Zong Uchiha's words struck their hearts like a heavy hammer.
Although Zong Uchiha looked only thirteen or fourteen, not a single person actually dared treat him like a child.
The biting aura and his pair of scarlet eyes fixed on them sent chills down their spines.
Each of them wanted to say something, to vent the pressure weighing on them, but when the words reached their lips, they found they couldn't get anything out.
Especially when they noticed the Uchiha kid before them start to move. They suddenly realized the pressure they were under was far greater than they'd imagined—and far more terrifying!
"Kid, don't get ahead of yourself!"
When Zong Uchiha had walked about five meters forward, one of the Mist Ninja could no longer stand it. He shouted loudly.
"Prepare the Hidden Mist Jutsu! He's an Uchiha!"
Perhaps the first man to speak had taken the lead, or perhaps the other Mist Ninja had also figured out what to do despite the pressure.
The moment he spoke, one of the Mist Ninja began forming Hand Seals, while the others roared and charged at Zong Uchiha!
"Hmph!"
Zong Uchiha snorted. His eyes swept across the Mist Ninja before him, and in that moment, he could feel them moving slower and slower.
He'd sensed it a little before, but never this clearly!
He even felt that if he faced Juzo Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki again now, those two wouldn't be able to push him to the same limits.
But strength was built up one step at a time. It was precisely because he'd fought to the death against Raiga Kurosuki and Juzo Biwa that he'd reached his current level!
As the Mist Ninja charged toward him, Zong Uchiha's chakra rippled as he ran. The next moment, he suddenly vanished from their sight.
"Watch out!"
The Mist Ninja at the front immediately shouted a warning, but it was already too late. Zong Uchiha had quietly appeared right in their midst.
Squelch!
The grating sound of metal slicing through flesh rang out among them. The Mist Ninja who had been forming Hand Seals to perform the Hidden Mist Jutsu had a kunai driven straight into his throat.
But just as Zong Uchiha finished, three Mist Ninja leaped up behind him, their long blades gleaming coldly as they came down.
In the next instant, all three blades stabbed toward him at once, their rush through the air deafening.
Yet Zong Uchiha merely glanced back, and his body made a slight twisting motion.
That movement was so strange and precise that it let him evade every blade. He didn't even use the Substitution Technique!
"How can he have such incredible body coordination?"
The three men cried out in shock. Before they could react, Zong Uchiha sprang into the air.
He spun rapidly, and the kunai in his hand sliced precisely across the throats of all three Mist Ninja!
After that, Zong Uchiha didn't pause for a moment. He turned his kunai and rushed toward the other Mist Ninja charging at him.
Among the crowd, he moved nimbly, like a butterfly dancing in the air—nothing like the predicament Uchiha were said to face when surrounded!
He swiftly dipped low, evading an attack from behind, then spun his kunai and drove it straight into the chest of a Mist Ninja in front of him.
He took a light step forward. A long blade, its edge gleaming coldly, slashed down past his back. It looked incredibly close.
But those few centimeters were like a chasm. The blade couldn't touch him at all.
His left hand reached forward and yanked, precisely catching the arm of another Mist Ninja who was thrusting a sword at him, his hand gripping the hilt tightly.
The Mist Ninja holding the blade went pale and immediately tried to pull away. But the next moment, his eyes met Zong Uchiha's.
"Ah!"
The Mist Ninja went blank. In that instant of distraction, Zong Uchiha pulled his arm forward, forcing him to stab hard.
A scream rang out beside the dazed Mist Ninja, jolting him back to his senses. But he saw that his sword had pierced his comrade's chest!
"How is this possible—"
Before the Mist Ninja could think further, his neck suddenly went cold. It felt as if liquid were gushing out of it, while strength drained from his body.
"So this is Senior Zong's strength?"
Watching Zong Uchiha weave through the Mist Ninja, every movement nimble and effortless, as if he were dancing, Shisui Uchiha felt a stir within him.
He'd never seen this kind of fighting style before. It left him shaken, but also gave him something to think about.
Ever since Zong Uchiha had saved Shizuka Uchiha, Shisui had been deeply grateful to him.
Then Zong Uchiha had vigorously expanded their "behind-enemy-lines operations," bringing life to a town that had once been utterly desolate. Shisui's gratitude had gradually turned into awe and respect.
After all, he knew full well that no one had ever done anything like this before Zong Uchiha.
What's more, Zong Uchiha had gathered the Konoha Ninja they'd taken in, trained and taught them, then sent them to other villages and towns once they'd gained enough experience.
Although this approach weakened their stronghold, it could create many places as peaceful and well-protected as their own!
That respect had continued to grow, especially after Shisui learned that Zong Uchiha also possessed those eyes the clan never mentioned. He felt a natural closeness to his senior.
It was as if those eyes were a secret shared by the two of them. And the way Zong Uchiha looked after him made Shisui feel as though he'd found an older brother.
During this mission, he'd also discovered that Zong Uchiha's knowledge and breadth of vision were truly beyond imagination.
He could explain the roots and nature of war in simple, clear terms. Even the clan elders might not be able to do that!
"The gap between Senior Zong and me is just too great."
Shisui couldn't help sighing at the thought. He was considered a prodigy in his family, and even had a greater reputation than Zong Uchiha.
That made his cheeks burn faintly. He felt he didn't deserve the praise.
But he also resolved that he would help Senior Zong prove all of this, and that he would follow in his footsteps.
Just as they had in enemy territory!
"Squelch!"
The sound of metal slicing through flesh rang out again, and Shisui's gaze turned forward.
The Mist Ninja's corpses now littered the ground, while Zong Uchiha stood there completely unharmed.
Not far away, Genma, Might Guy, and the third man had also finished off their opponents.
They looked a little battered, but otherwise seemed fine. They quickly moved over toward Zong Uchiha.
"Is it over?"
Seeing this, Shisui shook his head in frustration. He admitted he'd been distracted and hadn't provided any support at all.
But just as he was about to take Hyuga Tetsu and regroup, Hyuga Tetsu's expression suddenly changed.
"Captain, five people are approaching from the three o'clock direction. They're moving very fast, and their chakra—"
Hyuga Tetsu's words made everyone frown. Zong Uchiha also thoughtfully raised his head and looked in the direction he'd indicated.
In just a moment, five figures appeared in their field of vision.