Sharingan Evolution
However, because the shuriken lost much of their momentum after clashing mid-air, the Sunagakure special jōnin dodged them with ease.
"Kid..."
"Fang Over Fang!"
Before the Sand shinobi could respond, Inuzuka Rui and Tetsumaru spun into a howling whirlwind and charged forward.
But their opponent wasn't a pushover. Twisting swiftly to evade, the jōnin drew the ninja sword from his back. After briefly channeling chakra into it with a breath, he swung it with force toward the Inuzuka.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
"Uchiha Style: Thousand Army Slash!"
Ming Jing burst in from the flank, intercepting the blade with his own. The clash of steel echoed sharply.
Despite his timely block, Ming Jing was clearly overpowered. The blow forced him back, his arm tingling from the impact.
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Insects."
From beneath her sleeve, Aburame Nami unleashed a stream of kikaichū that swarmed toward the enemy.
Realizing the threat, the Sunagakure ninja attempted to disengage. He aimed a powerful kick at Ming Jing, intending to knock him aside.
Thanks to his Sharingan, Ming Jing foresaw the attack. But his body couldn't react in time, so he lifted his leg to block.
Both combatants were forced back by the impact, using the momentum to land and form hand seals simultaneously.
"Wind Style: Sandstorm Vortex!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A roaring wind clashed with a sphere of blazing fire. Nami's insects were blown away, scattering before they could make contact.
"He's mastered Wind Release chakra nature transformation…"
Ming Jing grimaced as his fireball was dispersed. Despite lacking nature transformation, he had refined his Fire Style to a high level, which allowed him to hold out. Were it not for fire's natural advantage over wind, he would've been overwhelmed instantly.
Even so, the tide of the ninjutsu battle was turning against him.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone.
Thanks to Ming Jing's cover, Inuzuka Rui had evaded the Vacuum Blade. Without missing a beat, he and Tetsumaru activated their next jutsu, combining into a monstrous two-headed wolf.
"Inuzuka Style: Human-Beast Clone — Double-Headed Wolf!"
Braving the slicing winds and searing heat, the fusion beast roared forward. Lacerations from Wind Release techniques marred its fur, but it lunged with relentless ferocity.
The Sunagakure special jōnin was forced to abandon his jutsu and leap aside.
Uchiha Ming Jing's abilities were no joke. From the brief exchange alone, he could tell this boy rivaled or even surpassed many chūnin. And Inuzuka Rui's current form, though strong, clearly consumed massive chakra—it wouldn't last long.
The optimal plan was to first eliminate the Aburame girl, whose bugs were especially vulnerable to wind. Then neutralize the Inuzuka once his transformation ended. Lastly, finish the most troublesome one—Uchiha Ming Jing.
"So... you've chosen me as your target?"
Nami tilted her head, watching him approach.
"I'm not good at Wind Release, but I know just enough. After all, you can't perform this move without understanding it."
With that, kikaichū erupted from both sleeves, spiraling into a vortex of buzzing wings. Simultaneously, more insects emerged from the damp ground to join the cyclone.
The moist soil of the Rain Country, even in early spring's chill, was an ideal environment for insects when infused with chakra.
The Sand ninja found himself caught in a tornado of insects. Even with Wind Release, escaping wouldn't be instantaneous.
"Nice one, Nami!" Inuzuka Rui dispelled his jutsu and reverted with Tetsumaru, giving her a thumbs-up.
All of this had been hard-earned progress.
"Now… let's finish this guy off."
Ming Jing stepped forward, his wakizashi held in a ready stance.
"Nami, I'll need you to pull the bugs away at the right moment. My Sharingan can find the opening—I'll handle the final strike."
Nami gave a small nod.
Ming Jing slowly raised his wakizashi overhead. He inhaled deeply—and then:
"Uchiha Style: Sword Flash Flame!"
The sword arced downward with a roar, unleashing a crimson blaze shaped like a sweeping blade.
At that instant, Nami gave the signal. The swarm parted.
The trapped Sand shinobi sensed the change and turned in alarm, eyes widening as the flame approached. Gritting his teeth, he raised his sword in a last-ditch block.
But—
The impact never came.
The flaming blade halted mid-flight.
Standing between the fire and its target was another Sunagakure ninja—an elite jōnin, judging by his vest and aura.
"Tch!"
Ming Jing clenched his teeth. Their perfect coordination was thwarted.
The new arrival had effortlessly deflected his technique—a feat only a true jōnin could manage. Unlike the special jōnin they had been fighting, this one was the real deal.
But in war, your rank doesn't shield you. Even a genin can face death at the hands of a jōnin.
"You almost died to three brats. How pathetic."
The jōnin cast a scornful glance at his wounded comrade, then turned to face the trio, a sadistic grin forming.
He vanished.
In a flash, he reappeared in front of Ming Jing, blade already descending.
"Damn it—!"
Ming Jing's Sharingan managed to track the jōnin's movement, but his body couldn't keep up. He blocked the first few slashes, barely keeping pace. After a dozen exchanges, the jōnin knocked his sword away and sent him crashing to the ground.
Meanwhile, Rui and Nami were locked in battle with the weakened but still-dangerous special jōnin.
"Farewell, little Uchiha."
The jōnin loomed over Ming Jing, sword raised.
Ming Jing stared up at death.
And in that moment—his single tomoe spun wildly.
Then… another tomoe emerged beside it.