That meant, judging from this data, Di was at least no weaker than Toroi!
"This really is... an unexpected delight."
Mo's lips curled slightly as his gaze fell on the three below.
"You can still keep dancing, right? If this is all you've got, I'm afraid you'll become grains of sand and remain here forever."
Dodai's expression turned grave as he stared intently at Uchiha Mo.
"Fu, E! We attack together! This guy is stronger than the rumors said. I can't keep defending you like before, then watching and gathering intelligence before making my move to defeat him!"
Dodai's abilities leaned more toward defense and support. He did not possess particularly strong offensive methods, and as a strategist by nature, he usually fought alongside his companions to take down enemies.
The companions beside him were also Elite Jonin specially pulled from the Raikage Guard Team by the Third Raikage for the Hidden Leaf battlefield!
Aside from the sensory ninja code-named C, whom the Third Raikage had taken with him due to battlefield needs, Di, code-named D, E, code-named E, and Fu, code-named F, were all at Dodai's side!
Fu and E nodded at his words, their expressions solemn as they looked up at Uchiha Mo.
"Good. Then the operation... begins!"
The instant he finished speaking, lightning burst from Fu's blade. He bent his knees and sprang forward, charging fiercely toward Uchiha Mo, while Dodai spun and followed close behind him.
E remained where he was, his hands rapidly forming seals before his chest.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion: Lightning Pillar!"
E's entire body instantly transformed into electric light, making him exceptionally conspicuous in the clearing.
This was a Lightning Release genjutsu. It used electric light to make the opponent mistake it for a vision-obscuring ninjutsu, then took advantage of that cover to draw them into the illusion without their noticing.
Yet in the next moment, E suddenly shuddered for no apparent reason. An image flashed before his eyes: Uchiha Mo seeing through the genjutsu, appearing in front of him in an instant, drawing his sword, and beheading him! His pupils began to tremble violently, and his face turned deathly pale.
The three tomoe in Uchiha Mo's eyes slowly spun as he gave a disdainful sneer.
Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change!
This was one of the Sharingan's ocular techniques. It instantly dispelled an enemy's genjutsu cast upon the user, then completely reflected the technique's effects back at the enemy.
In the original story, Itachi Uchiha had used this ability to nearly get Kurenai Yuhi killed by her own genjutsu.
"Damn it!"
Fu cursed under his breath. Yet even though the technique meant to distract Mo had failed, he was already an arrow on the string and had no choice but to fire.
He gripped his ninja sword tightly and viciously slashed the lightning-wreathed blade down at Uchiha Mo!
Mo's right hand grasped the hilt of Futsunomitama and drew it in an instant.
Clang!
Holding Futsunomitama in a reverse grip, he firmly blocked Fu's ninja sword before him with its gleaming blade.
But at the instant of impact, another figure suddenly emerged from behind Fu and appeared at Mo's side. A ball of lightning crackling with blue arcs appeared in his palm, aimed directly at Mo's head. It was Dodai!
"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike..."
Screech—!
Before he could finish, Futsunomitama, held in Mo's reverse grip, was instantly covered in dense electric light alongside the cry of an eagle. Then, Futsunomitama sliced through Fu's ninja sword without losing momentum!
Slash!
Splat!
A terrified head and three severed fingers of varying lengths soared into the air together!
Lightning Release Proficiency +4.06%
Yang Release Proficiency +1.54%
Thud!
Fu's corpse fell from the branch and hit the ground with a dull sound. Dodai had already retreated to the side, clutching three fingers that had been severed by at least half. His expression was exceptionally grim.
Yet at this sight, Uchiha Mo's lips curved slightly, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly turning.
"A child's little tricks before his teacher are always so foolish and obvious. Did you think such amateurish skills could fool these eyes?"
The three had worked together almost perfectly.
But unfortunately, Mo himself was a true super genius when it came to combat intelligence! With Jonin-level strength, he had nearly killed Kakuzu, and with Elite Jonin-level strength, he had made Orochimaru suffer greatly.
Combined with the Sharingan's enhanced perception, Mo had guessed their intentions the instant the three Cloud Ninja began moving.
"Brat, at my age, you're the child."
The Death of Dodai
"Brat, at my age, you're the child."
Dodai clutched his left hand, his gaze dark as water. His face was pale and unsightly.
Only a few short minutes had passed since the battle began, yet two of their four Elite Jonin had already fallen. Neither he nor E, the two remaining, were in good condition.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Mo had barely expended any chakra at all.
"This can't go on!" Dodai gritted his teeth inwardly. He turned and exchanged a glance with the even paler E, then made a hand signal. E immediately understood and nodded, quickly running toward Dodai.
Mo shifted his gaze slightly and leaped down from the branch. His right hand held a straight sword while his left hung naturally at his side.
With a tap of his toes against the ground, the straight sword abruptly turned crimson. He raised its edge and swiftly closed in on Dodai!
"The game of house is over. Become kindling for war."
Dodai's face changed in alarm. As he retreated, he shouted, "E!"
"Got it!" E shouted in reply, his hands rapidly forming seals.
Snake—Rabbit—Dog!
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Wall!" E slammed both hands onto the ground, and four towering earth walls instantly rose, firmly protecting him and Dodai within.
As the earth walls rose, Dodai also began moving at high speed.
"Lava Release: Protective Rubber Wall!"
Dodai rapidly spewed a large amount of rubber from his mouth. The rubber swiftly clung to the surrounding Earth Flow Walls, forming another layer of wall inside them. It then spread upward and sealed the top, creating a tight defense that separated the inside from the outside like two different worlds.
