Team Formation, Confronting Shinnosuke!

When Terumi Mei said she was going too, Uchiha Ci was completely taken aback.

Though he had a big heart, he wasn't stupid. He naturally wouldn't believe that Terumi Mei, a genius from Kirigakure, would be captivated by his overwhelming coolness like his little buddy Hidan, and impulsively decide to tag along.

During this period, Kirigakure was engaged in small-scale skirmishes with Sunagakure, which had lost its Third Kazekage.

Rasa and Pakura were also building their war merits for the Fourth Kazekage position around this time.

Furthermore, Iwagakure, harboring a deep-seated hatred for Kirigakure, was about to launch an assault across the sea.

This would escalate into the Battle of the Green Island Reef and Mist, which would leave Kirigakure nearly silenced in the Third Shinobi World War.

But strangely, during this period of heightened tension, Terumi Mei, a genius of Kirigakure, was not in her village or on the battlefield.

Instead, she had appeared in the Land of Hot Water under an assumed name.

Moreover, she seemed to be targeting the Evil God Cult as well, intending to obtain something from them.

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but frown slightly as he looked at Terumi Mei.

He felt that beneath the already chaotic Land of Hot Water, another undercurrent was quietly stirring.

Meeting Uchiha Ci's direct gaze, Terumi Mei blushed and quickly averted her head, explaining, "What are you looking at?"

"Don't misunderstand. I had my eyes on the Evil God Cult even before you did, and I have a goal I absolutely must accomplish."

Terumi Mei's tone grew serious, and a solemn light flickered in her clear, emerald eyes.

"I have to find someone."

"If I can't find him, my homeland might fall into crisis because of it."

Uchiha Ci pondered for a moment, but with incomplete information, he couldn't figure out who Terumi Mei was looking for.

However, This matter clearly ran deep, beyond the grasp of a weak Genin like himself.

Even Pan Zi Ga Zi wouldn't be able to handle this.

Besides, his little buddy Hidan was now like a piece of gum stuck to him, impossible to shake off. With Terumi Mei present, perhaps she could help keep an eye on him.

Uchiha Ci, possessing the Super Deathmatch Barrier, wasn't afraid that Terumi Mei would interfere with his battles.

When the time came, he would just have to shout:

"Welcome to the world of men!"

Then slam his hand on the ground, pushing all his teammates away with a whoosh, to face the enemy alone.

And then, under the enemy's horrified gaze, he would reveal the forbidden jutsu, Fire Style: Chakra Mode!

Even a supreme deity couldn't save him then!

Uchiha Ci thought gleefully, replaying the scenario in his mind again and again.

But no matter how he looked at it, it was a dead end.

With that thought, Uchiha Ci sized up the two people before him for a moment before finally nodding in resignation.

"Alright, then let's go together."

Hidan and Terumi Mei exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile.

However, just then, "Since we're all going, why not count me in?"

A muffled voice sounded from behind.

The three of them turned in surprise, and Hidan even exclaimed, "Mr. Shinnosuke?"

The one who had spoken was Shinnosuke, who had been silent all along, as if he didn't exist.

"I'm a medical ninja, after all. I should be able to be of some use."

Wearing a brown hooded cap and a pale yellow lab coat, with a large red dot on his head, Shinnosuke slowly approached from behind, his gaze calm and his tone steady.

Uchiha Ci's eyes narrowed immediately, and he looked at Shinnosuke with a hint of coldness.

The leader of the Sky Ninja Village, this guy who had transformed into a traveling ninja doctor, had been following them. It was obvious he had ulterior motives.

As a doctor, there was no reason for him to be driven out by the villagers.

Yet, he had followed the three of them out; more accurately, he had followed Hidan out.

Uchiha Ci wouldn't believe for a second that there wasn't some scheme involved.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Shinnosuke. I'm grateful that you healed my injuries, but the Evil God Cult is not a peaceful place. For your own safety, you'd best stay behind."

Uchiha Ci decisively refused the other party.

"Uchiha Ci, is that right?" Shinnosuke frowned slightly, exhaling softly.

"You don't need to be so cautious. We have no enmity, and I won't pose any threat to you."

He glanced at Terumi Mei beside him and said calmly, "Just like this little girl, I also have things I must accomplish."

"All I need is some data to verify my results. You can do whatever you want; I won't intervene, I'll just watch from the side."

"If necessary, I can even help you heal your injuries."

"So, you really don't need to be so wary of me."

