The Last of the Hannya Clan / The Mysterious Black Zetsu

Naruto Uzumaki crouched down, and Uchiha Sasuke accelerated, using Naruto Uzumaki. His hands clenched tightly, and only then did everyone realize that all the fireballs seemed to be being drawn by the thread-like thing in his hands.

Uchiha Sasuke had already pulled the "threads," and fireballs were folded at a ninety-degree angle in the air, all of them hitting the Hannya Group ninjas who had previously spat out water bullets.

Great efforts can produce miracles; small actions are not the mark of a gentleman.

A dozen or so Phoenix Sage Fire instantly turned the Hannya Group into a human torch, while Uchiha Sasuke, in mid-air, used a sealing scroll to unleash a dense barrage of Shuriken at the Hannya Group behind him.

At the same time, Naruto Uzumaki activated the Body Flicker Technique, calculating the distance perfectly, and slit the throat of a Hannya Group who was rushing towards Uchiha Sasuke was falling.

With a slight turn of his body, a blue pill appeared in his hand.

It was thrown directly at another Hannya Group.

The member of the Hannya Group flew away along with the pill.

The Rasengan, a no-seal Ninjutsu developed by Minato Namikaze based on the Tailed Beast Ball Namikaze Minato principle, was practically a symbol of invincibility in the hands of Naruto Uzumaki in the original timeline.

But it's actually a highly lethal Ninjutsu; even if you don't die from it, you'll be half-dead if you get hit.

Naruto Uzumaki is more suited to this technique than Namikaze Minato because he is naturally more physically strong and has far more Chakra than ordinary people.

In the original timeline, Naruto Uzumaki, who became the Jinchūriki of all Nine Tailed Beasts, used the Rasengan as Six Paths- level divine technique, capable of severing the God Tree with a single strike.

Then there's the Body Flicker Technique. Sage Body Naruto Uzumaki, with his Body Flicker Technique activated, surpassed even the Fourth Raikage in the Body Flicker Technique, using it to achieve the effect of Space-Time Ninjutsu. Even Uchiha Madara, who had become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, couldn't keep up with his speed and could only block it head-on.

In this timeline, Naruto Uzumaki's two strengths were well nurtured by Namikaze Minato.

He instantly killed two Hannya Group ninjas who were theoretically on par with him.

Uchiha Shingen watched from the sidelines, quite satisfied.

These two children are beginning to see the results of their long-standing academic efforts.

If they go to the Joint Chunin Exams now, they'll probably just wipe out a bunch of people unless they run into a limited number of opponents.

"You brat!" A member of the Hannya sect, who had dodged Sasuke Uchiha's sword rain attack, approached Naruto Uzumaki, his hands already forming hand seals.

Hinata Hyuga, her Byakugan open, deftly switched places with Naruto Uzumaki.

A pair of Byakugan met the eyes of the Hannya Group.

To dispel the opponent's Genjutsu.

Then, he delivered a finger punch straight to the heart of the Hannya Group, before dodging the impact of the Hannya Group ninja who had lost control of his body.

Having just switched places with Hinata Hyuga, Naruto Uzumaki kicked the enemy, who was charging straight at him like a bull, aside.

After finishing this attack, the two of them protected Uchiha Sasuke was landing just in time.

Uchiha Sasuke also just completed his second technique.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

A massive, crimson fireball was created by Uchiha Sasuke's small frame, and it was pushed forward like a bulldozer towards the enemies who had just escaped the Shuriken attack. Several people were already lying there, having been harvested by the Shuriken.

All the rhythms were just barely passing.

Standing still, Uchiha Shingen mentally graded Team 7's performance.

You passed.

Not only Uchiha Sasuke and Naruto Uzumaki, but also Hinata Hyuga.

She truly lives up to the name Hyuga Clan.

Chapter Seventeen: The Last Hannya Group

On the still-steaming ground, a dozen or so ninjas from the Hannya Group lay sprawled out.

Neat and tidy.

This includes those who hadn't acted yet, the ones who supposedly kept an eye on Uchiha Shingen.

It's somewhat intact, but it's not very attractive.

The words floating in the air will affect the taste of the food.

The members of Team 7 are recovering.

