Chapter 38: The Viper
The Akimichi Clan's pill was truly impressive. In less than ten minutes of rest, Uchiha Kei's chakra had already recovered to near full capacity.
He glanced at Minato Namikaze and Kenta Imai, then gave a subtle nod. The three of them silently began approaching the Kannabi Bridge.
The bridge was a few kilometers away, but that distance was negligible for seasoned shinobi like them. In just a few minutes, they arrived at their destination.
Hidden within the dense forest, Uchiha Kei observed the grand structure. He had to admit, the Kannabi Bridge was indeed impressive—an engineering marvel. Still, no matter how magnificent it appeared, it was destined for destruction.
"Kenta, stay hidden for now," Minato whispered. "Once Kei and I begin the battle, look for an opportunity to cross."
"Yes, Captain." Kenta replied quietly, clearly a little tense.
Minato said no more. He turned to Kei, who activated his Sharingan in response—a clear signal that he was ready.
Satisfied, Minato made a hand gesture. The two darted forward through the trees.
The terrain of the Land of Grass was relatively flat, and the forest they passed through was dense and overgrown. That only made them more cautious—who knew what traps might be lying in wait?
Though their enemies were few, among them were the elite demolition squad from Iwagakure.
Sure enough, as they sprinted forward, Kei's finely tuned senses picked up odd chakra traces in the area.
Ninja were warriors who fought by any means necessary—rank meant little when it came to tactics like ambushes or traps. Kei himself was an expert in such methods.
"Stay alert. There's an ambush," Kei warned, swiftly pulling out a few kunai and hurling them toward the chakra signatures.
The kunai didn't trigger any explosions, but the strange chakra faded—proof enough that someone had been there.
Kei wasn't interested in drawing unnecessary attention. Even if the enemy already knew they were coming, it was best to stay cautious.
As expected, a shadowy figure suddenly burst out in front of him, moving at high speed—its fist radiating a distinct chakra glow!
A Kekkei Genkai. Kei recognized it instantly, and he could sense it was a dangerous one.
Even while dashing at top speed, Kei abruptly halted without so much as a stumble—his motion fluid and sharp.
His Sharingan looked like a typical three-tomoe version, but it operated at the level of a Mangekyō. It dramatically enhanced his coordination and reflexes.
He clearly saw the attacker's movement path. As the enemy's surprise attack narrowly missed and left him momentarily stiff, Kei swiftly drew his ninja blade.
In one smooth motion, the blade slashed in a strange arc straight toward the enemy's neck—severing the head in a single stroke.
But Kei didn't look pleased. He had clearly seen the real enemy escape long before the clone was destroyed.
A seasoned ambusher himself, Kei knew that a proper sneak attack should never be full-force. There had to be restraint—unless one was prepared to die in a trade.
This enemy clearly wasn't.
"You alright?" Minato asked, glancing back.
"You go ahead," Kei replied, eyes scanning the forest. "That guy slipped underground—I won't be able to find him easily. Is that the one called Gari?"
"Yes," Minato nodded. "Think you can handle him?"
"Should be fine," Kei replied coolly. "And even if you stay, Han will probably show up too. It's better if you keep moving."
He saw the situation clearly. A 2v2 would be tricky, especially without synergy. The enemy, on the other hand, likely had experience working together.
Splitting their forces gave Kei and Minato the best odds. Minato understood that and dashed off without hesitation.
"Careful, aren't you?" Kei muttered after Minato left, mockery in his tone. "Worried that Captain Minato might take you down? I'll admit, your survival instincts are impressive."
He paused, waiting for a response—but the enemy, Gari, didn't react.
Kei sighed. This guy really had patience. Probably worried Minato hadn't gone far enough yet.
Even so, Kei stayed alert. Without a Byakugan, he couldn't track someone underground.
"Your first attack failed—used an earth clone. Then you tried the Headhunter Jutsu. Gotta say, you're good at this. Definitely more interesting than that brute, Kitsuchi."
He kept talking, baiting the enemy.
"I prefer enemies like you—cowards who lurk in the shadows. Gives me a rare chance to relax. It's been a while since I had a proper challenge."
Still, no response. Gari remained hidden and patient, which made Kei frown slightly. This guy really had nerves of steel.
Maybe he wasn't being irritating enough. If this were Sasuke, he'd have already provoked someone into attacking by just standing there.
"Fine," Kei muttered, sheathing his blade and turning toward Minato's direction.
"If you're just going to watch, go ahead. You probably hate the Jinchūriki too, right? Let me guess—your parents were killed during a tailed beast suppression mission? Now you want to use us to take down the Five-Tails?"
He leapt into the trees, as if going after Minato—but inwardly, he was fully focused.
Being airborne and with his back exposed—this was the most vulnerable moment for any ninja. Kei himself wouldn't let such a chance go to waste.
Just as expected, the moment he was about to land, a figure burst forth again—this time, the chakra in his hand was more intense and dangerous than before.
But Kei… smiled.
"Finally dragged you out, you damned viper."