Chapter 29: The Attack That Fizzled Out
Uchiha Akira, who was still dozing off early in the morning, was jolted awake. Last night, his training had gone on too late, and the excitement had kept him from noticing the time. By the time he realized it, it was already around four in the morning. He had hurriedly washed up and gone to bed.
In truth, for a ninja, not sleeping for a week wasn't that big of a deal—of course, that was under mission conditions. Akira considered himself a sane person; there was no need for self-torture, especially since his body was still developing.
But that morning, he was woken up by a series of distant explosions.
"What's going on?" Akira was still groggy when Inaho flickered outside the door in an instant step.
"Clan Leader, there were clear explosions in the distance. They seem to have come from the Xavier Institute. Should we go investigate?"
Ever since Inaho and the others had learned Charles was a wealthy patron—and after last night's mission rewards had been safely deposited—they had taken a keener interest in the Institute's affairs. After all, that was a gold mine, and the Uchiha needed money to grow in this new world.
Especially now, with a policy of encouraging childbirth, it was easy to predict that after ten months, the clan would face a baby boom. Akira certainly saw this as a golden era for expansion—the Uchiha population was still far too small.
Years of suppression by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and later the oppression under the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had left the clan's numbers stagnant. But here in this new world, without those external obstacles, they could finally grow without restraint.
"Let's go. Call for Tekkō, Kaku, and Mikoto as well." Akira had intervened yesterday, which had saved Mystique—Raven—and Jean had returned safely to the Institute with Charles. By all rights, there shouldn't have been any problem.
But clearly his interference had triggered new changes. Could this be the aliens coveting the Phoenix Force?
Being forewarned was certainly satisfying, but Akira also didn't mind flapping the butterfly's wings now and then. Change the future? The living, breathing Uchiha around him were already proof that he had changed it.
As elite shinobi, they reached the Institute in just a few minutes. Strictly speaking, this was Akira's first visit. From afar, smoke was billowing thickly within—this was clearly a large-scale attack.
"This time, our main goal is to save people. But your own safety comes first, remember that. Especially you three—Inaho and the others. We've only just started living well; don't throw your lives away. Also, don't underestimate mutants, and don't underestimate the invaders. This world's top-tier combat power… even I may not be a match for them."
"Understood!"
"Good. Split up! Mikoto, you're with me for the rescue!"
Akira had his reasons. Strictly speaking, Mikoto's strength was only at the level of a tokubetsu jōnin, weaker than Inaho and the others. He didn't trust her to act alone.
Once they scattered, Akira looked at the thick smoke rising from the Institute. Whoever was attacking wasn't weak—definitely not something the X-Men could handle quickly.
Leaping up to higher ground, he spotted men in suits attacking the X-Men, recklessly charging forward despite taking bullets and other hits.
When some of their disguises broke apart, they revealed strange alien forms.
"So it is some kind of alien attack, aiming for the Phoenix Force? Then I can't just sit back." Akira muttered to himself. This was part of his system's quest—even if there was no punishment for failure, there certainly wouldn't be a reward without success.
Jean had already joined the fight, standing beside Mystique. But against the aliens, even she was hard-pressed.
Charles, in his wheelchair, had lost his usual calm demeanor.
"Hey, Charles—need a hand?"
"Clan Head Uchiha, you came just in time! Please protect them. You'll be richly rewarded afterwards!"
Now that was a man who knew how to talk business. Akira hadn't mentioned money, but Charles understood exactly what the Uchiha valued.
"You're the one!" Akira thought, seeing Charles's tact. He jumped right into action.
"Everyone, get down!" The X-Men immediately hit the ground. The only ones left standing were the attackers.
"Water Release—Severing Wave!"
A laser-like torrent of water instantly bisected every standing figure, and even the buildings behind them collapsed from the blow.
In a single breath, the attackers were wiped out—clean, efficient, one strike.
"Jean, is this the helper you were waiting for?" A strange white-haired woman appeared after her subordinates were annihilated.
Anyone still daring to show themselves at this point was clearly the leader.
"Give me your power. I can feel it—you despise this force. If I take it from you, you'll never hurt your companions again."
The white-haired woman spoke with conviction, clearly anticipating Jean's reaction. Around her flared a crimson energy—the Phoenix Force, same as Jean's.
"Jean, don't listen to her!" Charles immediately cut in. He didn't know what exactly this power inside Jean was, but he knew enough not to give the enemy what they wanted.
Only a fool would.
"Get away!" Provoked, Jean unleashed the Phoenix Force from within her. But the white-haired woman countered with her own Phoenix Force, suppressing Jean with far greater control.
From the side, Akira had his Sharingan activated, clearly seeing the Phoenix Force emanating from both of them. His system was already alerting him: Contact with Phoenix Force detected…
Jean's raw power was stronger, but her control was sloppy. The white-haired woman easily held her down.
Watching the clash, Akira finally relaxed. He had feared a Phoenix rampage, but this was practically child's play. Such a scene was better off suppressed outright.
"Susanoo!"
Two massive chakra arms manifested, seizing both Jean and the woman in their grip. The Phoenix Force burst violently, trying to break free, but Akira wasn't worried—he had chakra to spare. Each time the arms were corroded, he simply poured in more chakra to restore them.
System: Contacting Phoenix Force… Extracting… Phoenix Force Fragment obtained.
The white-haired woman's Phoenix Force was stripped away, and without it, her body shattered like glass, dispersing into countless fragments.
System: Contacting Phoenix Force… Extracting… Phoenix Force Seed obtained.
Thankfully, Jean didn't vanish like the woman. The moment she crumbled, Akira's heart nearly stopped.
If Jean had been drained dry and erased too, how could he possibly explain that to Charles and the others?
Coming to rescue someone only to erase them… there'd be no talking his way out of that one!
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