Uchiha Chen

October 13th, Year 51 of Konoha.

Three days after the Night of the Nine-Tails.

Bright sunlight filtered through the thick clouds, casting the silhouettes of the massive Hokage Rock over the village just as it had always done.

Yet, the once-bustling streets were now in ruins, and traces of unwashed blood could still be seen amidst the broken walls and debris.

On the night three days ago, Konoha lost the Fourth Hokage, over 20 jonin, and nearly a thousand ninja. The civilian casualties were countless, and now, every household was draped in mourning.

Furthermore, the Konoha Great Barrier, originally constructed by the Uzumaki Clan, had been largely destroyed by the Nine-Tails. The entire village was left in an undefended state, with spies from various villages and ambitious opportunists lurking in the shadows, plunging the village into even greater chaos.

"Chaos is a ladder!"

As one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, Kazuma passed through the riddled barrier, his heart filled with joy as he plunged into the forest, heading toward the Capital of Fire.

Just a few days ago, during the Night of the Nine-Tails, he had risked his life to collect the source of the Nine-Tails Chakra that had dissipated when the Fourth Hokage sealed the beast, storing it away with a unique Sealing Technique.

"Next, I just need to wait patiently for the harvest!"

Moving rapidly through the forest, Kazuma could no longer suppress his thoughts, beginning to fantasize about his future plans:

Use this chakra to create a fake Jinchuriki, leverage the power of the Daimyo to suppress Konoha while it was in decline, and then appoint himself as the General of the Land of Fire.

"Whoosh!"

A kunai flew at high speed, pinning itself to the tree beneath Kazuma's feet and interrupting his daydreams.

"Who is it? Why are you appearing on the outskirts of Konoha?"

Accompanied by a clear, sharp reprimand, a fresh-faced, handsome youth leaped onto the giant tree in front of Kazuma, his scarlet eyes fixed intently upon him.

Sharingan, Three-Tomoe!

Kazuma's heart tightened. He dared not look at the youth's face again, instinctively wanting to use his hands to protect the Sealing Scroll in his robes.

No!

Kazuma's hand went halfway up before he forced himself to stop, spreading his hands to show he had no hostile intent, while carefully observing the newcomer with his peripheral vision, focusing on the Uchiha clan crest on the other's clothing.

No traces of a Transformation Technique, and that handsome appearance.

Uchiha Chen!

Information about the other party instantly flashed through Kazuma's mind:

Uchiha Chen, a Konoha genius, sixteen years old, promoted to jonin two years ago. Skilled in Fire Style, swordsmanship, and Medical Ninjutsu.

"At this age.

Even if he has the Three-Tomoe, he must be killed! What happened in Konoha must never have the slightest chance of being leaked!"

Though his heart was filled with murderous intent, Kazuma's face became even more amiable and harmless as he feigned an explanation:

"I am Kazuma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. I was ordered by the Daimyo to inquire with the Hokage, and I am now returning to the capital to report to the Daimyo. I have my badge and documents as proof!"

With that, Kazuma took out the items that could prove his identity and held them out toward Uchiha Chen from a distance.

"Is that so? Sorry to have bothered you, envoy!"

"It is nothing! I have even heard of your heroic deeds on the battlefield back in the Capital of Fire, Chen-kun!"

For a moment, the previously oppressive atmosphere eased.

Uchiha Chen wore a sunny, youthful smile as he walked toward Kazuma. Kazuma took the opportunity to offer a few more flattering words, and the distance between the two grew smaller and smaller.

The moment the distance between them closed to ten meters—the optimal range for conventional ninjutsu attacks:

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Go to hell! Earth Style: Earth Rising Spears!"

The two, who had been exchanging pleasantries just a moment ago, turned hostile instantly. Their fingers danced in a blur as they performed hand seals, unleashing their signature ninjutsu.

As expected, it wouldn't be that easy!

Uchiha Chen sighed softly, drew the long sword at his waist with a backhand grip, and cleaved through the Earth Rising Spears that had pierced through the sea of flames.

He had been watching Kazuma for a long time!

Uchiha Chen's golden finger required a massive amount of chakra to function.

Yet, within the Shinobi World, none of the giant chakra sources like the Tailed Beasts or the Dragon Vein were things a mere jonin like him could touch.

"This Nine-Tails Chakra, I'm taking it!"

Slash!

The famous blade in Uchiha Chen's hand let out a crisp vibration, and the sword light traced a hazy shadow.

"Clang!"

Kazuma gripped an exquisite kunai with both hands, turning his body to block the strike, his feet sliding back two steps to dissipate the force.

"Slash again!"

Uchiha Chen leaped into the air, unleashing brilliant flashes of sword light as he bore down on Kazuma.

In the blink of an eye, the kunai had clashed with the long sword dozens of times, and Kazuma was forced to retreat faster and faster.

Kazuma parried while keeping his eyes fixed on Uchiha Chen's waist, desperately avoiding eye contact with the Sharingan, already finding himself at a disadvantage.

"Clang!"

Following the sound of this clash came the tearing of fabric and a muffled grunt from Kazuma; a gash had been opened on his flank.

In that split second, Kazuma discarded his Kunai, paid the price of a minor injury to put some distance between himself and Uchiha Chen, and quickly formed hand seals:

"Earth Style—Hardening Technique!"

Using a body reinforced by Earth Style to counter Uchiha Chen's wide-swinging swordsmanship was the best solution the experienced Kazuma could come up with in such a short time.

Just as Kazuma finished his seals, a blade of light as cold as blood flashed before his eyes once more.

But this time, he did not parry; instead, he suddenly lunged forward, turning his body to meet the blade with one raised hand.

The long blade sank three points into his flesh, but it was blocked nonetheless.

Blood splattered, and as he clamped his hand onto the blade, a smirk curled at the corners of Kazuma's mouth.

Next, a single punch reinforced with the Hardening Technique would be enough to smash this Uchiha brat's head to pieces!

Wait, what is that?

The vertical blade suddenly shifted direction, the clear, water-like edge shining bright as a mirror, reflecting the youth's smile and crimson eyes with perfect clarity.

Kazuma was filled with terror, his heart screaming that things had gone wrong.

I actually made eye contact with an Uchiha, I'm done for!

Genjutsu—Sharingan.

What was I about to do? Right, I'm in a fight!

Who am I fighting again?

After a moment of daze, Kazuma clenched his fist, suddenly wanting to look up and see who he was fighting.

And so, he stared straight into those scarlet Sharingan.

So, the one I'm fighting is Uchiha Chen, damn it!

I still had several forbidden techniques I hadn't even had the chance to use—damn Uchiha, damn Sharingan!

Demonic Illusion—Sharingan!

"A double genjutsu?"

After struggling to spit out his question, Kazuma sank into the quagmire of the illusion, collapsing to the ground like a puppet with its Chakra strings cut.

"It's a triple! Every flash of the blade during my previous swings was a suggestion, forcing you to look at my blade against your will!"

Giving Kazuma a quick end, Uchiha Chen wiped his long blade with a flourish, sheathed it, and leaned down to pull a hardcover scroll from the corpse's robes.

Even through layers of seals, he could sense the terrifying power within.

It was a sinister Chakra, darker than darkness and redder than fresh blood.

It was the power of the beast of natural disaster, the collective embodiment of a thousand years of hatred, the mount personally selected by Uchiha Madara—

—the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

After using Fire Style to destroy the evidence, Uchiha Chen gripped the scroll, finally unable to stop the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

"Now, I hold the future in my hands!"

New book, please recommend!