At that moment, Uchiha Tunan stood in a corner of the courtyard. With the Sharingan's exceptional dynamic vision and the Byakugan's insight, he clearly saw countless Chakra glints rushing toward him.
He immediately infused Chakra into the soles of his feet and began sprinting around the courtyard, evading the insect swarm close behind him.
From time to time, he flung several kunai at Aburame Ryosuke.
Facing the incoming kunai, Aburame Ryosuke merely made a few light hops and perfectly dodged them.
Troublesome brat. This ends here.
A glimmer of delight flashed through Aburame Ryosuke's eyes as he secretly formed hand seals.
That was because a swarm of insects had already been secretly lying in wait ahead of Uchiha Tunan.
Using the shadows cast by the buildings as cover, those insects lay silently on the ground.
As long as Uchiha Tunan ran a few more steps forward, the insects would immediately swarm him, forming a pincer attack with the insect tide behind him.
"Step."
Uchiha Tunan planted one foot on the ground.
Now.
Aburame Ryosuke had just completed his hand seals.
Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!
"Ah!"
Uchiha Tunan noticed it as well and immediately let out a terrified scream.
Then he was engulfed by the surging insects.
Under Aburame Ryosuke's command, the Kikaichū frantically devoured Uchiha Tunan's Chakra.
In only a moment, Uchiha Tunan's Chakra had been completely drained.
Aburame Ryosuke used the Insect Transformation Secret Technique and arrived before Uchiha Tunan.
Having completed their task, the Kikaichū flew back into Aburame Ryosuke's body one after another.
There was no time to waste. Aburame Ryosuke prepared to knock Uchiha Tunan unconscious and take him away.
After all, capturing him alive would earn a much higher evaluation. A qualified tool should strive to complete its mission perfectly.
Just as Aburame Ryosuke raised his hand.
Suddenly, the Kikaichū that had returned to his body sent out an intense warning.
Damn it!
Another genjutsu!
Aburame Ryosuke dispelled the genjutsu in an instant. The figure lying on the ground before him was not Uchiha Tunan at all, but a wooden carving.
Where is he?!
Aburame Ryosuke calmly assessed the situation, his eyes constantly sweeping over his surroundings.
The area was deathly quiet. There was nothing there.
Suddenly, a humanoid shadow appeared on the ground.
Aburame Ryosuke abruptly looked up at the roof.
Uchiha Tunan stood where Aburame Ryosuke had previously been, with the cold full moon behind him.
Backlit as he was, Uchiha Tunan's face could not be seen clearly, but his scarlet Sharingan stood out vividly.
"Caw, caw~"
Several black birds landed on Uchiha Tunan's shoulders, their eyes likewise revealing scarlet 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 while his right rapidly formed several hand seals.
The instant Uchiha Tunan raised his left hand, streaks of cold light flashed through the courtyard.
What was that?!
For the first time, surprise appeared in Aburame Ryosuke's eyes beneath his mask.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Boom~
Scorching fire serpents rapidly spread through the courtyard along the Chakra Wire.
During their earlier exchange, Uchiha Tunan had used Fuma Shuriken and kunai to stretch Chakra Wire throughout the entire courtyard.
Aburame Ryosuke was now like an insect caught in a spiderweb. Even with wings, he could not escape.
Damn it.
Watching the flames spread toward him, Aburame Ryosuke did not dare use the Insect Transformation Secret Technique. He could only run toward the areas the flames had yet to reach.
Trying to kill me with these flames is nothing but wishful thinking.
But this technique is making far too much of a commotion. It will definitely alert the Uchiha Clan.
The mission... has 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 outside the Uchiha Clan Compound, Aburame Shikuroo appeared atop a utility pole, roaring flames reflected in his eyes.
"Is this... going to fail?
"You have one minute left. If you still haven't dealt with that brat by then, don't blame me."
In truth, Aburame Shikuroo knew that whether this mission succeeded or failed, Aburame Ryosuke would likely die.
Once Anbu got serious, even if Aburame Shikuroo acted personally, there was a high chance of being discovered.
