Luring the Dog In and Closing the Door

Wind Release: Gale!

A hurricane appeared out of thin air.

Fire combined with wind.

Its power surged dramatically.

It directly blocked Darui's Storm Release laser.

The remaining towering flames continued to engulf Darui.

What terrifying chakra reserves! What a terrifying combination of Ninjutsu! Darui had never seen such dreadful flames before. Alarmed, he hurriedly formed hand seals and used Water Style to defend himself.

Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!

A water dragon appeared and crashed toward the massive fireball.

However—

Genya had poured a tremendous amount of chakra into his Fire Style.

He had also used Wind Style to enhance the Fire Style's power.

The water dragon was instantly evaporated into steam by the overwhelming flames.

Water mist immediately filled the arena.

So strong!

Darui was horrified.

His opponent was only an eight-year-old child.

How could his chakra be as vast as a Jinchuriki's?

Because the flames covered far too wide an area, Darui had no room to evade.

He could only form hand seals and use Water Style to protect himself.

Water Style: Water Wall!

A wall of water appeared, enveloping Darui.

The blazing flames swept over it.

A moment later.

The firelight faded.

Steam lingered in the air.

A figure gradually emerged within the arena.

Darui was half-kneeling on the ground, his body covered in burns as he gasped for breath. A trace of relief showed in his eyes. He had finally survived.

At the same time, drained of chakra and stamina, Darui could no longer hold on and collapsed.

This match—

Genya won!

"The Uchiha actually won!?" Odley rose to his feet in disbelief, then slumped back down, his eyes vacant as a shock he could not calm surged through him.

Kumogakure's elite Storm Release genius—

who was several years older than the Uchiha boy—

had lost just like that?

How was that possible!!!

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply shocked.

The Uchiha had actually produced another exceptionally gifted genius.

That clan was truly too frightening!

Fugaku stretched lazily and spoke to Odley in an indifferent tone.

"Captain Odley, our Uchiha will gladly accept those two hundred thousand jin of grain. We will send people to haul it back shortly!"

Konoha had already gifted the grain to Kumogakure.

So the Uchiha only needed to go to the Cloud Village Delegation's residence and move it.

To prevent them from reneging on the deal—

the Uchiha had sent people to keep watch on the Cloud Village long ago.

They could not pull any tricks!

Those words nearly made Darui cough up blood.

Odley flicked his sleeve and left the arena.

This time, he had not only lost face.

He had also lost two hundred thousand jin of grain.

Once he returned to Kumogakure, the hot-tempered Fourth Raikage would definitely not let him off!

At the thought of this, Odley felt deeply troubled and terrified.

"No, I need to find a way to make up for this!"

The Cloud Village Delegation's residence.

"Darui, this might hurt. Bear with it." The blonde beauty Samui applied medicine to Darui's wounds. Blood continued to seep from them, making him grimace and suck in cold breaths again and again.

Darui was charred black all over. Even his hair had been burned away in patches, leaving him in a miserable state.

Yet, knowing that this was not a battlefield and that he had managed to keep his life, Darui still felt fortunate.

He truly did not want to encounter Genya again.

After the medicine was applied.

Because of the pain, Darui's face was already covered in cold sweat. He looked at Odley with apologetic eyes and said,

"Lord Odley, I'm sorry. I disgraced Kumogakure..."

Darui had not only been defeated by a boy several years younger than himself.

He had also lost two hundred thousand jin of grain.

He was deeply ashamed.

"Darui, get some rest. This is not your fault either. No one could have expected that Sharingan boy to be so powerful!" Odley let out a deep sigh as well.

Darui was strong.

But he had unexpectedly encountered an even stronger Uchiha.

There was nothing to be done about that.

Darui suddenly said, "Samui, immediately write a report on the Sharingan and send it back to Lord Raikage by fast horse."

"Perhaps... the Sharingan holds greater strategic value than the Byakugan."

A sharp glint flashed through Odley's eyes.

Kumogakure's supposed purpose in coming to Konoha to establish peace was a lie. Their real goal was to abduct a member of the Hyuga clan and obtain the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.

But after seeing Darui fight the Uchiha today, Odley had changed his mind.

Perhaps Kumogakure needed the Sharingan more!

Odley planned to acquire the Sharingan.

That way, he could make up for the mistake of losing two hundred thousand jin of grain...

Chapter 45: Luring the Dog In and Closing the Door

Late at night.

The Uchiha Compound.

The night was dark and the wind was fierce.

A figure suddenly vaulted over the wall.

He moved through the darkness without making the slightest sound.

The intruder wore an animal mask and stood nearly two meters tall. He was Odley, captain of the Cloud Village Delegation.

A few days earlier, after receiving instructions from the Fourth Raikage—

the plan had changed.

Instead of stealing the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai, they would steal the Sharingan!

There was no helping it.

Genya's performance when he used the Sharingan against Darui that day had simply been too stunning.

At the same time—

Kumogakure believed that Genya's terrifying chakra reserves also came from his Kekkei Genkai.

Thus, Kumogakure ultimately chose the Sharingan.

The Fourth Raikage had also told Odley—

if he successfully acquired the Sharingan, the loss of the two hundred thousand jin of grain would be forgiven.

For Odley, this was a chance to redeem himself.

He had to cherish it.

His purpose in coming to the Uchiha Compound this time—

was to abduct an Uchiha!

Before the operation—

Odley had obtained a map of the Uchiha clan through the black market. He was therefore extremely familiar with every street and alley here, and had narrowly avoided the Uchiha Military Police Force's patrols several times.

"They did not even notice me. The Uchiha Military Police Force really is trash." Odley sneered, believing the Military Police Force did not live up to its name.

Just as Odley was about to act according to the plan, a clear voice exploded through the pitch-black night.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass into our Uchiha Compound! Seize him!" At some point, Fugaku had already appeared atop the wall. A cold smile curled at his lips as his icy gaze fixed on Odley in the street.

As Fugaku's voice fell.

Members of the Uchiha Military Police Force rushed out from the shadows one after another.

Uchiha Yashiro, who led them, had a fiery temper.

He charged directly at Odley!

Odley was an elite Jonin.

He was very powerful.

But even he could not withstand several Uchiha Military Police Force Jonin charging at him.

In less than two minutes—

Odley was subdued.

Fugaku spoke coldly, "This man trespassed into our clan in the dead of night without permission. He clearly harbors ill intent. Beat him hard!"

Fugaku directly issued the order.

No matter who you were—

if you barged into the Uchiha Compound in Konoha without permission, you were in the wrong!

Several members of the Uchiha Military Police Force grinned as they took up clubs and went to work on Odley.

"Ahhh!" Odley was a muscular man and naturally able to take a beating.

But even he could not endure being ganged up on by so many people.