"Hmm, he's here?"
Qing Ming's gaze instantly focused, locking onto a figure to the east.
That person was none other than Danzo Shimura, the very man Qing Ming had been waiting for.
As he had anticipated, Danzo decided to take no chances this time and chose to act personally.
Sensing Qing Ming's watchful gaze, Danzo, who was in the middle of discussing plans with his subordinates, suddenly raised his head and looked in his direction.
Even with hundreds of meters between them, it felt as though their eyes met.
After a long moment, Qing Ming withdrew his gaze.
Dispelling the "Shadow Clone Technique" he'd just used for testing, he turned and, with a flash of movement, headed to the farthest point west, away from Danzo. His aim was clear: to prioritize eliminating the Root members stationed there.
The adage "strike first to gain the upper hand" rang true.
Previously, Qing Ming had held back for two reasons:
One, his "Chakra Cloak" was just a step away from reaching Level 9 (0/0), its perfected state.
Two, Danzo's presence hadn't been confirmed yet.
Now that both conditions were met, there was no reason to hesitate.
As for targeting Danzo's subordinates instead of the man himself, the reasoning was simple: prudence.
Qing Ming had no idea how much preparation Danzo had made behind the scenes. However, by systematically eliminating his henchmen, Danzo would be rendered powerless.
With his plan clear, Qing Ming moved swiftly to his target.
In no time, he reached the squad of Root members positioned there.
They had just received Danzo's warning moments ago, but it was already too late.
Qing Ming wasted no time with tricks. He struck with lethal force right away.
Activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, the "Heavenly Dominion" technique came into play.
Without any warning, he silently approached the enemy, suddenly appearing before them.
Following that, the "Rasengan" and "Chakra Scalpel" techniques were unleashed in quick succession, leaving no chance for the Root members to react.
In the span of a single breath, all four members of the squad fell to the ground.
As their lives slipped away, they looked at Qing Ming without any trace of fear but instead triggered the explosive tags hidden on their bodies in their final moments.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions erupted.
The dual purpose of the blasts was clear: signal the others and attempt to harm Qing Ming.
But Qing Ming once again activated "Heavenly Dominion." Not only did he escape unscathed, but he also disappeared from the scene without leaving any trace behind.
Using his Byakugan, he quickly identified the location of another squad and silently made his way toward them.
Employing the same techniques and strategy, he effortlessly dealt with this second squad.
Even though the team was on high alert following the previous explosion, they were no match for Qing Ming.
This was the first time Qing Ming had gone all out in a confrontation, fully utilizing the powers of his Mangekyō Sharingan. The result was a one-sided slaughter.
These Root members were formidable in their own right, but that wasn't enough.
Against others, they might have managed to buy some time through sheer determination and desperate tactics.
But against Qing Ming, they didn't even have the chance to fight back, let alone delay him.
As the second team perished in another series of self-detonations, Qing Ming once again departed the scene, heading toward his next target.
One minute later, Danzo arrived at the location.
Staring at the familiar corpses on the ground, his face darkened with suppressed fury, and his entire being radiated a heavy, oppressive aura.
Just then, more explosions echoed in the distance.
There was no need to guess—more of his men had just been killed.
Although Danzo typically regarded his subordinates' lives as expendable, such significant casualties in such a short period of time were enough to make him feel the sting.
After all, these men were meticulously trained assets.
More importantly, without them, many of the tactics and strategies he had prepared would no longer be viable.
"Damn it!"
Danzo cursed under his breath.
Without further hesitation, he barked orders to his trusted aide, "Otsu, signal the Red Rain Squad stationed on the outskirts to set up a barrier. The rest of you, regroup with me immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Otsu immediately complied, weaving hand seals to activate a mind-linking technique akin to the Yamanaka Clan's "Telepathic Communication Technique" to relay Danzo's orders.
Moments later, a hemispherical barrier appeared, spreading like a lid to cover a large section of the forest.
Elsewhere in the forest, Qing Ming had just dispatched another squad of Root members when he noticed the barrier in the sky.
However, he remained calm.
After all, based on his previous encounters with sealing techniques, most barriers couldn't hold him. He could usually bypass them using the power of "Heavenly Dominion."
Only the Root's "Four-Seal Array," which suppressed both physical and mental faculties, had posed a challenge before.
Back then, he had felt an immediate sense of suppression upon the array's activation.
This time, however, he felt no such effect.
Based on the barrier's shape and the absence of any suppressive sensation, Qing Ming quickly deduced that this wasn't the "Four-Seal Array."
As such, he wasn't overly concerned.
While pondering this, Qing Ming felt an inexplicable sense of being watched.
It didn't take him long to figure out the barrier's purpose—it was likely a sensory barrier designed to track his movements rather than confine him.
Clearly, Danzo had studied his past battles thoroughly. Knowing that ordinary barriers couldn't trap Qing Ming, Danzo chose a different approach: one focused on assistance rather than confinement.
This, in turn, revealed the deep confidence Danzo had in himself and his capabilities.
Using his Byakugan, Qing Ming scanned the surrounding kilometer. Most of the Root members had already regrouped around Danzo.
Seeing this, he decided against further offensive maneuvers and instead remained in place, patiently awaiting their arrival.
Time ticked by, and soon, Danzo and his men arrived.
Surrounded by Root operatives, Qing Ming stood unflinching, his gaze fixed on Danzo.
It had been two years since the Chūnin Exams, and this was their first encounter since.
Compared to back then, Danzo appeared even older. His right arm, once normal, was now wrapped in bandages—a sight that gave Qing Ming a sense of familiarity.
As Qing Ming studied Danzo, Danzo scrutinized him in return.
Previously, Danzo had only known Qing Ming through reports and dossiers. This was only his second time meeting him in person.
Compared to two years ago, Qing Ming had shed much of his youthful naivety and uncertainty, now exuding confidence and composure.
Standing there, the young man radiated an air of youthful heroism.
Danzo's gaze shifted to Qing Ming's eyes, locking onto the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Even for someone as battle-hardened as Danzo, the sheer potency of Qing Ming's ocular power was intimidating—it was among the strongest he'd ever encountered.
In that moment, Danzo's suspicions were confirmed.
And with that confirmation, his desire burned hotter, an insatiable greed to claim Qing Ming's eyes for his own.
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