I Leave

"Anbu is on official business. Do you know the consequences of obstructing us?"

The man wearing a mask with blue patterns threatened in a low, heavy voice.

He naturally recognized the young man before him.

Body Flicker Shisui, the number one expert among the younger generation of the Uchiha.

During his time stationed at the border, even the powerhouses from the Village of the Bloody Mist would immediately retreat upon sensing his presence.

Furthermore, as he spoke, the man kept his gaze lowered, not daring to meet Shisui's eyes at all!

His previous arrogance had vanished into thin air.

After all, the person before him was not only the Uchiha's top expert but also Konoha's greatest master of genjutsu!

Given his resistance to genjutsu, one might get away with bullying a child with a Single-Tomoe Sharingan, but facing a formidable existence like Shisui, he dared not act conceited.

"I wouldn't know what the consequences would be for Root members impersonating Anbu."

Arata Uchiha's voice was light; he was simply stating a fact, without the slightest hint of a threat.

However, Arata could vaguely sense the other party constantly suppressing his rage.

"?"

Is he angry because of his own affairs?

The youth looked at the tall, upright figure standing before him, confusion appearing in his eyes.

Aside from being interrogated for an entire afternoon yesterday, he should have had no other interactions with this person.

The Root squad leader wearing the blue mask fell silent.

His gaze shifted quietly, trying to see how his companion was weighing the situation.

After all, he did not want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunity.

Arata Uchiha was an experimental subject that Lord Danzō had specifically ordered to be captured.

But unfortunately.

Even though his companion was a powerhouse of the Aburame Clan, he was currently being monitored by two of Shisui's shadow clones and could not move; the name "Body Flicker" was not earned in vain.

"Hmph, I will report this matter truthfully to the Hokage."

After a brief standoff, the Root squad leader coldly spat out a harsh threat. Notably, the person he claimed he would report to was the Third Hokage, not his direct superior, Shimura Danzō.

Clearly, he was refusing to acknowledge the Root ninja identity Shisui had previously mentioned.

But!

Just as he turned to leave, a sudden change occurred.

Manic chakra surged within his body, and a ring of blue chakra flames condensed on the fist-blade of his left hand, striking toward Shisui's position without warning.

Not only that, but countless tiny clusters of chakra energy instantly appeared in the area behind them—creepy and terrifying.

The one from the Aburame Clan had also made his move!

Arata suddenly gripped his katana, chakra rapidly spreading over it. He knew he could not sit and wait for death, but a sense of powerlessness rose from the bottom of his heart; the ninjutsu he had practiced were all designed to deal with Itachi.

He had not yet considered other enemies.

When encountering ninjas whose strength was not much different from his own, he could rely on surprise attacks and footwork to maneuver and suppress them.

But when facing such a brute specializing in taijutsu, or the Aburame Clan known for their calmness and eeriness, his experience was completely insufficient.

However, he had to block at least one of them.

The opponent was, after all, an elite from Root who could even resist the Sharingan to a certain extent. How many could Shisui hold off? Or rather, to what extent would he go for his sake?

It was all unknown.

Therefore, he had to keep at least some chance of escape in his own hands.

"Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger."

Sheathing his blade, he performed the hand seals in just two seconds—the fastest speed he had trained for years.

Arata's plan was clear: facing a taijutsu ninja who could crush him and resist the Sharingan, he was completely helpless.

Unless he used an augmentation skill like Demonification.

But it was daytime now. Not to mention whether he could control his power in an instant after the boost, or if he could reach a level to fight that guy, the sun hanging high in the sky alone would cripple half of his capabilities.

Therefore, he could only use Fire Style to temporarily force back those creepy bugs!

However, someone was faster than his movements: Arata Uchiha.

The swarms of Kikaichū froze in mid-air, while their master stood facing Arata's position with extreme vigilance, his eyes beneath the black robe tightly shut.

Of course, Arata could not possibly believe the man was being vigilant against him.

Then, besides himself, there was only one other existence he could be wary of.

The gathered chakra was temporarily put aside as the youth's gaze slowly shifted backward. He saw the burly, aggressive Root squad leader standing frozen in place.

His swift fist and sharp ninja tool were only a hair's breadth away from touching Shisui!

But that small point came to an abrupt halt right here.

"Do you intend to continue as well?"

Having dealt with one person, Shisui Uchiha slowly turned around, his magnificent, scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan pouring forth an irresistible pressure.

"I am leaving."

A hoarse voice emerged from beneath a black cloak.

The overwhelming swarm of Kikaichū also crawled back into his wide sleeves in an orderly fashion at this moment; he could rely on the insects' vision to avoid looking directly at the Sharingan, and he could easily deal with Shisui's two shadow clones, but he had no confidence in facing two Uchiha powerhouses.

At this moment, he also raised the danger level of Arata significantly.

"I will report this matter truthfully to the Third Hokage."

"For instance, acting in the name of the Anbu, or two Jōnin attacking an eight-year-old junior of my clan, and furthermore, that little fellow named Shiro Uemura."

Shisui's voice remained calm.

But his anger was already becoming difficult to suppress.

All these coincidences were nothing more than a scheme born of ulterior motives.

From the moment Arata left the clan grounds and his destination was guessed by that initial Root scout, the massive black gear hidden beneath Konoha had already begun to turn.

The powerhouse of the Aburame clan did not answer, merely helping up his companion who had collapsed from the genjutsu, and fled rapidly.

The appearance of Shisui Uchiha had indeed exceeded their expectations.

However, the other party's threat was merely a joke; Danzo would help them resolve everything.

After the Root members left, Shisui Uchiha appeared instantly on the small hillside, blocking the two little ones who had just been trying to slip away from this place of trouble.

"I believe that the little ones from the Nara and Akimichi families are both honest and trustworthy children, right?"

He said slowly.

At this, Shikamaru Nara's eye twitched.

"We don't know anything, we didn't see anything."

He had no intention of getting involved in such troublesome matters.

But this was certainly not the answer Shisui wanted; he continued to watch the two little ones in his field of vision quietly.

If those Genin parents had questioned him alongside the Root members earlier, his own testimony alone would certainly not have been enough, and as for that Chūnin, it would be good enough if he could just remain neutral.

"I know, I know, it was those guys who provoked Arata first, and then they were ambushed by the Anbu."

Shikamaru Nara gave up the struggle; if he had known, he wouldn't have come to watch the spectacle!

"Mm, thank you."

Shisui nodded slightly and turned to look at Choji Akimichi to the side.

""