Falling Into a Trap, Soaring Pillar of Fire

From his position in the corner of the courtyard, Uchiha Tunan, using the superior dynamic vision of his Sharingan and the insight of his Byakugan, clearly saw dense points of chakra light surging towards him.

As the chakra was about to be injected into the soles of his feet, he began to sprint across the courtyard, dodging the swarm of insects pursuing him.

From time to time, he flicked a few kunai towards Aburame Ryosuke.

Facing the kunai, Aburame Ryosuke easily dodged them with a few light leaps.

A troublesome brat. This is where it ends.

A flicker of joy flashed in Aburame Ryosuke's eyes as he secretly formed hand seals.

This was because Uchiha Tunan was running right into a swarm of insects Aburame Ryosuke had already secretly laid in wait.

These insects, hidden by the shadows of the houses, lay quietly on the ground.

As soon as Uchiha Tunan ran a few more steps, these insects would attack en masse, forming a pincer movement with the swarm behind him.

"Thump."

Uchiha Tunan's foot landed on the ground.

Now!

Aburame Ryosuke had just finished his hand seals.

Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!

"Ah!"

Uchiha Tunan also noticed what was happening and let out a terrified scream.

He was then engulfed by the swarming insects.

Under Aburame Ryosuke's command, these Kikaichū madly devoured Uchiha Tunan's chakra.

In just a moment, Uchiha Tunan's chakra was completely drained.

Aburame Ryosuke used his Insect Transformation Technique to appear before Uchiha Tunan.

The Kikaichū, having completed their mission, flew back into Aburame Ryosuke's body.

Without delay, Aburame Ryosuke prepared to knock Uchiha Tunan unconscious and take him away.

After all, a live capture yielded a much higher evaluation, and a suitable tool should complete its mission as perfectly as possible.

Just as Aburame Ryosuke raised his hand.

Suddenly, the Kikaichū that had returned to his body sent a strong warning.

Damn it!

It's Genjutsu again!

Aburame Ryosuke instantly dispelled the Genjutsu. Lying on the ground before him was not Uchiha Tunan, but a wooden dummy.

Where is he!

Aburame Ryosuke calmly analyzed the situation, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.

The surroundings were silent; there was nothing there.

Suddenly, a human-shaped shadow appeared on the ground.

Aburame Ryosuke abruptly looked up at the roof.

He saw Uchiha Tunan standing where Aburame Ryosuke had just been, with the cold full moon behind him.

Silhouetted against the light, Uchiha Tunan's face was obscured, but his pair of crimson Sharingan were exceptionally striking.

"Caw caw~"

Several black bird shadows landed on Uchiha Tunan's shoulders, also revealing crimson Sharingan.

"In your next life, remember to follow the right person."

Uchiha Tunan looked down at Aburame Ryosuke from above.

He slightly raised his left hand and quickly formed several hand seals with his right.

The moment Uchiha Tunan raised his left hand, glints of cold light flashed across the courtyard.

What is that!

Beneath his masked face, Aburame Ryosuke showed an expression of surprise for the first time.

Fire Style, Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Boom~

Fiery snakes of flame rapidly spread across the courtyard along Chakra Wires.

Earlier, during their exchange, Uchiha Tunan had used Fuma Shuriken and kunai to spread Chakra Wires throughout the entire courtyard.

The current Aburame Ryosuke was like an insect on a spiderweb, unable to escape even if it had wings.

Damn it.

Aburame Ryosuke watched the flames spread and dared not use his Insect Transformation Technique, so he could only run towards the areas where the flames had not yet reached.

Using these flames to kill me is wishful thinking.

However, the scale of this attack is too large; it's bound to alert members of the Uchiha clan.

Mission... failed.

No! If I fail, I'll die!

As long as I escape this sea of fire, I still have a chance to complete the mission.

Not far from the Uchiha clan compound, Aburame Shibi's figure appeared atop a utility pole, the raging flames reflected in his eyes.

"This... is it going to fail?

You have one minute. If you still haven't dealt with that brat by then, don't blame me."

In truth, Aburame Shibi knew that regardless of whether this mission succeeded or failed, Aburame Ryosuke was likely doomed.

