Do I Have to Be This Unlucky?

"Goodbye, kid~"

Tsunade's cheeks were flushed, and looking thoroughly satisfied, she waved to the young man.

Uchiha Sōgetsu, meanwhile, looked completely drained. His eyes were lifeless, his legs unsteady, and he had to support himself against the wall as he staggered out of Tsunade's room.

Don't get the wrong idea. He absolutely had not used hypnosis to do anything improper to Tsunade.

"Forcibly planting a Psychological Suggestion into the subconscious sea of mind of a kage-level ninja really isn't easy." The Spirituality he had only just recovered showed signs of being depleted again. Two consecutive major expenditures of Spirituality made Sōgetsu hear whispering murmurs by his ears, as though his potion were on the verge of losing control.

He could never take a risk like this again.

The Potion System was extremely dangerous. One slight misstep could result in losing control. This experience had taught him a lesson.

"Uh, Doctor Sōgetsu, are you... all right?"

A passing Medical Ninja watched Sōgetsu limp out of Tsunade's office while bracing himself against the wall, and an expression of utter shock immediately appeared on his face.

Without even looking at the man's mind-body aura, Sōgetsu could guess what he was thinking. He hurriedly explained, "I used too much Chakra while treating Lady Tsunade."

"Mhm, mhm, I understand, Lord Sōgetsu."

The man patted his chest, wearing an expression that said he understood without needing an explanation. "Don't worry, Lord Sōgetsu. My, Morita's, lips are sealed. I absolutely won't spread this around."

I'd have to be crazy to believe you. Sōgetsu's mouth twitched, and a drop of cold sweat slid down his face. "I really was treating her!"

"Of course!" Morita revealed a strange smile. "No need to explain, Lord Sōgetsu. I'm rooting for you and Lady Tsunade~"

With that, without waiting for Uchiha Sōgetsu to explain, he ran off with the expression of someone carrying an earth-shattering secret.

Damn it!

Sōgetsu cursed inwardly. If he weren't worried about losing control, he would definitely give that bastard a round of Saw Game: Mind Edition!

Under the astonished, gossip-hungry, ambiguous gazes of the Medical Ninjas and nurses along the way, Sōgetsu finally managed to leave the hospital, silently shedding two tears in his heart.

From this day onward, his reputation was ruined.

There was no need to think about it. Those gossip-crazed lunatics at the hospital would definitely spread the news everywhere.

He just hoped Tsunade would not come beat him up once she found out.

Sōgetsu pinched the bridge of his nose and soothed his restless mind, intending to return to the Uchiha Residence for some rest.

As he passed a deserted alley around a corner—

Whoosh!

An Anbu wearing a Cat-face mask suddenly appeared like a ghost.

"Uchiha Sōgetsu, you have a mission. Come with me." The Cat-face Anbu spoke unpleasantly, staring at him coldly.

Sōgetsu frowned almost imperceptibly.

Although Spectator Pathway Beyonders had weak combat ability in the early stages, they possessed exceptional mental strength and keen powers of observation. After advancing, their observations were no longer limited to the surface, but could delve into mysterious fields such as auras and Ether Bodies. Combined, these abilities could even allow them to read another person's thoughts.

And now, deep within the Cat-face Anbu's eyes, he read emotions such as indifference, hostility, and killing intent.

This visitor means trouble.

Sōgetsu thought to himself, but his expression did not change. He calmly nodded. "All right."

The Cat-face Anbu led him to the Forest of Death.

"Are we there?"

Seeing the Anbu ahead stop, Sōgetsu pushed up the frame of his glasses and surveyed the surroundings.

The dense primeval forest was filled with massive canopies that spread like umbrellas, casting vast patches of shade. Branches interwove overhead, while the forest occasionally rang with insects and birds. It was actually quite a pleasant place.

"We're here."

The Cat-face Anbu turned around, the gaze beneath his mask growing colder.

There was no ambush nearby. He was alone.

Sōgetsu relaxed slightly and once again marveled at the usefulness of Spiritual Vision. Ninja could hide their presence and bodies, but they could never conceal the aura of a living creature's Ether Body.

"Uchiha Sōgetsu, according to Anbu procedure, I will now interrogate you." The Cat-face Anbu said, "As a Psychologist, you have used Genjutsu on many people in the village. What exactly was your purpose? Was Uchiha Fugaku directing you from behind the scenes? Are you still loyal to Lord Hokage?"

