Sharingan Evolution: Two-Tomoe

There was no doubt that Kitahara Kaede's displayed strength had nearly scared him to death.

Earlier, he had thought this would be an easy mission. Kaede was merely an ordinary Chunin, while he himself had long since reached the level of a Tokubetsu Jonin, only a step away from becoming a true Jonin.

But once they actually fought, he realized things were completely different. Kitahara Kaede's strength was at least at the level of a Tokubetsu Jonin.

Lord Danzo had been right. There really was something wrong with this kid. He was no ordinary Chunin.

He really might be a spy from another village.

This series of exchanges sounded lengthy, but in truth, it had taken only a brief moment.

Before the Monkey Mask Ninja could even breathe a slight sigh of relief, Kitahara Kaede charged straight at him. Almost the instant the Monkey Mask Ninja retreated, Kaede had already followed, their movements nearly simultaneous.

How is that possible?!

The Monkey Mask Ninja was still shocked that Kitahara Kaede's strength far exceeded the intelligence reports, yet Kaede had already driven him into a corner.

Clang!

In almost an instant, the Monkey Mask Ninja drew the Shuriken he carried and immediately clashed with Kitahara Kaede in taijutsu.

Damn it, how did this happen?!

The Monkey Mask Ninja quickly realized that he was completely at a disadvantage in his taijutsu exchange with Kitahara Kaede. Although he had received excellent taijutsu training, Kaede's taijutsu was rather mediocre, clearly showing that he lacked resources for taijutsu practice.

Yet Kaede was able to suppress the Monkey Mask Ninja despite his inferior taijutsu skills. It was not merely because Kaede's physical condition had already surpassed his, causing his arms to go numb with every collision.

More importantly, he felt that Kitahara Kaede could see through all of his movements. Even if he merely shifted his shoulder, Kaede immediately sensed what he intended to do. Such insight was simply terrifying.

Even experienced old ninjas normally could not achieve such a level.

What was going on with Kitahara Kaede? Why was he so strange?

Lord Danzo's suspicions were correct. Kitahara Kaede really was peculiar. There really was something wrong with him.

Although Kitahara Kaede's taijutsu was inferior to the Monkey Mask Ninja's, his insight far surpassed his opponent's. Every time, he could discern the other man's intentions and completely suppress him.

Meanwhile, as Kitahara Kaede pressed the Monkey Mask Ninja, Soten Genryu and Hyuga Keiko nearby had fallen into a bitter struggle. Their strength was far inferior to those two experienced Root ninjas.

Kaede also had to occasionally fire Darts or throw Kunai to ease their pressure.

At that moment, Kitahara Kaede finally realized his own weakness. Whether it was Genjutsu, taijutsu, or ninjutsu, he lacked a decisive finishing move.

Right now, he firmly suppressed his opponent through his physical attributes and the combat power granted by the Sharingan. Given enough time, killing his opponent was inevitable.

But his two teammates did not have that much time. He had to find a way to kill the Monkey Mask Ninja first as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, Kitahara Kaede felt some sort of change occur in his eyes. A cool current flowed into them.

In that instant, he clearly felt his Dojutsu Power rise enormously.

Had his Sharingan evolved?

Had it evolved into a Two-Tomoe Sharingan?

Kitahara Kaede had not expected his Sharingan to evolve again after such a short time.

In his anxiety, the fluctuations of his emotions had driven the Sharingan to complete its second evolution.

At that moment, the Monkey Mask Ninja facing him immediately sensed the change in Kitahara Kaede. His attack speed grew faster, and his insight became sharper.

Kitahara Kaede stayed almost flush against him in close combat, leaving him no chance to form hand seals. He knew far more ninjutsu than Kaede, yet he had been forced into a position where he had no room to use any of it.

Kitahara Kaede gave him no possibility whatsoever of forming hand seals.

Just as he anxiously tried to break away from Kitahara Kaede and use ninjutsu, his movements suddenly slowed. Though he recovered almost immediately, it had still happened.

This is Genjutsu!

He instantly realized that he had fallen under Genjutsu.

There were many kinds of Genjutsu. Many Genjutsu used in battle could disrupt an opponent's movements. Even if it lasted only an instant, a momentary delay could be fatal for a ninja.

For example, right now, Kitahara Kaede's Shuriken plunged directly into his throat.

The Monkey Mask Ninja had been completely right. He really had fallen under Genjutsu just now.

Kitahara Kaede had only just evolved his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and had not yet developed any corresponding Sharingan Genjutsu. However, using the Hypnosis Eye to cast a minor illusion and disrupt his movements required no study at all. It was nearly instinctive.

That instant of slowed movement had finally allowed Kitahara Kaede to find an opening.

After dealing with the Monkey Mask Ninja, Kitahara Kaede did not pause for even a moment before heading toward the battlefield of the Eagle Mask Ninja and Soten Genryu. After only a brief exchange, Soten Genryu had already been injured and was desperately dodging his opponent's attacks.

Although Hyuga Keiko had also fallen into a disadvantage, she could barely hold on through the Byakugan's powers of observation.

Kitahara Kaede instantly threw a Dart to force the Eagle Mask Ninja out of the fight. Seizing that moment, he had already arrived in front of him.

Kitahara Kaede's Sharingan emitted an eerie glow and instantly dragged his opponent into Genjutsu.

The Monkey Mask Ninja had at least been comparable to an ordinary Jonin, so Kitahara Kaede could only control him for an instant. But this Eagle Mask Ninja was merely an Elite Chunin. The difference in strength was far too great.

Before he could even awaken, Kitahara Kaede slit his throat with a Shuriken.

Only when blood sprayed out did he snap out of the Genjutsu, but it was already too late.

"Are you all right?" Kitahara Kaede asked.

"I'm fine. Hurry and help Keiko," Soten Genryu said.

"Mm!"

Kitahara Kaede nodded and charged straight toward the Fox Mask Ninja.

By then, Kitahara Kaede's consecutive killings of two people had already drawn the Fox Mask Ninja's attention, and he was terrified out of his wits.

He had never imagined that a simple mission to hunt down a ninja would end with the danger of their entire force being wiped out.

Almost immediately, he turned to flee.

Don't even think of running away—Eight Trigrams Palms!

Hyuga Keiko had finally received Kitahara Kaede's support and could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

But she immediately stepped forward and blocked the Fox Mask Ninja's escape route.

The Fox Mask Ninja was forced directly back, and he growled in a low voice, "You dare kill Root members? Lord Danzo will never let you get away with this!"