*Chapter 6: Eye Snatching*

A disc-shaped flame shot out from Yoru's palm, colliding fiercely with the fire dragon, resulting in a violent explosion.

Yoru swiftly closed the distance, and although Shisui blocked the shallow strike with his ninja blade once again, Yoru seized the brief opening created by the block and delivered a powerful knee strike, sending Uchiha Shisui flying.

*"Bakudō #61: Six-Rod Light Prison!"*

Shisui, still in midair, had no time to react before Yoru clenched his right hand, causing six beams of light to appear from all directions, instantly restraining Shisui’s movements.

*"What kind of technique is this?!"*

Shisui was shocked, instinctively attempting to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape, but the light pillars around him acted like shackles, firmly locking him in place.

At the same time, Yoru gave him little chance to struggle.

With a burst of speed, Yoru instantly appeared above Shisui, his hands reaching directly for Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

*"I'll take your Sharingan!"*

*"Squelch!"*

Blood splattered from Uchiha Shisui's eye socket.

The intense pain surged through him, causing Uchiha Shisui to groan in agony, his heart filled with despair.

He regretted provoking this man; he wasn’t someone Shisui could deal with at all!

One Sharingan was already in Yoru's possession, but just as he was about to take the second, a loud voice suddenly echoed:

*"Stop! You, from the Mist!"*

*"Earth Release: Rising Stone Spears!"*

*"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"*

The ground beneath Yoru's feet rumbled, and the earth rolled, creating a cage of stone pillars that immediately encased Shisui. At the same time, several sharp rock spears shot towards Yoru’s body.

The rock pillar prison, originally meant to restrain enemies, was used as a protective measure, while the rising stone spears launched an attack on Yoru.

In mere moments, the attacker had unleashed two A-rank Earth Release techniques consecutively, demonstrating profound mastery of Earth Release and perfect timing!

Yoru, of course, wasn’t about to make himself an easy target, but he also wasn’t foolish enough to give up his prey.

*"Hadō #32: Yellow Fire Flash!"*

With a burst of speed, Yoru swiftly dodged the incoming stone spears.

At the same time, a yellow flash emanated from his shallow strike, sending a fast-moving flame hurtling straight towards Shisui!

The Yellow Fire Flash, one of the few speed-based Kido spells, focused on sudden, explosive attacks. And with Shisui bound tightly by the rock pillar prison, escape was impossible.

*Boom!!*

In the blink of an eye, the flames crashed into Shisui, engulfing him in scorching heat.

*"Shisui!"*

*"Wind Release: Gale Dance!"*

A fierce gust swept through, forcibly blowing away the flames on Shisui’s body, but the genius of the Uchiha clan was already covered in burns, barely clinging to life.

*[Ding! A-rank mission 'Defeat Uchiha Shisui' successfully completed. Reward: 5,000 points.]*

*[New A-rank target detected: Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Side mission triggered:]*

*[Mission 1: Successfully recruit Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 10,000 points.]*

*[Mission 2: Successfully defeat Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 5,000 points.]*

*[Mission 3: Successfully kill Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 50,000 points.]*

*"Shisui!"*

*"Lord Shinnosuke... don't let this guy get away..."*

*"Don't worry, stop talking."*

Sarutobi Shinnosuke placed a soldier pill into Shisui’s mouth, then turned, his gaze heavy as he stared at Yoru.

He knew all too well how strong Uchiha Shisui was, yet Shisui couldn’t last more than a few moves against this man.

And that technique...

*"A secret technique of the Hidden Mist, huh."*

Sarutobi Shinnosuke’s expression was extremely serious.

Since the battle with the Hidden Mist began, their forces had steadily defeated those led by the genius Yagura of the Mist. Combined with the stabilization of the Wind, Lightning, and Earth battlefronts, the Leaf ninja had begun to feel as though victory in the war was within their grasp.

But now, it seemed they had underestimated the last of the Mist!

After all, the Hidden Mist was a village equal to the Leaf. In the suffocating environment of the "Bloody Mist," who knows what kind of monsters they could produce?

Sarutobi Shinnosuke’s gaze remained locked on Yoru as his hands continued to form seals.

In a flash, Yoru felt the ground beneath him soften. Alarmed, he prepared to use Shunpo (Flash Step) to escape.

But in that instant, the sky trembled, and a massive amount of clay fell from above, anticipating where Yoru would flee.

Yoru raised an eyebrow and once again burst into Shunpo.

However, before he could land, the ground ahead suddenly began to churn like a turbulent river!

It was clear that during Yoru's brief clash with Shisui, Sarutobi Shinnosuke had already recognized Yoru's exceptional skill in both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. Even Uchiha Shisui, a master of Uchiha-style combat, had been completely overwhelmed.

Thus, Shinnosuke abandoned any notion of engaging in close combat, instead switching to an all-out ninjutsu barrage!

Though Yoru's speed with Shunpo was fast, dealing with large-scale Earth Release techniques covering the battlefield was proving difficult.

But at least one mission was completed, and he had obtained a Sharingan. Continuing the fight would be unwise.

The sounds of chaotic battle occasionally echoed from the nearby village of Futada, likely from Ayuri and Mangetsu's actions. But Yoru knew well that, with their abilities, they couldn’t inflict too much damage on the Leaf camp.

If this continued, casualties were likely.

And once the Leaf's elites caught on, things could get serious.

Yoru wasn’t sure if Uchiha Shisui had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan yet, but the Uchiha in Futada Village certainly had!

*"That’s enough..."*

Flashing through the air, dodging the flying rocks and mud, Yoru retrieved a signal flare from his cloak and fired it into the sky while muttering under his breath.

*"Throne above! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, crowned with the name of man! Carve the twin lotuses of fire upon the wall of blue flames..."*

The low chant caused Sarutobi Shinnosuke to feel uneasy. Though his Earth Release was fierce, there was no way to pin down the elusive Yoru with Shunpo maxed out. He could only increase his Earth Release attacks in an attempt to limit Yoru’s movements.

*"Sarutobi Shinnosuke, son of Sarutobi Hiruzen, see you next time."*

*"This is bad!"*

A cold voice rang out from behind the pale mask, and the surging heat and energy waves caused Shinnosuke's pupils to contract. He slammed his hands to the ground.

*"Hadō #73: Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down!"*

*"Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart!"*

Chakra surged into the ground, and a massive, fortress-like earthen wall rose up.

But in the next instant, a massive explosion resounded, as if a terrifying force had struck the wall head-on, shattering it completely.

The fiery waves rippled outward, sending scorching heat and thick smoke into the sky. The once-imposing wall was utterly destroyed. Even though Shinnosuke quickly erected another Earth-Style Rampart, the situation remained dire.

The second earth wall crumbled, revealing a breathless, chakra-depleted Sarutobi Shinnosuke behind it.

*"A technique of this magnitude... What kind of monster is this guy..."*

*"Right, Shisui!"*

(End of Chapter)

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