Finally, Shinnosuke's expression was calm, but his tone carried a hint of a threat as he said in a deep voice, "Besides, if I want to follow, you alone can't stop me."

"Want to try?"

[Shinnosuke not only despises you but also attempts to provoke you.]

Uchiha Ci's gaze sharpened instantly. Without another word, he simply reached out, snatched Terumi Mei's ninja tool pouch from her waist, then pulled out a kunai and flung it directly at Shinnosuke's face.

Next, he swept his leg, kicking up a cloud of dust towards Shinnosuke.

Using the dust as cover, Uchiha Ci lowered his body and circled around.

The kunai spun between his fingers, flashing its blade.

The stunning and cold flower was gripped by Uchiha Ci in a reverse grip and fiercely driven towards Shinnosuke's temple.

The frontal kunai, the dust, and the side assassination struck almost simultaneously.

Even a regular Jonin would have almost no time to form hand seals under such a rapid assault.

Danger bloomed in an instant!

Hidan and Terumi Mei froze, their eyes wide with shock.

They never expected, that Uchiha Ci would so decisively attack the doctor who had just healed him.

However, facing this combined assault, Shinnosuke merely shook his head. A surging torrent of air suddenly erupted from his body.

Forbidden Jutsu: Flesh Rebirth.

Forbidden Jutsu: Eight Gates - Sixth Gate of View - Open!

Then, he tilted his head, dodging the frontal kunai, and raised his right hand, flicking his finger.

Clang!

A sonic boom erupted from his fingertip!

An impact akin to a Category 8 gale rushed towards him!

Uchiha Ci felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, instantly sent flying backward.

A line of text appeared before his eyes.

[Ding!]

[You bravely struck Shinnosuke, leader of the Empty Ninja Village, and obtained a random skill from him: Forbidden Jutsu: Flesh Rebirth (Mastered, S, Incomplete)]

[Your Steel of the Heart stacks have increased.]

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Uchiha Ci bounced off the ground several times, carving a long gully.

"Pfft! Ugh!" He coughed up a large mouthful of blood, feeling as though his internal organs were slightly dislocated from the impact.

Compared to the current top powerhouses of the ninja world, he was still far too immature.

However, before Uchiha Ci could react, a large hand landed on his chest, emitting a glowing emerald light. It slowly reset Uchiha Ci's dislocated internal organs, healing the ruptured blood vessels caused by Shinnosuke's attack.

This was Mystical Palm Technique, an extremely high-level medical ninjutsu.

This left Uchiha Ci completely bewildered.

Uncle, if you're going to hit me, can you just kill me in one blow?

Why heal me after hitting me? What's the point?

He looked at Shinnosuke, who appeared calm as if nothing had happened, and asked with great frustration, "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Shinnosuke raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Why didn't you kill me? Why did you save me again and again?" Uchiha Ci stared at him intently, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Would you care if an ant punched you?" Shinnosuke shook his head.

Then, he sighed and said with a slightly heavy tone:

"If you ask why? It's probably because seeing you reminds me of the past."

"I also had a home I wanted to return to, but couldn't."

"Is that so?"

Uchiha Ci knew the other man was referring to the Sky Ninja Village destroyed by Konoha.

It was precisely because his home and country were destroyed that this man was determined to gather strength and take revenge on Konoha.

Uchiha Ci exhaled, slapped Shinnosuke's hand away, and stopped him from continuing the treatment.

Then, he glared fiercely at the other man and revealed a cruel smile:

"I'll believe you for now."

"But if you dare to make a move against those two behind my back, I will make you die a terrible death!"

"Believe me, I mean what I say."

Forbidden Technique: Flesh Rebirth. This technique is similar to Tsunade's Hundred Healings Jutsu, allowing the user to continuously heal damage received. However, unlike the Hundred Healings Jutsu, which consumes chakra, this technique consumes life force.

That is why it is classified as a forbidden technique.

With this technique, combined with Fire Style: Chakra Mode, Uchiha Ci estimated he would gain an additional five seconds of combat time.

Five seconds, under this god-like power, would be enough to pierce through the heavenly Angkor Fortress, the incomplete Zero-Tails construct, and Shinnosuke himself.

"Heh heh." Shinnosuke said nothing, dismissing Uchiha Ci's words as empty threats.

Seeking collection, seeking recommendations, seeking continued reading.

Bang bang bang!

Thank you, my adoptive fathers, for your monthly and recommendation tickets!