I'll Hold Them Off

Uchiha Seiichi raised his head. The One-Tomoe in his eyes spun endlessly, and fury filled his heart.

Hayato watched him quietly, then glanced toward the woods outside the cave. "Take Rin back to the clan."

"What?"

Seiichi froze, staring at Hayato in disbelief.

Hayato turned to Seiichi, his tone calm but cold. "Take Rin back. I'll hold them off!"

Seiichi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying?! How can I—"

Hayato grabbed Seiichi by the shoulder and leaned in slightly, meeting his crimson gaze. "Anger and grief did awaken your Sharingan, but what you have now is only a newly kindled flame."

"Take Rin's body and leave as fast as you can. Rin still has family. Her body can't be left behind here."

"You can take Rin back, too! I've awakened my Sharingan, so at least I have a chance—!" Seiichi roared.

"You... have a better chance than me?"

Hayato cut him off and glanced at him.

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. As he spoke, Seiichi saw Hayato's eyes turn crimson.

Two Tomoe spun slowly in them.

"Two... Two-Tomoe!"

Seiichi froze. He could hardly believe that Hayato had awakened the Sharingan too—and already had Two-Tomoe.

"Wait, you didn't just awaken it?"

Seiichi realized something was wrong. Hayato hadn't been with them, so he must have awakened it earlier.

"Yeah. Go. I have a better chance of holding them off than you do."

After speaking, Hayato walked out of the cave. He needed to make a few preparations.

He wasn't staying behind to play the hero. He needed to harvest more Bitter Fruit.

He couldn't pass up an opportunity like this, whatever anyone thought of his coldness. This was truly what he had in mind.

As for grieving for Rin, only the living had the right to mourn.

When Seiichi staggered away into the woods with Rin's body on his back, Hayato turned his gaze away.

Rumble!

The Explosive Tag trap was triggered, and an explosion rang out, sending flames roaring into the sky.

Seiichi glanced back at the commotion behind him, gritted his teeth, and ran on with all his strength.

"Rin! Don't worry. I'll take you home!"

The Root shinobi who had avoided the traps saw Hayato standing alone and sneered. "Staying behind to stop us? No matter what you do, we Mist shinobi will capture you."

"Root. Don't bother pretending."

Hayato wasn't surprised to see that the three of them hadn't suffered many injuries.

The Root shinobi's pupils contracted at Hayato's words. "Kill him!"

They didn't know how the kid in front of them had figured it out, but they absolutely couldn't let him live.

Whoosh!

Three figures charged straight at him.

[The Root has developed ill intent toward the host and the Uchiha, and intends to kill a fellow village shinobi. Evil Intent Evil Fruit triggered!]

Harvesting...

[Harvest successful]

[Selectable reward: Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation proficiency, chakra increased by 0.1 cards]

0.1 cards. It seemed Kakashi had become the unit of measurement.

Hayato chose the first reward again.

[Passive effect activated. Doubling in progress. Reward updated to: Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation proficiency+]

Memories of training in Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation surfaced in his mind. Just like the Taijutsu memories from before, they felt incredibly real.

He flicked his hand, sending out several strands of wire, while quickly forming Hand Seals: Snake–Dragon–Hare–Tiger.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

A straight line of flames shot toward the three Root shinobi at incredible speed and with tremendous force.

Boom!!

The Dragon Fire Technique exploded, engulfing all three figures.

Hayato's leg burst with force as he spun around and kicked behind him. A figure was sent flying.

"Trying that in front of an Uchiha? Don't you think it's laughable?"

Hayato landed and spoke softly.

Two figures had already reached either side of him and launched their attacks.

Hayato's eyes opened, revealing his Two-Tomoe Sharingan. He couldn't let these three escape alive, so there was no need to hide it.

Whoosh!

One of them arrived first, swinging the short blade in his hand down toward Hayato's chest.

Hayato twisted aside in an instant and swung his Ninja Blade at him.

The other Root shinobi rushed in and raised a hand to block Hayato's blade.

Clang! The Ninja Blades collided, throwing off sparks.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew everywhere. The Sharingan's enhanced perception let Hayato hold off both attackers while still managing to counterattack.

"Two-Tomoe! You've got some talent!"

The Root shinobi Hayato had kicked away came back. Seeing his eyes, he was stunned.

He had thought Hayato's Sharingan had awakened during that recent incident.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Hayato kicked the two men away again, then quickly formed Hand Seals: Rat–Tiger–Dog–Ox–Hare–Tiger.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Flames burst from his mouth in all directions, spreading to surround the three men.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A towering wall of water rose up, blocking all the Phoenix Sage Fire.

Steam billowed. Hayato leaped onto a tree branch and surveyed his surroundings.

These guys had made a habit of keeping up the act. Ever since they'd surrounded Seiichi and Rin, they'd shown nothing but Water Style.

Even now, after he'd called them out, they were still at it.

"Right!"

Hayato ducked. Chakra had already flooded into his leg, and he slammed a kick into the attacker, sending him flying.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bones rang out. The Root shinobi wore a stunned expression as he spat out a large mouthful of blood and was sent flying.

Rumble!

He smashed through several trees before finally coming to a stop. His chest was caved in, and he was barely breathing.

After that kick, Hayato drew his Ninja Blade and blocked an attack. He'd concentrated too much chakra into that one kick.

For the moment, he couldn't manage a second one.

Root shinobi weren't just any ordinary opponents. Taking one out with a single kick was already a stroke of luck.

Was the Uchiha Clan really this terrifying?

One of them saw that the Root shinobi was dead and decided to do whatever it took to take down Hayato.

As the two men lunged at him with everything they had, Hayato blocked their attacks while searching for an opening.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A huge fireball exploded, and Hayato used the shockwave to propel himself backward.

Then he vanished from where he stood.

"Watch out for his Body Flicker Technique!"

One of them had only just shouted when a Ninja Blade pierced straight through his chest.

Looking down at the blade being slowly pulled free, the Root shinobi had only one thought left.

So fast.

After taking out another opponent, Hayato charged at the last man with his blade. The next moment, he vanished again.

Clang!

This time, perhaps because his life was in danger, the last Root shinobi managed to block the strike with a burst of strength.

The corner of his mouth had just lifted when he sensed something was wrong.

His body!

Steel wire had bound the Root shinobi tightly. Hayato had already finished forming his Hand Seals. He took a sharp breath, then exhaled.

Boom!

A mass of flames exploded.

The roaring blaze swallowed the man, and the Root shinobi fell straight to the ground.

"Ah—!"

[Harvested Regret Bitter Fruit!]

[Selectable reward: Uchiha bloodline purity increased by 1%, chakra increased by 0.1 cards]

Hayato flicked the blood from his Ninja Blade, then sheathed it.

Choose: Uchiha bloodline purity increased by 1%.

[Passive effect activated. Doubling in progress. Reward updated to: Uchiha bloodline purity increased by 1.1%]

Regret? He was just upset because he was about to die.

Hayato watched coldly as the Root shinobi slowly stopped struggling in the flames, then tossed the other two corpses into the fire as well.

"I'm so considerate. I even gave you a funeral by fire."