I'll Kill Them!

Hayato had barely finished speaking when six people burst out of the dense woods on either side, trying to surround them.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Without hesitation, Hayato formed Hand Seals at once, gathering chakra in his throat. A blazing inferno burst from his mouth, and a fireball nearly five meters across hurtled toward the six.

The scorching heat made even Seiichi and Rin glance over.

Seiichi and Rin knew this wasn't the time to ask questions. They quickly formed a defensive formation with Hayato.

The six blocking their path were aghast. They hadn't expected the Uchiha kid before them to unleash a jutsu of such power.

They hurriedly scattered to avoid it.

"Who are these people?" Rin shouted.

Hayato didn't respond. His gaze fell on the spot where they had just dodged the Great Fireball.

These guys... are well-trained, but they've gone out of their way to hide their faces.

A small country couldn't produce people like these. They had to be from another great nation—but that didn't add up either.

Thinking about why they had set out, and how these people had clearly been lying in wait here, Hayato furrowed his brow.

An idea surfaced in his mind: Root.

"Be careful. These guys are no ordinary opponents."

After saying that, Hayato drew the Ninja Blade he carried.

As the dust cleared, only three figures remained ahead. Hayato glanced around.

"Attack!"

A voice snapped out before the dust had even settled.

Two figures rushed in from the side, their Kunai aimed straight for Hayato's vital points.

"Spread out!"

Hayato roared and stamped his foot against the ground, using his blade to deflect the attacks of two Root shinobi.

[Detected Root's attack on the host and the Uchiha, with the intent to obtain live-subject data for experiments to stimulate Sharingan awakening. Triggering retribution!]

Harvesting...

[Harvest successful]

[Selectable trait rewards: Konoha Style Taijutsu (Konoha Whirlwind), chakra increased by 0.1 cards]

Hayato paused for a moment, then chose Konoha Whirlwind without hesitation.

They were in the middle of a fight. Having more techniques at his disposal could only help.

[Passive effect activated. Doubling... Trait reward updated to: Konoha Style Taijutsu (including Konoha Whirlwind and various techniques)]

The next moment, a flood of memories suddenly filled his mind. A figure demonstrated the taijutsu's kicks, the way to unleash the muscles' power, and the techniques for guiding chakra.

The three men fighting Hayato suddenly felt as though he had become someone else. His taijutsu had improved so much that they were struggling to keep up.

Hayato's eyes lit up. He had only chosen Konoha Whirlwind, but the techniques had been genuinely implanted in his mind.

Everything he hadn't understood before now came together.

This passive ability was the right choice!

Thud!

Hayato tapped the ground with his toe, and his entire body vanished from where he stood.

"Body Flicker Technique?!"

The Root shinobi were startled. In the next instant, Hayato appeared right in front of one of them, his Ninja Blade chopping down.

The eyes of the masked Root shinobi widened. The blade sliced through his throat, and his body fell backward.

Hayato grabbed the Root shinobi's head and tucked it at his waist. Then he vanished again.

The two Root shinobi surrounding Hayato scanned for the slightest disturbance. This Uchiha's speed was far too great.

Body Flicker Shisui!

That was the only thought in their minds. Could this guy have some connection to Shisui?

As the two watched warily, Hayato appeared behind one of them like a phantom. His Ninja Blade pierced in beneath the ribs and ran straight through the man's heart.

Then he pulled out his blade and attacked the last one.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The last man had used that brief opening to finish forming his Hand Seals. He spat out several enormous blades of wind.

The terrifying wind blades closed in fast. Hayato could feel the stinging sensation of them slicing through the air against his face.

The next moment, Hayato's black eyes transformed into a pair of scarlet Two-Tomoe.

Rumble!

The Great Breakthrough struck the ground, sending an enormous cloud of dust surging into the sky.

The Root shinobi swallowed nervously and cautiously approached.

At that angle and distance, there was no way the Uchiha kid could have dodged.

Whoosh!

Several Kunai shot out through the dust. The Root shinobi realized something was wrong and tried to retreat, but it was too late.

Squish—

The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out. Hayato had appeared behind the Root shinobi.

"You want to use us for experiments? You think you're worthy?"

The Root shinobi turned to look at him and froze at the sight of those scarlet Two-Tomoe. The light in his eyes gradually faded, and then he stopped breathing.

Swish!

Hayato drew his blade and chopped off the Root shinobi's head, then sealed it away. It might come in handy.

He casually burned the bodies to ashes.

"Rin!"

Just then, Seiichi's anguished voice rang out in the distance.

Hayato paused, then pushed off the ground and raced toward the sound.

The Root shinobi had clearly intended to split up their team. He had no idea how Seiichi and Rin were holding up.

In the woods, Seiichi held Rin tightly. She had just stepped in front of him to take the attack. A scarlet One-Tomoe had appeared in his eye.

The three Root shinobi around them saw this and slowly approached.

An Uchiha's strength after awakening their Sharingan was nothing like it had been before. Now that they had obtained this data, all they had to do was figure out the purpose of their mission, and their task would be complete.

"Seiichi, run! Go find Hayato..."

Blood kept pouring from Rin's chest. She gasped for breath and glanced sideways at the scarlet in Seiichi's eye. Then a look of determination came into her eyes.

"Go!"

With the last of her strength, Rin shoved Seiichi away and charged straight at the three Root shinobi closing in around her.

"Go find Hayato!"

Squish!

The next moment, several Kunai pierced Rin as she rushed forward, but she clung tightly to two of the men.

If she can hold them off just a little longer, Seiichi can get away!

The Root shinobi's expressions turned cold. One of them thrust a Kunai straight at Rin's neck.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Thump! Thump!

A voice rang out, and the Root shinobi were sent flying through the air like projectiles.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Hayato quickly formed Hand Seals and sent a fireball hurtling toward them, even larger than the one before.

After that, Hayato immediately carried Rin and Seiichi away from the spot.

When the flames died down, the three Root shinobi had gathered together.

"Wasn't that kid surrounded on his own? How could he..."

The Root shinobi who had spoken trailed off. The fact that Hayato had made it here meant the other three were already dead.

"I'll go look for them. You two go after them. They've got two injured people with them, so they can't have gone far."

Swish!

All three figures vanished from where they stood.

In a cave, Hayato stopped what he was doing.

Rin's eyes were open, but they were vacant. She had no breath left.

"I'll kill them!"

A voice rang out, raw with anguish. Hayato turned to look.