Beneath the night sky, the tree branches looked like the scrawny arms of demons. The leaves swaying in the night breeze rustled like maddening whispers.
She was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a princess of the Land of Whirlpools, but she was also just a girl. In a situation like this, she should have been crying.
But when she looked straight into those blood-red eyes, brimming with mystery and something sinister, her fear was swept away.
Even though looking into those eyes brought nothing but a bone-chilling sensation.
"Can you walk on your own?"
His voice was a little cool, yet held an indescribable gentleness and an unusual warmth.
Uzumaki Kushina wanted to answer, but her nose and throat felt clogged. All she could do was fight back her tears and nod firmly.
"Good."
"Go back the way you came. Someone will be waiting for you there."
"Don't be afraid. Don't rush."
He gently set her down from his arms. The long hours of worry left her unsteady on her feet, and she nearly stumbled when she touched the ground. A hand quietly pressed against her back to steady her.
Perhaps she only imagined it, but she felt a warm current flow from his palm, quickly spreading through her body and giving her courage.
The dark woods suddenly seemed less frightening. After taking a few steps, Uzumaki Kushina turned around and watched Uchiha Yuji walk calmly toward the Cloud Shinobi.
The red-and-white Gunbai crest remained clear even in the shadows cast by the clouds.
The moon happened to break through the clouds, spilling its light over Uchiha Yuji. In the silver glow, his athletic figure took on an unusual beauty.
When he sensed Uzumaki Kushina quickly leaving, Uchiha Yuji walked over to the Cloud Shinobi.
He brought his middle finger and thumb together and snapped.
The snap seemed to release them from a time stop.
The Cloud Shinobi who had just awakened looked as if they had all suffered nightmares. Their chests heaved, cold sweat ran down their foreheads, and some had even collapsed to the ground, their eyes filled with terror.
One illusion after another, layered who knew how many times, each one bringing a fresh terror.
Rotting corpses, battered and falling apart, yet able to run at full speed; ghosts that kept reappearing no matter how many times they were killed—what the hell! Was this really an illusion?
"This is the worst crop of rookies I've ever seen."
Uchiha Yuji let out a soft sigh. "After facing a Mangekyo illusion, you've already lost the will to fight?"
"I guess I overestimated you. You're just a bunch of nobodies, after all."
He had been speaking gently just a moment ago. The next, a kunai had plunged into a Cloud Shinobi's throat.
The powerful thrust pierced straight through. The kunai, flecked with blood, emerged from the back of the man's neck. The terror in his eyes gave way to despair, then faded into lifelessness.
"Go back and deliver the message. One person is enough."
Uchiha Yuji flicked his hand sharply, sending the blood clinging to it flying. "I'm sure you understand what I mean."
But the Cloud Shinobi didn't turn on one another.
The biggest, darkest-skinned man slowly stood up. This time, he didn't look away from Uchiha Yuji. "I have no family, no lover. My life's worthless."
"Count me in."
"Sasahara, you still have family, don't you?"
In just a few words, they had decided who would go back and deliver the message.
Their legs were trembling with fear, and the desire to live had never left their eyes, yet they still stepped forward.
The fragrance of their courage intoxicated Uchiha Yuji for a moment.
Human greatness lay in the nobility with which people faced fear!
And in that moment of distraction, the Cloud Shinobi attacked all at once.
Lightning roared wildly. They scorched the earth as they charged, crossing the distance between them in an instant. The Uchiha's figure rapidly grew larger in their eyes.
"Good resolve."
A calm voice, tinged with solemnity, suddenly sounded beside them.
The world spun. They lost their balance. Their eyes reflected the lower half of the Uchiha, still frozen in a charging stance, as their consciousness sank into darkness.
"But with you acting like this, I'm starting to feel like I'm the bad guy."
"You're the ones who broke into someone else's home to rob them."
Against enemies who were only Chunin, even their all-out bursts of speed looked no faster than a tortoise's crawl to the Mangekyo.
After dealing with the small squad of Cloud Shinobi, Uchiha Yuji's black clothes weren't stained with a single drop of blood.
Like a well-to-do young master pondering what to have for dinner, Uchiha Yuji strolled over to the last surviving Cloud Shinobi, looking mildly troubled.
"Go back and tell the Raikage that the Uchiha are no longer what they used to be. If you dare use us, be prepared for an all-out war with the Uchiha Clan."
The last Cloud Shinobi fought back his grief and wiped away the tears spilling from his eyes.
"Lord Raikage will avenge my comrades. If you think one clan can take on our entire Kumogakure, all that awaits you is annihilation."
He clearly couldn't win in a straight fight, but that didn't stop him from running his mouth.
Nor did it stop him from cursing a few more times. (Though he didn't dare.)
"Get lost." Uchiha Yuji waved him away, sending the nameless nobody on his way.
His tone wasn't exactly pleasant, but the Cloud Shinobi didn't dare object. He obediently turned and left.
A few leaps later, he disappeared into the dark forest.
Before long, several Uchiha appeared in the area.
"Lord Yuji, Uzumaki Kushina has returned to Konoha," Uchiha Yashiro said softly.
Uchiha Yuji nodded slightly, then pointed to the Cloud Shinobi cut in half. "Take these unlucky fellows' bodies back. We might find some unexpected information."
How had a group of Chunin made it all the way into the heart of the Land of Fire, evaded Konoha's barrier, and managed to snatch Uzumaki Kushina?
To put it bluntly, even a squad of Cloud Shinobi Jonin would have had a hell of a time infiltrating Konoha during wartime.
Uchiha Yuji didn't need to think twice to know there had to be a scheme behind it.
After all, the target of the kidnapping was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, an extremely important weapon. If they didn't put a few more shackles on her, how could the princess of the Land of Whirlpools devote herself wholeheartedly to Konoha?
As for whose plan it was—
If Shimura Danzō were still alive, the blame would definitely be his.
But he was already dead.
So it seemed he was bound to take the fall anyway!
Before you continue