Uchiha Sasuke, was consuming the most Chakra and was sitting on the ground recovering it, as he was temporarily too weak to continue fighting.

As a front-line tank and secondary damage dealer, Naruto Uzumaki also consumes a significant amount of chakra. While he and Sasuke possess Ninjutsu techniques superior to those in the original timeline, their Chakra consumption also increases dramatically.

Fortunately, their Chakra levels weren't Genin, otherwise they would have been finished long ago.

However, it was also thanks to their rich and powerful Ninjutsu techniques that the three noobs swiftly and decisively crushed their enemies.

The poor Hannya Group were all normal people, most of whom made their living through Taijutsu. The only guy who dared to use Ninjutsu casually was spotted by Hinata Hyuga with her Byakugan from the very beginning, and then told Uchiha Sasuke.

The first series of fireballs all hit him.

With Chakra and numerous Ninjutsu, one can do whatever one wants.

But they are still children, not enough.

Uchiha Shingen himself was a Chakra tyrant, and he had some experience in how to increase Chakra quickly and without any side effects.

However, this requires a good foundation.

Among the students taught by Uchiha Shingen, Uchiha Sasuke and Naruto Uzumaki were the most outstanding, both being born with exceptional blue stats. Next were Neji Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga.

The Chakra Hyuga Clan generally possesses significantly higher levels of chakra than ordinary people.

But that's a long way off. For now, the Uchiha Clan just need to praise them.

"You did a great job on the task; you really impressed me!"

Despite their exhaustion, the students of Team 7 were overjoyed to hear Uchiha Shingen's praise.

Then they heard Uchiha Shingen say:

"However, if judged by the standards of a battlefield ninja, you most likely won't survive until the end of the war."

No one objected; all three showed a humble attitude.

In the present Leaf Village, Uchiha Shingen is one of the people most qualified to speak on the war.

Others, either too old or in too high a position, wouldn't say these things to the students.

"You have more Chakra than your peers, even more than some adults, and you also have powerful Ninjutsu at your disposal, which is all good. However, the cost-effectiveness of your Ninjutsu usage is not high, and you do not have a clear understanding of your total Chakra reserves. This will be the focus of your training in the next stage."

"Teacher, does that mean we can't use Ninjutsu casually?" Naruto Uzumaki asked.

He was a little disappointed; it would have been so much more satisfying to use Ninjutsu to beat people up.

"Of course not. It's pointless to have Chakra but get killed by the enemy because you're reluctant to use Ninjutsu," Uchiha Shingen said. "You're currently in a period of rapid improvement in stamina, so it's normal that you can't control it. It's not a mistake. If there is one, it's just that you haven't measured your Chakra safety limits in time."

Uchiha Shingen didn't continue speaking, because Chakra perception, the remaining Hannya Group were gathering here because of the previous commotion.

"You don't need to lift a finger anymore. I'll handle the rest. All you need to know is that Ninjutsu shouldn't be used recklessly, but you also shouldn't be stingy with it. The only criterion for choosing a method is to use it in the most energy-efficient way. Deceiving the opponent and wasting their energy is also a required course for ninjas."

Uchiha Shingen thought for a moment and added, "If one day you possess the Chakra of Tailed Beasts, then these things won't be so important. You can't waste Chakra who are not of the same level."

He understood this deeply.

During the later stages of the war with Hidden Mist Village, his Chakra reached the level of Tailed Beasts, and from then on he specialized in Water Release.

Practical experience is important, but in direct combat, map-based attacks can minimize its impact.

The Hiding in Mist Technique combined with silent killing represents the pinnacle of assassination techniques in this world; it can even be used on the battlefield for forced assassinations.

Countering this technology requires real combat experience. Uchiha Shingen almost lost his head several times, but after achieving the Tailed Beasts level, he changed his approach to first Water Shockwave to wash the ground, and then using his Chakra senses to kill the remaining creatures one by one with a high-pressure water gun.

In the original timeline, as Chakra Uchiha Sasuke continued to increase, he naturally transformed from a technique-based player into an Ora maniac.

"There it is!"

The enemy's voices gradually became clearer, and figures appeared in the Team 7's field of vision as they leaped.

Correspondingly, they also saw their companion lying on the ground, no longer breathing.

