They continued deeper.
After another dozen meters, the passage finally opened up.
Flickering lights appeared ahead, revealing the Uchiha clan crest carved at the chamber's center.
"We're finally here…"
But just as they were about to step inside—
The walls exploded with fire.
A torrent of blazing flames erupted from both sides, flooding the corridor.
The five or six meters in front of the chamber instantly became a sea of fire.
And the four of them were right in the middle of it.
Yet the moment the flames touched the Lightning Net—
They were repelled violently.
A vacuum-like gap formed between the inferno and the golden barrier.
Flames hot enough to melt steel couldn't shake the Lightning Net in the slightest.
Inside the shield, they didn't feel even a hint of heat.
Still, being surrounded by fire was terrifying.
They saw cracks spiderwebbing through the stone walls—
Scorched open by unbearable temperature.
And yet, not a single flame crossed the barrier.
Once again, the three were shaken by Arata's strength.
Arata didn't want to maintain this either.
But the Uchiha traps were ruthless.
Water Release wouldn't suppress flames like this.
And in a sealed underground space, clashing Water Release against extreme heat would generate steam pressure—
Enough to collapse the entire shrine.
Arata muttered irritably,
"Your clan is insane. Those two traps alone would kill an ordinary jōnin."
Sasuke shot him a look.
"I never encountered these before. That means they can be disabled."
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"And don't talk like jōnin couldn't handle it when you're standing here dealing with it like it's nothing."
The jealousy in his voice was obvious.
Arata didn't want to linger.
Every second here drained chakra to maintain the net.
Even with rapid recovery, he didn't want to waste it.
He waved them forward.
"Move. If we stay longer, we'll get roasted."
Once they entered the chamber, the flames finally died out.
Behind them, the corridor walls were blackened and cracked.
Inside, oil lamps ignited automatically, illuminating the chamber.
Arata surveyed the ancient room and nodded.
"So this is a real clan's foundation… No wonder it feels this heavy."
Before he could continue—
Sasuke stepped directly in front of him, eyes locked.
Naruto followed.
Sakura yelped and hid behind Arata.
Arata took a step back, wary.
"…What are you doing?"
Sasuke's voice was cold.
"That jutsu earlier—was it taught to you by Kakashi?"
Naruto nodded furiously.
"Yeah! Kakashi-sensei taught you that, right?!"
Arata relaxed.
Ah. That.
He nodded casually.
"Yeah. Kakashi-sensei taught it to me."
Of course, he wasn't about to admit he'd created it himself.
Far away—
Kakashi sneezed violently while reading at home.
"…Guy?" he muttered, then returned to his book.
Back in the chamber—
Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"That bastard… He treats you way too well."
Naruto nodded.
"If you didn't look so different, I'd think you were his son!"
Arata sighed.
"Stop whining."
"If you want to learn, and you have the foundation, Kakashi-sensei will teach you."
"That jutsu is forbidden."
"Mess it up even slightly, and it kills you before you realize what happened."
"Train your basics first."
Sasuke nodded slowly.
Naruto pouted.
"I don't buy it."
Sakura stayed silent.
But she didn't believe a word.
She'd seen Kakashi fight.
If he could use a jutsu like that—
He would have.
And besides—
Kakashi's lightning was blue.
Arata's was gold.
Completely different.
Sakura stared at Arata's back.
The longer she watched him…
The more mysterious he became.
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