Purple Giant, Azure Arc

Even surrounded by ten ninja, Shisui of the Body Flicker did not show the slightest hint of panic.

"It seems you knew I was coming?"

He drew his kunai, prepared for battle, and asked.

"Haha, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own people? Shisui of the Body Flicker of the Uchiha, leave your eyes behind today."

The leader of the ninja waved his hand, and the other nine immediately closed in.

They were elite Cloud Ninja, yet facing Shisui of the Body Flicker, they were forced to resort to the most shameless of group tactics.

"Since you know who I am, do you really think this is enough to keep me here?"

As Shisui spoke, his eyes shifted into the four-tomoe Sharingan.

"Don't look into his eyes! Use the tactics we prepared!"

The leader shouted, and earthen walls rose up all around, trapping Shisui in the center.

Next, a dozen Earth Puppets formed from the walls and began to walk toward Shisui at a sluggish pace.

Such speed posed no threat to Shisui.

He easily dispatched the two puppets closest to him.

But he soon realized something was wrong.

While the power of these puppets was mediocre, they possessed a truly annoying ability: they could absorb an enemy's chakra upon contact.

Not only that, but the ground itself had taken on the same property.

In other words, these Cloud Ninja had no intention of engaging in close-quarters combat; they meant to drain him dry.

Shisui's abilities were practically broken, but he had one glaring weakness: his chakra reserves.

That the enemy could detect this and formulate a targeted attack—Shisui refused to believe they hadn't been provided with intelligence by someone from his own side.

At that moment, he recalled Ryosuke's words.

Konoha intended to trade their Sharingan in exchange for peace with the Cloud.

Even if Shisui managed to escape back home, he would likely be branded an "intruder" and handed over to the Cloud Ninja to be dealt with.

Thinking of this, Shisui felt deeply disillusioned.

He would not have minded dying to protect Konoha, but this kind of sacrifice left him feeling cold and disheartened.

Several Earth Puppets closed in, yet Shisui remained unmoved.

He allowed himself to be enveloped by the Earth Puppets as they continuously drained his chakra.

"Why isn't he moving? Could it be a clone?"

"Idiot, a clone would have vanished long ago after having that much chakra absorbed. He must realize there's no hope of escape."

"So this is the Uchiha. Nothing special after all."

"Regardless, our mission here is complete. It was much easier than expected. I wonder how things are going on the other side."

The Cloud Ninja Anbu dismantled the earthen walls, discussing the battle as they walked toward the Shisui encased by the Earth Puppets.

BOOM!

With a thunderous sound, the Earth Puppets surrounding Shisui instantly shattered into countless clods of dirt.

A purple armored giant, dozens of meters tall, rose from the ground.

Shisui stood atop its head, but his Sharingan was no longer in its four-tomoe form; it had shifted into a shuriken-like pattern.

"What is that?"

The Cloud Ninja Anbu were stunned into silence by the sight before them.

They had never heard of Shisui possessing such a technique.

Some began to retreat, having no idea how to fight such a massive entity.

Others attempted to resist, throwing countless shuriken.

But these weapons could not even scratch the armor of the Armored Samurai.

Shisui looked down at the "ants" beneath his feet. He didn't even bother with other techniques; with just a few stomps, he crushed the once-arrogant Cloud Ninja Anbu to death.

Meanwhile, a hundred miles away, Ryosuke and his two companions were locked in battle with Cloud Ninja Anbu.

They had already taken down three of them, but their own chakra was severely depleted.

With seven ninja remaining on the opposing side, the situation looked dire.

Just then, the earth began to tremble.

A chilling aura swept across the area.

Everyone present was shocked.

"What's going on? Could there be a wild Tailed Beast in the vicinity?" one of the Cloud Ninja Anbu couldn't help but wonder.

"You idiots, all the Tailed Beasts have already been sealed within their jinchuriki. Don't waste time; completing the mission is what matters. Remember, capture them alive."

The Anbu captain shouted loudly.

That was correct; this was the reason why they held a numerical advantage yet still hadn't succeeded.

Because the Raikage had issued them an order to capture them alive.

Before finding a compatible host for the Sharingan, they had to ensure the vitality of the eyes.

Ryosuke and the other two exchanged glances, simultaneously activating their Sharingan to peer into the distance.

However, the detection range of their Sharingan was limited.

Only Ryosuke, with the dual amplification of Pesquisa and his Sharingan, could barely make out a purple shadow.

"What is that?"

Ryosuke was startled.

That should have been the direction Shisui went; could he have encountered the Raikage himself?

But even so, Shisui should have no problem disengaging if he wanted to.

"Ryosuke-kun, what should we do now?"

Miyuki's voice interrupted Ryosuke's thoughts.

"Cover me, I'll take care of them."

Ryosuke had originally intended to keep his strength hidden.

But under these circumstances, he could no longer afford to do so.

If that terrifying figure in the distance joined the battlefield, they would have no chance of survival.

Sanhe and Miyuki looked at each other and nodded in unison.

The two swallowed a Military Ration Pill and simultaneously unleashed their ninjutsu.

"Multi-Shadow Clone Technique!"

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

The way the two unleashed their ninjutsu, with no regard for chakra consumption, certainly caused the Cloud Ninja Anbu quite a bit of trouble.

But that was all.

They merely retreated a few steps, avoiding the brunt of the assault.

Because they could see that these three Uchiha brats were already at the end of their rope.

Next, they heard the youngest Uchiha brat shout: "Eight Inner Gates: Open!"

Ryosuke finally utilized the most powerful technique he currently possessed, the Eight Inner Gates.

And he could only open up to the fifth gate for now.

But this was merely the beginning.

"Lightning Release: Rampage!"

Amidst the cyan mist, electric arcs crawled all over Ryosuke's body.

Sanhe and Miyuki were both stunned.

They had heard of the Eight Inner Gates; it was Konoha's strongest taijutsu.

But they had never heard of anyone other than Guy mastering this technique, let alone an eight-year-old Uchiha Ryosuke.

If that wasn't enough, he was actually using ninjutsu at the same time?

A crackling flash of electricity streaked by.

The first Cloud Ninja Anbu suddenly collapsed to his knees.

Behind him, there was only a cyan afterimage.

"Quickly..."

Before the Anbu captain could finish his order, his head went flying.

The other Cloud Ninja Anbu were all dumbfounded.

What was happening?

Was this Uchiha brat a devil?