"Be careful. The moment you get a chance, leave."
Uchiha Sou looked at the two men before him. He took a deep breath, then spoke quietly to Uchiha Shizuka behind him.
To be honest, he had no idea how things would unfold once they got serious.
He wasn't even sure whether he could take on both of them at once!
After all, these two weren't like the two Mist Ninja from earlier, whose rank he hadn't known. They were two of the famed Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
"Captain Sou, you're the one who should leave."
To Uchiha Sou's surprise, Uchiha Shizuka spoke up gravely.
"You're the commander here. Everything revolves around you. Anyone else can afford to get hurt, but you can't!"
"Enough with the useless talk. You're no match for them. Even if you were ready to die, you couldn't hold them off. I wouldn't get away either."
Uchiha Sou rolled his eyes at her words. Did she think he didn't want to leave? He just couldn't!
Of course, deep down, Uchiha Sou didn't really want to leave anyway. His eyes were on the verge of breaking through their limits.
As they spoke, Uchiha Sou suddenly noticed mist slowly gathering around them.
The mist was thick with chakra, and it began to obstruct his vision.
Though he hated this technique, by now he had gradually gotten used to it.
And, it had to be said, spending more than three years on the battlefield and constantly dealing with this technique had improved his sensory abilities.
So far, his system interface hadn't shown a progress bar for "sensory ability," but he felt that if things continued this way, it couldn't be far off.
"Get ready."
The chakra inside Uchiha Sou surged, and his presence grew stronger by the moment.
"Once I've captured both of them, leave at once and find Shisui. Have him come reinforce us. Understand?"
As soon as he finished speaking, chakra burst beneath his feet. He lunged forward in an instant, moving with incredible speed.
The kunai in his hand sliced through the dense mist and stabbed fiercely toward the figure ahead!
Though the mist shrouded everything, he could just make out someone approaching. He didn't hesitate for a moment.
In an environment like this, retreating passively would only let their chances slip away. Besides, he wasn't the type to sit back and do nothing!
"Not bad!"
The wind from the kunai's swing cut through some of the mist, revealing Juzo Biwa's slightly surprised face.
But Juzo Biwa was a skilled fighter. He stepped sideways, dodging Uchiha Sou's thrust, then even had time to jab him with an elbow.
Uchiha Sou quickly shifted his footing to evade the blow. At the same time, he spun the kunai in his hand and sent it darting toward Juzo Biwa again from a bizarre angle!
Juzo Biwa's reflexes were quick, too. The dense mist was his domain. He leaned aside to avoid the kunai, then swung the Kubikiribōchō viciously at Uchiha Sou.
But Uchiha Sou smiled. He'd just noticed something interesting.
After dodging the blade of the Kubikiribōchō, he leaped backward and taunted, "You keep your head down the whole time. How exactly are you planning to fight me?"
"The Sharingan is dangerous. I'm not an idiot. Save your breath. Instead of wasting time talking, think about whether there's anything you still want to say before you die."
Juzo Biwa paid no attention to Uchiha Sou's taunt. He spoke impassively, pointing his sword at him again.
Uchiha Sou didn't bother replying. He couldn't help sighing inwardly. There was no doubt that the Sharingan gave him an advantage.
But under the circumstances, that advantage had clearly been neutralized. His opponent wouldn't look him in the eye, and the mist had restricted Uchiha Sou's own field of vision.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Strike!"
As Uchiha Sou carefully observed and sensed everything around him, he suddenly felt a terrifying peal of thunder coming from behind.
At the same time, Juzo Biwa swiftly shifted to one side, moving clear of the Lightning Strike's path as he charged toward Uchiha Sou's flank!
Uchiha Sou raised an eyebrow, then quickly retreated. Unless he had no choice, he would never take an enemy's attack head-on.
It was neither wise nor beneficial.
But as soon as he dodged, the sword in Juzo Biwa's hand shifted just as quickly. Its terrifying edge sliced toward him, blocking his path of retreat!
"Damn it..."
Uchiha Sou cursed under his breath. The next instant, he activated the Body Flicker Technique, just as the Lightning Strike crashed into the ground.
"Boom!"
Amid a thunderous roar, the devastating lightning shattered the earth, sending countless rocks flying in every direction.
Who knew how many trees were pierced by the debris? Several were even cut clean through.
Uchiha Sou landed after using the Body Flicker Technique. He had opened up a considerable distance, but at that moment, he felt a gust of force behind him.
"Clang!"
Without a moment's hesitation, he raised his kunai to block the attack from behind. The bizarre sword stopped just centimeters from him.
"Not bad, kid."
Raiga Kurosuki sneered. This time, he'd learned his lesson and avoided meeting Uchiha Sou's gaze. A look of madness also spread across his face.
"Let's see if you can withstand lightning!"
Uchiha Sou's expression changed at the words, but arcs of wild electricity were already crackling along Raiga Kurosuki's sword!
"Lightning Style: Kiba!"
The violent lightning engulfed both him and Uchiha Sou, but the mad look on Raiga Kurosuki's face only grew more pronounced.
He'd used Lightning Style for years and didn't care about being surrounded by lightning. He didn't believe this kid could do the same!
Bang!
But a moment later, his expression tightened. A cloud of smoke rose from Uchiha Sou's body, and all that remained on the ground was a shattered boulder.
"Substitution Technique? How could it be so fast? And..."
Raiga Kurosuki quickly turned to look behind him. Uchiha Sou had landed on a piece of rubble and was panting softly.
"And how did his Substitution Technique carry him so far? What's going on?"
The Substitution Technique was one of the basic Three Body Techniques. There could hardly be a ninja who didn't know it. But what Uchiha Sou had just demonstrated was completely beyond Raiga Kurosuki's understanding.
It was the first time he'd seen anyone use the Substitution Technique—which was practically a mere sleight of hand—to such an incredible degree!
"Hah... hah..."
Uchiha Sou had no idea what Raiga Kurosuki was thinking. He was in terrible shape.
He'd been fast enough, but that damn lightning had still touched him, leaving his whole body feeling numb.
In the middle of a fight, that could be fatal!
"Found you, kid!"
Just then, Juzo Biwa appeared in his field of vision. Gripping the Kubikiribōchō, he suddenly accelerated and charged straight at Uchiha Sou.
"Die, kid!"
Raiga Kurosuki moved at the same moment from farther away. Arcs of electricity flickered around his sword once more, and with a quick flash, he charged at Uchiha Sou too.
Uchiha Sou took a deep breath. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he plunged the kunai in his hand into his own left arm!
He had no idea whether pain could ease the numbness, but it might at least help psychologically. It was also a reminder to himself.
"This is the moment to give it everything!"
As blood streamed from his left arm, Uchiha Sou's eyes seemed to grow even redder.
As the two men closed in on him, he quickly sprang into action.
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