He Suddenly Attacked Me

Infiltrating the core territory of a clan was nearly impossible.

Especially during the Warring States period, when each clan's grip on their land was extraordinary—any unfamiliar face would immediately be shadowed by the Enforcement Team.

Unless there was a guide within the clan, someone with genuine high authority.

Only then could one move unhindered through the clan grounds, even approaching the clan's most vital facility: the Youth Academy.

Uchiha Atsushi, the Second Elder's trusted subordinate, had rendered many meritorious services for the clan.

Walking down the street, people would always greet him with smiles.

Who could have imagined that this renowned strongman had already fallen under enemy control?

A few days ago, while out on a mission, Uchiha Atsushi had carelessly fallen into a trap set by the enemy. Believing his life was over, he was surprised when they didn't kill him outright.

At first, Atsushi naively thought there was a chance—he could pay a ransom and regain his freedom.

It was only when he saw a familiar man appear in his line of sight that he understood the enemy's true intentions.

"Yamanaka Koji!!!"

No matter how desperately he struggled, he couldn't break free from the "Mind Body Switch Technique" the enemy had cast.

This secret technique was powerful—by releasing one's own spiritual energy, it seized and controlled the opponent's body.

Even Obito, with his Rinnegan, had been briefly manipulated by Yamanaka Ino, let alone Uchiha Atsushi, who was already under someone's control.

Within the soul world, Uchiha Atsushi screamed with all his might, howling in fury, trying to attract the attention of passersby.

If he could, he would have killed himself on the spot, but he had completely lost control of his body—even the simplest suicide was a luxury.

"Quick, someone notice me!"

He was terrified, because he knew he was about to commit a grave mistake.

In the clan-ruled Warring States period, if you asked what was most important, everyone would answer without hesitation: nurturing the next generation was the top priority for every clan.

The enemy's intent was clear—using his identity as cover, and taking advantage of the timing when most clan members had gone to welcome the heroes, they planned to carry out a genocidal hunt against the clan's future.

If the enemy succeeded, the Uchiha clan would suffer a devastating blow, losing their former dominance for the next twenty years.

He had to admit, the enemy's move was ruthless. Who would have thought that amidst such a celebratory atmosphere, a deadly killing intent was quietly spreading through the clan?

"Tch."

Sosuke shook his head with a light sigh and tossed his textbook aside.

To keep him from going to the battlefield, the Clan Head had simply thrown him back into the academy for a redo.

Of course, this time Sosuke wasn't a student—he was a specially invited lecturer, explaining the wonders of ninjutsu development to the children.

In many people's eyes, Uchiha Sosuke was a once-in-a-century genius ninja, highly creative, destined to become a pillar of the Uchiha clan.

Even the elders disagreed with sending him to the battlefield so soon.

To prove his strength, Sosuke had made up his mind to challenge a renowned strongman of the clan at an opportune moment.

If he could defeat them, it would prove he was capable of going to war.

Then Tajima and the others would have no reason to object.

Stretching hard, Sosuke decided to end today's lesson. As an adult in mind, he had no interest in wasting time with a bunch of brats all day.

Madara and Izuna were exceptions—strength was always the best way to earn respect.

"Maybe I should join the welcoming party?"

Smiling, he greeted Uchiha Atsushi as he entered the academy, but just as Sosuke was about to leave, he stopped and slowly turned to look at the unfamiliar faces.

With a guide, it wasn't strange to see strangers in the clan grounds—maybe they were clients, or new workers.

But they should never have appeared at the clan's academy.

Even the students' parents were forbidden from entering without permission.

As the Second Elder's trusted man, how could Uchiha Atsushi make such an obvious mistake?

"Hold on." Watching the group freeze in place, Sosuke frowned, his hand slowly moving toward the ninja tool pouch at his waist. "Mr. Atsushi, could you tell me—what are all these people doing at the academy?"

Right now, most of the clan had gone outside to welcome the heroes returning from the battlefield.

On the surface, the fighting force seemed undiminished, but in truth, the clan grounds' defenses were at an unprecedented low.

"Damn it, where did this brat come from?" Yamanaka Koji gritted his teeth, secretly making a gesture in the shadows.

They were only one step away from the academy—he couldn't let some kid ruin the plan.

Venturing deep into Uchiha territory for a genocidal operation, none of them expected to return alive.

It was foreseeable that once the plan succeeded, the enraged Uchiha would tear them to pieces.

Death didn't scare them, but the genocide plan had to succeed—not a single brat in the academy could be spared.

Including the one questioning them right now.

"Move!"

The moment the order was given, the figure at the back of the line raised a hand and hurled a kunai.

A surprise attack from such close range—no mere brat should be able to dodge it.

Yet reality defied the attacker's expectations. Not only did the youth dodge, he immediately raised his hand and fired a Great Fireball into the sky.

Boom!

The flame burst in midair, a flash and roar conspicuous enough to draw anyone's attention.

"They're definitely up to something." Sosuke drew his short blade, his gaze sweeping over the faces peeking out from inside the schoolhouse.

One minute—that was all it took for the main force to rush back from outside. But in that span, the enemy could slaughter the entire school to the last soul.

On his own, he could barely hold so many people back.

"Run!!! All of you!!!" Sosuke roared at the children.

At the same time, his hands formed seals, and the familiar screech of Chidori rang out across the area once more.

Watching the lightning in the youth's hand and those eerie pupils, Uchiha Atsushi—now possessed by an enemy—suddenly broke into a grin.

They said the Uchiha had produced a prodigy beyond compare. He'd thought he'd never get a chance to lay his hands on him. But heaven had shown mercy, delivering the main target of this mission right to his doorstep.

That lightning jutsu was formidable. Unfortunately, against a pack of killers who had already embraced death, it was useless.

And just as he predicted, when Sosuke charged forward with Chidori in hand, the enemy willingly opened his chest to meet him.

[System Notification: Successfully eliminated Naoki. Earned 140 points.]

The man was dead, sure. But in his final moment, he used every ounce of strength to lock Sosuke's arm inside his body.

Even a single second's delay was enough for two enemies to close in on him.

"Die, brat!!!" The man grinned savagely as he swung down his blade.

"You're the one who should die." Sosuke's eyes narrowed to slits, and dazzling arcs of lightning suddenly burst forth around him.

Chidori Stream!