Chapter 136: Since We're Here, Let's Settle This
"Wake up, Kushina."
Uchiha Kazuki's voice was soft, yet contained an unyielding will.
Buzz!
In an instant, Kushina, who had been semi-conscious, seemed to regain some awareness.
She raised her head blankly, staring with innocent, dazed eyes at the Konoha ANBU member wearing the 'Owl' mask before her. "You... who are you...?"
"Konoha ANBU Commander—Owl."
Uchiha Kazuki's voice was deep and carried a certain magnetism as he spoke slowly. "Leave the rest to me. You're exhausted. Get some rest."
"I'm... sorry..."
Kushina felt her eyelids growing impossibly heavy, as if her soul was drifting away, and she closed her eyes drowsily.
Kushina, who had been on the verge of full Tailed Beast transformation, was suddenly pulled back. The blood-red chakra surrounding her instantly collapsed and vanished without a trace.
"The Tailed Beast transformation actually stopped?"
Kurabi stared at the scene, secretly astonished. "Is this some secret Konoha technique, or this guy's special ability?"
However, none of that mattered right now.
Kurabi's tense mood relaxed considerably, a contemptuous smile appearing on his face. "Heh, what a foolish decision. Without the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in Tailed Beast form, I'm quite curious how you few plan to escape our encirclement."
"We won't escape. We don't need to escape—because there's no need."
Uchiha Kazuki picked up Kushina and turned back to gaze at the approaching Cloud shinobi, calm and composed. "Because... whether it's one speck of dust, two specks, or dozens of specks that need to be swept away—they're all too insignificant for the naked eye to distinguish."
He was comparing them to dust?!
Kurabi's smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a dark expression. "Then let's see if you really have the ability to back up those words!"
With that, he waved his hand, and dozens of Cloud shinobi slowly advanced.
Even if ANBU are elite, that's based on one-on-one combat, assassination, intelligence gathering, or stealth operations...
"Sir, what should we do now?"
Tentori swallowed hard, but inwardly couldn't help complaining. The newly appointed ANBU Commander was going to get them all killed!
He'd never seen an ANBU operative so brazenly walk into an enemy encirclement!
Who were they?
ANBU!
What were they best at?
Assassination, intelligence gathering, special operations—not head-on confrontation!
Now they were surrounded by dozens of Cloud shinobi. Unless Minato Namikaze showed up, they were done for!
"Commander, we'll stay behind to cover your retreat!" In this critical moment, despite being extremely unhappy, Tentori had no choice but to step forward and whisper urgently, "Please—please bring the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki back to Konoha safely!"
"Tentori, have you ever heard this saying?"
Uchiha Kazuki remained standing in place, seemingly with no intention of fleeing, and calmly stated, "Since we're here, let's settle this."
Tentori was stunned for a moment. Seeing that Kazuki still didn't move, he was practically bursting with frustration. He suppressed his anger and shouted, "Commander, look at the situation! Hurry up and take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and run! Stop... stop saying cryptic things!"
"That saying means..."
Uchiha Kazuki said slowly, "Since you're here... you'll be buried here."
His crimson Sharingan slowly rotated behind the white animal mask.
"Everyone, be careful not to make direct eye contact with the Sharingan!"
Kurabi, experienced and knowing exactly how to counter the Sharingan, immediately shouted, "Watch your comrades closely! If anyone falls under genjutsu, immediately disrupt their chakra flow!"
"Take care of the Jinchuriki."
Uchiha Kazuki placed Kushina in Tentori's arms, then walked alone toward the dozens of Cloud shinobi.
The Cloud shinobi were stunned for a moment, then became enraged.
This guy actually planned to take on dozens of them single-handedly?!
"Go! Kill him!!!"
Someone shouted, and the Cloud shinobi charged forward.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Uchiha Kazuki formed hand seals and unleashed a massive wave of flames.
BOOM!!!
Like a tsunami of fire—several meters wide and tall—the intense heat surged toward the dozens of Cloud shinobi.
"Such powerful Fire Release! As expected of an Uchiha elite!"
Kurabi's expression changed slightly, but he didn't panic. He leaped forward and rapidly formed hand seals. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
BOOM!
A thick earthen wall rose from the ground.
Though not large in area, its thickness was sufficient to withstand the fire-style attack.
Dozens of Cloud shinobi hid behind the barrier, waiting for the intense heat to dissipate before continuing their advance toward the lone figure.
However, in that instant—
SLASH!
The earthen wall flashed with cold steel before collapsing with a deafening roar.
Before Kurabi could react, a figure charged directly into their ranks.
In an instant, like a tiger among sheep, flashes of cold steel sliced through the Cloud shinobi blocking his path. Almost none could stop him for even a moment.
In just a few breaths, more than ten Cloud shinobi had perished.
"Quick! Surround him!"
Kurabi panicked completely. He thought he'd calculated everything, but he'd overlooked one crucial thing.
This suddenly appearing Uchiha was terrifyingly powerful—capable of single-handedly decimating an elite force of dozens of Cloud shinobi!
"Dance for me!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Kazuki appeared, flashing through the crowd like a phantom.
His Body Flicker Technique was so fast it was nearly impossible for the naked eye to track, leaving only streaks of blood in his wake as screams filled the air. Limbs flew, blood flowed like rivers—a scene of absolute carnage.
One, two, ten...
The screams of their comrades echoed around them as they fell one after another, all brutally cut down.
Finally, their morale shattered!
"Run!"
"This guy isn't human!"
"A demon! He's a demon!"
The remaining dozen or so Cloud shinobi could no longer bear the horrific sight of their slaughtered comrades. Their spirits crumbled, and they turned to flee.
"Idiots, don't run!" Kurabi roared, his eyes bloodshot, trying desperately to rally them.
However, no one listened anymore.
Whoosh!
The fleeing Cloud shinobi stopped in their tracks.
Then, they slowly turned around, their terrified eyes still clinging to a last hope for survival, their mouths agape as if wanting to speak.
But... as if delayed by several seconds, they were all cleaved in two.
The entire battlefield fell eerily silent except for the howling wind. Blood pooled everywhere.
Kurabi felt a chill run down his spine, staring blankly at those who had been alive just moments before—now nothing but piles of mangled corpses.
Suddenly!
A figure wearing a white animal mask and black ANBU cloak appeared in Kurabi's vision.
"Is it... my turn?"
Kurabi felt a bitter pang in his heart, utterly despondent, seemingly losing all will to resist.
However, the death he'd imagined did not come.
Uchiha Kazuki patted him on the shoulder, walked past the stunned Kurabi, and left behind a cold remark: "Go back and tell the Raikage to wash his neck and wait for Konoha's vengeance."
The devastated Kurabi collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant and empty.
Uchiha Kazuki walked back through the carnage toward his utterly shocked ANBU subordinates. He glanced at them sideways, frowning slightly. "Don't just stand there gawking. Secure Kushina. We still have a mission to complete. Don't waste time."
"Yes, Commander!"
The three snapped to attention, a chill running down their spines.
Carrying Kushina, Tentori followed behind Uchiha Kazuki. After hesitating for a long moment, he couldn't help but cautiously speak up. "Um... Commander... I was a bit loud earlier. You're not holding a grudge, right?"
"Do I look that petty to you?"
Uchiha Kazuki smiled slightly. "Don't worry. If I have a grudge, I settle it on the spot. After all, I'm quite reasonable."
Tentori's lips twitched.
Reasonable?
You mean slaughtering dozens of Cloud shinobi at the slightest provocation is reasonable?!
[End of Chapter 136]
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