Reliance

Outside the cabin.

In the distance.

In the woods.

The Masked Man stood on a branch with his arms folded, his eye peering through the hole in his mask as he watched the cabin. He sighed.

"Konoha's ninjas finally have some backbone. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be qualified to serve as pawns.

"Then I'll let you test him for me.

"What other trump cards does Uchiha Ingetsu have, with only twenty or thirty percent of his Mangekyo Chakra left?

"But this chanting is truly unbearable!"

An open area before the cabin door was lined with several torches.

In the night.

The firelight was dim.

Nonō crouched beside Tamao, releasing Medical Ninjutsu Chakra to treat the wounds covering his body.

Compared to Doctor Nak, Nonō had to endure the mental interference of the Buddhist chanting while treating him, yet she did not need to remove the bandages from his wounds.

Besides the three of them, only Izumi and Mikoto remained nearby.

The other Uchiha were not here.

When Ingetsu had suddenly decided to lead everyone back, none of them knew why.

But now they understood.

Ingetsu had wanted to return and lie in wait for this female Medical Ninja, but unfortunately, they had encountered Konoha's pursuit squad the moment they came back.

This encounter sent the Uchiha's fighting spirit soaring. Without waiting for Ingetsu to make a decision, they resolved to wipe out the Konoha squad pursuing them.

"There aren't many people in the Shinobi World capable of using Wind Release at this level..."

Nonō's beautiful eyes focused on Tamao's wounds. She was shocked by the power of the Wind Release that had caused them.

She was also shocked that Tamao had endured the continuous damage from the Wind Release without making a sound.

"How long will it take to heal him?"

Uchiha Nanpu asked impatiently.

Izumi and Mikoto stared at the monks on the roof, then at Ingetsu, who stood alone inside the cabin.

For some reason, as they listened to the solemn chanting, it felt as though something were tugging at their minds, stirring their thoughts into turmoil.

"For full-body Wind Release injuries like these, even if I treat him myself, it will take at least half an hour. To heal him within ten minutes, you'd have to invite the legendary Lady Tsunade."

Sweat beaded on Nonō's forehead as she resisted the chanting and continuously released Medical Ninjutsu Chakra.

Her original mission had been to intercept and kill someone here, so she had needed to conserve her strength beforehand.

But now, Nonō knew this fleeing group belonged to the Uchiha, one of Konoha's great clans. If she refused to save him, there would be no good outcome for her either way.

Besides.

That young Uchiha leading them had promised her something. It was worth trying to save him and settle this matter peacefully.

The person she was supposed to kill could still be entrusted to these Uchiha afterward. No matter how she considered it, she would not lose out.

As for why Nonō was not siding with Konoha's pursuing ninja squad, she had felt instinctive resistance and rejection toward them from the moment they met.

Not far away, Kurenai Yuhi stared at the scene inside and outside the cabin, her heart pounding as she clenched her fists.

If Ingetsu was defeated, she would act without hesitation and do her best to help him escape.

After that.

Kurenai Yuhi had not thought about what she would face, nor did she dare dwell on it, afraid that her resolve would waver.

Inside the cabin.

"Roar—"

A massive wolf resembling a Cerberus roared furiously, its claws slamming into the ground and shattering the floorboards into fragments.

Its powerful limbs exploded with force as its three gaping maws opened at once. It lunged at Ingetsu first, launching a biting ambush.

Ingetsu's Mangekyo captured the three-headed wolf's attack trajectory in advance. He darted to Yager's side, grabbed him, and retreated backward.

He evaded the attack.

Ingetsu threw the still-dazed Yager out through a side window, facing Asuma and the other three alone.

At the same time.

Around the cabin.

Six black figures sprang into the air, Three Tomoe glowing crimson in their eyes. They twisted through the air, gripping ninja blades as they slashed down at the monks chanting Buddhist scriptures on the roof.

They were the Uchiha lying in ambush nearby.

Amid the flashes of cold steel.

The monks' chanting did not stop.

