Uchiha Azuma stood at the edge of the cliff, watching the distant firelight gradually fade.
From the direction of Konoha, the screams had already fallen silent.
He lowered his gaze to his hands.
The blood had dried into dark, crusted stains—some belonged to his enemies, some to himself.
But most of it…
Belonged to that child.
Uchiha Sora.
That boy, only eight years old, had followed him for barely ten minutes—only to use his own body to block Danzo's fatal attack.
"…Sora."
Azuma's voice was low.
"I'll make Danzo go down there to keep you company."
He turned to leave.
---
At that very instant—
A killing intent exploded.
Azuma didn't even think.
He threw himself sideways.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Three kunai shot out from the darkness, embedding themselves exactly where he had been standing moments ago.
Explosive tags trailed behind them, already igniting.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion erupted, sending dirt and debris flying. The shockwave blasted Azuma off his feet.
The moment he hit the ground, he rolled and came up with a kunai in hand—
His Sharingan snapping open instantly.
---
Six figures emerged from the forest's edge.
Uniform masks.
Black cloaks.
Root.
The one in front wore an owl mask. Tall. Silent. His exposed eyes were cold and lifeless.
Behind him stood five Root shinobi—
All radiating Jonin-level Chakra.
---
"Uchiha Azuma," the Owl said flatly. "Eighteen. Branch family."
"During the massacre, you killed seven Anbu and awakened the Double Tomoe Sharingan."
"By Lord Danzo's order—"
"You are to be executed."
---
Azuma slowly stood, brushing the dust from his clothes.
"Six people?" He let out a short laugh. "Danzo really thinks that little of me?"
"You're already finished," the Owl replied calmly.
"You used Amaterasu right after awakening your Mangekyo. Your ocular power is nearly depleted."
"Your eyes are bleeding. Your vision is deteriorating."
"How much strength do you have left?"
---
Azuma didn't respond.
Because it was true.
His eyes throbbed with pain.
His vision had already begun to blur.
And the six opponents before him—
Were far stronger than the Anbu he had faced earlier.
---
Ding!
[Mission Triggered: Break Through or Die]
[Objective: Kill at least three Root Jonin and escape]
[Reward: 50% Mangekyo recovery + Flying Thunder God enhancement]
[Failure: Death]
---
The Owl raised his hand.
The six of them moved at once, spreading out to block every escape route.
"Do not let him use Amaterasu," the Owl ordered. "Drag this out. Exhaust him."
---
The five Root shinobi formed hand seals simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
---
The two techniques merged—
A roaring inferno surged forward, amplified by violent winds, forming a massive wave of fire that swallowed everything in its path.
---
Azuma's pupils shrank.
He couldn't block this.
Run!
He burst to the side.
The flames grazed his back—
His clothes ignited instantly.
Pain tore through his skin.
But he didn't stop.
He rolled the moment he landed—
---
Too late.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
The ground beneath him split open.
Dozens of jagged stone spikes shot upward.
---
Azuma leaped, driving a kunai into a nearby tree to shift his momentum mid-air—
Barely avoiding being impaled.
---
Before he could land—
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash!"
Lightning surged across the earth, racing toward his landing point.
---
Azuma twisted his body violently in mid-air.
He landed awkwardly—
Just outside the lightning's reach.
---
His breathing grew heavier.
His stamina—
Running out.
---
The six Root shinobi rotated their attacks seamlessly.
No openings.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
---
The Owl watched from afar.
"Is that all?" he said coldly. "The Mangekyo is wasted on you."
---
Azuma exhaled sharply.
His eyes burned.
His vision dimmed further.
I can't keep going like this…
He needed to get close.
---
His gaze flicked across the battlefield—
The positions of the six enemies…
Then—
He paused.
---
That kunai.
---
His eyes locked onto a tree in the distance.
Earlier—
He had embedded a kunai there to change direction mid-air.
It was still there.
---
Flying Thunder God…
---
Ding!
[Flying Thunder God Explanation: Requires a pre-placed formula mark]
[Marks can be applied to kunai or any object]
[Current marks: None (except Uchiha Sora's location)]
---
Azuma understood instantly.
That kunai—
Had no mark.
---
But the ones in his hand—
Could.
---
He inhaled deeply.
Then drew three kunai.
---
The Owl sneered.
"A last struggle."
"Finish him."
---
The six Root shinobi attacked at once.
---
Azuma moved.
But not toward them.
---
He threw all three kunai—
In different directions.
---
One into a tree on the left.
One into a rock crevice on the right.
One deep into the ground ahead.
---
"…Throwing blindly?" one Root shinobi scoffed. "You've lost your mind—"
---
His blade struck forward—
---
And hit nothing.
---
Azuma—
Vanished.
---
"What?!"
The shinobi froze.
A chill ran down his spine.
---
A voice whispered behind him.
"Where are you looking?"
---
A kunai pierced through his neck—
Clean.
Fatal.
---
[Killed Root Jonin ×1]
[Reward: 10% Chakra recovery]
---
The remaining five froze.
"Where did he go?!"
"By the tree—!"
"No—he's—"
---
Azuma vanished again.
---
He reappeared beside the rock—
Threw three more kunai—
And disappeared instantly.
---
Flying Thunder God.
---
The fastest technique in the shinobi world.
---
The Root shinobi lunged toward each appearance—
But every strike hit empty air.
---
"Behind you!"
---
Too late.
---
Azuma appeared at the third kunai's position—
Now wielding a short blade taken from his first kill.
---
He moved like a phantom.
Closing the distance.
---
The target reacted quickly—
Turning to block—
---
But Azuma's Sharingan had already read everything.
---
The blade shifted mid-strike—
Slipping past the defense—
Piercing straight into the heart.
---
"You—!"
---
[Killed Root Jonin ×2]
[Reward: Chakra recovery + accelerated healing]
---
Four left.
---
The Owl's expression changed.
"Flying Thunder God…? That's the Fourth Hokage's technique!"
"How is that possible?!"
---
Azuma didn't answer.
---
He disappeared again.
---
Reappeared.
---
Threw more marked kunai.
---
Vanished.
---
His figure flickered across the forest—
Appearing—
Disappearing—
Reappearing again.
---
Like a ghost.
---
The remaining Root shinobi began to panic.
"Where is he?!"
"Left—!"
"No—right—!"
---
Their formation—
Breaking.
---
And Azuma—
Was just getting started.