Uchiha Shisui

The instant he saw the Sharingan, the Chakra and Spirit Power within Yoru violently collided.

The look in his eyes did not so much as waver. Shunpo burst forth beneath his feet, and his figure vanished in an instant.

"How is that possible?!"

At the sight of this, Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan abruptly contracted.

Even Shinnosuke and Fugaku, who were currently in the camp, might not have been able to break his Sharingan genjutsu in an instant like that.

Just who was this guy...?

"Don't think you can run!"

The shock in Shisui's eyes vanished in a flash. His figure disappeared as well, chasing after Yoru's presence.

At the same time, Yurui and the others outside Souta Village also noticed the commotion within. The violent explosions and the uproar of ninja could be heard clearly even from over a dozen miles away.

"It's completely fallen into chaos already!"

"As expected of Lord Yoru! Hey, Mangetsu, get ready to move!"

Ringo Yurui placed a hand on the longsword at her waist, excitement flashing in her eyes as she charged toward the village ahead.

Hozuki Mangetsu formed hand seals, and the surrounding mist seemed to grow several degrees thicker. His figure was completely swallowed by the dense fog.

With the leaders of the two squads already on the move, the remaining Kirigakure ANBU did not hesitate in the slightest. They all used the Body Flicker Technique and followed after Ringo Yurui and Hozuki Mangetsu.

Meanwhile, Fuyuna Yukiko and Uzumaki Yumi's squad remained behind to begin planning their escape route...

Bang!

"Don't think you can run!"

Yoru's speed was beyond question. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived outside Souta Village.

But in the next instant, a black shadow that nearly blended into the wind suddenly appeared. A sharp blade in its hand slashed toward Yoru's neck from an extremely tricky angle just as he landed.

Yoru raised his hand, and the Asauchi in his grip precisely blocked the attacker's strike as he landed steadily on the ground.

[An A-rank target, "Uchiha Shisui," has been detected. Side quests triggered:]

[Quest 1: Successfully subdue Uchiha Shisui. Reward: 10,000 Points.]

[Quest 2: Successfully defeat Uchiha Shisui. Reward: 5,000 Points.]

[Quest 3: Successfully kill Uchiha Shisui. Reward: 50,000 Points.]

"So it's the genius youth of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Shisui. No wonder he possessed a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and such outstanding Body Flicker Technique at such a young age."

Listening to the system prompt in his mind and looking at his opponent's blood-red eyes and face—about his own age, though slightly more resolute—Yoru's movements paused slightly.

The voice coming from the Kirigakure assassination force's mask sounded very young, causing Shisui to frown deeply.

Although the war between Konohagakure and Kirigakure had yet to fully erupt, the constant clashes and friction at the front lines had already made it clear what would happen next. Because of that, they had gathered considerable intelligence on Kirigakure's powerful figures, yet there was no information on the person before him.

This man had silently evaded the Byakugan and the patrol squad's detection to infiltrate the village, caused such a disturbance, instantly broken his genjutsu, and possessed a Body Flicker Technique that matched his own...

"So Kirigakure has a hidden expert like this as well."

Uchiha Shisui gripped the hilt of his specially made ANBU ninja blade.

He had to keep this man here. He absolutely could not let the tiger return to the mountain!

Whoosh!

Screech!

Uchiha Shisui's figure vanished in an instant. A cold gleam spread across his sharp short blade as it slashed toward Yoru's face.

Yoru raised his blade to block the attack, but at the instant their weapons collided, the Uchiha genius formed a hand seal with one hand, holding the Tiger sign before his mouth.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"

Using the recoil from the clash of their blades, Shisui leaped backward. A blazing fireball erupted almost against Yoru's body, intending to swallow him whole.

Yoru did not panic. A circular protective shield suddenly appeared over the back of the hand gripping his Asauchi, forcibly blocking the roaring fireball.

With a backhand slash, sword energy split the fireball apart.

Yoru's free left hand clenched at empty air as the Spirit Power within him surged forth once more.

"Bakudo #39: Circular Gate Shield!"

"Bakudo #30: Beak-Piercing Triple Beam!"

Three enormous beak-shaped beams of light condensed out of thin air. Before Shisui's stunned eyes, they pinned his hands and waist to the wall.

"What?!"

Shisui was greatly startled. As he struggled, he instinctively looked at Yoru before him.

But Yoru suddenly vanished from his sight.

What incredible speed!

His speed was so fast that even Shisui's Three-Tomoe Sharingan could not react in time, unable to track him.

By the time Yoru's figure reappeared in Uchiha Shisui's pupils, the cold gleam refracted from the Asauchi beneath the sunlight made his hair stand on end!

"Splurt!"

The Asauchi instantly pierced Shisui's throat, directly severing his head from his body.

Yet the expected spray of blood did not burst forth. The headless Shisui bound by Three-Pronged Beak suddenly turned into a phantom and vanished.

The sound of something tearing through the air came from behind him, but in the next instant, a circular protective shield appeared again, forcibly blocking the three blades aimed at Yoru's nape, back, and waist.

"Shadow Clones?"

Yoru turned to look at the three Uchiha Shisuis before him, his brow slightly furrowed. "No, that's not right. Is this that so-called Body Flicker Technique?"

The Body Flicker Technique was a unique ocular technique possessed by Uchiha Shisui.

By using special hand seals in conjunction with the Sharingan's power, he could create multiple phantoms. The phantoms attacked alongside Shisui's true body, and they would not disappear even after being struck. It was an extremely unusual ocular clone technique!

Interesting. As expected of the Uchiha Clan's most talented youth at present.

He just did not know whether he had awakened those eyes yet...

Beneath the pale mask, Yoru narrowed his eyes.

If Shisui had already awakened the Mangekyo at this point, then Yoru could not afford to engage him carelessly.

Against ordinary genjutsu, Yoru could dispel it through the collision between the Chakra and Spirit Power within his body.

But against Kotoamatsukami, hailed as the strongest genjutsu, Yoru truly had no good solution for it at present.

But if he had not awakened the Mangekyo yet...

Just as Yoru looked at Shisui, Shisui on the other side was also studying Yoru with a grave expression.

"This guy's techniques are so strange. Those unusual seals and barriers... are they secret techniques?"

"Brand-new secret techniques I've never seen before. It seems Kirigakure has made quite a few preparations for this war!"

Their gazes seemed to meet in midair through their masks.

Both pairs of eyes revealed almost identical thoughts.

Leave him here!

The two moved at once, their speed reaching a level beyond ordinary humans, leaving behind streaks of afterimages in the air.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The clashes between the ninja blades and the Asauchi rang out without end, sparks flying.

But before long, Shisui, locked in fierce combat, felt both hands gripping his blade begin to go numb. He was starting to struggle to hold his ground.

This guy's swordsmanship and close-combat ability were ridiculously strong!

After one heavy clash, Shisui had no choice but to pull back. At the same time, he shifted from holding his blade with both hands to one, his hand seals changing as his cheeks swelled. A fire dragon roared out from his mouth and charged toward Yoru!

"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"

"Hado #54: Wasted Flame!"