Chapter 11:
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"Sasuke, Husky, you two go in and find Sarada. I'll handle things out here."
A crowd of Narutos versus a crowd of child Shin Uchihas.
Although there were more Naruto shadow clones on the field, they vanished the moment they were touched. In contrast, the child Shin Uchihas wouldn't stop attacking unless they were killed.
"You're still as naive as ever, Naruto."
Sasuke sheathed his longsword as yet another child Shin Uchiha fell lifeless to the ground, his eyes closing for the last time. Without hesitation, Sasuke turned and rushed toward the cave.
Rather than choosing to stay behind to block the child Shin Uchihas, it was more accurate to say Naruto was staying behind to protect them—from being slaughtered by Sasuke.
Compared to Naruto, Sasuke was far more like a true ninja. Be it child or elder, as long as they were his enemies, he wouldn't hesitate to kill them.
"Then I'll leave this to you, Naruto."
Shunhi followed after Sasuke at a ninja's pace. Since he didn't know how to use teleportation techniques, he naturally lagged behind Sasuke.
"Hm? Sasuke, why did you stop?"
"I see… a fork in the road."
"Let me see… this way."
After consulting the [Clone Tool Management Log], Shunhi pointed to the path on the right.
"You don't know how to use teleportation techniques?"
Sasuke slowed his pace on purpose and asked from behind.
"This isn't the time to be prying into my intel."
"…"
As they moved deeper into the cave, the traces of battle grew heavier and more apparent.
"A red Susanoo… and an iron giant formed by gathered ninja weapons under control, huh?"
"Also, that Susanoo… feels familiar…"
Seeing Uchiha Itachi locked in combat with Shin Uchiha, Sasuke furrowed his brows and muttered. That red Susanoo stirred a feeling of déjà vu.
"Sasuke, aren't you going to help?"
Shunhi stood beside him, looking ready to continue slacking off as he urged Sasuke.
"And you're not planning to help your comrade either."
Sasuke remained wary of this strange guy who could use space-time ninjutsu.
With Naruto absent, Sasuke wasn't confident he could handle both the Flaming Cloud Evil God and Husky at once—especially with Sarada present.
Even though, at the moment, the Flaming Cloud Evil God appeared to be protecting Sarada, Sasuke still couldn't bring himself to trust the two of them.
After another round of clashes, both Uchiha Itachi and the adult Shin Uchiha retreated simultaneously.
"Deputy Director, you're here."
Uchiha Itachi, carrying Sarada, approached Shunhi and set her down. Freed from Itachi's arms, Sarada immediately ran to the father she trusted more.
"Deputy Director?!"
Sasuke stared at Shunhi in surprise.
"What, don't I look the part?"
Through the [Clone Tool Management Log], Shunhi easily understood Itachi's intention: he was trying to leak a bit of intel to Sasuke.
But Shunhi didn't mind. This was just Itachi overthinking things. Shunhi wasn't some grand boss trying to destroy the ninja world—he just wanted to experience what it was like to be a ninja.
After all, if you come to the world of Naruto and don't try living like a ninja, other transmigrators would laugh at you.
"…I just find it odd. Why would something this minor require the Deputy Director to show up?"
Indeed, whether in Sasuke or Naruto's eyes, this was a small matter. Enemies like these could be easily dealt with if either of them went all out and gave it their full intensity.
"Because the others have other matters to attend to."
Here, Shunhi chose not to be truthful. It wasn't that he suddenly decided to stir things up—if Sasuke knew that this "S.H.I.E.L.D." organization only had Husky and the Flaming Cloud Evil God as members, he'd definitely abandon Shin Uchiha to focus entirely on taking down those two.
Compared to the known quantity that was Shin Uchiha, an enigmatic organization with unknown goals and members was undeniably more dangerous.
Besides, Shunhi wasn't exactly lying—he did have Clone Tools and Transformation Cards. He could easily whip up a few more "members."
By saying that, Shunhi ensured Sasuke wouldn't rush in blindly to take out Husky and the Flaming Cloud Evil God. Facing a mysterious group like this required a more cautious, gradual approach.
Otherwise, open conflict would only result in large-scale battles on both sides.
"That guy hasn't been dealt with yet, and now two more show up."
"Only through war can humanity evolve. That's something I'll make sure you both understand—Sasuke, Flaming Cloud Evil God, we'll meet again!"
The adult Shin Uchiha twisted his face into a grim sneer. A white fleshy mass appeared beside him—his tool for executing a space-time escape jutsu.
If he only had to face Uchiha Itachi, he could still rely on his remaining ocular power and the iron giant to fight. But against three opponents, Shin Uchiha decisively chose to flee.
"We can't let him escape. Sasuke, stop him!"
Sasuke ignored Shunhi's shout and continued watching both Shunhi and Uchiha Itachi warily.
"The technique for copying Sharingan… the opportunity to become the richest man in the ninja world by selling them… I can't let this go."
Shunhi's thoughts raced as he manipulated Uchiha Itachi to attack Sasuke.
Having stayed on guard the entire time, Sasuke instantly responded to the surprise attack from Itachi. But now that he was entangled in battle, no one was left to protect Sarada.
"Uchiha Sasuke, this is your last chance. Take down Shin Uchiha and trade him to me for your daughter. Alive—don't forget, I want him alive."
Shunhi remained off to the side, not making a move to seize Sarada himself. After all, he knew his own strength—he didn't have the ability to take her out in an instant. In fact, he wasn't even sure he could beat her one-on-one.
He still needed to conserve some chakra to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape, after all.
Besides, if he did make a move, Sasuke would immediately gauge his true strength and no longer see him as a threat. Then once Naruto arrived, they'd likely make a bold move—like capturing him and Uchiha Itachi to interrogate them for intel about S.H.I.E.L.D.
Shunhi stopped manipulating Uchiha Itachi. Silently, Itachi ended his skirmish with Sasuke and, with a teleportation move, appeared beside Sarada.
It was both a show of loyalty to Shunhi's command and an effort to protect Sarada.
"D-Dad…"
Sarada stood frozen in place, too frightened to move. Tears ran down her cheeks as her eyes, awakened to a one-tomoe Sharingan from the shock, locked onto Sasuke.
"I understand. If Sarada gets hurt, I'll kill you both."
Sasuke knew that until Naruto arrived, he had no choice but to compromise. Whether it was the Flaming Cloud Evil God's Susanoo or Husky's space-time jutsu—they were both serious threats.