"Crack!" With a sharp snap, the Chakra within Uchiha Shisui's body fell into disarray. The branch beneath his feet broke in two, and Uchiha Shisui tumbled miserably from the tree.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! In an instant, more than a dozen Root ninjas caught up to Uchiha Shisui and surrounded him.
"Damn Konoha Root dogs! I'll fight you to the death!" Uchiha Shisui roared, drew his short blade, and charged forward.
The Root ninjas lowered their heads, avoiding Uchiha Shisui's eyes as they drew their weapons and rushed to meet him.
Sarutobi Toru's orders to Root had been to capture him alive if possible. If not, they were to bring back his corpse intact.
Thus, in order to capture Uchiha Shisui alive—and to preserve the integrity of his body in case they failed—the Root ninjas did not bombard him with ninjutsu. Instead, they charged in with their blades.
Even after shutting off his Sharingan because of his Chakra condition, Uchiha Shisui still displayed exceptional swordsmanship. In mere moments, he took down three Root ninjas.
The price, however, was several more deep wounds across his body. Then his vision went black, and he finally could no longer hold on.
At that moment, Black Zetsu, who had been hiding nearby and watching, spoke to Uchiha Hitomi. "Young Master Uchiha Hitomi, it's time to make your move!"
"Wood Release: Thorn Chaos Technique!" At Black Zetsu's reminder, Uchiha Hitomi acted without hesitation. Thorny vines as thick as wrists and sharp beyond measure instantly covered an area dozens of meters wide. The dozen or so Root ninjas struggled briefly before being swallowed by countless vines.
The instant the vines pierced their bodies, they took root and sprouted within them. Countless wooden spikes burst out from inside the Root ninjas, piercing them into bloody gourds.
"Arghhh!" Even