Some of those present saw their pupils contract, while others sucked in a sharp breath. Those familiar with their presence froze all over, even breathing with utmost caution—
The newcomers were none other than Uchiha Genki, who had just crossed two parallel universes, his hands stained with blood, and Indra, who had once stirred up turmoil throughout the Shinobi World.
Indra lowered his eyes and surveyed the wreckage on the battlefield: shattered ninja tools, congealed bloodstains, and figures trying to look calm but unable to conceal their panic. The corner of his mouth lifted in a mocking curve. His voice was cool, carrying the detached air of someone who had seen it all, as he slowly remarked, "You really do take this seriously."
He paused. A trace of barely concealed scorn flickered in his eyes, and his tone was full of disdain. "Just like in my world. A bunch of cowards, hiding away and watching from a distance, waiting to reap the rewards. What a joke."
Beside him, Uchiha Genki paid no mind to the onlookers lurking in the shadows. His gaze was empty, yet filled with an unyielding obsession, and his fingers absently brushed the corner of his eye—
The reddish patterns left behind after massacring two parallel universes had yet to fade completely. His voice was terrifyingly calm, as if he were recounting some trivial matter unrelated to himself, yet it concealed a bone-chilling coldness. "They're just waiting to reap the rewards."
He raised his eyes slightly, a trace of icy ferocity flashing in them. "Too bad they've forgotten one thing: if you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet."
No one could have known that this seemingly calm young man had been on the verge of madness not long ago—after razing