Desperate Situation

"Akai!"

As the flow of time returned to normal, Kitsuchi roared again, but the crimson mark on his neck became even more conspicuous with his roar.

At this moment, he realized what he had encountered. He quickly grabbed his neck and felt it carefully. However, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Uchiha Kei had become unprecedentedly vigilant!

Just in that instant, in his eyes, Uchiha Kei had suddenly erupted with incredible speed, even faster than when he first killed Ishiwo and when he first killed Genboku!

Kitsuchi couldn't understand why this brat suddenly possessed such speed, nor could he understand why he waited until his teammates were almost dead to use such power.

If he had used this power earlier, his teammates wouldn't have ended up so miserable.

However, whether he understood it or not, Kitsuchi knew that this brat had to be killed.

If Kitsuchi hadn't been sufficiently vigilant and taken a series of precautions to prevent this brat from playing tricks, he would probably have become another one of this brat's achievements!

"You're quite good, brat of the Uchiha clan." Kitsuchi released his hand from his neck. "Your speed is truly astonishing. Even Namikaze Minato would probably be at your level. But it's a pity you met me, and you don't have much ability to resist anymore, do you? If only you had used your abilities earlier..."

Uchiha Kei couldn't be bothered to reply to Kitsuchi. If Kakashi hadn't been beaten to the brink of death, Hyuga Aya hadn't been seriously injured, Kitsuchi hadn't always avoided his gaze, and Imai Kenta hadn't been able to pay attention to him, Uchiha Kei might not have used the power of the Mangekyo so quickly.

Although this power was strong, it felt somewhat 'non-renewable' at this stage. The most crucial point was that Uchiha Kei absolutely did not want anyone else to know he possessed this power!

Uchiha Kei knew all too well how much trouble a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan could bring. Looking at the current clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, who should also possess the Mangekyo, no one dared to use it at all.

Although his end was not good, it was his own choice. Compared to other users who wielded it recklessly, he was probably the most comfortable.

Uchiha Shisui had one eye gouged out, Uchiha Itachi bore immense guilt and almost couldn't clear his name, Uchiha Obito was a complete tragedy, and Uchiha Madara was played like a puppet, completely manipulated.

Although Uchiha Sasuke seemed fine, if it weren't for his inseparable bond with Uzumaki Naruto and Kakashi, the Sixth and Seventh Hokage, his actions alone would have been enough to get him killed countless times!

Uchiha Kei didn't have such bonds. While the future was uncertain, at least for now, he didn't have any!

Coupled with the current relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, he really couldn't take such a risk and ask for trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Kei staggered to his feet. His Chakra was almost depleted, but Kitsuchi clearly wouldn't let him go.

"Die! Brat of the Uchiha clan!"

As expected, Kitsuchi had no intention of wasting words. He clenched his fist, his entire body's Chakra erupting wildly, and then he pushed off the ground, leaving a trail of dust as he charged towards Uchiha Kei!

Uchiha Kei looked at this terrifying opponent. Although he could see the trajectory of his attack, it was tragic that Uchiha Kei now seemed unable to dodge such an attack.

The Consumption of the Mangekyo Sharingan was indeed too great, and coupled with Uchiha Kei having fought for so long, he really couldn't hold on!

"Damn it, where on earth is Namikaze Minato?"

Looking at the man before him, Uchiha Kei doubted for the first time if he had been deceived by the seemingly handsome, kind, and honest Namikaze Minato?

There was no time to think about such useless things. Uchiha Kei attempted to make a simple movement to avoid Kitsuchi's fist, but he found that at this moment, his collar was being grabbed.

Then, a force that wasn't weak but also not particularly strong, yanked the weakened Uchiha Kei away!

"Bang!"

The loud noise made Uchiha Kei's ears ache, and shattered stone fragments splashed around him.

The immense impact caught Uchiha Kei completely off guard. When he came to his senses, he found himself on the ground, then dragged backward for about ten meters.

This whole ordeal left Uchiha Kei's neck and back aching. He turned his head slightly and saw that it was Imai Kenta who had saved his life!

"You..." Uchiha Kei was incredulous.

"Shut up, how much time until Minato Jonin arrives? And can you move?" Imai Kenta didn't even look at Uchiha Kei, speaking rapidly as he stared ahead.

"I don't know how much time until he arrives, but I will need some time to recover."

"I can hold on for one minute. If you haven't recovered your basic combat strength after one minute, I'm running."

"Then you should run now."

Although Uchiha Kei was surprised, he quickly understood what this guy was thinking.

So this kid, like Uchiha Kei, was still hesitating about whether to take the most desperate step. But he had given Uchiha Kei far too little time. What could Uchiha Kei do in just one minute?

Even if he took the Akimichi Clan's special medicine to restore his Chakra, Uchiha Kei probably wouldn't be able to recover his basic combat strength within a minute.

Imai Kenta ignored Uchiha Kei's taunts and complaints. He gripped his short sword tightly, staring at the smoke ahead. If his hands weren't trembling, it might have looked better.

"He's coming!"

As Imai Kenta's words fell, Kitsuchi burst straight out of the smoke. As he charged, he formed hand seals. When he completed them, the ground where Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta stood began to tremble and split.

As the tremors grew more violent, Imai Kenta could barely stand. Uchiha Kei, who had just managed to get up, was once again thrown to the ground.

Off-balance, Uchiha Kei sat on the ground. He happened to see Kitsuchi, with incredibly subtle movements, bypass Imai Kenta. At the same time, he drew a Kunai with his left hand and thrust it towards Imai Kenta's chest.

And at the same moment, his right hand, infused with terrifying Chakra, slammed towards Uchiha Kei!

At this moment, Uchiha Kei felt utter despair. To survive, he completely disregarded his body's condition and forcefully activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, intending to stall.

However, Uchiha Kei's Chakra was truly insufficient. He now regretted not using it sooner. He could have just killed these damned Iwa Ninja first and then dealt with his teammate, right?

Watching Kitsuchi getting closer and closer, Uchiha Kei drew his Kunai. He seemed to recall the scene of his first time on the battlefield—just as helpless, just as fragile.

Frantically, he gripped the Kunai. Uchiha Kei tried to raise his hand, his eyes now filled with terror.

But just at this moment, when Uchiha Kei could feel the wind of the punch rushing towards his face, when Imai Kenta felt his chest about to be pierced.

Suddenly, Kitsuchi vanished.