The Phoenix Style Jutsu differs from the Great Fireball Technique in that it is more suitable for attacking multiple targets. Each fireball not only follows a fixed trajectory but can also be controlled directly by chakra, allowing the user to change its path and track targets.
At this moment, Uchiha Riku took advantage of this ability, controlling dozens of fireballs to attack the four Mist Village ninjas individually. These techniques showcased his extraordinary talent and the skills he had mastered. He wouldn't have been able to use them before, but now he seemed to wield them effortlessly.
The four Mist ninjas were terrified by the incoming attack, and their expressions changed drastically. The one on the far left—whether due to exhaustion from prolonged battle or shock from Riku's attack—failed to react in time. A fireball struck his back, burning his clothes and scorching his skin, causing him to scream in pain.
"Put out the fire!" shouted one of his companions. The injured ninja instinctively began using Water Style Ninjutsu. After much effort, he finally extinguished the flames on his body. But before he could feel relief, his body suddenly froze. Blood sprayed from a wound on his neck, splattering across the grass and trees. The fatal blow came from a kunai thrown from behind.
The other three Mist shinobi could only watch helplessly as their companion was killed. They were overwhelmed—not only did they have to dodge Riku's fireballs, but they also had to avoid his shuriken and kunai sneak attacks. At that moment, they felt deep despair. They couldn't understand how a Konoha Chunin chasing them could be so powerful.
"Damn it, let's fight him!" shouted the Mist ninja in the middle, angry and frustrated at being hunted like a rabbit.
"Don't be impulsive! There are Konoha ninjas behind us!"
"Besides, the opponent is an Uchiha!" his companions warned him urgently.
Unfortunately, it was too late. The middle ninja suddenly turned around. His earlier words were meant to distract Riku—he had already completed the hand seals. As he turned, he opened his mouth and fired a Water Arrow at Riku. The chakra-compressed water formed a high-pressure Water Iron Cannon, powerful enough to pierce metal and rock.
At that distance and speed, a normal person wouldn't have had time to react. But Riku wasn't ordinary. He had noticed the hand seals from the beginning. He could even hear the faint sound of the enemy's fingers rubbing against the air. From these details, he formed a clear mental image of the enemy's movements.
In other words, Uchiha Riku predicted the attack in advance.
So, when the Water Iron Cannon was fired, he calmly sidestepped about half a meter. The attack missed him completely.
On the battlefield, life and death are decided in moments. The enemy never expected Riku to dodge so easily. He had been confident that his move would kill Riku. He was already imagining returning to his village as a hero who had slain an Uchiha.
But in that brief moment of distraction, death arrived.
Riku's kunai sliced through the enemy's neck. Without pausing, he threw the same kunai at another enemy. The middle Mist ninja fell with a look of disbelief in his eyes.
Everything happened so fast—from Riku's counterattack to the third enemy's death—it took only half a minute.
When Riku appeared in front of the fourth enemy, the ninja was panicked and trying to flee. He hadn't even realized it was Riku approaching, thinking it was one of his companions.
"This guy is really powerful… worthy of being an Uchiha," the Mist ninja said.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he sensed something was wrong. He turned to look at the "companion" beside him—and his face turned pale with fear.
"You…"
"Thanks for the compliment," Riku replied coldly.
But the kunai in his hand was far from polite. Riku gripped it with both hands and stabbed it directly into the enemy's heart. He watched the light of shock and fear fade from the ninja's eyes as his life slipped away. Then Riku pulled out the kunai.
He looked up at the last remaining Mist Chunin, who had just witnessed his companion's death. Terrified, the ninja exchanged a glance with Riku—and immediately turned and ran without looking back.
As Riku made his move, he rapidly recalled all the knowledge and skills he had learned before. And at the moment he threw the kunai, a familiar system prompt sounded in his mind:
[Ding!] You tried hard to recall the throwing techniques and power control of kunai, and realized that kunai can hit the target every time!
[Skill Unlocked: Kunai Precision] — You can now accurately throw kunai at any target within your line of sight in the most energy-efficient and powerful way.