Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal

The Sharingan opened behind the mask, and six shuriken flew from his hands, colliding with a metallic ring.

The bizarre part was that these six shuriken zig-zagged through the air, darting left and right, moving as flexibly as snakes following the movements of Akashi's fingers. They not only blocked the opponent's attacks but also snaked around to form a counter-offensive.

The dazzling collision of ninja tools left Danzo slightly surprised.

Owlman held his breath and focused, drawing his ninja blade with a backhand grip: "Wire, it's wire!"

Knowing it was one thing, but he could only catch glimpses of the thin threads in the moment of reflection; once they moved at high speed, his eyes could not keep up with the changes.

Tanuki also hurriedly widened the distance: "How can ninja tools even turn corners?"

Just as they were stunned, Akashi released his hand and flowed into hand seals—Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Claw Crimson!

The scattered shuriken were instantly enveloped in flames, flying toward the two men while trailing red tails of fire, resembling a peacock spreading its feathers.

Owlman activated a jutsu: Earth Style: Earth Wall.

A high wall surged up from the ground, blocking their path and absorbing the chaotic barrage of flames and ninja tools.

Tanuki, on the other side, was no slouch; he performed hand seals, spitting water bullets from his mouth. These high-speed water bullets could crater the ground and, if they struck a ninja directly, would cause massive impact.

The continuous barrage had impressive power.

Akashi formed hand seals: "Then let me greet you as well!"

As the water bullets shot toward his face, the "Tiger" seal was completed by his nimble fingers. The chakra Akashi had been storing in his mouth erupted, and a massive fire dragon, condensed with highly compressed chakra, began to dance.

Flames surged, heat waves rolled, and the scorching body coiled through the air, "swallowing" the water bullets in one gulp. Logically, water beats fire, but faced with such an overwhelming offensive, the puny water bullets melted and vanished like sugar candies.

The moment Danzo saw the fire dragon, his pupils constricted.

It wasn't about how fast the hand seals were, nor how rare the technique was, but rather that this fire dragon was simply... too big!

The difficulty of Fire Style is generally not high.

If everyone is using a B-rank jutsu, and I know it, and you know it, shouldn't the power be the same?

The difference lies in control and chakra; a commoner's Fire Style might be a flicker, but Madara Uchiha's Fire Style could be a sea of flames!

Akashi's Great Dragon Fire Technique, imbued with vast amounts of chakra, shocked both Owlman and Tanuki.

"Where is your Water Style!"

"I can't block it, my Water Style can't possibly block that!"

"Dodge, quickly..."

Boom!

The fire dragon slammed into the rock, the heat flow expanded, and a cloud of blue smoke exploded outward. Countless shards of stone flew, and even the ground cracked with lightning-like fissures, with small flames rising from the gaps.

Danzo's expression turned grim: "The intelligence was wrong; this guy is far beyond the level of a Chunin."

Only two tomoe, and yet the Uchiha clan...

Ever since he was young, following his teacher, he had deeply experienced the terror of the Uchiha.

Just as the Second Hokage said, one cannot relax their vigilance against the Uchiha.

If there is a chance, this old man must put an end to the Uchiha! Ambition burned within this gradually decaying body, and a strange sense of mission was born.

Danzo felt as if he were young again.

He looked at Akashi, then turned his gaze to the disheveled Owlman and Tanuki, unable to help but grit his teeth and curse: "Trash."

In the explosion, the two were blown away by the shockwave, falling to either side, their ninja blades dropping to the ground.

Judging by their strength, they were genuine Chunin.

And they wanted to give him a show of force with just this?

Akashi sneered inwardly and walked toward Owlman, saying: "We are all newcomers, thank you for the lesson. I look forward to working with you in the future."

"Many thanks," Owlman said, his voice hoarse.

Akashi reached out to pull the fallen man up, but his Sharingan keenly caught a subtle movement in the man's other hand, and his brow tightened.

The opponent was hiding a kunai in his left hand.

"You have no martial virtue!"

