidly converging toward the center under Shinji's control!

The scene looked utterly one-sided.

Shinji, a mere genin without even unlocking the Sharingan, was single-handedly suppressing Moroi, a special jonin from the Hidden Cloud Village!

But soon, Shinji’s expression changed.

He immediately sensed something was off!

The cutting threads, meant to dismember Moroi into pieces as easily as slicing pork, suddenly encountered resistance.

It felt as though they were striking taut elastic cords, snapping against layers of tightly wound yarn.

The more the threads wrapped around, the tighter and thicker the obstruction became, until they could advance no further.

At that moment, the center of the fiery sea churned violently.

Then, a bone-chilling voice rang out—

"Kid, don’t tell me you actually thought you had won?"

As the words echoed,

A pattern, resembling a summoning jutsu seal, abruptly expanded from the center of the fire.

Shinji’s pupils contracted as he stared at the pattern.

He released the threads in his hands and swiftly pulled eight shuriken from his pouch, hurling them toward the center of the flames!

“It’s useless!” Moroi’s cold voice resounded.

As he spoke, his figure began to emerge from the flames.

To say he "emerged" might not be entirely accurate.

In Shinji’s eyes, it was more like the flames themselves were dissipating.

Like the flush of a toilet, the fire swirled clockwise toward the center—toward Moroi’s position.

Kneeling on one knee, Moroi pressed a hand firmly against a scroll on the ground, his gaze icy as he shouted:

“Sealing Fire Technique!”

With those words, the entire sea of flames was sucked into that tiny scroll.

By then, the eight shuriken Shinji had thrown were already flying toward him.

Yet Moroi remained unfazed. He formed the Ram sign with his hands and pressed them into the air.

A spherical barrier-like formation spread out before him.

“Sealing Bind Formation!”

It was this jutsu that had stopped Shinji’s cutting threads.

Moroi stood up, step by step closing in on Shinji.

His hands continued weaving complex signs as he advanced.

Sensing danger, Shinji instinctively tried to move.

However,

Moroi extended a hand and shouted angrily, “Kid, where do you think you’re going?!”

A technique took shape in Moroi’s palm before he slammed it onto the ground.

“Thunder Bind!”

Lightning surged forward, rapidly forming a circular seal at Shinji’s feet.

The character for "thunder" appeared prominently in the center!

Four whips of electricity suddenly lashed out, binding Shinji’s limbs tightly!

As the electricity coursed through his body, Shinji tried to move, but it was futile.

Half of his body was already numb, and even opening his mouth had become a struggle.

“Heh, kid, got any last words?” Moroi sneered as he taunted him.

Shinji raised his head to the sky, a million curses flooding his mind, yet none he could voice.

Naruto fans never lied—

Fire Release truly is the gentlest of techniques!

All smoke, no harm. All smoke, no harm! o(╥﹏╥)o

Moroi approached slowly, drawing his longsword. He tilted Shinji’s chin up with it, smirking mockingly as he said:

“You Uchihas always love flashy, impractical moves.”

“Too bad for you—you ran into me!”

With an indifferent laugh, Moroi pressed the blade against Shinji’s neck and declared decisively:

“Your theatrics end here!”

But faced with Moroi’s dominance, Shinji’s expression only grew increasingly twisted.

He wanted to laugh hysterically but held it back, his face contorting further with the effort.

The more he suppressed it, the more distorted his expression became.

His eyes opened slightly wider,

Their gaze filled with 70% mockery, 30% disdain, and 90% a calmness so profound it bordered on godlike.

A sly smile curled at the corners of his lips as he locked eyes with Moroi, letting out a sinister chuckle.

Softly, he uttered:

“Is that so?” ╮(╯▽╰)╭

---

(End of Chapter)