"Whew..." Once the defense was complete, both men breathed sighs of relief.
Dodai's Lava Release combined with the Earth Flow Wall possessed extremely impressive defensive power. Even the Third Raikage would find it difficult to break through without using Hell Stab, so they were very confident in it.
"Alright. Now we only need to stall until the ninjas from the Third Division notice something is wrong and return to support us. Then he'll be dead for sure." Dodai took out a roll of bandages from his Ninja Tool Pouch, intending to wrap his fingers.
"I never expected the Blood Ninja to be this strong! If he takes this chance to run, we must report the situation to Lord A after this battle ends. This guy must be eliminated! I heard he's only eleven. If he's allowed to fully mature, he'll definitely become Hidden Cloud's greatest future threat!"
E's face was pale, and his body continued trembling as he spoke.
Dodai nodded solemnly. "Indeed. And this guy is already someone who cannot be ignored..."
Splat!
Before he could finish, an odd sound suddenly rang out from within the enclosed space.
The sound was exceptionally distinct. Dodai's voice abruptly stopped, and both men shuddered as their expressions changed drastically. They turned toward the source of the sound in disbelief.
The tip of a blade had pierced into the rubber. Blood-red lightning, swaying like a cloak of flames, danced across the blade. The rubber touching it emitted black smoke, and a harsh sizzling sound of vaporization accompanied a pungent smell.
"Quick..." Dodai's expression filled with horror as he hurriedly turned to shout at E.
But he had only managed to utter one syllable...
Splat—!
The blade pushed forward another distance. Then blood-red lightning instantly extended from its tip and pierced through the defense on the other side. The blade slid, and the entire upper half of the defense made of Earth Flow Walls and rubber was instantly sent flying!
Sunlight suddenly poured down, dispersing the darkness within the center of the Multiple Earth Flow Wall. But Dodai and E felt not the slightest warmth. Their pupils trembled violently, and their entire bodies shook with cold as though they had fallen into an ice pit.
Uchiha Mo floated above the severed Earth Flow Wall with the sunlight behind him. He held the straight sword in a reverse grip across his body, the tomoe in his eyes slowly turning as his icy gaze fell upon the two men.
"Red Scorch: Vermilion Fang!"
Boom!
His words fell alongside an explosive peal of thunder. Mo's body flashed like lightning, shooting toward the two on the ground like a slanting bolt of blood-red lightning!
Splat—!
Crackle—!
Mo stood behind the two as he slowly sheathed Futsunomitama.
Fine blood-red arcs of electricity suddenly appeared over their bodies. The arcs jumped once, and then the lower halves of Dodai and E's bodies instantly disintegrated, leaving only two terrified heads to fall onto the ground.
Lightning Release Proficiency +7.25%
Earth Release Proficiency +6.71%
Fire Release Proficiency +8.51%
Yang Release Proficiency +5.78%
Mo glanced at the panel, the scarlet in his eyes gradually fading. Recalling that move just now, he could not help tightening his lips slightly.
As expected of a fusion of Lightning Release, Fire Release, and Yin Release. Even a simple combination ninjutsu could achieve such power.
With that thought, a trace of urgency rose in Mo's heart. He had to thoroughly master such powerful strength as soon as possible!
Tap! Tap! Tap...
With the battle over, Kakashi and the others quickly descended from the branches and arrived beside Uchiha Mo.
Kakashi looked at the devastated ground and the two terrified heads, then turned toward the indifferent Uchiha Mo and could not help sighing.
"Although it isn't the first time I've realized it, Mo... you really are frighteningly strong! Compared to you, my title as a genius is practically a joke."
"Take that one-eyed head and throw it onto the front lines. Then the purpose of this battle will be achieved."
Uchiha Mo ignored Kakashi's self-deprecation and instead pointed at Dodai's head on the ground as he spoke.
"Uh..." Kakashi froze for a moment before reacting and asking,
"Is this person important in Hidden Cloud?"
Uchiha Mo nodded without explaining much.
"Seal it in a scroll, then let's go."
At his words, Kakashi responded and immediately stepped forward to store Dodai's head using a sealing scroll.
Meanwhile, Obito and the others felt somewhat unnerved as they looked at the pile of mangled flesh, instinctively unwilling to get too close. The deaths were simply too gruesome. Though they had already been ninjas for over a year, they still felt a little nauseated.
Kakashi, on the other hand, noticed something while collecting the head. The chunks of flesh were unusually uniform in size, their severed surfaces smooth and even, with a faint scorched tint.
"How was this done?!"
Kakashi put away the scroll with confusion, walked to Mo's side, and asked in astonishment, "How many times did you swing your sword?"
Because of his father, he had trained swordsmanship diligently for years and now possessed Jonin-level swordsmanship. Yet he had not seen in the slightest how Mo had accomplished this strike.
"Once." Mo glanced at Kakashi, gave him the answer, then turned and walked back the way they had come.
"Once?"
Kakashi blinked at Mo's back in confusion, then hurriedly followed.
"How is that possible! If you unleashed a large amount of chakra, you could achieve a similar effect, but then the wounds would be completely different. Yet the marks on these two bodies are extremely neat sword wounds. How is that possible..."
Kakashi kept chattering beside Mo, voicing question after question with utter bewilderment on his face.
Nearly a full minute passed before Mo finally turned to look at Kakashi and said expressionlessly,
"The wounds appeared that way because my control over that technique isn't good enough yet. Otherwise, there would have only been one cut. And... you can shut up now, Kakashi."
Turbulent Winds and Shifting Clouds, a Letter from Shisui
Before you continue