The kunai in the girl's hand grew with the wind, transforming into a sixty-centimeter-long short sword.
This technique condensed water flow into a rotating water blade, somewhat similar to the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
The next moment, she threw the water blade, striking the black spear hurled with immense force.
The black spear deflected slightly, grazing past Uchiha Ci's face.
Immediately after,
Water Release: Water Cutting.
The girl bent down, pressed her palms against the ground, and with two splashes of water at her feet to reduce friction, slid swiftly beneath Uchiha Ci.
Then, in a princess carry, she caught the falling Uchiha Ci.
Uchiha Ci was momentarily dazed, catching a sweet fragrance, like seaside hibiscus.
Before he could recover,
The leader of the Jashin Cult coldly eyed the uninvited guest. He threw the two black spears in his hands, planted one foot on the ground, formed hand seals, and prepared to unleash a ninjutsu.
"Why are you spacing out? Get ready to run!"
The girl's green pupils contracted. She glanced down at the dazed Uchiha Ci in her arms, her brows furrowing in dissatisfaction. She simply waved her hand and tossed him aside, nearly breaking Uchiha Ci into pieces.
Then she formed hand seals:
Ram → Snake → Monkey → Tiger.
Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique.
A white mist rapidly spread, enveloping the entire village.
Uchiha Ci felt his hand grasped by soft fingers, followed by the girl's silver-bell-like voice in his ears.
"Let's go!"
"Leave?" Uchiha Ci looked up at the hooded girl before him. A strand of brown-red hair escaped, dancing like sunset clouds.
He quickly regained his senses, frowned, shook off her hand, and climbed to his feet.
"I can't leave!"
When he blocked the black spear for the little girl Yuko earlier, his palm had been cut.
Now, his blood was on the ground. The Jashin Cult members only needed to retrieve the spear he threw or dig up his blood to activate the curse: Death Controlling Possessed Blood!
Uchiha Ci couldn't gamble on whether the enemy knew the cult's core curse.
If he fled now and was killed, it might be judged as suicide.
That 500 million would vanish!
From the moment he stepped forward, Uchiha Ci had never considered leaving.
The next moment, Uchiha Ci's eyes turned ferocious, his scarlet Sharingan spinning.
He formed hand seals and decisively slammed the ground!
Super Death Battle Barrier!
This ninjutsu stolen from Molloy was perfect for this situation!
A circle of light-red barrier instantly expanded, trapping all three Jashin Cult members and Uchiha Ci!
Then, a barrier stretching skyward opened, expelling everyone else from the square.
"This is my fight alone!"
Uchiha Ci stood up, his mouth curling into an excited smirk as he eyed the misty white fog.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his scarlet Sharingan fixed on the three vague enemies in the fog.
He sneered:
"You like ambushes, huh?"
"Perfect. Let's begin round two!"
The girl who had helped Uchiha Ci was shocked when pushed away by the barrier. Watching Uchiha Ci stand inside, she gritted her teeth in frustration.
Is he an idiot?
She'd already created an escape opportunity, yet he trapped himself with three cultists.
It was sheer recklessness!
Hidan, also pushed out by the barrier, was stunned and shouted:
"Ci, are you crazy?!"
"If you attack the Jashin Cult leader, everyone in the village will be killed!"
"Besides, you're just a genin—you can't beat them!"
Uchiha Ci narrowed his eyes, then gave a thumbs-up over his shoulder and laughed loudly:
"Don't worry! They won't leave this barrier before I die!"
"Hidan, take this chance to escape with everyone!"
Without waiting for a reply, Uchiha Ci immediately began circling his opponents in the fog.
The red light of his Sharingan drew a long trail in the mist.
Thanks to the girl's sudden intervention, he'd avoided a serious injury and used the Hidden Mist Technique to gain maneuvering room.
Now, the Jashin Cult leader also sensed trouble.
He calmly ordered his subordinates:
"He has the Sharingan—it gives him a vision advantage here."
"But we outnumber him! Three against one—the advantage is mine!"
"Matō, use Wind Release to blow away the fog. Usi, guard the perimeter and protect me."
"I'll get that kid's blood, use the Death Controlling Possessed Blood curse, and cripple his legs!"
"Then, kill him!"
As he finished, the cult leader rushed toward the black spear stuck in the ground nearby.
The cultist named Matō formed hand seals, preparing to use Wind Release.
But at that moment—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three black shadows suddenly shot through the white fog, attacking all three!
"Is this... a stone?"
They startled, stepping back abruptly, their movements interrupted.
And these weren't just stones!
This was the pinnacle of Uchiha-style shurikenjutsu!
In Uchiha Ci's hands,
Anything could be a hidden weapon.
Uchiha Ci charged through the white mist, circling the barrier, scooping up stones and dead branches from the ground. He then yanked out a black spear stuck in the earth and hurled it at the three!
The first three stones only slightly surprised them.
But a barrage followed—
They immediately lost their composure!
In just ten seconds, Uchiha Ci gathered and threw over thirty stones and a dozen sharp, broken branches.
A dense rain of projectiles overwhelmed them!
Have you ever seen a bullet hell?
Amidst the vegetation and stones, a pitch-black spear was hidden—
launched with hurricane force!
The cult leader's pupils contracted.
Beside him, Matō was about to form seals for Wind Release.
Thud!
A jet-black spear pierced his chest on the spot!
He collapsed to the ground.
But it wasn't over!
Uchiha Ci lowered his stance, pausing momentarily with hands already sealed!
Bird → Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Ram!
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Six fireballs bared their fangs and charged!
Then—
He pulled three ninja wires from his depleted tool pouch, tied them to stones, and hurled them at the cultists!
Followed by hand seals:
Snake → Dragon → Rabbit → Tiger!
Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!
He raised his index finger, spewing dragon fire that danced wildly along the wires toward the two!
"Damn it! What's with this kid?!"
The cult leader's breath hitched, his eyes wide with horror as he hit the dirt.
He felt an inexplicable shock—
Damn it, why is this kid so good at spamming?!
"You think it's three against me?!"
Under the horrified gazes of the two cultists, Uchiha Ci sneered disdainfully:
"Wrong!"
"I'm the one surrounding you!"