Genjutsu

Uchiha Kei, fully focused, reacted the instant Hunt appeared. In the past, he would never have taken such a risk.

Uchiha Kei was completely different now. Though he still disliked doing dangerous things, he knew that unless he showed this guy named Hunt an opening, he wouldn't come out.

Not all Iwa Ninja were physically powerful, skilled in Earth Style, and fond of meeting their opponents head-on.

Some preferred to exploit the properties of Earth Style to launch all kinds of ambushes and deliver lethal blows.

A ninja was a tool skilled in concealment. That was a wartime principle of the Ninja, and Uchiha Kei remembered it clearly.

Hunt was obviously that kind of person. He was fast, his movements were silent, and his bloodline was terrifying. He was practically a venomous snake.

The moment Hunt attacked, Uchiha Kei activated the Substitution Technique. His Sharingan had been watching everything around him the entire time.

He might have looked relaxed, but he wasn't actually letting his guard down. Only a fool—or someone tired of living—would do that!

Hunt was clearly experienced, too. When his fist struck "Uchiha Kei" and he realized it didn't feel right, he immediately kicked the tree trunk with all his strength.

Using the trunk's recoil and the enormous explosion caused by his punch, he quickly escaped the spot.

And shortly after he had left, several Kunai flew out of the smoke and landed where he had been standing.

Uchiha Kei wasn't going to let him hide again. If they simply let Hunt stall for time, Uchiha Kei and the others were doomed!

The front line was helping them, but who knew how long they could hold out? Besides, Uchiha Kei and his team had already spent quite a while fighting their way here.

If a single "venomous snake" held them up, or if Imai Kenta, that idiot, happened to get ambushed while Uchiha Kei and Namikaze Minato couldn't get away—

Then they really would be finished!

After all, even if the troops from the main battlefield couldn't return right away, Kitsuchi was still behind them.

Hunt clearly meant to stall them, but without him noticing, Uchiha Kei had already made his way behind him.

The Akimichi Clan's medicine had temporarily replenished his chakra, and he didn't hesitate to channel it into his Ninja Sword!

A faint blue glow appeared along the silver blade. Without hesitation, Uchiha Kei swung at Hunt, his Sharingan fixed intently on him.

He had let Hunt escape once already. He wasn't about to let it happen again!

"Got you!"

Sure enough, faced with Uchiha Kei's slash, Hunt chose to dodge rather than meet it head-on. His strategy was probably to hold these Konoha Ninja back!

But this time, he never expected that after Uchiha Kei's blade cut through his Substitution Technique, he would suddenly twist his Ninja Sword and slash at him again from an unthinkable angle!

Sensing the overwhelming danger, Hunt knew he couldn't dodge. He leapt backward without hesitation, remembering to throw several Kunai at Uchiha Kei as he did.

The Kunai weren't dangerous on their own, but if Uchiha Kei ignored them, he might still get hurt.

Uchiha Kei knocked the Kunai aside with a few casual slashes and immediately gave chase. But he had already lost his best chance to kill Hunt; the man had landed steadily on the ground.

Seeing this, Uchiha Kei stopped for the moment, though his eyes remained fixed on Hunt.

"Not bad," Hunt chuckled. "I heard you fought Kitsuchi. You're still alive? Impressive."

"Yeah, it was pretty dangerous." Uchiha Kei laughed as if he didn't care. "That's why I said you'd be much easier to deal with than him. You're just a coward, while he's a real warrior."

"Hmph. A cheap provocation." Hunt smiled disdainfully, but didn't hide again. "I've always wondered how powerful the legendary Sharingan really is. Let's see what you can do. I want to know how you fought Kitsuchi."

"As it turns out, it wasn't a cheap provocation." Uchiha Kei wasn't going to let this opportunity pass, but his chakra was already gathering.

Neither of them said another word. For a moment, silence fell between them.

But it didn't last long. In an instant, Uchiha Kei drew his Ninja Sword again.

Chakra surged beneath his feet as he lunged forward in a swift thrust. The chakra-charged blade flashed in the sunlight like Flowing Light.

Hunt was a skilled fighter in Iwa's Demolition Unit. With a sidestep, he avoided Uchiha Kei's thrust, then even found time to strike him with an elbow.

Uchiha Kei quickly stepped to the side, dodging the blow as he swung his Ninja Sword hard behind him.

Hunt was incredibly fast. He twisted aside to evade Uchiha Kei's blade, and at the same time, an unusual light appeared once more in his right hand.

The strange light made Uchiha Kei furrow his brow. He had seen this power before; he couldn't forget that violent explosion.

This power also seemed familiar. He thought he had seen it in the Original work, but couldn't remember exactly where.

But he couldn't exactly flip through his notes in the middle of a fight. Besides, he hadn't brought them with him.

Uchiha Kei thought the most likely explanation was that this guy had only been a minor character in the Original work. But even a minor character was no pushover, and for Uchiha Kei right now, Hunt was still dangerous.

Uchiha Kei figured that punch could blow an opponent apart!

"Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!"

"Explosion Release?"

Uchiha Kei frowned slightly. He seemed to remember this bloodline; it was something like Deidara's.

But he didn't dwell on it. More importantly, this was a perfect opportunity!

With the Sharingan, Uchiha Kei could find an opening whenever his opponent attacked.

Unless the other person was far stronger than Uchiha Kei. Against someone like Kitsuchi, for example, Uchiha Kei had been completely helpless.

But Hunt wasn't in that league. Though the technique made Uchiha Kei feel threatened, he wasn't about to miss this chance!

After only a moment's thought, Uchiha Kei had made up his mind. Hunt didn't fight as cautiously as Kitsuchi, and he hadn't avoided Uchiha Kei's gaze.

"In that case, Genjutsu: Sharingan!"