Time seemed to freeze.
The Sharingan in the One-Eyed Jonin's chest spun rapidly, releasing a power that warped reality. Lin Ye felt the space around him collapse and reform. The traces of their battle, the fallen Grass Ninja, the shattered barrier-everything was being rewound and rewritten.
This was the Uchiha's forbidden technique, Izanagi. At the cost of permanently blinding one Sharingan, it turned the injuries and even death the caster suffered within a certain period into dreams, while turning favorable outcomes into reality. It was an ultimate ocular technique capable of reversing the tide of battle.
"While Izanagi is active, I'm invincible." The One-Eyed Jonin's voice echoed through the distorted space. "All your attacks will be futile. And mine will always hit you."
Lin Ye's mind raced. Izanagi's duration depended on the caster's ocular power and chakra. The One-Eyed Jonin had only one three-tomoe Sharingan, and it wasn't even his own. It could last a minute at most. But that minute was enough for him to kill Lin Ye and Karin ten times over.
I can't fight him head-on. I have to stall.
"Divine Dominion!" Lin Ye activated his Mangekyo's defensive ocular technique, forming a zone of absolute defense around his body. Though he had barely any chakra left, every second he could hold out counted.
"It's useless." The One-Eyed Jonin was already upon him, thrusting a kunai toward Lin Ye's heart. The kunai was indeed deflected the instant it touched the Divine Dominion zone, but the Sharingan in the One-Eyed Jonin's chest flashed, and reality was rewritten-the kunai "passed through" the zone and continued toward Lin Ye.
"Time Reversal!" Forced to rewind time, Lin Ye returned to his position three seconds earlier and narrowly evaded the strike.
But the One-Eyed Jonin followed him like a shadow, his second and third strikes coming in quick succession. Lin Ye kept using Time Reversal to dodge, but his three uses were soon exhausted. The One-Eyed Jonin's Izanagi was still active.
"Let's see how long you can keep dodging!" The One-Eyed Jonin formed hand seals. "Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A spear of lightning shot toward him. Lin Ye leaped aside with the last of his strength, but the lightning curved in midair and chased him-Izanagi had rewritten its trajectory to ensure it hit.
I can't dodge it.
Just as the lightning was about to strike Lin Ye, a small, thin figure suddenly stepped in front of him.
It was Karin.
"Karin! Get out of the way!"
Karin didn't move. She spread her arms, and red light shone from her chest. The light formed a spiral pattern and collided with the lightning.
Boom!
The lightning was absorbed-no, it was "sealed." The pattern on Karin's chest drew all the lightning in like a black hole. Then she let out a muffled groan, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, but she remained standing.
"Is that... the Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains?" The One-Eyed Jonin sounded startled. "Her bloodline memories awakened at a time like this?"
Karin fell to her knees, but she pressed both hands against the ground. Red chakra chains spread from her palms and wound toward the One-Eyed Jonin. Though the chains were thin and few in number, they unmistakably carried the presence of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu.
"Lord Ye, run..." Karin said weakly. "I can only hold him for a few seconds..."
"No. We're leaving together." Lin Ye gritted his teeth, scooped Karin into his arms, and charged toward the breach in the barrier.
"Trying to run?" The One-Eyed Jonin broke free of the chains and gave chase. But Izanagi was almost out of time. The Sharingan in his chest began to bleed, its vision rapidly fading.
Without looking back, Lin Ye pulled a scroll from inside his clothes-Kakashi had given it to him before he left, with a technique sealed inside.
"Summoning Technique: Eight Ninja Hounds!"
Poof! Eight ninja dogs appeared in the smoke and lunged at the One-Eyed Jonin. They couldn't hurt him, but they could buy enough time.
Carrying Karin, Lin Ye fled the slums and plunged into the forest. His chakra was exhausted, and his legs felt like lead, but he couldn't stop. Behind him, the One-Eyed Jonin's furious shouts drew ever closer.
"Uchiha Ye! You can't escape! No one Lord Danzo wants has ever gotten away!"
Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath Lin Ye's feet, and he fell into a trap. No, it wasn't a trap-it was the entrance to an underground passage. Had someone dug a tunnel here in advance?
