Cruel Choices: Uchiha Chooses Love! (Revised)

Outside the barrier, Dodai quickly formed hand seals.

Uchiha Setsuna, observing this, immediately changed his expression.

He instantly recognized the ninjutsu Dodai was forming: Earth Style: Opening Earth Rising Excavation!

This was a large-scale Earth Style ninjutsu that could summon a massive volcano from underground, forcibly extracting any enemies hidden beneath the surface.

However, in the Land of Hot Water, a region characterized by numerous hot springs, mountains, and intense volcanic activity, using this ninjutsu would cause its nature to drastically change.

What Opening Earth Rising Excavation would pull from the ground...

Wouldn't be enemies.

But endless, scalding, boiling underground water exceeding 100°C, enough to cause third-degree burns with even a brief soak!

This terrain's immense enhancement to the ninjutsu was the Kumogakure squad's confidence in their ability to kill Uchiha Setsuna.

It was also the reason they chose to lie in wait in the Land of Hot Water, rather than ambushing Uchiha Setsuna on the border of the Land of Fire.

Dodai couldn't wait any longer.

The cause of all this was that crazy Uchiha kid inside the barrier!

If not for him, forcibly turning the tide of the battle and holding Moroi back so stubbornly.

To the point where he had even awakened his Sharingan and was showing signs of a comeback.

Dodai would never have reached this situation.

Such thoughts swirled in Dodai's mind.

His gaze towards Moroi suddenly became conflicted.

Because the consequence of this action would be...

Sacrificing his good brother, Moroi.

Kumogakure had always been a village that revered brotherhood.

Guilt, remorse, shame – such emotions battered his heart wildly, his face a mask of internal struggle.

But then, there was Uchiha Setsuna, that old geezer.

His extreme words, The full fury of the foremost clan in the current ninja world!

Made Dodai uncontrollably feel a suffocating fear.

Kill him!

Kill him!

Kill him!

Once this thought arose, it was like a curse, uncontrollably copying and pasting itself in Dodai's mind.

Until his entire head was filled with only those three words.

The next moment—

Dodai's gaze sharpened, and he roared:

"Enough!"

"Moroi, release the barrier!"

"I'll kill him!"

Inside the barrier, "What did you say? Senior Dodai?"

Hearing Dodai's words, Moroi froze hard.

This hesitation...

Allowed Uchiha Ci to seize the opportunity. Gripping the blade of his Ninja Sword, his bloody palm clamped tightly onto the hilt, and he then delivered a powerful kick to Moroi's abdomen.

Bang!

Moroi was sent flying, the Ninja Sword slipping from his grasp into Ci's hand.

He tumbled several times across the ruins before bracing himself with his palms, halting his momentum.

Ignoring the fight with Uchiha Ci, he turned his head dazedly, Looking towards Dodai outside the barrier.

However, Dodai, standing there, simply took a deep breath, his hand seals continuing without pause, and coldly commanded:

"I said, open the barrier!"

"Open the barrier?" Moroi's eyes widened abruptly, staring at Dodai in disbelief.

"Now you want me to open the barrier?"

His face flushed and paled rapidly, his expression shifting dramatically.

As a member of the team who had participated in the planning from start to finish, how could Moroi not know the terrifying power and immense range of Dodai's Earth Style: Earth Release・Earth Rising?

And now, Dodai was telling him to undo the barrier, claiming he would personally kill Uchiha Ci!

Didn't he know that once the jutsu was cast, it would cover him, his teammate, as well?

At this thought, Moroi's heart grew cold. Looking at Dodai, who he had always seen as a big brother, his gaze was filled with unfamiliarity.

Finally, he retorted with uncontrollable rage:

"What the hell are you joking about?!"

"You're forming hand seals for Earth Release: Earth Rising, and you want me to open the barrier?!"

"Do you want to kill me too, Dodai?!"

Hearing this, a flicker of guilt appeared on Dodai's face.

He didn't respond, nor did he dare to look at Moroi again. He merely turned his head and gritted out to Ramii beside him, "Ramii, protect me. Don't let that old geezer Uchiha Setsuna get close!"

Ramii, seeing this, was also greatly shocked.

"Dodai, you…"

Dodai just shook his head, his expression grim as he said, "Do I need to repeat myself? If we let that old man escape, can't you imagine the consequences?"

Ramii gritted his teeth slightly. "Then why include Moroi in it too…"

Dodai took a deep breath, formed the last hand seal, and said coldly, "Nonsense! If I don't kill that crazy brat along with it, and the barrier isn't there to stop him, that old man will escape on his own!"

"The situation now is different from before."

"Moroi has already done what he needed to do, sealing all the Explosive Tags on that crazy brat."

"This crazy brat is no longer a threat."

"Instead, he will become our asset!"

Ramii couldn't help but glance sideways at the right-hand man of the Third Raikage.

A hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

He had to admit, No wonder he could hold a high position in Kumogakure at such a young age, while he, after struggling for half his life, was only a regular Jonin captain.

Shaking his head, Ramii sighed and said indifferently, "You're right."

"Sometimes, bonds are a stronger restraint than barriers."

Dodai didn't reply, merely narrowing his eyes.

He looked at Uchiha Setsuna, who was wielding a flaming longsword, trailing a long fiery tail and red lines from his crimson Sharingan. His gaze was cold as he spun and slashed. Dodai let out a cold laugh.

He slammed a palm onto the ground!

The next moment, the earth shook!

The earth dragon turned over, and countless clumps of earth wriggled and rose from beneath the ground.

A massive volcano emerged from the earth, and its crater instantly swallowed the barrier where Moroi was located.

Thick fog billowed around the crater's edge.

Upon seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened in fury, and he roared, "What are you doing?! Kumogakure!"

"Uchiha Setsuna, let's make a bet." Dodai's hand seals didn't stop, and a cruel smile spread across his face.

This time, he was about to unleash Lava Style: Rubber River.

Transforming the earth into a molten river of rubber, and then using the Rubber River to seal the crater.

The boiling water drawn out by Earth Release・Earth Rising would create intense pressure inside, causing the volcano to expand.

The treacherous environment within the volcano, and finally the violently erupting boiling water, Would be a heavenly power beyond human reach!

"You have two choices now."

Dodai looked coldly at Uchiha Setsuna and shouted loudly, "You can stay here and try to wear us down."

"Then, I watched with my own eyes as the kid who was about to defeat Moroi was killed by me."

"I have to admit, you won. You ruined our entire plan by sacrificing just one Genin brat!"

"If you leave now, I won't stop you!"

"Of course, you have another option."

Dodai reached out and pointed towards the enormous volcano, which was spewing thick white mist.

He let out a cold laugh:

"Now, jump in!"

"With your abilities, perhaps you can save that kid. Who knows."

Uchiha Setsuna's expression changed drastically.

"My jutsu is about to seal the deal. Haven't you made your choice yet?!" Dodai widened his eyes and roared.

Uchiha Setsuna glared at him, gritting his teeth slightly, and stood at the edge of the volcano.

Almost without thinking, he turned and leaped directly into the volcano!

Dodai let out a cold laugh. "This way, everything will be over!"

As he spoke, he formed hand seals and spewed out a surging river of rubber!

The liquid rubber, in its molten state, acted like a lid, sealing the volcano shut.

The dust settled!

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Bang, bang, bang.