"Kai, you…" Shisui's face was full of shock.
But at this moment, Uchiha Kai had no intention of answering him.
With a simple motion, he pushed Shisui behind him, eyes narrowing as he faced the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist head-on.
His expression darkened.
In the original story, it should have been Might Duy who ended the Mist battlefield.
Yet now—
By some twist of fate, their small squad had stumbled right into it.
So, this was the butterfly effect he had caused, even after hiding in the shadows for so long.
If he kept concealing his power, their entire squad would die here.
And even if he went all out… survival was not guaranteed.
But there was no choice.
"Shisui, no more talking."
"Even if you fight to the death, the three of us won't escape."
"I'll engage them head-on. You strike from the shadows."
"Kazama, you protect Aya as best you can. The two of you don't need to fight—just surviving will already be a great help."
The sharpness of his words left everyone stunned.
Who would have thought that in such a desperate situation, Kai would step forward?
But—could he really do it?
Everyone acknowledged his brilliance in strategy—he had shown that clearly just moments ago.
But this was different. This was a battle.
Even the strongest among them, Shisui, was still only a Chunin—at best, with the strength of a Jounin.
And here they faced seven elite Jounin, each wielding a blade of legend.
"…Fine. I'll cooperate." Shisui spoke suddenly, his voice steady. "I want to see it for myself—Kai, your true strength."
"From this moment, we follow Kai's lead."
Nara Kazama and Hyuga Aya both nodded quickly.
Even if doubts lingered in their hearts, on a battlefield like this, they had no choice but to obey orders.
Meanwhile—
The Seven Swordsmen had yet to make a move.
To them, the Konoha squad before them was nothing more than prey on a chopping block.
"Well, well, an Uchiha brat," sneered Hoshigaki Fuguki. "Didn't think fate would bring us together again."
"This time, let's see where you run."
Yes.
The moment he laid eyes on Uchiha Kai, anger boiled within him.
In all his years roaming the battlefield, he had never been so humiliated.
The boy had little strength, but he was impossible to catch.
Now, seeing his nemesis again, his fury flared.
"Don't get careless," said Juzo Biwa coolly. "These four brats have already wiped out fifty of our watch posts in just three days."
"What's the point of talking?" barked Raiga Kurosuki, lightning crackling around his blade. "We need to kill them now. Before the Jinchuriki arrives, we must throw Konoha into chaos."
Jinpachi Munashi snorted. "Agreed. Kill!"
With a sharp cry, he charged forward, swinging the explosive blade, Shibuki.
Seeing this, Uchiha Kai shot Shisui a look—and then, hands flashed through seals.
For the first time, he unleashed his strongest technique at full force.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
No holding back this time.
Fwoooosh—!
His mouth opened, and a tidal wave of fire erupted.
The inferno engulfed the forest, drowning everything in flames.
Though he was nowhere near Uchiha Madara's level, the blazing sea still devoured the entire grove.
"What the—so strong?"
"Is he really just a genin?"
"Water Style! Water Formation Wall!"
The Seven Swordsmen were visibly shaken. Without hesitation, they threw out their water techniques.
But even so—
Against Kai's Majestic Destroyer Flame, their water walls were mere droplets in an endless blaze.
The firestorm roared forward, unstoppable.
For a moment—
It wasn't only the Mist ninja who were stunned. Shisui, Kazama, and Aya all froze in disbelief.
Hyuga Aya's shock was the greatest of all.
In the three days they had spent together, she had always thought Kai's strength was, at best, slightly above her own—maybe just enough to scrape by as a Chunin.
Now she realized how utterly wrong she had been.
Even most Jounin couldn't produce such overwhelming firepower!
And it wasn't just her.
Even Shisui and Kazama, who had suspected Kai was hiding something, were shaken to their cores.
So this… this was Uchiha Kai's true strength?
The next instant, Shisui's eyes hardened. He vanished.
It was the Body Flicker Technique—one of the advanced three-body techniques, usually taught only within Anbu.
Though he had never joined Anbu, for a clan like the Uchiha, it was hardly a secret.
In Shisui's hands, the jutsu approached frightening speed—not quite Flying Thunder God, but far beyond most.
Swish!
In a blink, he was behind Raiga Kurosuki.
The Uchiha blade in his hand cut down in a blur.
Clang!
Though Shisui's speed was incredible, Raiga was a seasoned warrior. He twisted in time, blocking with his twin swords of lightning.
"Heh… little brat."
Raiga sneered, though cold sweat soaked his back.
To think he had nearly been killed by a child!
But in that same moment—
"Rokushiki: Shigan!"
Kai's speed rivaled Shisui's.
Amid the flames, he appeared behind Raiga, thrusting his finger straight through the man's heart.
Raiga Kurosuki—dead.
"W-what?"
Even as life left him, disbelief froze on Raiga's face.
Killed… by a bunch of Leaf brats?
"You bastard!"
Seeing Raiga fall, Kuriarare Kushimaru roared, swinging his massive blades toward Kai's neck.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
At that speed, there was no dodging.
"Rokushiki—Kami-e: Slime!"
In an instant, his body softened like putty, flowing out of the blade's path.
"What—what the hell is that?!"
Kushimaru froze.
That was no movement any human should be capable of.
Even Shisui was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the sight.
But Kai didn't hesitate.
His finger thrust forward again—piercing Kushimaru's heart.
Two dead.
In the blink of an eye, the Seven Swordsmen were down to five.
Without pause, Kai's figure blurred again.
Using the cover of flames and confusion, he tore through them at blinding speed.
In mere seconds, both Jinpachi Munashi and Kushimaru Kuriare fell as well.
"Rokushiki—Rankyaku: White Thunder!"
Kai leapt high, spinning in midair, his leg shining with white light.
He brought it down in a devastating arc upon Suikazan Fuguki.
"Fuguki, look out!" Biwa Jūzō roared.
But it was too late.
Before Fuguki could react, the White Thunder slammed into him, tearing his body apart and ripping a massive scar into the earth.
The ground split open, rocks and grass flying into the sky.
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