The Terrifying Nine-Tomoe Mangekyo Sharingan

Uchiha Gōka and Tsunade returned from the Pure Land.

They were stunned to find that four ANBU ninja wearing cat masks had already infiltrated the basement.

While the Resurrection Technique was active,

Uchiha Gōka and Tsunade's souls had been drawn out of their bodies and entered the Pure Land.

If their bodies left behind in the real shinobi world were touched or even attacked, the consequences would be unimaginable.

At that moment,

Uchiha Gōka had been severely backlashed after being interrupted while performing the Resurrection Technique. His face was somewhat pale, and his body weak.

Forcing himself to endure despite his severely depleted body, Uchiha Gōka directly activated the Nine-Tomoe Mangekyo Sharingan.

His scarlet eyes turned cold as he stared at the four ANBU ninja.

As the Nine-Tomoe Mangekyo Sharingan unleashed its full aura, a thick killing intent instantly filled the entire basement.

The instant the four ANBU ninja saw Uchiha Gōka's scarlet Nine-Tomoe Mangekyo Sharingan,

a chilling coldness surged into their hearts.

The four ANBU ninja's faces changed in horror. Their hairs stood on end, and their bodies began trembling unconsciously.

Their instincts told them that if they remained in the basement for even one more second, they could die at any moment!

In an instant,

the first thought that surfaced in the minds of the four ANBU ninja was:

"Run!"

"Otherwise, we'll die here!"

One of the ANBU ninja suddenly shouted urgently:

"Retreat, now!"

Feeling the terrifying aura radiating from the Nine-Tomoe Mangekyo Sharingan within the basement,

the four ANBU ninja wearing cat masks did not hesitate in the slightest.

They sprinted at full speed toward the basement exit...

Tsunade watched the four ANBU ninja trying to flee, anger flashing in her eyes.

"Hmph!"

"Since you've broken into my home, then stay here!"

Forcing herself onward, Tsunade leaped off the bed and charged at the four ANBU ninja...

Boom!

Tsunade caught up to the ANBU ninja at the rear and threw a direct punch.

That ANBU ninja raised both arms, trying to block it.

However, Tsunade had used Monster Strength in that punch!

[Monster Strength—an ability of the Senju Clan. By precisely controlling chakra and concentrating it in any part of the body before releasing it in a powerful burst, one can easily shatter walls.]

That single punch sent the ANBU ninja flying.

He crashed heavily into the wall.

A huge crater appeared in the wall, and cracks spread across its surface.

Hearing the violent impact,

the other three ANBU ninja turned around and saw their companion being badly injured by Tsunade,

slumped against the basement wall.

The other three ninja immediately felt their scalps tingle.

Feeling the terrifying aura in the basement, they truly did not want to remain there for another second.

But they could not abandon their companion either.

The other three ANBU ninja could only grit their teeth and engage Tsunade in battle.

Since the basement was not particularly spacious,

Tsunade and the three ANBU ninja could only attack each other with taijutsu.

For a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Suddenly, within the dim basement,

the three ANBU ninja locked in battle saw a pair of incomparably huge, terrifying scarlet eyes.

At once, an icy chill swept through the bodies of the three ANBU ninja.

The three ANBU ninja could not help but shudder!

Those enormous scarlet eyes were an ordinary genjutsu cast by Uchiha Gōka.

Taking advantage of the moment when the three ANBU ninja were distracted,

Tsunade used her Monster Strength to send two more ANBU ninja flying in succession.

After taking Tsunade's Monster Strength punches, the two ANBU ninja were severely injured. They coughed up blood and lost the ability to resist.

Uchiha Gōka's physical and spiritual energy had been severely depleted, and he could not sustain the ordinary genjutsu any longer.

The ordinary genjutsu—the enormous, terrifying scarlet eyes—suddenly vanished.

The remaining ANBU ninja abruptly came to his senses.

Seeing his three companions badly injured, he was horrified!

Driven by his instinct to survive, the ANBU ninja thought of the Hidden Mist Technique.

His hands rapidly formed seals.

"Hidden Mist Technique!"

In an instant, dense mist blanketed the small basement.

Tsunade's vision was blocked by the thick mist, and she could no longer tell which way was which.

"Damn it!"

The ANBU ninja used all his strength to drag his three companions with him, fleeing in disarray through the basement exit...

When the dense mist dispersed, Tsunade discovered that the four ANBU ninja had already vanished from the basement.

Tsunade furrowed her delicate brows and clenched her fists, filled with rage.

As she stared at the basement exit, traces of exhaustion had already appeared on her face.

The interruption of the Resurrection Technique by the ANBU ninja had also drained a considerable amount of Tsunade's physical and spiritual energy.

Rather than pursue the fleeing ANBU ninja, Tsunade hurried to the bedside and looked at Uchiha Gōka with concern all over her face.

"Karmic Fire, how are you feeling now?"

Perhaps Tsunade herself had not realized that Uchiha Gōka had already become immensely important to her.

Uchiha Gōka looked haggard, pale, and weak.

"This Resurrection Technique was interrupted, and my body has been severely overdrawn."

"Even though those ANBU ninja escaped by luck,"

"I already marked all four of them. They can't get away."

A hint of confusion appeared between Tsunade's brows. "Marked?"

"Yes. It's a kind of mark I developed, similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique."

Tsunade's expression changed in shock.

She had never expected that during that brief, intense battle,

Uchiha Gōka had secretly placed tracking marks on all four ANBU ninja without anyone noticing.

Uchiha Gōka looked at Tsunade and continued.

"Right now, I just want to sleep."

"Help me to the living room."

The basement was not a suitable place for people to live.

Tsunade supported Uchiha Gōka as they returned to the living room...

In the living room, Tsunade watched Uchiha Gōka sleeping soundly, and a touch of emotion flashed in her eyes.

Tsunade knew that Uchiha Gōka was so exhausted entirely because of her.

This time, he had been interrupted by the ANBU and had expended so much physical and spiritual energy just so she could meet her younger brother Nawaki.

The more she thought about it, the more guilty Tsunade felt, even blaming herself...

The fleeing ANBU ninja took his three severely injured companions and hurriedly fled toward the Hokage Building without daring to delay for even a moment.

Tonight, the basement of Uchiha Gōka's home had left a terrifying shadow in the hearts of the four ANBU ninja, filling them with lingering fear.

Only after the four ANBU ninja returned to the Hokage Building did their anxious, terrified hearts finally settle.

It was already the latter half of the night, and the Third Hokage had long since gone to sleep.

The three severely injured ANBU ninja had already been sent to the ninja hospital.

The ANBU ninja who had escaped by luck obediently remained in the Hokage office building.

He waited to report to the Third Hokage the following morning.