A New Sharingan

As far as speed went, the slender, frail Uchiha were no match for the strong, sturdy Senju.

Shiri didn't dare escape along the main path down the mountain. She could only take the narrow, winding trails that climbed higher, relying on the Sharingan's keen insight to keep Senju Arashi from catching up.

As they climbed higher, the vegetation around them gradually thinned. At last, the three of them were driven to the edge of a deep cliff, with nowhere left to go.

Shiri and Wuming stopped and exchanged a glance. With no way to retreat, they could only take down their pursuer.

Though Senju Arashi was one of the Senju Clan's top shinobi, Wuming was also a secret weapon trained by the Uchiha.

All the Senju who had ever seen Wuming fight had been silenced. Senju Arashi couldn't possibly know anything about her, so they could catch her off guard and defeat her.

Senju Arashi arrived soon after, but didn't rush into an attack. Keeping a safe distance, she watched the three of them. Only after a long while did she ask, "What brings you here?"

Shiri smiled. "You attacked without even bothering to find out who we were or what we wanted, and now you ask our purpose? The Senju Clan certainly knows how to throw its weight around!"

"These are unusual times, and you were skulking nearby," Senju Arashi replied. "It's only natural that a misunderstanding would arise."

While the two were talking, Wuming activated her Sharingan and charged at Senju Arashi!

As far as Senju Arashi knew, Wuming had already unleashed several powerful techniques. Given her age, she should have very little chakra left.

So she kept her guard focused on Shiri, not expecting Wuming to attack first.

Senju Arashi steeled herself and met her carefully. The moment they clashed, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

It turned out Wuming's Taijutsu had been copied with her Sharingan. Senju Arashi felt as if she were fighting a smaller version of herself.

Using her Yachihoko ability, Wuming drained vast amounts of chakra from Uchiha captives marked with her seals.

She channeled the stolen chakra into her fists and feet, making her attacks far more powerful and faster than those of Senju Arashi, the original.

Senju Arashi could only try to put some distance between them, but every time she managed to break away, Shiri attacked from the side with Shuriken and Fire Release, stopping her in her tracks.

For a while, Senju Arashi was left scrambling to deal with the attacks.

Gradually losing ground, Senju Arashi grew anxious. At last, she stopped dodging the straight punch Wuming threw at her and swung her own fist at Wuming.

Their fists collided head-on with a thunderous Bang! Senju Arashi's arm went numb, and Wuming was knocked back by the force of the impact.

But Senju Arashi forced herself to hold her ground. The taste of blood flooded her mouth, yet she had been prepared for this. She formed a Hand Seal with one hand and cried, "Water Release: Raging Torrent!"

A jet of water burst from Senju Arashi's mouth and struck Wuming in midair.

With no way to brace herself, Wuming was sent flying by the attack and landed beside Qiancao, unable to get back up for the moment.

Shiri quickly formed Hand Seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" A massive fireball shot toward Senju Arashi.

After forming Hand Seals, Senju Arashi slapped both hands against the ground. "Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

A wall of earth erupted from the ground and blocked the fireball. Before Shiri's Great Fireball Technique had even finished, Senju Arashi was already rushing toward her.

Behind the wall, Senju Arashi had used Water Release to summon water and wrap herself in it, letting her cross the flames and reach Shiri. She punched Shiri in the stomach!

The blow doubled Shiri over and sent her to the ground. The outcome of the fight was becoming clear.

Seeing Senju Arashi charging toward him, Qiancao calmly finished forming the Hand Seals for the Great Fireball Technique and blasted a stream of flame at her!

Perhaps the danger had awakened Qiancao's potential. This was the most perfect and powerful Great Fireball Technique he had ever unleashed, its force in no way inferior to the one Shiri had just produced.

But Qiancao was still clumsy with the Hand Seals, giving Senju Arashi time to react. She used Water Formation Wall to shield herself on all sides.

That brief delay was enough. Using the steam from the clash of water and fire as cover, Wuming rose from where she lay and rushed straight at Senju Arashi with a Kunai in hand!

Perhaps Wuming had been injured by the earlier blow; her attack was noticeably slower.

The steam concealed her, making the attack sudden, but Senju Arashi still managed to react. Before the Kunai could reach her, she used her longer reach to punch Wuming!

To Senju Arashi's surprise, Wuming took the punch without retreating. Instead, Senju Arashi herself suddenly fell into a strange state.

She found herself on a burning plain, with countless enemies bearing the Sharingan charging toward her!

It was her first time facing so many enemies, yet she had no desire to run. Instead, she charged into the crowd and fought them head-on.

From Qiancao's point of view, Senju Arashi had frozen in place after punching Wuming. Her expression shifted between fervor and despair, until, after a fierce struggle, she collapsed as if utterly exhausted.

Seeing Senju Arashi fall, Wuming breathed a sigh of relief. Her Mangekyō Sharingan slowly faded, revealing her original black pupils.

This was the strongest Senju kunoichi Wuming had encountered in years.

Not only were her techniques powerful and her chakra reserves vast, but her physical abilities were exceptional too.

Even with her Yachihoko ability continuously supplying her with chakra, Wuming was exhausted. Yet this Senju kunoichi showed no sign of fatigue.

Wuming had tried several times to control her with genjutsu, but the Senju Clan had long prepared ways to counter Uchiha genjutsu. Ordinary Sharingan Genjutsu had no effect at all.

She could only risk injury to draw Senju Arashi into the Tsukuyomi World, where she had managed to restrain her for the moment.

But her Sharingan had only just gained the power of Tsukuyomi. It probably wouldn't inflict fatal damage, and the danger hadn't passed yet.

With that thought, Wuming pulled out a Kunai and moved in to finish her off.

Ever since unleashing the Great Fireball Technique, Qiancao's heart had been pounding. He had just poured every ounce of strength into it and was so worked up that he couldn't speak.

Only after seeing Senju Arashi fall did he finally relax. He was about to praise Wuming when he noticed something strange about the color of the ground behind her.

"Wuming, watch out!" Qiancao had only just called out when the air rippled. Keisuke, holding a katana, suddenly appeared and slashed at Wuming!

Wuming had just turned around, not yet able to ask Qiancao what was wrong, when Keisuke's blade was already upon her. She could only lean back slightly to dodge, but Keisuke's slash still struck her.

Blood gushed from her chest as Wuming slowly fell to the ground. With her final glimpse before fainting, she looked at Qiancao. "Is this really the last time I'll see Qiancao? I guess I'm a little... reluctant to accept it."

Watching it all unfold, Qiancao saw nothing but scarlet, as if Wuming's blood had stained the entire world red.

Keisuke, with only one Sharingan left, didn't think he'd done anything wrong. Looking at Wuming, who was still breathing, he marveled inwardly, No wonder she's the ultimate weapon the Uchiha created. She survived even that.

Suddenly, he sensed a strange chakra around him. The moment he turned his head, Qiancao came charging at him, eyes blazing red.

Those eyes weren't ordinary Tomoe. They were a Mangekyō, radiating an ominous aura unlike anything Keisuke had ever seen.