Seizing Eyes

A disk-shaped flame flew from Yoru's palm and collided fiercely with the fire dragon, triggering a violent explosion.

Yoru used Shunpo to close in. Although the Asauchi in his hand was blocked once more by Shisui's ninja blade, Yoru still seized the opening created by the parry. With a knee strike, he sent Uchiha Shisui flying viciously.

"Bakudo #61: Six Rods Light Prison!"

Before the kicked-away Shisui could make another move, Yoru clenched his right hand in midair. Six beams of light came from every direction, instantly sealing off his movements.

"What kind of technique is this?!"

Shisui's expression changed drastically. He instinctively tried to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape, but the pillars of light around him were like shackles, locking him firmly in place.

At the same time, Yoru gave him little chance to struggle.

Shunpo erupted. In the blink of an eye, Yoru appeared above Shisui, both hands reaching directly for Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

"Your Sharingan is mine!"

"Splurt!"

Blood sprayed from Uchiha Shisui's eye socket.

Intense pain surged through him. Uchiha Shisui let out a muffled groan as despair suddenly welled up in his heart.

He should never have taken the initiative to provoke this guy. This was simply not an opponent he could handle!

One Sharingan was already in hand. Yet just as Yoru was about to take the second, a sharp shout suddenly rang out.

"Stop! You Mist ninja bastard!"

"Earth Release: Rising Spear!"

"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"

The earth beneath Yoru's feet rumbled as the ground churned. A cage formed from countless earthen pillars instantly enclosed Shisui, while several incomparably sharp stone spears shot toward Yoru's body.

The Rock Pillar Prison, originally meant to restrain and bind enemies, was instead used as protection, while the Rising Spear was unleashed to attack Yoru.

To cast two A-rank ninjutsu in rapid succession within mere moments, the newcomer's mastery of Earth Release and grasp of timing had clearly reached an exquisite level!

Naturally, Yoru would not stand there as a target, but neither was he foolish enough to abandon prey already in his grasp.

"Hado #32: Yellow Fire Flash!"

Shunpo burst forth, and Yoru instantly pulled away, evading the incoming Rising Spears.

At the same time, yellow light flashed from the Asauchi in his hand, and a flame shot toward Shisui at incredible speed!

Yellow Fire Flash was one of the few speed-type Kido, its specialty being sudden bursts of speed. Not to mention that Shisui was currently tightly bound by the Rock Pillar Prison.

Boom!!

In an instant, the flames struck Shisui, completely engulfing him in scorching heat.

"Shisui!"

"Wind Release: Wild Dance of Air Currents!"

A fierce gale swept through, forcibly dispersing the flames around Shisui. However, the Uchiha Clan's genius youth was already covered in burns, barely clinging to life.

[ Ding! Successfully completed A-rank target "Uchiha Shisui" mission (2): Defeat Uchiha Shisui. Reward: 5000 Points. ]

[ A-rank target "Sarutobi Shinnosuke" detected. Side missions triggered: ]

[ Mission (1): Successfully subdue Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 10000 Points. ]

[ Mission (2): Successfully defeat Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 5000 Points. ]

[ Mission (3): Successfully kill Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Reward: 50000 Points. ]

"Shisui!"

"Lord Shinnosuke... don't let this guy get away..."

"Don't speak. You'll be fine."

After stuffing a Military Ration Pill into Shisui's mouth, Sarutobi Shinnosuke turned around and fixed a grave gaze on Yoru.

No one knew better than him how strong Uchiha Shisui was, yet he had not even lasted a few moves against this opponent.

And that technique just now...

"A special secret technique of Kirigakure?"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression was extremely solemn.

Since the war against Kirigakure began, their frontline forces had repeatedly defeated the troops led by Kirigakure's genius, Karatachi Yagura. Coupled with the gradual stabilization of the wind, lightning, and earth battlefields, Konohagakure's ninja had even begun to believe that they had already won this war.

Now, it seemed they had underestimated Kirigakure until the very end!

Then again, it was Kirigakure, a village famed alongside Konohagakure. In an environment as terrifying and suffocating as the Village Hidden in the Mist, it did not seem strange for any kind of monster to emerge.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke kept his gaze firmly locked on Yoru, while his hands never stopped moving.

In an instant, Yoru felt the ground beneath his feet soften. Startled, he immediately prepared to use Shunpo to leave.

But at that very moment, the sky above suddenly trembled. A massive amount of clay rained down from above, having actually predicted where Yoru would dodge.

Yoru raised a brow, and Shunpo erupted beneath his feet once more.

Before he could land again, the ground before him began surging like a raging river!

Clearly, during Yoru and Shisui's brief clash just now, Sarutobi Shinnosuke had realized that Yoru's taijutsu and swordsmanship were exceptionally formidable. Even Uchiha Shisui, who had mastered Uchiha Style combat techniques, had been completely suppressed by Yoru.

Thus, Sarutobi Shinnosuke simply abandoned the idea of close-quarters combat and switched straight into ninjutsu artillery mode!

No matter how fast Yoru's Shunpo was, he found it rather troublesome when faced with Earth Release attacks that nearly covered the entire battlefield.

Still, he had completed at least one mission and even gained a Sharingan. Continuing to tangle with them would undoubtedly be unwise.

Chaotic sounds of battle still occasionally rang out from Souta Village. Yurui and Mangetsu were clearly in action, but Yoru also knew that with their strength, it was impossible for them to truly inflict devastating damage upon the Konohagakure camp.

If this continued, casualties were very likely to occur.

And once Konohagakure's stronger fighters came to their senses, things would truly become troublesome.

Yoru did not know whether Uchiha Shisui had awakened the Mangekyo yet, but the Uchiha inside Souta Village had definitely already awakened it!

"That's about enough..."

His Shunpo flickered as he continuously dodged the incoming rocks and mud. Yoru took a Signal Flare from his robes and launched it into the sky, murmuring at the same time.

"Rulers of the heavens! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, you who bear the name of Man! Upon the wall of blue fire, inscribe twin lotuses..."

The low chant made Sarutobi Shinnosuke somewhat uneasy. Though his Earth Release was fierce, he had no way of dealing with Yoru while his Shunpo was pushed to its limit. He could only increase the output of his Earth Release, hoping to restrain Yoru through sheer volume.

"Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Sarutobi Hiruzen's son. Until next time."

"Not good!"

The indifferent voice emerged from beneath the pale mask. The scorching presence and energy fluctuations continuously gathering around him made Sarutobi Shinnosuke's pupils suddenly contract. He fiercely slapped both hands onto the ground.

"Hado #73: Twin Lotus Sokatsui!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

An enormous amount of Chakra poured into the ground, and the earth before him abruptly rose into a massive earthen wall, as thick and solid as a fortress rampart.

But in the next instant, an explosive sound erupted from the wall. The entire rampart seemed to have been struck head-on by an incomparably terrifying force, violently bursting apart.

Waves of flame surged outward like ripples. Scalding heat and thick smoke shot into the sky as the heavy rampart was utterly destroyed by the eruption of energy. Even though Sarutobi Shinnosuke reacted quickly enough to create another Earth Style Wall, the situation remained equally dire.

The Earth Style Wall before him collapsed in shattered pieces, revealing Sarutobi Shinnosuke behind it, gasping for breath with his Chakra severely depleted.

"A technique of this level... what kind of monster is that guy..."

"Right, Shisui!"