As he pulled, Akashi gave a violent yank. Owlman, who was about to stand, did not expect the sudden surge of force and lost his balance, only to be met with a flash of white light stabbing straight toward him.

Akashi snatched up the ninja blade from the ground and pierced through his arm!

Squelch!

Blood gushed out, and the kunai clattered to the ground from the trembling hand, making a crisp sound.

Immediately after, Owlman let out a painful roar: "Aaaah!"

Seeing this, Tanuki, who had retreated to the side, looked on in astonishment.

But it was his turn next; Akashi opened his mouth and spat out fireballs again. The red flames bombarded them like cannonballs, strafing in a circle around the perimeter!

That's right, it was a strafing run!

The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique rained down like a meteor shower, its coverage so vast that there was almost nowhere to hide.

Tanuki scrambled through the terrain, covered in dust and grime as he fled.

Danzo watched on calmly, his aged face shifting between shades of green and purple. He was not only frustrated by his miscalculation of Akashi, but these two members he had taken in were truly—as Tsunade would say—a complete disaster.

To fail even at a sneak attack; they had no shame left!

If the Root were filled with members like these, how could he ever compete for the position of Hokage? Forget the Hokage seat; he wouldn't even be able to hold onto his position as an advisory elder.

"That is enough!"

With a sharp shout, both sides of the skirmish came to a halt.

The ground was littered with flickering flames and debris. Owlman lay on the ground, whimpering as he endured the pain, while Tanuki looked utterly wretched, singed by the fire.

Akashi, however, adhering to the principle of frugality, had already begun to retrieve his ninja tools.

"Tanuki, take him back to rest."

His cold voice was laced with a hint of fury; anyone could hear the displeasure within it.

The ninja codenamed Tanuki dared not make a sound. He immediately hoisted Owlman up and pulled the ninja blade from his body. Blood instantly sprayed out in a sizzling fountain, frightening Owlman into crying out, "Don't, don't..."

"My apologies."

Tanuki realized he had made a mistake and shoved the blade back in.

Owlman stared at the hole in his arm, his eyes nearly popping out from behind his mask: "You... you didn't hit the right spot..."

With that, he fainted.

Two puncture wounds sat side by side, blood gushing out and trailing across the floor.

Akashi's Sharingan faded away: "This counts as a workplace injury, right? It seems I need to find two new teammates."

Danzo: "..."

He had originally intended to give him a stern reprimand to ensure the Uchiha wouldn't be so arrogant.

However, the plan had failed perfectly.

Not only were two members injured and his goal unachieved, but he had also been made a laughingstock.

Danzo felt a bit stifled.

But he could not lose face; he had to maintain his image.

"Well done," Danzo praised insincerely. "Root ninjas should be like this—decisive and fierce. You have already mastered the basics."

With a few words, he salvaged the situation, maintaining an air of being completely in control.

He glanced upward: "Next, I must impose some confidentiality measures upon you."

Akashi shuddered violently.

He suddenly realized what these so-called confidentiality measures entailed.

At this moment, Danzo raised his arm.

Two masked figures approached at high speed, including the Aburame clan ninja from earlier. They flanked Akashi from left and right, stepping forward to restrain his hands.

Facing such a lineup, Akashi could not resist.

"Lord Danzo, is this really necessary?"

"The Root is buried beneath the branches of Konoha; we must be cautious. Every ninja who joins must guarantee absolute loyalty, even if it is forced."

Danzo strolled leisurely before him and slapped a Cursed Seal onto his chest.

Black markings instantly spread across his entire body, binding Akashi so that he could not move. Taking this opportunity, Danzo applied a Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal as well.

"If you leak any of my secrets, you will immediately suffer the backlash of the seal. Therefore, it is best not to speak out of turn and to follow my orders."

Danzo said confidently, "Controlling you is simple enough."

As his voice fell, the black markings gradually faded.

The two Root ninjas leaped away, and Akashi regained his ability to move. The burning rage in his heart was suppressed by his reason: "It seems I have no choice, then."

"At least you know how to read the situation."

Danzo let out a soft huff and turned to leave with his subordinates, their figures vanishing from sight.