To keep his own hands clean, Danzo had sent Aburame Ryosuke instead.
From beginning to end, Root's member roster had never included Aburame Ryosuke.
Whether Aburame Ryosuke completed the mission or not, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal would ultimately be activated.
This cursed seal would destroy Aburame Ryosuke's brain in an instant.
At the same time, the cursed seal would dissipate after his death, leaving no trace for anyone to find.
Meanwhile, the ninja in the center of the Uchiha Clan Compound also noticed the disturbance and rushed toward Uchiha Tunan's residence.
The Great Elder and Fugaku Uchiha led the crowd at the front.
"Damn it, who was it?" Fugaku Uchiha said with an ugly expression.
The Great Elder's face was equally grim, and he could not help regretting that he had not forcibly ordered Uchiha Tunan to move to the center of the clan compound.
By then, Aburame Ryosuke was about to escape the range of the fire net.
Chakra Wire was expensive and limited, after all. There was no way it could cover the entire courtyard.
Brat, I'll kill you.
Behind his mask, Aburame Ryosuke's eyes were cold to the extreme.
Clearly, tonight's disastrous start had thoroughly enraged the usually expressionless man.
As he ran, his hands turned into afterimages, preparing to unleash a powerful ninjutsu and kill Uchiha Tunan in one stroke.
I need to control the power. I can't damage those eyes.
Aburame Ryosuke thought to himself.
On the rooftop, Uchiha Tunan watched Aburame Ryosuke flee the fiery zone, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
The fish has finally taken the bait.
The next instant, Aburame Ryosuke stepped down.
Instead of the firm sensation of solid ground, his foot felt as though it had stepped into empty space.
This is... a trap!
Aburame Ryosuke could never have imagined that someone would set a trap in his own courtyard.
He immediately prepared to use the Insect Transformation Secret Technique to escape.
Just then, Uchiha Tunan moved.
He sharply pulled with his left hand and rapidly flung several kunai with his right.
The kunai and Fuma Shuriken connected to the Chakra Wire had just been pulled into the air when the incoming kunai struck them, restoring their momentum.
Uchiha Tunan leaped into the air, dragging the fiery net formed by the Chakra Wire down over Aburame Ryosuke.
I'll risk it all!
A vicious glint flashed through Aburame Ryosuke's eyes as he continued using the Insect Transformation Secret Technique, trying to charge through the sea of fire.
Even if it meant losing a large number of Kikaichū, it was still safer than falling into an unknown trap.
Uchiha Tunan narrowed his eyes slightly. Through the flow of Chakra within Aburame Ryosuke's body, he saw through his plan.
His right hand rapidly formed seals.
Lightning Release: Earth Run!
Crackle, crackle~
Electric arcs instantly flickered across the fire net, and the entire net continued to contract.
Now Aburame Ryosuke did not dare use the Insect Transformation Secret Technique.
The Kikaichū were far too densely packed. They would conduct electricity through one another.
Lightning possessed a paralyzing effect. Once the Kikaichū were paralyzed, they would surely be burned to ashes by the flames.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. During Aburame Ryosuke's moment of hesitation, he lost his footing and fell into the trap.
At the same time, Uchiha Tunan used the net of lightning and fire to cover the trap's opening.
Splash~
The sound of water splashing rang out.
I'm in water?
Is this brat trying to use water's conductivity to electrocute me to death?
It's over...
Aburame Ryosuke's face beneath his mask was filled with horror. Yet in the next moment, his despair deepened even further.
Because he suddenly realized that this was not water, but oil.
Now, even using the Insect Transformation Secret Technique would not help.
The insects would definitely be coated in oil, and above him were both fire and lightning...
Sizzle, sizzle~
Aburame Ryosuke looked up. Firelight blazed at the trap's opening, while lightning flashed wildly across it.
Explosive Tags were also attached all around him, now burning as they activated...
Rumble!
Accompanied by an earth-shaking explosion, a scorching pillar of fire erupted from the trap and surged into the night sky.
Half of Konoha could see that pillar of fire.
Before you continue