The passage was narrow, only wide enough for one person to crawl through. Lin Ye struggled forward with Karin in his arms. Digging noises came from behind-the One-Eyed Jonin was pursuing them.
"This way." A low voice sounded ahead.
Lin Ye looked up and saw a masked ninja. The mask bore a fox design; he was neither Konoha Anbu nor Root.
"Who are you?"
"The person saving you. Stop talking and follow me."
The fox-masked ninja turned to lead the way. Lin Ye hesitated for a second, then followed. He had no choice now. Staying meant certain death; following might offer a chance to survive.
The passage twisted and turned before finally opening into an underground chamber. It wasn't large, but it held basic furniture and medical supplies. The fox-masked ninja closed the door and activated some kind of soundproof barrier.
"We're safe for now. This place blocks sensory detection," he said.
Lin Ye laid Karin on the bed and checked her injuries. Her external wounds weren't serious, but she had severely depleted her chakra. The forced awakening of her bloodline memories had placed a tremendous strain on her body.
"Who are you? Why did you save me?" Lin Ye watched the fox-masked ninja warily.
"I'm Danzo's enemy, and an ally of the Uchiha." The ninja removed his mask, revealing an aged but resolute face. Lin Ye's pupils contracted-he had seen that face in the Uchiha family records.
"You're... Kagami Uchiha?!"
No, that's not right. Kagami is dead. I saw his chakra consciousness in the Forbidden Grounds. But this face did bear a strong resemblance to Kagami's.
"I'm Kagami Uchiha's younger brother, Uchiha Jian," the old man said. "When Danzo had Kagami killed, I was lucky enough to escape. I've been hiding in the Land of Grass ever since, waiting for a chance to take revenge."
"Danzo had Kagami killed?"
"Danzo wanted Kagami's Sharingan. He wanted to study the Uchiha's secrets. Kagami refused, so Danzo arranged for him to die on a mission." Uchiha Jian's gaze turned cold. "I gathered evidence, but before I could expose him, the Uchiha Clan Massacre happened. All I could do was stay in hiding and wait for my chance."
"Were you waiting for me so I'd help you get revenge?"
"Yes and no," Uchiha Jian said. "I've been watching you for a long time, from when you awakened your Mangekyo to your arrival in Kusagakure. Your Wish System is the key to breaking the Uchiha's curse. And Danzo is an accomplice to that curse-he's working with Obito. He played a part in the Uchiha Clan Massacre."
Lin Ye clenched his fists. Though he had long suspected it, hearing it confirmed still filled him with anger.
"What evidence do you have?"
"I have scrolls containing Danzo's correspondence with Obito, plans documenting his involvement in orchestrating the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and records of his human experiments transplanting Sharingan and Hashirama cells." Uchiha Jian took a storage scroll from inside his clothes. "I'll give you all of it. But in exchange, I want you to promise me one thing."
"What?"
"If you truly can break the Uchiha's curse, if one day you gain enough strength, kill Danzo. Avenge Kagami. Avenge the souls of the Uchiha."
Lin Ye accepted the scroll and said solemnly, "I promise. Danzo will die."
"Good, good." Uchiha Jian smiled with relief. "Then my mission is complete. This chamber is safe, and there's enough food and water. You can rest here for three days. After that, I'll arrange for you to leave the Land of Grass safely."
"You're not coming with us?"
"I'm old. I can't travel far anymore. Besides, Danzo's men are hunting me. Going with you would only make me a burden," Uchiha Jian said. "If I stay in the Land of Grass, I can keep gathering evidence of his crimes. When you need me, I'll be there."
He paused, then added, "I don't know much about the Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu. But the shrine in Kusagakure's Forbidden Grounds does contain Uzumaki Clan scrolls. They're only copies, though. Konoha and Kumogakure divided the originals between them long ago. This girl's bloodline memories are the true inheritance. You must help her awaken them, but be careful how you do it-the Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu requires a heart filled with love and the desire to protect to master it fully. Otherwise, it will backfire."
"I understand."
Uchiha Jian put his mask back on and prepared to leave. At the doorway, he glanced back at Lin Ye. "Child, I'm entrusting the Uchiha's future to you. Kagami's spirit will watch over you."
