Body Flicker Shisui

At that moment, Suzuki Taku's mind was completely blank, and a thin sheen of sweat had even formed on his forehead.

He had not the slightest doubt about the boy's threat.

It was not only because that sharp blade was pressed against his eye. More importantly, the other party's reputation was simply too notorious!

He had even dared to strike ruthlessly at the clan head's son. Why would he care about someone like Suzuki Taku, who could only lurk in the shadows?

"Who sent you to follow me?"

The boy's interrogation continued beside his ear.

That cold voice, paired with those crimson eyes, made him seem like a demon from the depths of hell.

Had this guy discovered him long ago?

How was that possible!

Though his direct combat ability was not strong, his concealment and infiltration skills were absolutely among the best within the organization!

The other party was only an eight-year-old child. How could he possibly have noticed him?

Yet just as Suzuki Taku hesitated, a sharp blade stabbed into his side.

As Yu Zhi let out a pained growl, that demon-like voice relentlessly forced its way into his ears.

"I don't recall giving you that much time to think."

Arata's gaze grew increasingly cold.

The white mask was clearly an Anbu trait, but he could not rule out the possibility that it belonged to Konoha's other organization—Root.

Uncle Yashiro had told him that the moment he was admitted to Konoha Hospital, Shimura Danzō had arrived with his personal medical team, intending to participate in his treatment.

That ambitious old fox had to be guarded against.

Not far away.

The Chunin guard in green ninja armor was completely dumbfounded. He had wanted to step forward and stop them, but after witnessing this scene, he still could not move.

What was going on here?

An Anbu, who should have been interrogating others, had instead been pinned to the ground and threatened by an eight-year-old boy!

Their roles had been completely reversed!

What could he accomplish by stepping in with his own strength?

He would most likely just be knocked down as well. At a time like this, the wisest choice was to notify the village's stronger ninja.

After all, that person was Arata Uchiha, the one rumored to kill without batting an eye!

At some point, in this Chunin's eyes, Arata's reputation had risen another level. Even though he had merely returned the Kunai in kind.

"Heh. If you have the guts, kill me."

Bloodshot madness spread through Suzuki Taku's eyes. His earlier shock and panic were suppressed by an even greater fear.

The consequences of betraying that lord were absolutely unimaginable!

"Oh?"

"Then let me get a good look at your face, so I can eliminate the problem at its roots."

Arata showed no surprise at this display of backbone, and at the same time became increasingly certain of who was behind it.

As the boy's hand gradually approached, Suzuki Taku's breathing grew more hurried. It was not that he did not want to struggle, but the blade held across his eye had forcibly crushed all thoughts of resistance.

Besides, his opponent was an Uchiha!

Those crimson eyes were staring fixedly at him. How could he struggle?

"Arata Uchiha has violated Konoha regulations by engaging in private combat and causing a severe disturbance. Drop your ninja tools and surrender immediately, or be killed on the spot."

A cold shout suddenly rang out.

At the same time, two Shuriken flew in together, their target unmistakably Arata himself, without the slightest deviation.

That earlier warning seemed to have been nothing more than an excuse.

"Tch. What perfect timing."

Cursing under his breath, Arata decisively gave up on removing the other man's mask. He pulled the Chakra Blade embedded diagonally in the ground and swiftly retreated.

The Anbu member left behind was not so fortunate. Of the two Shuriken that had lost their original target, one grazed past his waist and back, while the other buried itself in his right leg.

Even so, Suzuki Taku did not dare let out a scream or voice a complaint.

"Captain, my apologies."

Struggling into a seated position, he spoke to the two who had just arrived, his words humble.

"Hmph. Go back and explain yourself properly to that lord."

Cold words came from beneath the mask, though only they themselves could hear them.

As for those hot-blooded Genin, they had already taken advantage of the chaos while Arata suppressed the Anbu and fled.

It was too terrifying!

He had actually pinned down and beaten an Anbu without the slightest reservation. These were the village's most mysterious ninja!

Now that was a ruthless person!

Only someone like that deserved the Uchiha Clan's mad reputation!

"Heh, why haven't you obediently dropped your ninja tools?"

"Then we'll have no choice but to break every bone in your body before taking you back!"

Looking at the prey standing at a distance with his blade raised in vigilance, a sinister voice emerged from beneath the lead man's mask.

In any case, all that lord truly wanted was those eyes.

Arata's nerves were taut. His eyes fixed on the Masked Man with blue markings, while every cell in his body screamed.

He wanted to avoid a fight!

Because that guy was definitely no ordinary opponent. The pressure he gave off was even stronger than Itachi's at present. Most importantly, he could face Arata's Sharingan without retreating!!

How many resistance drills had he undergone?

Of course, this was also certainly related to Arata possessing only a Single-Tomoe Sharingan, with insufficient ocular power.

At the same time, it confirmed something for Arata.

They were not Anbu at all, but Danzo's Root!

In all of Konoha, only that man's subordinates and Kakashi Hatake dared to meet the Sharingan's gaze directly. Kakashi's hair, however, was too distinctive to mistake at a glance.

Boom.

Dirt and stones flew into the air.

The place where Arata had just stood had become a ruin.

"Interesting."

"Not Genjutsu, not the Substitution Technique, and not the Clone Technique. It resembles the Body Flicker Technique, but it's also somewhat different."

"It seems you possess more than just Ice Release and the Sharingan. You have other secrets as well."

After smashing apart the phantom created by Mirror Flower, Water Moon, the lead Root ninja rubbed his fist and slowly analyzed the situation. Excitement filled the eyes visible beneath his mask.

His other companion, meanwhile, remained where he was without making the slightest move.

But Arata could not ignore his presence.

Because there was no reasoning or rules to be discussed with Root.

The only possible outcomes were suppression or being suppressed.

His vision blurred, and the blue mask appeared before Arata once more. Explosive force thundered toward him.

What kind of person was this?

Even the Sharingan found it difficult to capture his movements!

Arata wanted to retreat, but unfamiliar chakra suddenly appeared behind him.

It was the guy who had been standing still!

How was that possible?

He had clearly been guarding against him the entire time!

At that moment, the Root member who had been standing quietly in place suddenly scattered apart, turning into a cluster of tiny black creatures.

"Insect Clone?"

"From the Aburame Clan!"

That old bastard Shimura really thought highly of him!

Gritting his teeth, Arata decided not to retreat. He knew clearly that even if he fled, he would not be able to shake off Root, which clung to its targets like gangrene to the bone.

Frost began to creep along his blade, while ice and snow condensed around him.

He would meet them in his strongest state.

Yet the amusement spilling from behind that blue mask only deepened.

Those ice spikes and snowstorms were like toys scratching an itch to him. They could not cause any harm at all!

That tyrannical fist crushed through every obstacle and was about to slam into Arata's body.

There was no doubt that the other party truly did not care whether he brought back a living man or a corpse!

But at that moment, a short blade appeared out of nowhere and blocked the path of the charging fist.

At the same time, a low voice descended with it. "The Uchiha Clan is not for outsiders to handle."

The voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable resolve.

Looking at the figure standing before him, Arata was stunned for a moment. A doubtful denial even rose in his heart.

Yet under such extreme circumstances, there seemed to be only one person in the clan capable of turning the tide:

"Shisui... Body Flicker Shisui!"