"From Leaf Village?" A man stepped forward. He was the leader of the Hannya Group. When he saw the three kids from Team 7, there seemed to be a hint of joy in his eyes, but then he noticed Uchiha Shingen standing next to him.

"We're just carrying out a mission; we have no intention of becoming enemies with Leaf Village. We'll leave now."

There was absolutely no trace of hatred he harbored for Leaf Village in his tone.

But his subtle changes in expression did not escape Uchiha Shingen's notice.

"It's fate that we met, why leave?" Uchiha Shingen said. "Since we're already here."

Without a word, the leader of the Hannya Group sect turned and ran.

The other Hannya Group reacted quickly, immediately scattering.

However, what awaited them was a fiery barrier that surrounded the entire village.

Barrier Ninjutsu: Uchiha Flame Formation.

Even within the Uchiha Clan, only a handful of ninjas can use this barrier.

During the Warring States period, Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan possessed their own distinct battlefield Barrier Ninjutsu.

Senju Clan likes to kill with a single punch, hence the creation of the Crimson Sun Formation, which indiscriminately annihilates people.

The Uchiha Shin in the power of fire, hence the creation of the Uchiha Flame Formation.

The raging flames soared into the sky.

The fastest of the Hannya Group ran straight into the fire array.

The upward-rushing flames, sharper than a blade, sliced the fastest runners in half mid-air, turning them into falling fiery meteors.

Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga stared with their mouths slightly agape. Even Naruto Uzumaki, who had been taught by Uchiha Shingen since childhood, had never actually seen Uchiha Shingen fight.

Uchiha Sasuke had never seen it before, but he was excited.

It wasn't because he was more intelligent than his companions, but because he had played with Matatabi for a long time. From Matatabi Lu, he knew that the brother Shingen who had taken care of him since childhood was incredibly strong outside, and his escape techniques were unparalleled.

He had already imagined countless times in his mind the scene of Uchiha Shingen unleashing his ultimate attack.

"I don't need to elaborate on the importance of Chakra," Uchiha Shingen said, casually giving his students a lesson. "When your Chakra reaches a certain level, practical combat experience really becomes unimportant. Your enemy won't have the opportunity to show off their experience in front of you, like this..."

He clasped his hands together.

Fire Release: Kagutsuchi - Explosive Flame Array.

Chapter Eighteen: The Mysterious Black Zetsu

The Explosive Flame Array is one of the signature techniques of Amegakure, the former strongest Hanzo of Amegakure.

Although it relies on Magnet Release and Explosive Tag to achieve this, and requires pre-planning, the prerequisites are somewhat troublesome.

The Second Hokage's Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags also utilizes Explosive Tag, but he achieves its effect by continuously summoning Explosive Tag to the starting position. This is more concealed Explosive Flame Array, and once hit, there is no way to escape.

But this doesn't mean the Explosive Flame Array is ineffective.

In the original timeline, Nagato was struck by an Explosive Flame Array and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

In this timeline, Orochimaru, out of pure interest, healed him.

Uchiha Shingen Kagutsuchi, Ninjutsu this area-of-effect Ninjutsu by referencing Hanzo's Explosive Flame Array and leveraging the power of the Uchiha Flame Formation.

It's much more effective than Hanzo, and the activation requirements are much simpler.

The inward-compressing barrier completely confined the power of Fire Release within it. Each instance of inward pressure caused the power of Fire Release within the barrier to increase to an even higher level.

The ninjas of the Hannya Group did not have the ability to break this barrier. In fact, when the fire array was compressed for the third time, there were no survivors inside.

Not even a corpse was left.

Sensing that all the Chakra had disappeared, Uchiha Shingen did not continue and dispelled the fire array.

What lay before Team 7 was a spotless expanse of land.

Seeing this outstanding result, Uchiha Sasuke dropped open.

From that moment on, the members of Team 7 underwent a radical transformation in their understanding of Ninjutsu.

The first to react was Uchiha Sasuke.

"Brother Shingen, I want to learn this too! Teach me!"

"Hey bro, this is a mission. Behave yourself and call me 'master'." Uchiha Shingen ruffled his hair into a mess without any politeness. "Look at Naruto, he always calls me 'master'. When you become a ninja, you have to be mindful of the occasion."