The Sharingan's Genjutsu was different from other Genjutsu. It was an ability inherent in the eyes themselves; there was no need for Hand Seals. All you had to do was meet your opponent's gaze!
In the Original work, only two people had brought this ability close to its absolute limit: Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Itachi.
There was no need to say much about Uchiha Itachi. His mastery of Genjutsu was probably even more terrifying than Uchiha Shisui's, whose Mangekyo Sharingan possessed the ability known as Kotoamatsukami!
As for Uchiha Madara, he had brought the Sharingan's effects to their absolute limit. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, when he fought the Shinobi Alliance alone, he used nothing but Taijutsu and his Sharingan to leave the Alliance completely helpless. Anyone who met his gaze could barely move, and he slaughtered them like chickens!
Uchiha Kei wasn't on their level, but his Genjutsu was still no joke.
His chakra surged, and Uchiha Kei unleashed his Genjutsu to its fullest. Just as Shū was about to strike him, Shū suddenly faltered for a fatal instant!
Uchiha Kei didn't let the opportunity slip by. He clamped down with his left arm, just as Uchiha Itachi had stopped Sasuke's Chidori, and firmly seized Shū's chakra-charged hand.
Then Uchiha Kei yanked his arm down toward the ground. At the same time, Uchiha Kei's Ninja Sword came slashing toward Shū's head!
At this moment of extreme peril, Shū showed the composure expected of a powerful ninja. He snapped back to his senses in an instant.
His right hand was caught, and his attack had been redirected, but he still had his left hand!
In almost no time at all, his left hand blazed with terrifying chakra. He recklessly swung it toward Uchiha Kei's chest.
One thing was common to the ninja profession—or, for that matter, to all human beings: when driven into a corner, they chose to trade their lives for their opponent's.
Uchiha Kei realized what the man was planning. His sheer audacity left Uchiha Kei no choice but to release his grip and leap backward.
Uchiha Kei valued his life dearly. He didn't want to—and wouldn't—throw it away when he was so close to making it home.
But Uchiha Kei wasn't exactly easygoing, either. Though forced to pull back, he twisted his blade in that same instant.
His chakra-infused Ninja Sword slashed straight at Shū's outstretched left hand. But after cutting into it, Uchiha Kei quickly retreated and let go of his sword.
That bastard had deliberately offered up his left hand—and it was charged with his Explosion Release!
"Boom!"
The tremendous blast made Uchiha Kei's ears ring. Dust filled the air and Crushed Stone flew everywhere, so he had no choice but to put more distance between them.
Just then, Uchiha Kei saw Shū get to his feet and stagger away, running as fast as he could.
Trying to run?
Uchiha Kei gave a cold laugh, pulled out a Kunai, and chased after him. The smoke might as well have been invisible to Uchiha Kei.
His eyes could clearly see Shū's chakra. He could even make out the man's slightest movements.
Shū was in terrible shape. He had to admit that he'd underestimated the Uchiha Clan—or, more precisely, the power of the Sharingan.
The Uchiha Kei in front of him was young, no more than thirteen or fourteen, but the strength of his Sharingan was enough to make Shū's scalp prickle.
He had heard that you shouldn't look a Uchiha in the eyes when fighting one. He'd also heard that this kid's Sharingan was powerful—apparently, it had reached the Three Tomoe stage.
But until he'd seen it with his own eyes, he hadn't taken the rumors seriously. He'd fought Uchiha before and had dealt with members who had awakened their Sharingan as well as those who hadn't.
He'd always thought the Uchiha Clan was overrated. Still, he hadn't been careless. He'd fought according to his own plan and controlled the pace of the battle himself.
He had also deliberately avoided Uchiha Kei's eyes whenever he could. But he'd never imagined that, just as he seized his chance to attack the Uchiha brat, he would give the brat an opening in return.
There had been no warning at all, no unusual fluctuation in chakra. He'd simply fallen under a Genjutsu!
Even though the Genjutsu had affected him for less than a second, that brief moment had put him in grave danger.
He'd made his decision the instant he came to, but the Sharingan had still seen through his movements!
By trading blows at the cost of his own life, Shū had saved himself—but he had lost his left hand.
As he tried to stop the bleeding, Shū thought about how to deal with the brat. If he didn't staunch the wound, he would bleed to death. But if he didn't stop the brat, their troubles would only get worse.
"Damn it! That fast?"
Just then, Shū sensed a terrifying presence appear behind him.
But Shū seemed sluggish now. Before he could react, a Kunai plunged into his back and pierced his heart!
Shū's face turned deathly pale. Then he slowly fell to the ground, looking as though he were well and truly dead.
Uchiha Kei stood behind him and tilted his head. A hint of mockery seemed to cross his face.
"Is that all you've got? You're nowhere near Kitsuchi's level." Uchiha Kei's voice sounded flippant, but more than anything, he seemed relieved.
But at that moment, a figure suddenly burst out, chakra blazing around his hand as he swung it fiercely at Uchiha Kei!
"What?"
Uchiha Kei looked startled, as if he hadn't expected anything like this to happen!
Shū didn't say a word. He had poured all his chakra into a terrifying technique.
Uchiha Kei seemed frozen in place, making no attempt to dodge. The look of fear immediately put Shū on high alert. Sure enough, when his fist struck Uchiha Kei, the strange sensation told him it was a clone!
But Shū didn't give up. He forcibly twisted around, chakra still gathering in his right hand, and threw another punch.
This time, though, he couldn't reach Uchiha Kei. After turning so sharply, with blood still pouring from his severed left hand, managing a punch like that was already incredible!
Half a meter. Thirty centimeters. Ten centimeters. Just as his fist was about to connect with Uchiha Kei, Uchiha Kei made a subtle twist—and his Kunai sank into Shū's chest!
The Kunai, barely ten centimeters long, pierced diagonally into Shū's right chest. Uchiha Kei put all his strength into it. Its sharp point snapped one of Shū's ribs, and everything but the handle disappeared into his chest.
Blood poured from the wound, dripping onto the ground and soaking the nearby soil.
"You really thought I couldn't see what you were doing? Nothing can hide from these eyes."
Uchiha Kei's voice was ice-cold. His blood-red eyes stared straight at Shū as he viciously twisted the Kunai in his hand.
In an instant, a piercing scream rang out across the wilderness!
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