"Rather than the interrogation, I'm more curious who sent you after me."

Sōgetsu's eyelids lowered, and deep whirlpools seemed to swirl in the depths of his eyes. "How about I take a guess?"

"Uchiha Sōgetsu, don't change the subject!" The Cat-face Anbu's voice suddenly sharpened. He already had a kunai in hand, and a trace of killing intent glinted in his eyes. "This is an order. Anbu ninja do not need questions, emotions, or personal will. They only need to carry out orders. Do you understand?"

"Tsk, where have I heard that before?" Sōgetsu smiled playfully and looked the Cat-face Anbu up and down. "Oh, I remember. There's only one place in all of Konoha where people constantly talk about not needing emotions or personal will. You're from Root, aren't you?"

"Then it seems you intend to refuse the interrogation."

The Cat-face Anbu formed the Tiger hand seal, Chakra stirring restlessly within him. His voice brimmed with killing intent. "It doesn't matter. Lord Danzo knew from the beginning that members of the Uchiha Clan would never agree."

Whoosh!

Fallen leaves swirled where he had stood.

In the next instant, the Cat-face Anbu used the Body Flicker Technique at incredible speed. Avoiding a frontal clash, he chose to ambush Sōgetsu from behind.

The sharp kunai stabbed toward a vital point, carrying not even the slightest intention of holding back.

Squelch!

The kunai pierced Sōgetsu's chest, yet he wore an appreciative expression.

Bang!

The stabbed Sōgetsu instantly turned into a cloud of smoke.

"Not good, it's a Shadow Clone!" The Cat-face Anbu's pupils contracted slightly as he realized he had been fooled. He hurriedly sprang backward.

But after retreating only a few steps, he heard a sharp sound cutting through the air behind him.

More than a dozen rapidly spinning shuriken carved astonishing arcs through the air, like a net cast from heaven, already sealing off his escape route.

Damn Uchiha, when did he use a Shadow Clone?

The Cat-face Anbu was both shocked and furious. He drew the short sword from his back, turned around, and slashed repeatedly, knocking every shuriken away.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Just as the Cat-face Anbu exhausted his strength and finished swinging his sword—

Sōgetsu seized the opportunity. Chakra suddenly erupted beneath his feet, and like a bolt of black lightning, he charged straight toward the Cat-face Anbu.

The instant their gazes met, the Cat-face Anbu saw three scarlet tomoe spinning rapidly in Sōgetsu's eyes.

There was a saying in the ninja world.

When facing a ninja of the Uchiha Clan, if the opponent possessed the Sharingan, then in a one-on-one fight, one must flee.

To a certain extent, that saying also demonstrated just how great an advantage an Uchiha with the Sharingan possessed in single combat.

Normally, the moment two people's gazes met, the battle was already over.

Bang!

Yet beneath the Sharingan's gaze, the Cat-face Anbu turned into a cloud of smoke.

"A very correct response. Should I say that's to be expected of Danzo's subordinate?" Sōgetsu remained calm, not finding it surprising in the slightest.

After all, the other party was Anbu. If he could be instantly defeated in a single exchange and lacked even that much ability, how could he have survived in a place like Root until now?

You could say Root was disgusting, but you could never say Root was weak.

"Let's end the probing here."

Sōgetsu looked toward a certain treetop, the three scarlet tomoe in his eyes slowly turning. "Our time is both valuable. Let's not waste it here."

"Uchiha Sōgetsu, you really are not as simple as you look."

A figure leaped down from the canopy—it was the Cat-face Anbu. "As you wish, I will show you what true cruelty is."

Buzzzzz.

Dense swarms of black insects flew from the Cat-face Anbu's sleeves.

Countless black insects gathered like a massive cloud of Black Mist, quickly enveloping the Cat-face Anbu. The insects were tiny, so small that even the Sharingan found it difficult to see them clearly. Anyone with trypophobia would probably feel suffocated and want to die after a single glance.

The black insects beat their wings, their shells scraping together and producing a chilling sound.

"Someone from the Aburame Clan."

Sōgetsu raised an eyebrow. With such obvious traits, only the Aburame Clan in all of Konoha fit the description.

"Lord Danzo anticipated that you would refuse, so he sent me."

The Aburame Anbu said coldly, "Our Aburame Clan's ninjutsu cannot be copied even by the Sharingan, and... a massive swarm of insects can perfectly counter your Sharingan!"

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