The Patriarch's Summons?

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Seeing Uchiha Chen break free from their five-man encirclement so easily, the group was taken aback.

However, under the orders of the masked man leading them, the five quickly stood in a row and unleashed five massive fireballs toward Uchiha Chen in an instant.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

Uchiha Chen's hands moved like phantoms, completing the hand seals at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to track.

Immediately after, a cylindrical pillar of water spiraled up from the ground around Uchiha Chen's feet and shot into the sky, perfectly swallowing the fireballs spat out by the five men.

"To be able to use such a large-scale Water Style in such an arid place—truly unexpected!"

The leading masked man couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder as he watched the massive water pillar. Most members of the Uchiha clan were proficient in Fire Style, while very few knew Water Style.

Inside the water pillar, Uchiha Chen couldn't help but reveal a faint smile. The original owner of this body only knew a few basic Water and Fire Style techniques, and the Water Wall was one of them.

Just moments ago, as he prepared to cast the Water Wall, a familiar voice had echoed in his mind:

[You have gained a deep understanding of Water Style: Water Wall. You have had an epiphany and mastered Water Style: Water Wall (Advanced Version).]

Before he could even feel joy, Uchiha Chen switched to the advanced version of the technique in that very instant, and the results were as effective as expected.

However, it was far from over; the voice in Uchiha Chen's mind continued to ring out:

[You have gained a deep understanding of Water Style: Water Wall (Advanced Version). You have had an epiphany; from now on, casting Water Style: Water Wall (Advanced Version) requires only one hand seal.]

[Through careful observation of Water Style: Water Wall (Advanced Version), you have had another epiphany; from now on, casting Water Style: Water Wall (Advanced Version) requires no hand seals.]

[Your insight into Water Style ninjutsu has risen once more. You have had an epiphany and have deduced and mastered other standard Water Style ninjutsu (Advanced Version) (excluding Kekkei Genkai) without the need for hand seals.]

Uchiha Chen: !!!

Good grief, as expected of this heaven-defying max-level comprehension! He had only performed the technique once, and he had already reaped such massive rewards!

Although he had only mastered standard Water Style techniques—no forbidden or secret arts—this was already astonishing enough.

"Since I've learned new techniques, how could I possibly keep them hidden?"

Uchiha Chen grinned, looking every bit the bright and cheerful young man.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

With a thought, Uchiha Chen instantly activated the advanced Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique. The water pillars that had been swirling around him gradually split into five spiraling columns, eventually solidifying into five lifelike water dragons.

The five men stared in stunned silence at the scene before them. It wasn't until the water dragons took shape and they felt the soul-shaking pressure radiating from them that the five finally snapped back to reality.

"Gulp..."

The five couldn't help but swallow hard.

When they saw those five water dragons diving toward them, they were terrified out of their wits, their legs turning to jelly. They never imagined that Uchiha Chen's strength would be so formidable.

These five water dragons were simply too terrifying; if they were hit head-on, they would likely be dead or at least severely injured!

"Oh no, run!!"

The leader let out a desperate roar, turned around, and stumbled away in a panic.

But would Uchiha Chen let them escape?

The five water dragons accelerated instantly, whistling through the air.

"BOOM!!"

Several loud bangs were followed by several cries of agony.

Five figures were launched into the sky, tracing five perfect parabolas before crashing heavily to the ground.

As their masks shattered and fell, all five spat out a mouthful of blood simultaneously. Their spirits withered, and it was clear they had lost the ability to resist.

The leading masked man endured the intense pain throughout his body and looked at Uchiha Chen.

He saw Uchiha Chen use his foot to flick up one of the kunai they had thrown earlier, walking toward them unhurriedly with a faint, enigmatic smile on his face.

The masked man's pupils contracted sharply. He felt the killing intent radiating from Uchiha Chen and hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Uchiha Chen, don't... don't kill us! We're on the same side!"

"On the same side?"

Uchiha Chen scoffed, clearly not believing it.

"We really are on the same side! We are all members of the Uchiha clan. My name is Uchiha Inabi, from the Konoha Police Force. And that is Uchiha Dayong, and he is..."

Seeing this, Uchiha Inabi hurriedly tore off his cloak, revealing the prominent Uchiha clan crest on his back.

"Look, this is our Uchiha clan crest!"

Seeing the crest—the ping-pong paddle—on the back of Uchiha Inabi's clothes, the corner of Uchiha Chen's eye couldn't help but twitch. Good grief, they really were from the Uchiha clan.

But upon second thought, Uchiha Chen's gaze turned fierce again, and a cold sneer appeared on his lips.

"So what if you're all from the Uchiha clan? Since you wanted to harm me, how could I possibly let you live?"

"No, no, no, it's not like that! We didn't mean to harm you. We were just following the Clan Head's orders to bring you to meet him!"

Uchiha Inabi waved his hands frantically to explain, terrified that Uchiha Chen would kill them right then and there.

"Then why did you lay hands on me? Could this also be the Clan Head's intention?"

Uchiha Chen frowned.

Uchiha Fugaku actually wants to see me?

This is certainly no good thing. I only wanted to keep a low profile and develop in peace, avoiding any unwanted attention, but now, it seems things are going against my wishes.

"Ahem, well... this was our own decision. The fact that Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya fought over you yesterday was truly shocking. And today, the Clan Head specifically summoned you, so we just wanted to test your strength..."

Uchiha Inabi lowered his head to explain.

Of course, he would never admit that they had attacked out of jealousy.

Uchiha Chen cast a cold glance at Uchiha Inabi; as for what he said, Uchiha Chen did not care in the slightest.

Uchiha Fugaku—he really did not want to meet him.

Should I kill these people to silence them?

And then pretend we never met?

Feeling the coldness in Uchiha Chen's gaze, Uchiha Inabi and the others felt a chill surge from the depths of their hearts and hurriedly knelt on the ground.

"Lord Chen, we know we were wrong! We won't dare do it again, please spare us!"

Looking at Uchiha Inabi and the others with snot running down their faces, Uchiha Chen sighed slightly. Since things had already reached this point, killing them would be of no use; Uchiha Fugaku or the upper echelons of the Uchiha clan would come knocking sooner or later.

"Hmph, since the Clan Head wants to see me, why aren't you leading the way?"

Uchiha Chen tossed out these words and began walking toward the village on his own.