A Bitter Fight Against Rōsha

"Furthermore," Uchiha Matsuri panted heavily, "the bottom of Scarlet Valley is just ahead. Once we enter that area, the Suna ninja won't be able to track us down so easily!"

Time ticked away second by second, and Kushina Uzumaki was gradually reaching her physical limit. Dozens of minutes of desperate running had already consumed more than half of the chakra stored within Uchiha Matsuri's Yin Seal. Consequently, if he were to stop now for a life-or-death struggle, Uchiha Matsuri lacked the confidence to defeat them, especially since the pursuing Suna ninja included several formidable experts.

Twenty minutes later, just as the three of them were about to enter the depths of Scarlet Valley, they saw a mass of golden sand in the air ahead, gathering rapidly like a raging golden tide and surging toward them.

Damn it.

We were caught after all!

Uchiha Matsuri turned his head to glance at the dozen or so Suna ninja standing a dozen meters away.

Blocked in front, pursued from behind.

I have no choice but to fight!

Without a moment's hesitation, Uchiha Matsuri suddenly turned and ran toward the rear.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Fireballs erupted from Uchiha Matsuri's mouth, and several unprepared Suna ninja were instantly scorched by the flames.

Clack!

As the kunai thrown by the three of them clashed with those of the Suna ninja, Uchiha Matsuri and his companions immediately engaged the eight or nine enemies in close-quarters combat.

After successfully cutting down one ninja, Uchiha Matsuri caught a glimpse of Kushina Uzumaki being surrounded by seven or eight people a dozen meters away.

Just as Uchiha Matsuri moved to assist her, a figure blocked the path between him and Kushina Uzumaki.

"Your opponent is me!" said a red-haired youth with a sand-waterfall motif, who looked to be only in his teens.

An hour ago, upon seeing the black-haired youth use Lightning Release, Rōsha had been filled with excitement, eager to cross blades with someone of a similar age. Now, seeing the boy stop running and turn to fight, Rōsha realized the moment for a duel had arrived.

"Who are you?" Uchiha Matsuri asked, his body covered in wounds and his face etched with killing intent.

"Rōsha of the Sand Waterfall!" Rōsha replied.

So it's the Fourth Kazekage from the original story! Uchiha Matsuri thought.

Although Rōsha's strength as the Fourth Kazekage was only considered mid-to-low tier among the Five Kage or the successive Kazekage, he himself was merely a genin with the combat ability of a chunin, and he was severely wounded; he stood no chance of gaining an advantage against Rōsha.

What Uchiha Matsuri didn't know was that Rōsha was only fourteen at this time, and the Magnet Release bloodline limit that could suppress the One-Tail Shukaku in the original story was something Rōsha could only control in a very limited capacity right now.

"Let me see what you're truly capable of!" Uchiha Matsuri pulled out a scroll and retrieved several kunai and shuriken. With his chakra nearly depleted, he had no choice but to rely on his blades.

The sand beneath Rōsha's feet was whipped up as if by a gale, instantly swirling into the air.

"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Raging Waves!"

The golden sand surged forward, rushing toward Uchiha Matsuri a dozen meters away.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow City Wall!"

A high wall made of earth and sand blocked the incoming tide.

"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Shuriken!"

A shuriken formed from gold sand took shape in Rōsha's hand.

Rōsha threw the Gold Sand Shuriken with force; the moment it pierced the Earth Flow City Wall, the high wall instantly crumbled to pieces.

Witnessing his Earth Release being broken, Uchiha Matsuri did not despair, instead throwing three kunai in an arc.

After dodging the kunai, Rōsha quickly performed a series of hand seals.

"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Grand Funeral!"

All the gold sand on the ground was lifted by the wind, filling the sky and creating a massive sandstorm within a hundred-meter radius, further blurring Uchiha Matsuri's already darkened vision.

Although my Gold Sand Grand Funeral isn't perfected and I can't control the sand to crush inward, this sandstorm should be enough to give him a hard time, Rōsha thought triumphantly.

Taking advantage of his opponent's obstructed vision, Rōsha charged into the sandstorm, kunai in hand.

With his vision impaired, Uchiha Matsuri lost all agility.

Slash.

A kunai grazed Uchiha Matsuri's right cheek, and a stream of blood flowed from the wound.

"Die!" Rōsha shouted.

In an instant, Uchiha Matsuri felt a powerful force strike his left knee.

Thud.

Uchiha Matsuri lost his balance, dropping to one knee and gasping for air.

In a battle like this, there's simply no time for me to use medical ninjutsu. Uchiha Matsuri slammed his right hand into the ground, a sense of despair washing over him.

Seeing Uchiha Matsuri's miserable state, Rōsha ceased his attack and looked down at him with a smug expression.

"Ninja of Konoha, stop struggling. I know your chakra is almost gone," Rōsha taunted. "Actually, I quite admire you. After using so many powerful techniques, you still have some chakra left. It's no exaggeration to say you have the largest chakra reserves of anyone my age I've ever met."

"It's just a pity that today, you're going to die by my hand." The thought of killing this "expert" his own age filled Rōsha with uncontrollable excitement.

"Hmph, if my chakra runs out, I'll use this shuriken to end my own life," Uchiha Matsuri gritted his teeth. "In any case, I will never die at your hands."

"Then let's see if I kill you first, or if you commit suicide first!"

Swish.

Rōsha held a kunai in his hand and sprinted toward Uchiha Matsuri.

Amidst the sandstorm, Uchiha Matsuri could only hear the sound of Rōsha's approaching footsteps, but due to his obstructed vision, he could neither see Rōsha's figure nor track his movements.

Damn it.

If it has to be this way, I have no choice but to activate that skill.

For ten years, Uchiha Matsuri had deliberately hidden the fact that he possessed a Single Tomoe Sharingan. It was not because the Single Tomoe Sharingan held any immense power, but because of the unique nature of the Sharingan; the Uchiha Clan, who possessed such eyes, had always been subjected to the wariness and suspicion of others. To avoid being mistrusted or alienated, Uchiha Matsuri had never used the Single Tomoe Sharingan in battle.

However, in a life-or-death situation, only a fool would hold back their trump cards.

Uchiha Matsuri slowly closed his eyes. Two seconds later, he suddenly snapped them open, his originally black irises turning a vivid crimson.

Upon activating the Single Tomoe Sharingan, Uchiha Matsuri instantly perceived Rōsha's movement path through the sandstorm.

Swish.

A kunai thrown by Rōsha flew straight toward Uchiha Matsuri's neck, but the latter dodged it with ease.

"The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan?" Seeing Uchiha Matsuri's blood-red eyes, Rōsha was slightly surprised. "No wonder he could easily evade my attacks within the sandstorm. I've heard that the Sharingan possesses formidable genjutsu capabilities; it seems I must be careful."