The wind howled, and deadly danger lurked on every side.
With Tobirama Senju on his back, Shinichi raced through the mountain forest. Chakra surged wildly beneath his feet, each step leaving a deep footprint in the earth.
He had pushed his speed to its limit, but the elite Kumogakure troops led by Kinkaku and Ginkaku remained hot on his heels. Their Nine-Tails chakra blazed like crimson flames, resembling a savage beast hunting for prey in the darkness.
"Damn it, they just won't let up..." Shinichi cursed under his breath, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
He glanced back. Kinkaku and Ginkaku had closed to within a hundred feet of him, Nine-Tails chakra churning over their bodies like raging thunder. Their terrifying pressure swept toward him.
They were too fast. Ordinary tactics would never shake them off.
Just then, Ginkaku roared and swung the Seven Stars Sword, sending a bolt of lightning threaded with sealing formulas slashing toward Shinichi's back!
Bang!
Shinichi twisted aside, but the lightning grazed his sleeve and erupted into a blazing arc. The powerful impact made him stagger slightly.
"Hmph, you can't escape!" Kinkaku sneered, violently swinging the Banana Palm Fan. A furious firestorm swept across the landscape and surged straight toward Shinichi!
"You two are... so damn annoying." Shinichi narrowed his eyes and murmured, then curled his lips into a slight smile.
If he couldn't escape, he would cut off their pursuit entirely!
"Reduce all creation to ashes..."
He slowly extended his right hand, spreading his fingers slightly. In an instant, immense chakra surged forth, gathering in his palm into a blazing blade of fire!
"Ryujin Jakka!"
BOOM!!!
A moment later, indescribably terrifying heat swept across the battlefield. The air suddenly warped, and the entire space crackled as though it were burning!
Crimson flames soared into the sky like the sun crashing down to earth, burning everything to ashes!
Kinkaku's and Ginkaku's expressions changed drastically. Their Nine-Tails chakra already possessed an extremely strong fire affinity, yet the eruption of Ryujin Jakka forcibly suppressed it. The searing heat burned their skin, leaving them afraid to approach!
"What kind of ninjutsu is that?!" Ginkaku stared in horror at the blade in Shinichi's hand.
Ryujin Jakka was the pinnacle of flame, possessing the power to burn everything to ashes!
Shinichi's gaze turned icy. With Ryujin Jakka in hand, he slashed fiercely at the ground!
"Fire Release: Flame Flow Barrier!"
BOOM!!!
Crimson flames surged like towering waves, instantly forming a ring-shaped barrier around Shinichi. Raging fire shot into the sky, dividing the battlefield into two separate worlds!
Flames danced wildly, and waves of heat churned!
Kinkaku and Ginkaku were trapped outside the flame barrier. They tried to charge through, but the instant they drew near, their Nine-Tails chakra began trembling violently. They felt a burning pain unlike anything they had ever experienced!
"These flames... can actually suppress Nine-Tails chakra?!" Kinkaku's face darkened, his eyes filled with shock and uncertainty.
"We can't force our way through!" Ginkaku said with a frown, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes. "We have to find a way around!"
But the wall of flames kept expanding, burning along the edges of the valley and sealing every possible route.
"Not a chance." Shinichi gave a cold smile. He flicked Ryujin Jakka's blade lightly, scorching currents swirling around his palm as he surveyed everything like an emperor.
He slowly turned his head to look at Tobirama Senju behind him.
Tobirama was still resting against his back, watching the flame barrier with a complicated expression. His gaze settled on the blade in Shinichi's hand, and a flicker of admiration crossed his deep eyes.
"Ryujin Jakka... You were hiding power like this, too?" Tobirama's voice was low. Clearly, he was not surprised that Shinichi had secrets, but these terrifying flames still stirred something within him.
Shinichi's lips curved slightly, his voice taking on a relaxed note. "What? Blown away by how cool I am?"
Tobirama scoffed, then frowned again. "This sword... isn't ordinary Fire Release Ninjutsu. It's... a different system of energy?"
Shinichi's heart gave a slight jolt, but he shrugged. "Who cares what it is? Anyway, we can leave now."
The flames raged, turning the entire battlefield into an inferno. Without hesitation, Shinichi hoisted Tobirama onto his back and kicked off hard, activating Moonwalk as he streaked into the distance like a meteor.
"Kinkaku, Ginkaku, that's enough for today."
Shinichi's voice echoed through the night sky, gradually fading into the distance amid the roiling flames.
Left outside the flame barrier, Kinkaku and Ginkaku wore grim expressions, their eyes filled with frustration.
"Damn it... They got away!" Kinkaku ground his teeth and roared, trying to charge into the flames, but the extreme heat forced him to stop.