The Temple of Fire's abbot, Jiriku, a stern-faced man with thick brows and glaring eyes, rose from among the monks. He raised his right hand and pressed down with his left, chanting softly.

"Raigō: Senju Satsu!"

In an instant, Chakra surged within Jiriku, transforming into Buddhist light that filled the sky. It enveloped the monks around him and condensed into the image of a compassionate Bodhisattva with its hands pressed together, seeming to offer salvation to all living beings.

For a moment, golden rays illuminated the entire area, making everything appear especially sacred.

The next instant.

Before the Uchiha's blades could strike the monks, countless arms suddenly emerged from the side of the Bodhisattva image. Their fists clenched and smashed toward the Uchiha.

In the Uchiha's Three Tomoe eyes, the Buddhist-light fists were packed so densely that even the Sharingan could not provide a correct path of evasion.

Bang! Bang! Bang—

The Buddhist fists rained down like a violent storm, muffled explosions ringing out. In an instant, each of the six men took hundreds of blows and was smashed to the ground like a kite with its string cut.

"Pfft—"

One Uchiha landed, planting his blade into the ground with one hand while clutching his chest with the other. He vomited blood, endured the pain, and looked toward his companions.

The others were badly injured as well.

Each of the six bore numerous fist marks. The areas struck were slightly sunken, their skin split open, and blood soaked their clothes.

Jiriku descended from the roof.

"Amitabha—benefactors, lay down your butcher's blades. We can perform rites for you after your passing."

Standing before the Uchiha, he chanted a Buddhist invocation. His face carried an imposing dignity without anger, and he had no intention of sparing these rogue ninja remnants.

The Buddhist chanting stopped.

The night sky regained its silence.

The remaining monks descended from the roof one after another, standing behind Jiriku with their heads lowered and hands pressed together.

Other than Jiriku, none of the monks dared look directly at the Uchiha. All of them stared cautiously at the ground as they closed in on them.

The six Uchiha faced a formidable enemy. They had underestimated the strength of this Konoha squad's reinforcements.

As the Buddhist chanting stopped.

Everyone's minds gradually returned to normal. Before Nonō, Izumi, Nanpu, Mikoto, and Kurenai Yuhi could breathe a sigh of relief.

The resounding Buddhist chants rang out around the mountain village once more, booming like great bells and filling heaven and earth, as though they would purify every sin in the world.

Everyone looked around.

From the dark depths of the forest.

Countless monks emerged one after another with their heads lowered, chanting Buddhist scriptures. Their scalps bore ordination scars, and they wore the uniform black-and-white robes of the Temple of Fire.

There were as many as one hundred seventy of them.

The chanting came from their mouths, surging endlessly like a great river.

Their voices contained Chakra that disturbed the mind. As the chanting multiplied, it became like demonic music to outsiders, piercing their eardrums.

"This... the entire Temple of Fire has mobilized!" Izumi cried, her eyes widening as she looked over the monks surrounding them. She covered her ears with both hands and shouted.

Mikoto's face turned pale. Her head felt as though it would split apart, and as she listened to the shrill, piercing chants, the urge to bury her head in the dirt surged wildly within her.

Under the deafening Buddhist chants.

"Ah, can someone help me beat them to death!"

Nonō could finally no longer focus enough to release Medical Ninjutsu. Gentle and kind as she was, she now wished she could stuff dirt into every one of these monks' mouths!

Kurenai Yuhi and the mother and son beside her were also tormented by the sound waves. Their heads spun, and they suffered miserably.

"You bald donkeys!!"

Tamao opened his mouth in agony, trying to use his own shout to resist the wailing in his ears, but his voice vanished without a trace.

He swore that if he could move, he would make these bastards taste his ninja shoes, which he had not washed in months!

Despair rose within the Uchiha.

There were simply too many enemies. The Temple of Fire's monks were famous throughout the Shinobi World, and their individual strength was no weaker than that of ninja. Their leader, Jiriku, was undoubtedly a Jonin.

