Just a Problem Child

The flames subsided slightly as the lightning web spread.

Shinna keenly sensed the Lightning Release on the ground and immediately ended her ninjutsu to sprint backward.

A lack of speed was indeed a drawback of Spider Web, but Shinmoku's speed was immense; his ordinary running achieved the effect of a Body Flicker Technique.

Stepping over the arcs of electricity, Shinmoku rushed behind Shinna and unleashed a Leaf Whirlwind.

It was essentially a sweep kick, but Shinna had been keeping a close eye on Shinmoku's movements and jumped up just in time before the strike landed.

However, she could see the lightning web had already reached her feet; she would definitely step on it upon landing.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall.

In the critical moment, Shinna formed hand seals, and a Water Formation Wall surged from the ground. She landed on top of the wall, condensing a board beneath her feet as if she were surfing.

Binding your own feet?

Shinmoku leaped five meters back.

Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind!

Witness what a control-type ninja is truly capable of!

Four stone pillars erupted from the ground around Shinna, their height even exceeding the first tier of the spectator stands.

Terrifying energy condensed between the pillars, and the next moment, dazzling lightning bolts burst forth simultaneously, firmly binding Shinna in mid-air.

Lightning Release: Lightning Strike.

Lightning Release: Cat Rush.

Above her was the forming Lightning Strike, and below was the spider web, where dozens of lightning-shaped cats converged at Shinna's feet.

"BOOM—"

The Lightning Strike descended, guiding the cat-shaped lightning, and Shinna was pierced through by the electricity.

"AH—"

Burning and stinging, Shinna let out a shrill scream.

"Hey... aren't they from the same family?"

In the stands, Sakura gripped her hem tightly, watching the brightest part of the lightning pillar with worry.

"Who knows?" Ino also looked fearful, "It's a good thing my opponent was you."

The technique lasted for about ten seconds.

"THUD!"

As the hand seals concluded, Shinna fell heavily to the ground.

"..." Genma Shiranui looked at Shinmoku, then glanced at the unconscious Shinna on the ground, and raised his hand, "The winner—Uchiha Shinmoku!"

Hearing this, Shinmoku walked over to Shinna and crouched beside her.

"Are you satisfied?"

Shinna opened her eyes weakly, staring at the sky, "I hate you."

"I understand."

Upon learning that she had never received her father's affection and had watched as all the love that should have been hers was poured onto him, Shinmoku had roughly understood her emotions.

"But I only have you."

"Hmm..."

He truly hadn't expected that.

In that case, her hot-and-cold behavior made sense.

What to do? If he didn't handle this well, she would be another candidate for a major boss.

After a moment of thought, he reached out his hand:

"I am sorry. I stole the love that belonged to you, and I will return it."

"How will you return it?"

Shinna looked at Shinmoku, her eyes filled with confusion.

"I will return it myself!"

Shinmoku promised with a serious gaze, and Shinna nodded heavily as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Mm."

Shinmoku placed her hands over his shoulders, hoisted her onto his back, and walked toward the steps of the waiting area.

"How moving," Orochimaru said to the Third Hokage, "There is one more group left, right? Should we have them go next?"

"No need, because they are here."

The moment he finished speaking, two figures appeared in the center of the arena: Kakashi Hatake and Second Pillar.

"Sorry, we were delayed by something," Kakashi said to Genma Shiranui, "Are we still able to participate in the match?"

"Hah!" Genma Shiranui bit down on the senbon in his mouth. "Just in time. Shinmoku and Shinna held them off for you."

"Have they finished fighting already?" Sasuke asked. "What was the result?"

"Shinmoku won. It was a brilliant battle."

"Is that so?" Sasuke said with a smile. "I won't be any worse than them."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

With that, Genma Shiranui raised his hand. "Next match: Konoha's Second Pillar versus Sunagakure's Gaara!"

In the corridor, Shinmoku stumbled upon an interesting scene.

Several noblemen's thugs were threatening Gaara, trying to force him to throw the match, only to be crushed into pulp by him in return.

As he passed by, Gaara glanced sideways at Shinmoku and the Shinna on his back, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

What were feelings or bonds? Wasn't it enough to just love oneself? If you hate someone, why not just kill them?

They had already fought to that extent; he could have killed that girl with a single blade, so why didn't he? Did he not need to confirm his own existence?

"...Your opponent is still waiting for you. Are you sure you want to start a fight with me here?"

Gaara gave him an indifferent look, said nothing, and walked straight toward the exit.

He had just tasted some foul-tasting blood, and Second Pillar was a main course he had been anticipating for a long time. As for these two, there would be opportunities later.

"What's his deal?"

Shinna, lying on Shinmoku's back, asked curiously.

"Just a problem child... aren't you one too?"

"..."

"Hey!" As he passed Temari, his eyes crinkled with a smile. "The one from your village is about to lose control~"

"Tch!" Temari let out a cold snort.

Of course she could sense it; after all, she and Kankuro were the ones who had spent the most time with Gaara.

But what was up with this Uchiha Shinmoku? Why did he act as if he had everything under control? Why did this mission plan feel so strange at every turn?

Ignoring her, Shinmoku walked over to the Konoha group, set Shinna down, and sat cross-legged himself to watch the battle while he recovered.

From the very beginning, the fight reached a fever pitch.

With Kakashi's help, Sasuke had mastered a method of using Lightning Release to stimulate his cells, similar to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, resulting in a massive increase in speed and power.

After a few rounds of taijutsu exchanges, Gaara retreated into his shell.

Sasuke gathered chakra at the soles of his feet, crouched on the wall, and began to weave hand seals.

"Chidori!"

Sasuke gathered Lightning Release chakra in his palm to form a high-intensity current, emitting a piercing sound like a thousand birds chirping.

"So that's how it is."

Shinmoku activated his Sharingan, successfully copying the technique and releasing it himself.

"Hey..."

Beside him, Kakashi wore a helpless expression. This boy was a legitimate wielder of the Sharingan and a master of Lightning Release, so such a situation was normal; he just hadn't expected that one day his own ninjutsu would be copied by someone else.

On the field, Sasuke began his sprint. In an instant, his palm pierced into Gaara's sand shell like a sharp blade.

He's losing control.

The Third Hokage sensed the chakra leaking out in that moment.

A Tailed Beast?

A large number of glowing feathers drifted down from the sky, and the villagers and genin watching the match fell asleep one after another.

"Hiss--"

Smoke filled the Hokage's viewing platform as someone threw smoke bombs laced with poison.

The guards behind Orochimaru had already been replaced by his own men, who now shed their disguises.

At the same time, two squads of Anbu leaped out from the room beneath the Third Hokage's feet.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out.