Hidden Mist Technique

"Die!"

Sato Kai spun around, slashing his long sword toward his flank.

His decision to follow Uchiha Hui had not been an impulsive one. Uchiha Hui held a special position as the Uchiha Clan Head's younger brother, but as for his strength, the intelligence Sato Kai had gathered suggested he was merely an ordinary Chunin.

That was why.

When Sato Kai discovered that Uchiha Hui had actually left the Uchiha Clan Compound, he chose to follow him, hoping to extract some crucial intelligence.

He was from Kirigakure.

He had settled in Wood Hidden Village seven or eight years ago. On the surface, he was a seafood merchant, but in reality, he was a spy. Over the years, he had passed along plenty of intelligence, and much of it had even played a significant role in the Third Shinobi World War a few years earlier.

And this time.

The Nine-Tails had attacked the village.

Sato Kai realized this was his opportunity. The intelligence he had gathered so far pointed toward the Uchiha, and Uchiha Hui offered a major opening.

His high status meant he would know plenty, and his weak combat ability meant Sato Kai could handle him easily!

Bang!

The long sword slammed into the ground, sending clods of earth flying. But to Sato Kai's surprise, he had failed to hit Uchiha Hui!

Tap!

Uchiha Hui appeared on the enemy's other side, a little surprised by his mastery-level Body Flicker Technique. When he had fought Uchiha Fugaku earlier, it had not felt this powerful. After all, Uchiha Fugaku's Three-Tomoe Sharingan had seemingly seen through every attack he made.

But now that he was facing a Chunin.

The Body Flicker Technique's advantages seemed to shine!

Uchiha Hui thrust his arm forward, instantly driving the kunai in his hand through the enemy's back.

"Damn it!"

Sato Kai's expression changed. Enduring the intense pain, he turned and swiftly swung his long sword, but just as before, he failed to strike Uchiha Hui. He could not even touch the hem of his clothes.

"How are you this strong?"

He covered his wound with one hand, wariness flashing in his eyes.

According to what he knew, Uchiha Hui was certainly not strong. At least, based on his inquiries and observations, he should have been able to take him down. Yet everything happening now felt utterly unfamiliar.

Was this really the Uchiha Hui people jokingly called the "budget Uchiha Chunin"?

Sweat slowly dripped from his forehead.

Looking at the fearless Uchiha Hui, Sato Kai showed the first signs of wanting to back down.

But his identity had already been exposed. Even if he wanted to run now, could he really escape Konoha?

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Sato Kai knew he could not retreat now, so he decided to bring out his trump card. He had to take Uchiha Hui down as quickly as possible, or his exposed identity might draw other ninja here!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

White mist rapidly spread across the ground in the small grove, obscuring everything. In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Hui could no longer make out his enemy's figure.

"Looks like I was a little too confident..."

Uchiha Hui could not help murmuring. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. His black pupils turned an eerie red, with a single tomoe slowly revolving within each.

The troublesome thing about the Hidden Mist Technique was that this was no ordinary fog. It was created by combining chakra with water vapor, and even the Byakugan was severely restricted within it.

He truly had not expected his opponent to use a ninjutsu like this.

"Uchiha Hui! You chose this yourself. I hope you can hold out until the end!"

Within the mist.

Sato Kai's voice slowly rang out.

It seemed to come from every direction, making it impossible to pinpoint his location immediately.

Except...

You're running around while you talk, aren't you?!

Uchiha Hui's Sharingan constantly scanned his surroundings. He noticed that his opponent's Chakra was moving continuously.

"Die!"

Sato Kai held nothing back now. His immediate priority was to kill Uchiha Hui. As for intelligence, as long as the brain remained intact, he could still obtain it!

Something whistled through the air.

Uchiha Hui immediately turned his gaze toward it.

Too slow!

That was the first thought that crossed his mind.

Under the scrutiny of his Sharingan, an ordinary ninja's movements and Ninjutsu seemed rather inadequate, even with the Hidden Mist Technique already active.

Uchiha Hui sidestepped the attack. In the next instant, he drove his kunai viciously into his opponent's arm, sending blood spraying. But his assault was not over. Following through, he seized that arm.

Boom!

An impact rang out against the ground, and cracks like the pattern of a turtle's shell spread beneath Uchiha Hui's feet.

"Cough! Cough!"

Sato Kai lay sprawled on the ground, his face filled with disbelief. His arm was twisted, looking utterly incapable of picking up a weapon again. Coughing blood, he stared at the composed Uchiha Hui. "Why are you so strong?!"

Uchiha Hui said nothing. The kunai in his hand moved again.

The next second.

He severed the tendons in his enemy's remaining three limbs, completely stripping him of the ability to fight.

"Who sent you?!"

Uchiha Hui questioned him coldly.

Before the Hidden Mist Technique had been activated, he had refrained from striking to kill because he feared this might be someone's setup. But now, it seemed his opponent was not a pawn of the person he had suspected.

Except.

Wasn't Kirigakure under Kenji's control right now?

He was the very person behind the Nine-Tails disaster. Did he still need to send spies to gather intelligence?

Uchiha Hui soon figured it out. Spies had to make their own judgments and act independently much of the time. This man named Sato Kai had probably been planted in Konoha long ago, then automatically "activated" after the Nine-Tails attacked the village. This had nothing to do with Obito Uchiha or Kirigakure.

"Hmph!"

Sato Kai snorted, putting on a remarkably defiant front.

However.

Before long, he could no longer keep the pain from showing on his face.

Because Uchiha Hui slowly pulled the kunai out of his arm, then found another spot and stabbed it in again.

Uchiha Hui did not know why he could adapt so readily to a scene like this. But honestly, he felt no aversion whatsoever. After all, if he had not been strong enough, he might have been the one lying on the ground!

"What a hassle!"

Uchiha Hui could not help frowning.

From what he could tell, being followed and drawn into this fight had definitely been a chance encounter.

It was not something anyone had arranged beforehand.

And he clearly would not get any more intelligence out of it.

Perhaps his greatest gain was...

Uchiha Hui looked at a white orb hovering over Sato Kai. Only he could see or touch it.

[Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique (Ninjutsu Card)]

He had never expected to obtain something new from just one fight. Judging by its name, it was a "skill card," similar to the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Card he had obtained earlier. Using it would let him learn a Ninjutsu...

How convenient!

Uchiha Hui was a little surprised by his haul.

But the next second.

He heard movement in the distance.

His expression turned serious.

He swiftly put the orb into his Cheat Temporary Space, then stood where he was and waited.

Judging by their Chakra signatures.

He knew that everyone approaching belonged to the Uchiha clan, including familiar faces he had seen at yesterday's clan meeting.

The only thing that surprised Uchiha Hui was how quickly he had been discovered, even though he had already been very careful and had not done much to conceal the noise.

Fortunately, the newcomers were Uchiha ninja.

That was still within his expectations.

He had no desire to face the Anbu, let alone Root, so soon!