Now that the entire Temple of Fire had mobilized, they would likely be buried here tonight.

Inside the cabin.

The candlelight was grim.

Asuma's lips curled upward as he looked coldly at Ingetsu.

This was his greatest reliance, the reason he had dared attack this Uchiha Rogue Ninja squad.

The expressions of the four remained unchanged, completely unaffected by the Buddhist chanting.

When they had met up with the reinforcements on their way here.

Jiriku had implanted Sealing Jutsu formulas into their bodies that made them immune to the chanting.

Tap—

Jiriku stepped over the threshold and entered the cabin, staring indifferently at the handsome young Uchiha before him.

"Amitabha!"

Now it was one against five!

Ingetsu's face was pale. The chanting outside continuously disrupted his mind, making it impossible for Yachihoko, with only thirty percent of its Yin Release Chakra remaining, to be used with focus.

If he had all ten layers of Yin Release Chakra.

This battle would have ended long ago.

Suppressing his thoughts, Ingetsu's lips curled up slightly as well. He used his will to resist the Buddhist chants tearing at his nerves.

Ingetsu turned over his right hand and took out a Red Pill the size of a longan, glowing as red as a fire pearl, from his Storage Space. He put it into his mouth and swallowed it directly.

This was the reliance he had at this moment!

It was also what had allowed him to easily destroy the Uchiha Police Force back then!

There had been three pills in total. Now, only one remained.

In the distant forest.

The Masked Man also endured the piercing chants. His pupils widened as he clearly saw Ingetsu swallow the pill. He narrowed his eye and reached a conclusion.

"So that's your final trump card?"

Inside the cabin.

Ingetsu's skin burned like fire, orange-red Cursed Seal patterns appearing over it. The patterns spread across his handsome face, looking exceptionally strange.

The life force within his body rapidly drained away, transforming into pure Chakra energy.

The cells in his body frantically divided and metabolized.

His spiritual power rose steadily.

His Mangekyo Yin Release Chakra gradually filled up, until his state was no longer affected by the Buddhist chanting in his ears. His gaze became calm and profound once more as he looked down on the five people before him.

The person who had given him the medicine had warned him.

This was a pill painstakingly developed by that lord, perfectly integrating the power of the Cursed Seal.

It could convert energy through the Cursed Seal, increasing the user's Chakra strength, Chakra recovery speed, spirit, and physical strength tenfold!

This state would last ten minutes, and the price was only one thing: overdrawing one's life.

There were three pills in total.

Each one consumed would cost one-third of the user's lifespan.

Once all three pills were consumed, the user would have no more than ten years left to live.

Ingetsu did not care.

As long as he escaped Konoha alive, there were plenty of ways in the Shinobi World to extend his life.

Sensing that something was wrong.

"Roar—"

The Inuzuka Clan Jonin and Yukimaru, fused into a three-headed wolf, launched another attack first.

Chakra surged.

It leaped into the air.

Its three giant maws, packed with fangs, opened at once and tore toward Ingetsu.

Ingetsu did not dodge. The Cursed Seal patterns on his skin vanished, merging with his body.

Holding the sword hilt in one hand, he sheathed his blade. Its gleam faded. He closed his eyes, stepped forward, and lowered his body.

Suddenly—

Draw the blade, focus on a single point, reach the pinnacle!!

A brilliant blade light, pure as moonlight, poured down like a galaxy from the heavens and cut through the center of the three-headed wolf's massive body. Its three gaping mouths abruptly froze.

The opponent... had only swung once!!

The left and right wolf heads watched with their own eyes as their body was cleanly displaced down the middle, the cut surface smooth. Until their thoughts sank into eternal darkness, their emotions remained forever trapped in fear.

Boom—

A mist of blood exploded.

PS: That's 5,000 words for today. There may be quite a few typos with each update; I'll review and revise them afterward.

Preview: Tomorrow will be a slaughter. Dear readers, please help click through to the latest chapter on Tuesday. My deepest thanks!