Akihara Kagura: I Am Always the Abandoned One

Little Sasuke's noisy voice was quite loud.

Having been raised by his older brother since childhood and taught by him in his training, even after witnessing the terror of Wood Release, little Sasuke refused to believe his brother would lose.

The people in the audience seats watched the noisy brat. Fugaku Uchiha glared at his younger son, quickly calming little Sasuke down.

Before the third round of matches officially began.

Akihara Kagura stood on the stage, glancing at the somewhat lively audience seats before looking at Uchiha Itachi, who stood opposite. "Your brother seems to have a lot of confidence in you."

"That's the reason I can't lose."

Uchiha Itachi looked at Akihara Kagura, his eyes appearing extremely serious.

If there was anyone in this world who could make Uchiha Itachi give up everything, it would undoubtedly be his brother, Uchiha Sasuke. He didn't want to disappoint his brother.

Although he knew very little about Wood Release, especially after personally witnessing Akihara Kagura's Wood Dragon Technique rampage through the Forest of Death, Uchiha Itachi knew very well that this battle was destined to be difficult. He had to give his all in this fight!

Because…

His brother was watching all of this from the audience seats!

"Is that so?"

"What a coincidence."

"I also have a reason I cannot lose."

Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Itachi, a smile growing on their face. "If I lose to you, Lord Danzō will completely abandon me."

"What do you mean?"

Uchiha Itachi frowned.

"You wouldn't understand."

"You are praised in the sunlight."

"While I have always been abandoned in the darkness..."

Once, I was adopted by an orphanage, thinking I had found a home, but I was captured and taken to a dark laboratory. The director completely forgot about me;

"Later, Lord Danzō adopted me. To stay by his side, I had to do everything he assigned me, yet he still chose to abandon me..."

Akihara Kagura's smile gradually became a little desolate, making it difficult to listen. "Clearly, I've already done exceptionally well. Clearly, I haven't done anything wrong..."

"This..."

Uchiha Itachi didn't quite understand.

"Because of you..."

Akihara Kagura spread their hands, a hint of cruelty gradually appearing in their eyes. "Only now have I realized something. Lord Danzō has always wanted me to defeat you..."

"Because when I was in the Forest of Death, I defeated everyone, but only you escaped my hunt. He then sent me to the Anbu..."

"...I'm sorry."

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but frown and finally spoke. "I didn't know. Even knowing this, I still have to do my best to pass that exam."

"It's fine..."

Akihara Kagura slowly shook their head, seemingly unconcerned about the past, but their smile became increasingly grim. "Anyway... I can correct my past mistakes now."

"As long as I can change my mistakes, as long as I can crush everything about you in this exam, Lord Danzō will surely take me back!"

"..."

Uchiha Itachi remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Should he tell the truth that someone like Danzō Shimura wasn't worth following? That would likely only make the opponent before him even more enraged!

"Hey!"

Genma Shiranui's expression was somewhat displeased. Biting his Senbon, he continued, "You two brats, pay attention to the rules of the match. If you kill your opponent, you won't be declared as having passed this exam..."

"It doesn't matter."

Akihara Kagura shook their head, nonchalantly continuing, "This Chunin Exam is already meaningless to me. If Uchiha Itachi dies here, it can only prove that his life was too short. Perhaps his death will allow other people's lives to go further?"

"..."

Genma Shiranui's forehead ached a little.

This brat was fine in the previous two rounds, so why did they suddenly want to cause trouble now, adopting a murderous attitude?

In the audience seats.

Many ninja could also read lips.

Many people present clearly knew that the final match might be a battle to the death, which inevitably caused a trace of worry in some people's hearts.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was undoubtedly one of them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi read Akihara Kagura's lips and somewhat resented Danzō Shimura for being too despicable, even creating trouble by handing this child over to the Anbu...

Akihara Kagura, this already extreme child, had become even darker due to abandonment, making it harder to correct the child's mindset.

"Shisui..."

Ten-year-old Izumi Uchiha sat beside Uchiha Shisui, her face filled with worry as she asked, "Itachi-kun will definitely win, right?"

"Itachi is the best."

Uchiha Shisui nodded slowly.

These were just comforting words from Uchiha Shisui to Izumi Uchiha.

As an excellent ninja, Uchiha Shisui could see the gap between Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Itachi. It would be very difficult for Uchiha Itachi to defeat the opponent right now...

Uchiha Shisui knew more than Izumi Uchiha; he had clearly heard from Uchiha Itachi that the opponent had another terrifying technique, the Wood Dragon...

If Akihara Kagura truly intended to kill Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Itachi's life could be in danger.

"The match begins!"

Genma Shiranui's voice echoed throughout the arena.

As soon as the announcement for the match to begin sounded, the two youngsters in the arena moved almost simultaneously. Uchiha Itachi threw four shuriken, instantly vanishing from his spot!

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Akihara Kagura instantly raised their finger!

A root shot out rapidly, blocking in front of Akihara Kagura and also blocking Uchiha Itachi's shuriken!

Roots emerged from the ground one after another!

Giant trees grew with the spread of the roots, quickly covering the entire arena and transforming the examination stage into an ancient forest!

Uchiha Itachi had witnessed Akihara Kagura controlling giant trees to attack enemies before and knew very well that these giant trees were all under Akihara Kagura's chakra control. They couldn't stop anywhere and could only dodge the surprise attacks from the roots and vines in the forest!

"No terrain advantage..."

Uchiha Itachi's figure leaped through the forest, their eyes instantly turning crimson. Using the Sharingan, they observed the attack trajectories of all the roots and vines within their field of vision, searching for brief landing spots!

The next moment...

Uchiha Itachi's expression changed drastically.

This was because the branches and vines of all the giant trees in the forest were converging upwards.

The massive chakra reaction was almost suffocating. Everyone in the entire examination venue knew that a dangerous jutsu was about to appear!

"Although Deep Forest Emergence alone could defeat you, it might be a bit troublesome..."

Akihara Kagura's voice sounded somewhat leisurely as they continued slowly, "If it's a battle between Wood Style and the Sharingan, it seems appropriate to use a more shocking method..."

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!"

The trunks of the giant trees continuously grew upwards, transforming into massive vines that intertwined, forming a colossal Wood Dragon soaring upwards!

This Wood Dragon was hundreds of meters long. Its sheer size alone seemed capable of destroying the entire venue at any moment, causing a sense of dread!

A massive vine extended towards the Wood Dragon.

Akihara Kagura stepped onto the vine, gazing forward, and slowly but firmly stepped onto the Wood Dragon's head.

Second update!