Shinji did not reply; he simply gazed quietly out the window.
Karin smiled at Shikamaru. "Don't worry, it's very safe here!"
Karin had the authority to speak on Mumei's strength.
previously, when Shinji had them stage a play of Akatsuki internal strife for the Five Great Ninja Villages, Nagato, and Obito—where 'C', 'D', and 'E' besieged 'B'—the one playing 'B' was Mumei, while Karin herself made a cameo as 'D', who was responsible for besieging Mumei.
So Karin knew very well that the pupil power of Mumei's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was far stronger than hers was during her own Eternal Mangekyo phase.
No, it should be said it was much stronger!
So, while Mumei appeared to be a harmless little girl, her strength absolutely surpassed Karin's own Eternal Mangekyo level. Coupled with the fact that she and Shinji were holding down the fort here, they didn't regard Orochimaru, Kabuto, and the others outside with any significance at all.
Karin's words obviously held little persuasive power. Shikamaru continued to stare fixedly at Shinji, hoping for an explanation, but Shinji had absolutely no intention of explaining. Or rather, his inaction already represented his attitude.
In front of the Military Police Force Building.
Seeing Mumei walk out of the building alone, Orochimaru and the others stopped in their tracks.
Even they hadn't expected that the one coming out to face them would be a young girl who looked no older than thirteen or fourteen.
"Mumei, run... run quickly! You are not their match!"
Sasuke, who was being held by Yakushi Kabuto, shouted with all his remaining strength.
He had regained consciousness, but his whole body was sore and weak, leaving him unable to struggle. Seeing Mumei come out alone to face the enemy, he was shocked and could only shout a warning with everything he had left!
Mumei glanced at Sasuke, a hint of displeasure in her eyes.
Because of Itachi, she harbored resentment by association and never had a pleasant expression for Sasuke. She felt Itachi favored Sasuke while nearly killing Shinji, making both brothers quite detestable in her eyes!
However, after interacting for a while, she realized Sasuke had no schemes and was a very pure person. Thus, under Shinji's guidance, she had gradually let go of some of her prejudice.
Shifting her gaze away from Sasuke, Mumei looked at Kabuto. "No matter how useless Sasuke is, he is still an Uchiha. The fact that you dare to lay a hand on him shows you don't take Shinji seriously at all. So, prepare to accept the Uchiha's wrath!"
Orochimaru smiled. "Who?"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Her name is Mumei (Nameless). She is a member of the Konoha Military Police Force. Her origins are unknown, but it is said she was recruited by Shinji Uchiha himself."
Tayuya spoke up. "Orochimaru-sama, I'll go take care of her!"
"Go ahead."
Orochimaru nodded casually.
Tayuya immediately stepped forward and walked toward Mumei.
Although the number of subordinates around Orochimaru had sharply decreased, the remaining ones were almost all experts. Compared to the others, she felt inevitably overshadowed, so she needed to perform well in front of Orochimaru.
"Reckless fool!"
Laughing secretly to herself, Tayuya rushed out with a swish like an arrow leaving the string, pouncing toward Mumei opposite her.
hiding in the office, the group of peers all felt their hearts leap to their throats. Having participated in the Chunin Exams, they were well aware of the Sound Four's strength; they were definitely not opponents to be trifled with.
Just then, Mumei simply turned her body slightly, and then with a hand chop, struck precisely at the neck of Tayuya, who was pouncing at her.
Thud...
Without any resistance, Tayuya, having taken a heavy blow to the neck, blacked out and fell stiffly to the ground.
"Huh?"
Orochimaru and the others let out a soft sound of surprise.
At this moment, Mumei looked up, staring directly at Orochimaru.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!?"
Orochimaru did not dodge Mumei's gaze. However, when their gazes met, he was surprised to find that within Mumei's eye sockets were also a pair of scarlet eyes. Moreover, compared to Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan, the pattern on Mumei's Sharingan was even more complex.
Before he could react, everything around him changed.
In an instant, he was situated in a world filled with scarlet red. Kabuto, Jugo, Guren, and the others who had been guarding his side had all vanished without a trace.
Genjutsu!? Stunned, Orochimaru thought, To catch me completely unaware... could this be a Mangekyo Sharingan level Dojutsu?
Mumei stepped out from the crimson void. "You are Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru habitually wanted to grin, only to find that his mouth suddenly couldn't move. Subsequently, he discovered his entire body was immobilized.
Mumei obviously didn't want any answers from Orochimaru; she simply spoke to herself. "For Sasuke to have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and still lose to you... it really is a headache! Forget it, I'll just give you a little punishment!"
When hearing Mumei say "a little punishment," Orochimaru didn't pay it much mind. But when black flames ignited all over his body, he finally understood what Mumei meant.
Violent burning sensations fiercely stimulated every nerve in his body.
Experienced as he was, for a moment, he couldn't even distinguish whether this was a Genjutsu or if he had really been hit by the Mangekyo Sharingan's 'Amaterasu'!
Having taken out Tayuya with a hand chop and handled Orochimaru with 'Tsukuyomi', Mumei shifted her gaze to Yakushi Kabuto. "You guys attack together!"
"Everyone be careful, she is a Mangekyo Uchiha!"
Kabuto immediately felt his soul leave his body. While shouting warnings to Jugo and Guren, he hurriedly activated 'Sage Mode', using the snake cornea to completely shield his retinas, avoiding the risk of being hit by visual Genjutsu.
Sasuke, held in Kabuto's hand, looked blank. He never expected that Mumei, who had worked with him for so long, was actually an Uchiha clan member possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan, just like him!
The people in the office were also so shocked they couldn't close their mouths, seeing Mumei take down Tayuya with one move and Orochimaru with one look.
"Defeating Orochimaru with a single Genjutsu... h-how is this possible?!"
Shikamaru had vaguely felt Mumei might not be simple, but he never imagined she could be strong to this extent.
On the field.
Yakushi Kabuto, Jugo, and Guren faced her as if facing a formidable enemy.
Mumei didn't care in the slightest. She stepped forward, walking toward Kabuto and the others. Despite her small stature, she brought an unspeakable, immense pressure to the three people opposite her!
Kabuto shouted, "Attack together!"
Hearing this, Jugo and Guren threw caution to the wind. One pounced forward, and the other began forming seals, launching an offensive against Mumei together.
However, with just a glance from Mumei, the black flames of 'Amaterasu' covered Jugo's entire body. This shocked Guren, who was in the middle of forming seals, causing her to freeze as if forgetting what seal came next.
At this moment, Kabuto, who had pounced toward Mumei with a whoosh, found his punch slamming into a red skeletal phantom. Not only did he fail to harm Mumei in the slightest, but he was also knocked back by the recoil.
Mumei snorted lightly. "I am not Sasuke!"