Anbu members going all out could potentially be discovered even by him.

This was why Danzo had sent Aburame Ryosuke, to keep his own hands clean.

Aburame Ryosuke's name had never appeared on the Root member roster from beginning to end.

Whether Aburame Ryosuke completed the mission or not, he would ultimately trigger the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.

This curse mark would instantly destroy Aburame Ryosuke's brain.

Simultaneously, the curse mark would dissipate after death, leaving no trace for anyone to investigate.

At the same time, the ninja in the center of the Uchiha clan compound also noticed the commotion and rushed towards Uchiha Tunan's residence.

The Great Elder and Fugaku Uchiha were at the forefront of the crowd.

"Damn it, who is it," Fugaku Uchiha said, his expression grim.

The Great Elder's face was somber, and he couldn't help but regret not forcing Uchiha Tunan to relocate to the center of the clan compound.

Meanwhile, Aburame Ryosuke was on the verge of escaping the range of the flames.

Chakra wires were expensive and limited, and couldn't cover the entire courtyard.

Brat, I'll kill you.

Beneath his mask, Aburame Ryosuke's eyes were ice-cold.

Clearly, the unfavorable turn of events tonight had greatly angered him, which was unusual for someone usually stoic.

As he ran, his hands moved like afterimages, preparing to unleash a powerful ninjutsu to kill Uchiha Tunan in one blow.

I need to control the power, so I don't destroy those eyes.

Aburame Ryosuke thought to himself.

On the rooftop, Uchiha Tunan watched Aburame Ryosuke flee the fire, a slight smile gracing his lips.

The fish has completely fallen into the net.

The next instant, Aburame Ryosuke landed on the ground.

Instead of the solid ground he expected, he felt like he was stepping on air.

This is... a trap!

Aburame Ryosuke never imagined someone would set a trap in his own yard.

He immediately prepared to use the Insect Transformation Secret Technique to escape.

Just then, Uchiha Tunan moved.

He yanked hard with his left hand and quickly threw several kunai with his right.

The kunai and Fuma shuriken connected to the chakra wires, which had just been pulled into mid-air, were struck by the incoming kunai and regained their momentum.

Uchiha Tunan leaped up, pulling the net of fire formed by the chakra wires, and cast it over Aburame Ryosuke.

I'll risk it!

A ruthless glint flashed in Aburame Ryosuke's eyes as he continued to activate the Insect Transformation Secret Technique, attempting to break through the sea of fire.

Even if it meant losing a large number of Kikaichū, it was safer than falling into an unknown trap.

Uchiha Tunan's eyes narrowed slightly. He could see Ryosuke's intention through the flow of chakra within him.

His right hand rapidly formed hand seals.

Lightning Style, Earth Run.

"Crackle~"

Arcs of electricity instantly flashed across the net of fire, and the entire large net began to contract.

Aburame Ryosuke no longer dared to use the Insect Transformation Secret Technique.

The Kikaichū were too densely packed; they would conduct electricity with each other.

It was well known that lightning had a paralyzing effect, and paralyzed Kikaichū would surely be incinerated by the great fire.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Aburame Ryosuke hesitated, and in that moment, he lost his footing and fell into the trap.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Tunan had covered the trap entrance with a great net of intertwined lightning and fire.

"Splash~"

The sound of splashing water echoed.

Am I in the water?

Is this brat trying to use water's conductivity to electrocute me?

It's over...

Aburame Ryosuke's face was filled with horror beneath his mask. However, the next moment, his despair deepened even further.

Because he suddenly realized it wasn't water, but oil.

Even using the Insect Transformation Secret Technique won't work now.

The insects will definitely get covered in oil, and above me there's fire and lightning...

"Sizzle sizzle~"

Aburame Ryosuke looked up. The trap entrance was alight with flickering flames and crisscrossing lightning.

And all around him, Explosive Tags were stuck to him, now burning and activating...

"Rumble~"

Accompanied by a world-shattering explosion, a scorching pillar of fire shot out from the trap, spraying towards the night sky.

More than half of Konohagakure could see this pillar of fire.