With that, he disappeared into the passage.
Lin Ye sat beside the bed, looking at the scroll in his hands with mixed feelings. Evidence of Danzo's crimes, the Uchiha's enemy, and... the responsibility of breaking the curse.
He looked at the unconscious Karin, then at the system panel.
[Ding! Special wish triggered] [Wish 314: Save Karin Uzumaki (special)] [Description: One of the last surviving bloodlines of the Uzumaki Clan, she carries the inheritance of sealing jutsu. Saving her means saving ancient wisdom on the verge of being lost.] [Completion reward: Rinnegan Fragment ×15 (special mission rewards doubled), Uzumaki Sealing Technique: Basics (shared through bloodline resonance)] [Current Rinnegan Fragments: 25/1000] [New ability acquired: Uzumaki Sealing Technique: Basics (allows the use of basic sealing formulas; sealing strength depends on chakra reserves and the "will to protect")]
Shared through bloodline resonance? Lin Ye felt a warm current flow from Karin's direction, passing through some mysterious connection and entering his body. Knowledge of sealing jutsu appeared in his mind-only the basics, but undeniably the Uzumaki Clan's inheritance.
It seemed that saving Karin had not only fulfilled a wish, but also granted him some sealing abilities through bloodline resonance. They were only basic, but enough to get him started.
Moreover, he had gained fifteen Rinnegan Fragments at once. Added to his previous ten, he now had twenty-five. He was still far from a thousand, but at least it was a start.
"System, display the wish list. Filter for wishes available near the Land of Grass."
[Scanning...] [Available wishes within the Land of Grass: 9] [Wishes from Uchiha clan members: 3] [Other related wishes: 6 (including 1 from an Uzumaki clan member and 5 from civilians with ties to the Uchiha)]
Lin Ye opened the detailed list. The three Uchiha wishes had all been left by clan members who died while carrying out missions in the Land of Grass. The other six included one from an Uzumaki clan member-Karin's mother-and others from civilians in the Land of Grass who had been saved by the Uchiha.
Since I'm here, I might as well fulfill them all, Lin Ye thought. Besides, fulfilling these wishes might deepen my understanding of sealing jutsu.
He looked at Karin. The girl was still unconscious, but her breathing had steadied. He took out medical bandages and ointment and carefully treated her wounds.
"Rest well," Lin Ye said softly. "When you wake up, we'll change this damned world together."
Outside the chamber, the unrest in Kusagakure gradually subsided. Once the One-Eyed Jonin's Izanagi ended, his Sharingan went blind. He had also suffered severe injuries and was forced to retreat. Danzo's attempt to capture them had ended in failure.
But Lin Ye knew this was only the beginning. Danzo wouldn't give up, and the Akatsuki was watching from the shadows. The road ahead of him was still very, very long.
But at least he was no longer alone.
He had Karin, his companions in Konoha, the Uchiha's wishes, and his mission to break the curse.
"I'll keep going." Lin Ye closed his eyes and began recovering his chakra. "No matter how many hardships lie ahead."
Night deepened, and only the steady breathing of two people filled the chamber.
Far away in Konoha, Danzo received word that the operation had failed.
"Useless." Danzo's voice was icy as he crushed the teacup in his hand. "Uchiha Jian... I never expected him to still be alive, secretly protecting the Uchiha orphan. It seems the Land of Grass needs a purge."
"Lord Danzo, what should we do next?" a Root member asked.
"Have Kusagakure's people keep searching, but don't alert our targets. Uchiha Ye will surely return to Konoha for the Chunin Ninja Exams. We'll act then," Danzo said. "Also, notify Orochimaru. We're moving the plan forward. During the Chunin Ninja Exams, I want Konoha in chaos. The more chaos, the better."
"Yes, sir."
Danzo walked to the window and looked toward the Uchiha clan grounds.
"Uchiha Ye, the Mangekyo, the Wish System, the secrets of the Rinnegan... You're even more valuable than I imagined. You can't escape. Sooner or later, you'll become my tool for protecting Konoha."
"I swear it."
The night breeze swept past, carrying a hint of chill.
The wind was rising before the storm.
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