When Narrow Paths Meet, the Brave Prevail

Katsuo did not have so many twists and turns in his mind. He brushed the dirty footprints off his arm and said calmly,

"Just for describing my mother in that tone, I'm already being kind by not butchering him."

His calm, indifferent words kept the large group opposite him from acting rashly. It was the first time they had seen someone their age strike so viciously. That punch—looking at Katsuo's bleeding fist—he had traded injury for injury!!!

His cold tone left them with no doubt that he was joking!

The onlookers outside also felt the icy chill in the air, and their breathing grew heavier!

"Mikoto, come here."

Katsuo looked at Uchiha Mikoto, who was still frozen in shock, and spoke softly.

Coming back to her senses, she looked at Katsuo as tears streamed from her eyes. She did not understand why things had become so serious. She had truly been afraid that Katsuo would clash with Fugaku and the others. Just as she was about to tell Uchiha Fugaku not to make a move, Katsuo's command interrupted her thoughts.

"Mikoto, come here!"

Katsuo suddenly said in a low voice.

Hearing him repeat himself, Mikoto did not dare think any further. She could tell that Katsuo was unusually serious at this moment. She did not dare refuse. She did not know what would happen if she disobeyed, but she did not dare find out!

Even if going over there would make Uchiha Fugaku even angrier and worsen the situation, she was even more afraid of making Katsuo angry!

There was no reason for it; it was even somewhat inexplicable. Yet, dazed by fright, she obediently did as Katsuo said!

"This has nothing to do with you. This is my business. There's no need for you to blame yourself or feel sad. A bunch of flies like them isn't worth my attention!"

Katsuo glanced at Mikoto, who did not dare cry aloud and disturb him, then swept his gaze over the group opposite them as he spoke softly.

His voice was as calm as still water. His powerful confidence stopped Mikoto's tears and made her forget to cry. She stared blankly at the unusual boy before her.

But his words caused everyone on the other side to explode.

Especially Uchiha Fugaku. His face had turned livid and ugly the moment Mikoto left him, yet after hearing those words, he laughed instead.

"You're courting death!"

"Get him!!!"

"Go! If we don't beat him until he can't take care of himself, I won't be an Uchiha..."

Among the nearby onlookers outside, Senju Nawaki exclaimed,

"Damn, he's got guts! He's fucking tough! After this fight, no matter how badly he gets beaten, I'm definitely making him my Boss!"

His first sentence made the heir of the Hyuga Clan nod in agreement, but the second left him speechless as he reminded him,

"He's from the Uchiha Clan. Are you sure you want to make him your Boss?"

"So what if he's from the Uchiha Clan? Didn't you see that the ones trying to beat him up are Uchiha too? It's obvious he doesn't get along with the other Uchiha, and he's not like them!"

"But he's still from the Uchiha Clan..." Hyuga Hiashi said, rolling his eyes.

"Bastard, I know!" Senju Nawaki roared.

Just as Uchiha Fugaku was about to charge in first, he had barely taken one step before he froze in shock!

"This is..."

"He's forming hand seals? How... how is that possible?"

Seeing Katsuo actually forming hand seals, Uchiha Fugaku was horrified. He had no time to warn those beside him. All he could do was stop and adapt to the situation.

He could not retreat, because the people behind him were already about to rush past him!

Katsuo rapidly formed hand seals. In less than three seconds, a C-rank area-of-effect ninjutsu had taken shape.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Fist-sized fireballs poured from Katsuo's mouth, rapidly smashing into the people charging toward him.

"Ah!!! My face!"

"What is this? Fire—such huge flames!"

"Ah, I'm on fire! Hurry and save me!"

"Murder!!!"

"Mon... monster!!!"

Within the relatively cramped classroom, the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique displayed two hundred percent of its power. More than a dozen bursts of flame ignited before their eyes, triggering the most severe stampede and panic incident in the history of the Ninja Academy. Since it happened during the noon break, the academy's chunin teachers were unable to arrive in time!

Wails filled the ground. Katsuo's expression remained calm as he watched the terrified elementary students lying on the floor and screaming.

Most of the onlookers fled in terror. Only a few bold children from the great clans remained, their jaws dropping at the sight before them!

"Was that ninjutsu? So... so amazing..." Senju Nawaki said enviously, his eyes wide.

Though Hyuga Hiashi was shocked, he quickly came to his senses and hurriedly shouted at Senju Nawaki,

"Don't just stand there—save them!"

Katsuo looked at Uchiha Fugaku, the only one still standing among the crowd, and walked toward him step by step.

Uchiha Fugaku's entire body trembled. Although only his hair had been slightly singed, this unprecedented vicious incident had utterly shattered his courage.

Katsuo took one step, and he retreated one step. He backed away step by step, until there was nowhere left to retreat!

At that moment, Katsuo happened to reach the elementary student who had exposed his identity, and he stopped!

The cold, indifferent gaze from above terrified the boy so badly that his face twisted.

He pissed and shit himself, rolled his eyes back, and fainted from fright. This would probably become a nightmare that haunted him for the rest of his life!

"Reeks!"

Katsuo frowned and forcefully waved his hand, trying to disperse the nauseating stench. Then he looked at Uchiha Fugaku, who had nowhere left to run, and slowly raised his hands.

He was forming hand seals!

"Stop!"

A loud shout came from outside. The teachers had arrived!

Seeing Katsuo's hands still forming seals, Uchiha Fugaku pressed his back against the wall and roared in terror within his heart:

He... how dare he? My Grandfather is the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan!!!

"N... no!!!"

In reality, Uchiha Fugaku had completely lost the courage to resist. His voice trembled as he begged for mercy.

At such close range, if Katsuo released another ninjutsu, Uchiha Fugaku believed Katsuo intended to kill him. Overwhelming terror surrounded him, leaving him unable to muster even the desire to resist.

Katsuo frowned at his pathetic state, hesitating over whether to cast that genjutsu. Judging by Uchiha Fugaku's appearance, he seemed to have already been frightened senseless!

But then Katsuo reconsidered. I've already gone this far. I can't just do nothing...

Since he had already offended the Uchiha Clan's heir, he might as well become a shadow in his heart and make him stay far away from Uchiha Mikoto for good.

"Fire Release..."

At those two words, Uchiha Fugaku's pupils contracted sharply.

"Hell Viewing Technique!" Katsuo said playfully.

In an instant, Uchiha Fugaku collapsed limply to the ground. He had been scared unconscious, while Katsuo had also exhausted all his Chakra!

This ninjutsu did not consume much Chakra. It mainly relied on spiritual energy to activate.

One Phoenix Sage Fire Technique had used three-quarters of all his Chakra, while one Hell Viewing Technique had used up the remaining quarter.

Looking at Uchiha Fugaku lying on the ground, Class 2-1's chunin teacher, Shimada, rushed over with a livid face.

"Did you do all this? Why didn't you listen when I told you to stop?"