Escape and Pursuit

Since his first ambush had failed, Uchiha Feiyu had no intention of continuing to tangle with Roshi. However, Roshi was not about to let Uchiha Feiyu withdraw so easily.

With a roar, a complete Tailed Beast Cloak formed around Roshi's body. His expression turned cold as he said,

"I hadn't wanted to reveal this ability, but a ninja your age who has already crossed that boundary and entered the Kage-level is simply too dangerous. I cannot allow you to keep growing!"

"Lava Release: Scorching Stream River!"

Having revealed his identity as a Jinchuriki, Roshi's aura surged severalfold. Terrifying magma erupted forth like a great river, crashing toward Uchiha Feiyu like towering waves.

Faced with such a sweeping, all-encompassing attack, even Uchiha Feiyu's speed made escape difficult. Fortunately, his Earth Release had improved considerably. As his hands formed seals, a massive earthen wall rose from the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

The earthen wall briefly obstructed the surging river of magma before it was swiftly burned through completely. But that brief delay was enough for Uchiha Feiyu to withdraw beyond the attack's range.

Facing a Jinchuriki who was gradually drawing upon Tailed Beast power, Uchiha Feiyu knew he would gain no advantage. He immediately turned and began to retreat.

"Kid, don't even think about running!"

Seeing Uchiha Feiyu flee faster than a rabbit, Roshi naturally gave chase. Yet after only two steps, he stopped—the gap in their speed was simply too great.

"You damn brat! Do you have no shame at all?"

"Heh, you're a Jinchuriki in your thirties chasing a ninja who graduated from the Academy less than a year ago. Are you really in any position to talk about shame?"

Uchiha Feiyu retorted as he ran, soon vanishing from Roshi's sight and leaving the Jinchuriki to rage helplessly.

"Are these ground rats dogs or something? How are they pursuing me this fast?"

Uchiha Feiyu grumbled after taking out another Iwagakure squad. However, since that squad had already launched a signal flare, he did not dare linger and hurriedly continued his escape.

He had expended quite a bit of stamina along the way, and he was now deep within Iwagakure's occupied territory. There might be further obstacles ahead, so he no longer dared use Lightning Release to stimulate his body.

Using Lightning Release to stimulate his cells could greatly increase his speed, but it would also drastically accelerate his exhaustion. It was fine for combat or escaping a battlefield, but using it as a travel technique required stamina Uchiha Feiyu did not possess.

Of course, Uchiha Feiyu also knew why these Iwagakure Ninja were pursuing him.

First, his talent had clearly frightened them, making the Iwagakure Ninja want to eliminate him before he could grow further.

Second, he knew the intelligence that a Jinchuriki had arrived on the battlefield. If that information leaked, then whether it was Konoha or the Sand Shinobi, both would undoubtedly make Iwagakure their primary target and kick them out of the game first!

"Iwagakure has a Sensory Technique that detects vibrations transmitted through the ground, allowing them to learn the movements of enemies within seven or eight kilometers... However, Iwagakure Ninja with Sensory Abilities at that level are extremely rare."

Hatake Sakumo's soul spoke calmly to Uchiha Feiyu. Hearing this, Uchiha Feiyu's eyes lit up.

"In other words, they're actually using ground vibrations for wide-range detection?"

"That's right. Normally, if companions continuously use Earth Release techniques to interfere, they can disrupt the enemy's senses."

"I don't have companions to help me, but I think..."

Uchiha Feiyu directly summoned an Iwagakure Ninja's Soul Orb. Looking at the muddled soul under his control, a smile appeared on his lips.

"If I make myself lighter, won't they be unable to sense me?"

"The target's vibrations have vanished. I can no longer sense his movements!"

Two kilometers behind Uchiha Feiyu, a bespectacled Iwagakure Ninja frowned and turned to speak to Roshi.

The scar on Roshi's face was still covered in fresh blood. Combined with his wild crimson hair and beard, he looked thoroughly ferocious.

Yet despite his savage appearance, he remained extremely calm. Rather than getting angry, he asked in a low voice,

"Do you think that brat used the Summoning Technique to leave, or did he simply interfere with your senses?"

"He most likely interfered with my senses. If he had used the Summoning Technique, his vibration waves should have vanished instantly. But in my perception, I could sense the process of his body weight changing from heavy to light—it was just like the Light-Weight Rock Technique!"

It had to be said that elite ninja from a major ninja village were indeed capable. Both their observation and analytical abilities far surpassed ordinary people's, and they had actually analyzed Uchiha Feiyu's condition correctly.

"The Light-Weight Rock Technique? That is a secret technique of our village. How could that brat possibly know it?"

"Could your senses be wrong, Yamagami?"

"Or perhaps it was some other ninjutsu. There are Wind Release techniques that can reduce body weight, for instance."

As soon as Yamagami, the Sensory Ninja, finished speaking, the seven or eight ninja behind him began discussing it among themselves.

Yamagami said nothing more, though his face showed clear disdain. He had great faith in his Sensory Abilities and was certain that Uchiha Feiyu had used the Light-Weight Rock Technique—or at the very least, an Earth Release gravity-type technique.

As for Wind Release techniques, please. Being lifted by the wind and having one's weight reduced through antigravity produced entirely different vibration waves.

In truth, the Iwagakure Ninja reacted that way because they were too concerned. After all, gravity-type Earth Release ninjutsu was among Iwagakure's most closely guarded secrets, second only to the Tsuchikage's Dust Release. In theory, it was absolutely impossible for ninja from another village to learn it.

"Enough. Stop talking nonsense! Whether that brat used the Light-Weight Rock Technique or not, once we kill him and search his head, won't we know?"

Roshi's icy voice suppressed the others' discussion, and the ninja following behind him immediately fell silent.

These ninja were reinforcements sent by Kitsuchi. Every one of them was an elite recognized as worthy of joining this pursuit, and a distance of two kilometers was already within their tracking range.

Once Roshi, the Jinchuriki, gave the order, the group each employed their own methods and continued pursuing Uchiha Feiyu.

After Uchiha Feiyu used the Light-Weight Rock Technique to reduce his body weight, the other squads could no longer pinpoint his direction. Sure enough, the number of ninja intercepting him dropped considerably.