Chapter 24: Crisis, Danzō's Assassination Order, the Root Assassination Team Attacks
The Root base remained as gloomy as ever. Danzō Shimura's face was grim as he listened to his subordinate's detailed report on Uchiha Akira.
"Noha Saburo… he actually fell at the hands of a twelve-year-old brat?"
"According to the intelligence, Uchiha Akira displayed exquisite control over Fire Release and Lightning Release Ninjutsu during the battle, independently suppressed Noha Saburo's poison outbreak, and his team members cooperated seamlessly, with all of them being Chūnin level in strength," a Root ninja reported in a low voice.
Danzō's face grew even gloomier upon hearing this. "His growth rate is too fast… so fast it has exceeded this old man's expectations. Compound Ninjutsu… perfect execution of A-rank missions… This Uchiha Akira is no longer just 'worth paying attention to'; he is an uncontrollable variable! He's already so troublesome before his wings have even fully grown. If he's allowed to continue growing, he will surely become a major threat in the future!"
Killing intent gleamed in Danzō's eyes. "We can't wait any longer," he said slowly. "Pass on my order: dispatch the Root Elite Assassination Squad and ensure Uchiha Akira is secretly eliminated! Remember, do it cleanly and leave no evidence pointing to Root or to this old man!"
"Yes, Lord Danzō!" Several Root ninja departed after receiving their orders.
The setting sun painted the sky a magnificent orange-red. Uchiha Akira and his team members had just completed another B-rank mission, successfully eradicating a bandit group that had been plundering merchant caravans. The continuous high-intensity missions had left them all feeling a bit tired.
"Finally, we can go back and get some good rest," Uchiha Kai said with a stretch and a smile.
"When we get back this time, we'll disband for a week of rest," Uchiha Akira said with a smile, looking at his weary teammates.
"That's great! Long live Captain! This time, I'm going to sleep in for a few days straight," Uchiha Rin cheered joyfully.
Just then!
[Warning! Warning! Host detected to be in fatal danger!!!]
[Hostile Target: Danzō Shimura's Root Elite Assassination Squad (Three Jōnin, one of whom is an Elite Jōnin)!]
[Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous!!!]
In his mind, the system's alarm blared like a thunderclap! Uchiha Akira's pupils instantly contracted to pinpricks!
"Enemy attack!!!" Uchiha Akira roared out the warning!
Before his words even finished, dozens of kunai and shuriken, glinting with deadly cold light, shot towards them like a storm from all directions!
"Scatter! Form up!" Uchiha Akira shouted sharply. Though Rin, Tetsu, and Kai were shocked by the sudden attack, their long-standing tacit training allowed them to react immediately! The three quickly spread out, forming a simple defensive formation back-to-back.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The crisp sounds of weapons clashing echoed continuously! Uchiha Akira's eyes were cold, his Two-Tomoe Sharingan spinning rapidly, taking in the trajectories of all incoming projectiles. He constantly swung the kunai in his hand, deflecting one deadly projectile after another.
"It's Root!" Uchiha Akira's heart sank slightly. The situation was very bad; if he wasn't careful, he might fall here today. He, along with his three teammates, would likely not escape death.
"They actually sent an assassination squad directly… Danzō, you really think highly of me!" Akira's eyes were filled with icy killing intent.
Just as the first wave of projectile attacks was barely fended off, the surrounding scenery suddenly underwent a bizarre change. The once clear forest began to twist and blur. Countless illusory figures emerged from all directions, charging towards them.
"Genjutsu!" Uchiha Tetsu cried out, immediately attempting to break it. However, this Genjutsu was quite high-level. Uchiha Tetsu failed to break it and suffered a Genjutsu backlash, instantly spitting out blood.
"Watch your feet!" Uchiha Rin suddenly exclaimed! The ground beneath them had, at some point, turned into a muddy swamp, restricting their movements.
Immediately after, several figures, weaving through the illusory shadows, launched targeted attacks at Rin, Tetsu, and Kai. Their objective was very clear: eliminate Uchiha Akira's team members first.
"Bastards!" Uchiha Akira roared in anger! How could he tolerate his teammates being harmed before his eyes?
"Lightning Fire Spiraling Sphere!"
A crimson-blue interwoven Chakra orb instantly condensed in Uchiha Akira's palm, violently smashing into that twisted Genjutsu space!
"Fire Release: Soaring Dragon Flame Song Jutsu!"
Boom!!!
Violent Chakra erupted! The powerful impact actually tore a huge opening in the intricate compound Genjutsu! The real scenery reappeared!
All three Root ninja were Jōnin! And the one leading them, a ninja wearing a wolf-face mask, emitted Chakra fluctuations that clearly indicated he was an Elite Jōnin! His strength was far beyond that of an ordinary Jōnin.
"Hmph, your reaction isn't bad; you actually managed to break my 'Four Violet Flames Mist Formation'," the wolf-masked Root Elite Jōnin sneered.
"You three retreat immediately; I'll stay and cover our escape!" Uchiha Akira immediately commanded. Clearly, in this situation, with the strength of his three teammates, even a slight lapse would result in instant death. He alone couldn't cover so many. Only by letting them retreat first would he have a chance, whether to fight or to escape.
"Captain, we're with you!" the three said in unison.
"Obey orders! Retreat! They're all Jōnin; your strength is too low, staying will only distract me!"
"But, Captain!" Uchiha Rin tried to say something else but was immediately cut off by Uchiha Akira's shout.
"Withdraw quickly; only when you are safe will I have a chance to leave. If you stay, we'll all just die here together in the end."
Upon hearing this, the three team members no longer hesitated and immediately leaped into the forest.
"This is the end! Uchiha Akira!" The wolf-masked Elite Ninja quickly formed hand signs.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The ground beneath Uchiha Akira's feet instantly transformed into a vast quicksand swamp, with a powerful suction force threatening to swallow him! At the same time, the other two Root Jōnin, one from the left and one from the right, attacked Uchiha Akira! He was immediately deeply surrounded!
Facing the combined pincer attack of three Jōnin (one of whom was an Elite Jōnin), Uchiha Akira felt unprecedented pressure!
"So these are Root's elites… they truly live up to their reputation!" But Akira showed no fear whatsoever. "You want to kill me, Uchiha Akira? You… are not worthy!"
Uchiha Akira's killing intent soared! The two tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly.
"Today, you are the ones who will die! Come on, you Root scum!"