Chapter 40: When You Face the Sharingan
The Sharingan's genjutsu is fundamentally different from other illusion techniques. Unlike standard genjutsu, which require hand seals and chakra manipulation, the Sharingan's illusions are innate abilities triggered simply through eye contact!
In the original story, only two people truly pushed this power to its limit: Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Itachi.
There's no need to say much about Uchiha Itachi—his mastery of genjutsu was so profound that it rivaled, if not surpassed, Shisui Uchiha, whose Mangekyō Sharingan ability was the formidable Kotoamatsukami.
As for Madara, he fully embodied the devastating potential of the Sharingan. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he fought the Allied Shinobi Forces single-handedly, using only taijutsu and his basic Sharingan to leave them utterly helpless. Anyone who dared to meet his eyes was instantly paralyzed, butchered like chickens.
Though Uchiha Kei hadn't reached their terrifying level, his genjutsu was far from weak.
With a focused burst of mental energy, Kei activated his genjutsu. Just as Gari's attack was about to land, his eyes glazed over in a moment of fatal hesitation.
Kei didn't let the chance slip by. Just like how Itachi had countered Sasuke's Chidori, Kei's left arm shot out and grabbed Gari's chakra-infused hand, locking it down.
Then, he twisted Gari's arm downward toward the ground as his own blade came slashing toward Gari's head.
But at that critical moment, Gari revealed the instincts of a true elite ninja. He snapped back to clarity in the blink of an eye. Though his right hand was trapped and his attack trajectory altered, he still had his left hand!
Without hesitation, chakra surged violently in Gari's left hand, which then drove forward with reckless abandon toward Kei's chest.
Ninjas—and perhaps all humans—share a common trait: when pushed to the brink, they'll gamble everything in a desperate exchange of blows.
Kei immediately sensed Gari's intentions. Though he admired Gari's decisiveness, he wasn't about to risk his life when victory was within reach. He quickly released Gari's arm and leapt back.
Kei valued his life too much to let it end in a reckless gamble.
But just because he retreated didn't mean he was merciful. In the same instant, he twisted his blade, aiming straight at Gari's attacking left hand. After slicing through it, Kei instantly let go of the blade, abandoning it entirely.
That damned hand was packed with explosive chakra!
BOOM!
The resulting explosion was deafening. Dust filled the air, rocks flew everywhere, and Kei was forced to retreat even further to avoid the debris.
Then he saw it—Gari staggering back to his feet, fleeing in panic.
Trying to run?
Kei smirked coldly. He drew a kunai and gave chase. The smoke and dust didn't matter to him. His Sharingan clearly tracked Gari's chakra and every subtle movement.
Gari was in pain—he couldn't deny that. He had severely underestimated the Uchiha clan, especially the terrifying prowess of the Sharingan.
This boy—Kei—couldn't be more than thirteen or fourteen, yet the strength of his Sharingan sent chills down Gari's spine. He'd heard the warnings: Don't make eye contact with an Uchiha. He'd heard rumors that this kid had achieved three tomoe.
But seeing is believing.
He'd fought Uchiha before, both awakened and unawakened—and had always come out on top. So he thought the clan's reputation was just overblown myth.
Even so, he hadn't let his guard down. His battle strategy and rhythm were all carefully calculated.
He had even been deliberately avoiding Kei's eyes.
But still—he had been caught.
The genjutsu struck without warning, without even the slightest ripple of chakra. That momentary lapse—less than a second—had almost cost him his life.
And even after snapping back to reality, Kei had instantly seen through his desperate counterattack.
He survived through a one-for-one sacrifice—but at the cost of his left hand.
Now, while stemming the blood loss, Gari was frantically calculating. If he didn't stop the bleeding, he'd die. But if he didn't kill the brat, their troubles would only get worse.
"Damn it! Already?"
He suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him.
But it was too late.
A kunai stabbed deep into his heart from behind.
Gari's face turned pale as his body crumpled to the ground, seemingly lifeless.
Standing behind him, Uchiha Kei tilted his head, his expression laced with mockery.
"That's it? You're nowhere near Kitsuchi's level."
His voice was casual, almost playful. He looked utterly relaxed.
But just then—a blur shot out of the smoke, fist coated in raging chakra, punching toward Kei with terrifying speed!
"What!?"
Kei looked shocked—completely unprepared for the surprise attack!
Gari didn't utter a word. He had channeled all his remaining chakra into this one technique, and its power was monstrous.
Kei seemed stunned, frozen in place, his face showing real panic.
Gari's punch connected—but the sensation was wrong. His fist struck nothing solid.
A clone!
Gari's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't give up. Forcing himself to twist his body—despite the gushing blood from his severed arm—he launched another chakra-charged punch.
But this time, he couldn't even touch Kei.
The strain of spinning around, blood loss, and exhaustion made it miraculous he could still throw a punch at all.
Half a meter. Thirty centimeters. Ten centimeters...
Just before the punch landed, Kei twisted his body ever so slightly. At the same time, his kunai slashed forward, piercing into Gari's chest.
The kunai plunged in at an angle, shattering ribs as it buried itself up to the hilt.
Blood poured out, soaking the ground beneath them.
"Did you really think I couldn't see what you were doing?" Kei's voice was ice cold. "In these eyes… you have no secrets."
His crimson Sharingan stared into Gari's eyes as he twisted the kunai cruelly.
Gari's scream echoed across the battlefield.