I... Mastered It!

"I greatly admire the first person who created a weapon."

"It signified that humanity had mastered a power that did not originally belong to it, defying the natural course of evolution."

Kamizuki gripped the blade and spoke calmly.

What the hell... was this guy talking about?!

The Kumogakure jonin whose blade had been caught immediately let go, leaping back as kunai shot forth.

"Do you know the most fundamental difference between humans and beasts?"

He followed like a shadow.

Leaning against the man's back, Kamizuki continued, "Beasts can only adapt their evolutionary direction according to changes in their environment."

"If oxygen levels are high, they grow larger. If the concentration is low, they shrink to survive."

"Humans are different."

"These creatures, utterly centered around themselves, try to transform the environment into one suited for their survival."

"To be born human is quite remarkable... isn't it?"

The smile at the boy's lips grew ever more unrestrained, terrifyingly savage.

An inexplicable fear consumed both body and mind.

"You bastard... what the hell are you talking about?!"

Kamizuki's smile faded, but in the Kumogakure ninja's eyes, that calm expression was even more terrifying.

The wind fell still.

Then they heard him chant softly.

"Withered Remains

Flames that burn the body are born from the heart

Scorch the throat, sear the eyes

Split the apertures, unleash disaster

Secret Fire Cage: Garuda Flame Extinction!"

"Let me say it again..."

"I mastered it!"

A crimson gleam surged within the Sharingan as he raised a hand and clenched it!

Boom—!!

In an instant!

An indescribably searing heat swept through the Kumogakure ninja's body and soul, unbearable even for a jonin who had survived the First Shinobi World War.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

The heartrending scream made everyone shudder, giving them a sense of his agony.

Very soon—

Whoosh—!

Scarlet flames surged madly from his eyes, ears, and mouth. He burned to ash from the inside out, and even his screams were incinerated!!

Even Kirigakure ninja, raised under a brutal promotion system, found such a sight difficult to accept.

Death was not frightening to them, but a death capable of making a battle-hardened ninja howl so miserably...

Step by step, the flames leaking from beneath his feet scorched the ground black.

As they watched the boy bathed in karmic fire approach, they retreated again and again.

Kamizuki wore the smile of a child who had obtained a beloved toy.

"So that's how it is..."

"The feeling of clearly sensing the existence of spiritual energy is so wonderful!"

"Don't be afraid."

Kamizuki stopped and said seriously, "If fear arises in your heart, it'll hurt even more when you burn."

That demonic voice rang out in everyone's ears once more.

"Withered Remains—"

Smack!

A broad palm pressed down on Kamizuki's shoulder.

"That's enough. We still need survivors to interrogate for intelligence."

"Besides... you're scaring that child."

"Since the clan head has spoken..."

Kamizuki lowered his hand and shrugged. "Then we'll leave it at that."

"Wait, Kamizuki!"

Uchiha Iwamasa called out to him.

The Uchiha clan head had a burly build and prominent cheekbones. An old battle scar stretched across his face from the tip of his nose to his graying temples, making his stern disposition even more pronounced.

Unlike his severe and resolute appearance, Iwamasa was a gentle, reserved elder who cared for every member of his clan.

It was only out of respect for him that Kamizuki had not dealt with Fugaku more harshly.

Unusual colors churned in Iwamasa's deep-set eyes. Even someone as composed as him could not completely suppress the turmoil in his heart.

"Is it... what I think it is?"

A faint smile touched Kamizuki's lips. "Have a little confidence in your eyes, old man."

"For something this simple, it's only natural that I can do it!"

He used words to guide intangible spiritual power—Pupil Power—and issue tangible commands to Earth Grudge Fear.

Put more simply...

If external Chakra were a wild horse, Kamizuki had grasped its reins!

He had only gained an initial grasp of it for now. He needed a great deal of speech to strengthen his conviction, the windup was far too long, and he also had to describe the technique's effects as thoroughly as possible.

Later, he should be able to streamline it. Perhaps a single syllable would be enough to issue a command.

Good thing I had the physical foundation for slow chanting, or I'd have been beaten to death before I finished reciting the dish names.

That kind of...

How could there be such Chakra...

There was not even the slightest hint of goodwill in it—only pure, destructive malice!!

Uzumaki Kushina, who had been born with immense Chakra, possessed very strong sensory abilities.

Ordinary people could only see the superficial sight of that Kumogakure ninja being burned by flames. She had "seen" something far more terrifying.

Black-red, indescribably twisted claws emerged from the Sharingan and clasped that Kumogakure ninja in their palm.

As the chant ended, the movement of that phantom thing...

"Th-that motion is..."

Kushina murmured, not even noticing that Kamizuki had walked over beside her.

"Lighting a fire."

"If you can't think of a fitting description, you've seen the old men in the clan light their pipes, right?"

Kamizuki said flatly, "Replace the person with tobacco, and doesn't it become easier to understand?"

"Right! Sort of... Ah!"

Kushina fell onto her backside in fright, scrambling backward several meters with both hands and feet.

"I wasn't expecting you to thank me, but don't be this scared. Am I some kind of evil ghost?"

To people with Byakugan and such exceptional sensory abilities, what exactly did I look like? Was there some sort of underworld filter on me?

"S-sorry..."

Kushina realized that she had been very rude.

Then she remembered that she had come to an unfamiliar place, among unfamiliar people. She could not be as willful as she had been in her village.

Kamizuki seemingly strolled over to Kushina, gently patting her shoulder as he comforted her. "It's fine. My name is Uchiha Kamizuki."

"I'm the Third Hokage's disciple's disciple. Just think of me as Konoha's successor. I'll link people together and build bridges of communication between their hearts."

As he spoke, invisible threads of Pupil Power seeped from Kamizuki's fingertips into Kushina's body.

You...

Will become the bridge that supports communication between me and the Nine-Tails in the future.

Being able to cast techniques through words was indeed quite discreet, but judging by her expression... she did not think I was some lunatic who liked spouting nonsense, did she?

"Stay away from that child."

A figure emerged from the woods, his face gloomy and his eyes filled with an indescribably complex emotion.

Shimura Danzō.

"Uchiha Kamizuki... what special ability do your eyes possess? What was that technique just now? Tell me."

Kamizuki gave a half-smile and remained silent for a while.

"Lord Hokage's Advisor, you've arrived at a fortunate time."

Danzo frowned deeply. "What do you mean?"

"A few decades ago..."

The corners of Kamizuki's lips curled upward. "Just saying those words would have been enough for the Uchiha to exterminate the Shimura Clan."

Facing Shimura Danzō, who had numerous Anbu behind him, Kamizuki's eyes held not the slightest trace of fear!

Reckless and arrogant!