Ginkaku narrowed his eyes, staring toward the far end of the flames where Shinichi had vanished, and said slowly:
"That Uchiha brat... cannot be allowed to live."
After the storm, firelight filled the air. Beneath the dark sky, a new upheaval had quietly begun.
Night blanketed the forest, and a gentle breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees swirled among the trunks.
With the gravely injured Tobirama Senju on his back, Uchiha Shinichi darted through the forest like a phantom, using Moonwalk to move swiftly. Each time he stepped on a branch, the chakra beneath his feet quivered slightly before dissipating into the night.
"Damn... This old man is heavy." Shinichi frowned at the weight pressing against his back. Although his physical capabilities far surpassed those of ordinary ninja, the prolonged high-speed flight and the hostile chakra pursuing him from behind forced him to remain vigilant.
Though Ryujin Jakka had temporarily held up Kinkaku and Ginkaku's troops, that obstacle would not last long.
Their Six Paths Tools were immensely powerful. Once they found a suitable opening, they could resume their pursuit at any moment.
I have to get back to Konoha as quickly as possible!
Shinichi drew a deep breath, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He mobilized the chakra within his body, forcibly squeezing out every ounce of his potential. His speed surged once more, and he raced away as a black blur.
Tobirama's injuries were extremely severe. Although he remained conscious, massive blood loss and the corrosive effects of the Nine-Tails chakra had left him deathly pale. Even speaking seemed to drain his strength.
Yet despite his grave wounds, Tobirama Senju remained highly alert. He opened his eyes slightly, looked at Shinichi's back, and spoke in a low, weak voice:
"Shinichi... you..."
Hearing Tobirama's voice, Shinichi's lips lifted slightly. "Old man, stop talking. I know you're deeply moved, but how about we stay alive first?"
Tobirama Senju gave a soft grunt, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately closed his eyes.
When Shinichi stepped through Konoha's gates, the nearby Konoha ninja immediately rushed over. Every gaze fixed on the figure on his back—
Tobirama Senju was drenched in blood, his breathing weak, but he was still alive!
"Lord Hokage!!"
The gate guards cried out in alarm. They immediately sent someone to notify the Medical Corps, quickly took Tobirama from Shinichi, placed him on a stretcher, and rushed him to Konoha Hospital.
"Hurry! Lord Hokage needs emergency treatment!" The medical ninja sprang into action, white-clad figures bustling back and forth as they did everything they could to save Tobirama's life.
Shinichi panted lightly as he watched Tobirama being carried away. At last, a relieved smile appeared on his face.
He had succeeded. He had brought Tobirama back.
The surrounding Konoha ninja approached him, their eyes filled with shock and admiration.
"Uchiha Shinichi... You actually rescued Lord Hokage all by yourself?"
"What about Kinkaku and Ginkaku's troops? Didn't they follow you?"
Shinichi shrugged and waved a casual hand. "Don't worry. I left them a little present. They won't be chasing us for a while."
Everyone looked astonished and doubtful, wanting to ask more, but just then, Senju Toka, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the others arrived.
"Shinichi!" Senju Toka stepped forward first, her sharp gaze sweeping over him and a hint of anxiety on her face. "How is Lord Tobirama?!"
Shinichi brushed the dust off his clothes and said evenly, "Badly injured, but alive."
His gaze swept over the group, and his lips curled slightly. "Speaking of which, old man Tobirama is your own older brother. Instead of going to the hospital to see him, you're questioning me first? You're not doing a very good job as his little sister."
Senju Toka's expression stiffened slightly before she glared fiercely at him and snorted. "Enough of your smart mouth." She turned and hurried toward the hospital with a group of medical ninja.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward and asked earnestly, "Shinichi, how did you do it? Kinkaku and Ginkaku's troops... really didn't catch up?"
An amused smile tugged at Shinichi's lips as he said slowly, "They certainly wanted to... But after spending a little time in my 'big furnace,' they probably won't recover that quickly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment. "Big furnace?"
Shimura Danzō's gaze sharpened, as though something had occurred to him. "Could it be that you used... Fire Release?"
Shinichi blinked and replied casually, "More or less. It just... might have been a little more powerful."
With that, he turned and stretched, adding lazily:
"All right, all right, today's mission is complete. I'm exhausted, so I'll leave the rest to you."
As he spoke, he strolled leisurely toward his home, leaving everyone exchanging looks with complicated expressions.
Though Shinichi appeared completely relaxed, they knew that breaking out of Kumogakure territory with Lord Hokage and returning safely was no easy feat!
That night, Konoha was shaken.
Uchiha Shinichi—that name truly began to etch itself into the memory of the entire village.
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