"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!" Several streams of water spiraled around Renzou Uchiha, slowly rising and expanding, forming a small, stable waterspout with him at its center. "Attack!" As Renzou Uchiha focused his chakra, the waterspout crashed down like a torrential downpour, the powerful impact instantly pocking the open grassland below. Gradually, Renzou Uchiha began to retract his chakra, and the waterspouts dispersed, finally collapsing into a shower of droplets in mid-air, offering a brief respite to the ravaged clearing.
"Haah…" Renzou Uchiha regulated the churning chakra within him, a surge of elation washing over him. His relentless effort had paid off. An entire day spent training, even skipping lunch, had finally yielded success just before nightfall.
"Excellent. I didn't expect you to master Water Colliding Wave in a single day," Maruhoshi Kosuke said, stepping forward with a smile, a hint of awe in his voice. He hadn't believed it possible for someone to learn an A-rank ninjutsu in such a short time. Had he not witnessed it himself, he would have remained a skeptic until his dying breath.
"It was just luck," Renzou Uchiha replied, scratching his head, a sense of relief washing over him. Keep this momentum going. "With this training, 'Water Release: Water Colliding Wave' will become your primary chakra focus in the future, with wind and lightning as supporting elements. Now, your weakness in advanced ninjutsu is being addressed. The next step is to steadily improve your overall strength…"
"Coo-coo…" A rumbling sound interrupted Renzou Uchiha's thoughts. He glanced down, a sheepish smile spreading across his face as he met Kosuke's knowing gaze. "You're hungry, aren't you? Let's call it a day and go grab some food." Kosuke chuckled, observing Renzou Uchiha clutching his stomach with an embarrassed expression. He turned and gestured for Renzou Uchiha to follow.
It was now six in the evening, and the sky was beginning to darken. As they stepped out of the clearing, ready to head back, Kosuke suddenly halted, his gaze fixed on a shadowy part of the jungle. "Come out."
"Huh?" Renzou Uchiha's eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively moving towards his ninja pouch on his waist, ready for anything. Abruptly, three figures emerged from the trees, clad in the uniform of Anbu. They positioned themselves before Renzou Uchiha and Kosuke, their masked eyes scanning them both intently.
Anbu? Why are they here? Did Hokage-sama send them for Kosuke? Just as confusion clouded Renzou Uchiha's mind, the Anbu wearing a fox mask stepped forward, his gaze passing over Maruhoshi Kosuke to fix on Renzou Uchiha. "Renzou Uchiha, Lord Danzō has issued an order. He wishes to see you. Please come with us." The cold voice was mechanical, devoid of emotion, and the chilling stares of the three figures sent a shiver down Renzou Uchiha's spine.
Danzō? Renzou Uchiha finally understood. This wasn't Anbu; this was Danzō's Root, coming to take him, to induct him into their ranks. It seems I'm still a target. Kai had the Uchiha clan's backing; Danzō, the old dog, wouldn't dare mess with him. So, he was coming after Renzou Uchiha, viewing him as an easy mark.
"Sorry, I don't know any 'Lord Danzō'. Please turn back," Renzou Uchiha refused. The eyes of the three Root ninjas remained impassive. The next moment, they vanished in unison, swords flashing as they attacked Renzou Uchiha from three directions, completely disregarding Maruhoshi Kosuke standing beside him. In their assessment, one was a Genin with some sensory abilities, the other a child evaluated and reported to be merely Chūnin-level. Surely, two Chūnin and one Jōnin could handle this with ease.
"Hmph, so you want to play rough?" Renzou Uchiha sneered, swiftly drawing several shuriken from his pouch. He channeled Lightning Style chakra into them, a crackling aura of electricity enveloping the metal as they shot towards the leader in the fox mask.
"Don't overestimate yourself." The fox-masked ninja flicked his sword, deflecting the shuriken. Though momentarily jolted by the Lightning Style chakra, it caused no real harm. The other two Root ninjas had already closed the distance to Renzou Uchiha. They swung their long swords down, aiming to incapacitate, not kill, striking for the left and right arms, carefully avoiding vital areas. Danzō had simply ordered him brought back alive. In their understanding, crippling Renzou Uchiha's mobility would suffice.
The long blades pierced Renzou Uchiha's arms cleanly, but the two Root ninjas didn't relax. A sudden burst of white smoke erupted from where Renzou Uchiha had been standing. As the smoke cleared, the two long swords were embedded in a piece of substitute wood. The real Renzou Uchiha had reappeared by the riverbank a few meters away. A wicked smile played on his lips as his hands flashed through a series of seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bomb!"
Hearing the ninjutsu Renzou Uchiha was about to unleash, the three Root ninjas all displayed disdain. Typical Genin. Closing such a short distance at Chūnin speed took less than two seconds. The Water Dragon Bomb he'd used in the graduation exam took four seconds to form. Four seconds was more than enough time for two Chūnin to kill him twice! The three of them turned to charge towards Renzou Uchiha. Suddenly, the leader, Fox Mask, heard a chilling sound ringing in his ears.
"Did Danzō give you the audacity to commit murder so brazenly within Konoha Village?"
What?
The fox mask turned his head with difficulty, just as a flash of steel sliced through the twilight, striking his chest in an instant. In a desperate bid to survive, he twisted to the right at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Before he could even register his near-death experience, a searing pain shot through his left arm, and blood welled up. How can this be?! The fox mask clutched his injured arm, staring in disbelief at Kosuke, who now stood with a bloodied blade. How could a mere Genin be this strong? Even acknowledging his underestimation of the enemy, to have his arm disabled with a single move… this level of skill was more than enough to qualify someone as an Anbu captain.
Before Fox Mask could fully process this, he heard two sharp screams beside him. He instinctively turned his head and was once again shocked by the scene unfolding. The anticipated sight of a severely injured Renzou Uchiha being subdued was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the two Chūnin were in disarray, desperately dodging attacks from all directions. A water dragon snapped at them from behind. Another moment of carelessness would likely result in serious injury or defeat.
"Fire Style: Fire Bomb!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The two Chūnin seized a brief opening and unleashed fire jutsu simultaneously. Two streams of flame shot into the sky, colliding with the water dragon. The two forces met in a stalemate, the air immediately filling with thick water vapor, obscuring vision. No one dared to make a rash move.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" The fox mask barely completed the seals, and a powerful gust of wind swept across the area, instantly clearing the water vapor.
"Team leader!" The two Root ninjas gathered around Fox Mask, their gazes warily fixed on Renzou Uchiha, who had now rejoined Kosuke's side.
"Unexpected situation. Mission failed. Evacuate." Before the two Root ninjas could fully register the order, the fox mask had already vanished in a swift shunshin. The two remaining ninjas exchanged a look, gritted their teeth, and turned to follow their captain.
Soon, only Renzou Uchiha and Kosuke remained in the clearing.
"Are you alright?" Kosuke asked, his gaze sharp.
"I'm fine, Kosuke-senpai," Renzou Uchiha replied, shaking his head and looking in the direction the Root team had fled.
Kosuke turned his head, his eyes scanning Renzou Uchiha from head to toe. "What's wrong, senpai?" Renzou Uchiha noticed his intense scrutiny and looked around, confused.
Maruhoshi Kosuke looked away, a note of uncertainty in his voice. "It's nothing. It's just… you seem to be targeted by a dangerous group of individuals."
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End of Chapter 44