Yugito had originally gone down the mountain to handle some matters at the border town as ordered by the Raikage. However, she unexpectedly saw a signal flare from a Kumo-nin spy. Given that the flare was of the highest secrecy, she rushed over immediately.
To her surprise, she witnessed this scene. After her 'Fire Rat Jade' attack failed, Yugito immediately realized she had encountered a tough opponent. Matatabi, inside her, warned, "Run! You can't defeat this guy!"
Yugito might not have noticed Uchiha Ryun's eyes, but Matatabi, despite not seeing them clearly, was extremely sensitive to chakra.
Although this person's yin-natured chakra was much weaker than that of the one from back then, the nature of the chakra was very similar, unmistakably belonging to the Uchiha clan.
"Matatabi, what's wrong? Why are you trembling?" Yugito asked in shock.
Matatabi gritted her teeth and said, "This guy is a shinobi from the Uchiha clan, and he has the Mangekyō Sharingan. Let's go, we're no match for him."
The Uchiha clan's Mangekyō Sharingan was the bane of tailed beasts. Back when Konoha captured the tailed beasts, she had just woken up and stretched lazily.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan and a Susano taller than her own body.
Then, she was captured. She knew all too well the nature of that yin-natured chakra. Although this young man was weaker than that person, the difference wasn't huge.
In other words, this guy had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Yugito wanted to ask what the Mangekyō was, but Uchiha Ryun closed the distance with a Body Flicker Technique. His right hand flicked, and the 'Blazing Heaven Fan' appeared in his grasp.
He raised the fan high and prepared to strike. At that moment, Matatabi inside Yugito urgently warned, "Yugito, counterattack now!"
Yugito instinctively reacted with her years of combat experience, twisting her body to the side as her hands grew long, sharp cat-like claws—'Human Cat Claws.'
With a cold snort, Yugito slashed at Uchiha Ryun's handsome face with her left claw. Uchiha Ryun abruptly lifted his head, revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan and his face, which made Matatabi scream in shock.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He's supposed to be dead!" Matatabi's voice trembled.
Yugito was stunned. A layer of golden-red phantom energy enveloped Uchiha Ryun, completely blocking her claws.
"Hey, Matatabi, what's wrong?" Sensing the fear within her partner, Yugito was puzzled.
"This guy's face... it's like a carbon copy of Uchiha Madara's! Yugito..." Matatabi's voice was filled with unease and worry.
Yugito was shocked. She had heard of Uchiha Madara, but wasn't he already dead?
"Matatabi, Uchiha Madara is dead. This person might just be a relative of his. He's not Uchiha Madara," Yugito reassured her.
After blocking the attack, Uchiha Ryun thrust the Blazing Heaven Fan toward Yugito's forehead. Yugito bent backward to dodge, then stabbed both claws at Uchiha Ryun's head.
Clang!
Another metallic clash. As expected, it was the Susano'o. Yugito's expression darkened. 'Damn it, how does this Uchiha have such an ability?'
This time, Yugito put more force into her strike, embedding her claws into the Susano'o. As she looked forward, her gaze landed on Uchiha Ryun's... and she froze. 'So big!'
For a brief moment, she was stunned. Then, Uchiha Ryun kicked out, the force enhanced by his minor Sage Body, sending Yugito flying.
Yugito let out a cry of surprise. Matatabi's voice rang out, "I'll help you!"
A layer of blue tailed beast chakra cloaked Yugito's body, cushioning her fall to prevent further injury.
"Yugito, Yugito? Are you okay? Don't scare me! Meow! Why is your face so red?" Matatabi was frantic.
"Cough... I'm fine, Matatabi. Let's retreat. This guy is stronger than us!" Though protected by Matatabi's chakra cloak, Yugito's internal organs were still badly injured.
"Relax and let me take over your body!" Matatabi knew this was the only way now. Though initially afraid, it seemed manageable at this level.
Yugito nodded and relinquished control. Matatabi took over, and Yugito's aura surged dramatically.
In this semi-tailed beast form, Yugito's body was engulfed in blue flames, her pupils elongated into distinct cat-like slits. The heat from the flames raised the surrounding temperature by about 10°C.
Uchiha Ryun descended from above, the shockwave and dust blowing his hair wildly.
When the dust settled, Uchiha Ryun saw Yugito clearly. Now, she was wrapped in blue flames, her gaze fierce, crouched low with her arms on the ground, legs spread apart, and two flaming blue tails swaying behind her.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for encountering Yugito for the first time and forcing her into a semi-tailed beast state. Reward: Wood Release - Wood Human Technique!]
Uchiha Ryun's eyes lit up. 'This reward is great! I like it!'
Then, he looked at Yugito and said, "Hey, should I call you Matatabi or Yugito?"
Both Matatabi and Yugito were stunned. Yugito was less surprised—her name wasn't exactly a secret among shinobi villages. But Matatabi was baffled.
She didn't recall ever revealing her name. The only ones who knew it were the Sage of Six Paths and Yugito!
"How do you know my name?" Matatabi's feminine voice rang out.
Uchiha Ryun smirked but didn't explain. Instead, he crossed his arms and studied Yugito's body.
Seeing no response, Matatabi stretched out her hands. "Fire Rat Jade Rapid Fire!" Like bullets, clusters of blue flame shaped like rats shot toward Uchiha Ryun.
Uchiha Ryun swung his right hand, and the golden-red Susano's arm manifested a massive shield, slamming it into the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Fire Rat Jades exploded against the shield, but the Susano's remained unscathed.
"If this is all you've got, then both you and Yugito will stay here." Uchiha Ryun's voice carried an oppressive authority.
Matatabi clicked her tongue, then flexed her fingers. "Rat Tail Orb Jutsu!"
Hundreds of chakra spheres formed along threads of chakra extending from her fingers, surrounding Uchiha Ryun.
Now, Uchiha Ryun finally showed a trace of seriousness. His Sharingan fully activated, he realized these chakra spheres were as unstable as explosive tags, ready to detonate at any moment.
"Kid, I'll give you one chance. Tell me how you know my name, and I might consider letting you go!" Now that she knew Uchiha Ryun wasn't Uchiha Madara, she felt somewhat relieved.
As for actually sparing him? Matatabi had no such intention. Once she got the answer, she'd blow this bastard to pieces!
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