Chapter 228: An Unbreakable Shield
The figure appeared not with a sound, but with a shift in the air itself—a sudden, oppressive weight that silenced the forest. One moment, Suigetsu was staring down a dozen lethal attacks; the next, a broad back, clad in familiar Uchiha attire, was shielding him. Suigetsu didn't need to see his face. The aura of absolute, unassailable power was signature enough. The frantic panic in his chest instantly stilled, replaced by a wave of profound relief.
"Boss," he breathed, the word a grateful sigh.
The rest of Team Eagle felt it too. Karin let out a shuddering breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, and Jūgo's tense, transformed muscles relaxed a fraction. Their leader was here. The calculus of the battle had just been irrevocably altered.
Uchiha Ren had felt the sharp spike of Sasuke's chakra flicker and fade through the unique bond of their bloodline. The moment he had finished his business in the shelter, he had not hesitated. A flash of sealing formulae, a twist of space, and he was there, a guardian materializing from the void itself.
He didn't acknowledge Suigetsu yet. His focus was on the incoming storm of kunai, shuriken, and elemental ninjutsu. His eyes narrowed, and the world sharpened into shades of red and black. The Mangekyō pattern spun to life, and in the space between one heartbeat and the next, a skeleton of grey-white chakra erupted around them, forming a formidable, towering ribcage that encased both Ren and Suigetsu.
BOOM! CRACK! FIZZ!
The onslaught crashed against the skeletal Susano'o. Fireballs detonated into harmless blossoms of sparks. Wind blades shattered against its unyielding form. Water dragons dissolved into mist. The defensive technique stood immovable, a bastion against the tide, not even shuddering under the impact. When the last of the attacks dissipated into the night air, the Susano'o remained, a silent testament to the chasm in power.
The Konoha forces recoiled, their formation tightening. They had all seen the intelligence reports, heard the panicked whispers. But seeing it in person was another thing entirely.
The ANBU captain, his voice cutting through the stunned silence, confirmed their fears. "That's Uchiha Ren! Extreme caution! He is the primary target. Jiraiya of the Sannin fell to him. Our mission is to capture or, if necessary, eliminate him. Do not let him escape the village!"
On the inside of the protective shell, Suigetsu finally let his trademark grin return. "Huh~ Boss, you sure took your sweet time. Another few seconds and you'd be scraping what's left of me off the trees." He rapped his knuckles against the chakra skeleton. "Gotta say, though. Never gets old. This thing is a real fortress."
Ren ignored the quip, his gaze sweeping over his team. His eyes landed on Jūgo, and more importantly, on the unconscious form of Sasuke slung over his shoulder. A frown creased his brow.
"Hn. I take it your mission against Danzo was a success," he said, his voice low. "So why is my brother in such a state? Report."
Jūgo and Karin quickly closed the distance, joining the safety of the Susano'o. "We don't know the specifics, Lord Ren," Jūgo explained. "After he defeated Danzo, he just... collapsed. His eyes were bleeding."
Ren's frown deepened. He gestured for Jūgo to lower Sasuke. "I was negligent," he muttered, more to himself than to them. "The degeneration of the Mangekyō... it's progressing faster than I anticipated." He pressed two fingers to Sasuke's forehead, a soft, green glow emanating from his fingertips—a basic medical ninjutsu to stimulate the body's natural energy and rouse the mind.
A moment later, Sasuke's eyelids fluttered open. His vision swam before focusing first on Ren, then shifting to Jūgo. His expression, even in his weakness, was icy.
"Jūgo..." he began, his voice a rasp.
"I am sorry, Sasuke," Jūgo interjected calmly, anticipating the accusation. "Given your condition, I could not allow you to fight. It was the only way to ensure your survival."
Sasuke's jaw tightened. "Hn. You overstepped." But the fire of his anger was banked by the dull, persistent ache behind his eyes. He knew, on some level, that Jūgo was right.
"Enough," Ren's voice cut through the tension, firm and final. "I warned you, Sasuke. The Mangekyō's power is a loan, and the interest is your sight. The more you draw on it, the steeper the price." He helped his brother to his feet. "Danzo is dead. The other two elders who sanctioned the Uchiha massacre have been dealt with. Our business here is concluded. We are leaving. We return to the Land of Sound immediately."
Sasuke didn't argue. He merely clicked his tongue in frustration, one hand coming up to massage his temple. The threat of permanent blindness was a specter that chilled even his vengeful heart.
As Team Eagle regrouped, their intention to withdraw was clear. But the circle of thirty Root and ANBU operatives had not broken. They stood their ground, weapons drawn, chakra flaring. They had been ordered to stop Uchiha Ren at all costs, and they were prepared to pay that cost. The path to freedom was blocked by a wall of Konoha's finest, their resolve hardened by duty and the memory of their fallen comrades.
Leaving, it seemed, would not be as simple as turning their backs.
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