Chapter 10: When Did You Start Having the Illusion That I Didn't Use Genjutsu?
"Parasitic Insects: Hurricane!"
The Aburame clan operative controlled his massive swarm, sending them roaring toward Uchiha Kazuki like a living tsunami.
The swarm unleashed a tremendous shockwave, forming a black tornado that crushed everything in its path—trees, undergrowth, even the very air itself seemed to scream under the pressure.
"Foolish!"
Kazuki took two quick steps backward to create distance, his hands blurring through seals.
Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger!
He inhaled deeply, chakra surging and gathering in his throat.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball three meters in diameter, carrying scorching heat that distorted the air, hurtled straight toward the insect swarm.
The collision was instantaneous and devastating.
BOOM!
The sickening smell of charred chitin filled the air as thousands of kikaichu were incinerated by the flames, dropping like black rain.
"Releasing a massive swarm at once to obscure the Sharingan's visual advantage—a sound tactical choice." As burning insects produced plumes of acrid smoke, Kazuki's crimson eyes tracked his enemy through the haze. "But you made one critical mistake. You forgot that the Uchiha clan's specialty is Fire Release!"
While the Aburame clan's parasitic insects could significantly disrupt the Sharingan's greatest advantages through sheer numbers and unpredictability, the Aburame—whose primary offensive capability relied entirely on their kikaichu—were devastatingly vulnerable to powerful Fire Release techniques.
And once the insect swarms were eliminated, an Aburame shinobi became virtually helpless.
"Hmph. Don't get arrogant, you Uchiha brat."
The cat-masked operative's voice remained cold and confident. "You think that pathetic fireball can burn all my insects? How naive."
"Secret Technique: Insect Cocoon Activation!"
Hundreds of chakra-infused cocoons—pre-planted throughout the forest days in advance—burst open simultaneously upon their master's command.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Kazuki's expression changed drastically as wisps of black mist rose from every direction throughout the forest. The individual streams converged overhead like gathering storm clouds, blotting out the sun itself. The sheer mass of the swarm created an oppressive darkness that felt almost suffocating.
"This number..."
Kazuki's pupils dilated in apparent shock. Then a flash of recognition crossed his face. "To control such a massive swarm simultaneously... you must be Shibi's younger brother—Ryōma Aburame, the genius of the Aburame clan!"
"Oh? You actually know my name, Uchiha brat?"
The operative seemed mildly surprised but readily confirmed his identity by removing his cat mask, revealing the distinctive high collar and dark glasses of the Aburame clan. "I'm almost impressed."
"I've heard Fugaku mention you before." A bead of cold sweat trickled down Kazuki's forehead, his expression suggesting the situation was spiraling beyond his control. "The genius of the Aburame clan, second only to the clan head in insect manipulation techniques. One of the most skilled infiltration specialists in ANBU history, and one of Danzo's most trusted subordinates."
"Since you know who I am, this should be simpler."
Ryōma maintained his hand seal, issuing his final ultimatum. "Surrender now, Uchiha Kazuki, and I might let you live. Otherwise, according to Lord Danzo's direct orders, I have full authorization to execute you on the spot."
"Damn you Root bastards! How dare you!" Kazuki gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. "Don't forget—I was personally transferred to ANBU by the Third Hokage himself! If I die here, how will Danzo possibly explain this to Lord Hokage?!"
"Simple." Ryōma's tone turned even colder, mockery glinting in his eyes. "Uchiha Kazuki attempted to use genjutsu to manipulate multiple Konoha jonin, conspiring with the Uchiha clan leadership to stage a coup d'état. What do you think of that explanation?"
"You're lying! That's complete slander!" Kazuki appeared genuinely shocked, staring at him with wide eyes. "The Hokage would never believe such an obvious fabrication!"
"You're wrong, brat." Ryōma's face twisted with sardonic amusement. "The Hokage will believe it—no matter how ridiculous the excuse sounds. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being born into the Uchiha clan. Your very bloodline is a sin that can never be washed clean!"
"Parasitic Insects: Swarm Descent!"
The massive dark cloud of insects plummeted from the sky like an apocalyptic deluge, a living tidal wave of death.
Facing a swarm easily ten times larger than before, Kazuki no longer dared hold anything back. He gathered an enormous amount of chakra in his throat and unleashed it with everything he had.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
ROOOAAAAR!
A colossal wall of scorching flames erupted from Kazuki's mouth like a tsunami of fire rising from the ocean itself.
Despite being technically only a B-rank technique, the sheer volume of chakra behind it created a spectacle worthy of an S-rank jutsu—flames that seemed capable of scorching the heavens and boiling the seas. The intense heat instantly evaporated moisture from the air, filling the entire area with a dry, suffocating heatwave. Plants ignited spontaneously, and thousands more insects were consumed, transforming the surroundings into an inferno.
After unleashing such a massive technique, Kazuki didn't even pause to assess the damage. He immediately turned and sprinted toward the forest's edge.
I have to report this to the Hokage!
Chakra exploded beneath his feet, shattering the hardened earth as he pushed his speed to the absolute limit.
"Running away? How predictable."
Ryōma's figure suddenly materialized directly in his escape path, swarms of kikaichu wrapping around both arms like living gauntlets before he slammed them down with devastating force.
"Secret Technique: Insect Arms!"
Caught completely off-guard, Kazuki could only raise his forearms in a desperate cross-block.
WHAM!
Such incredible strength!
The instant the thought flashed through his mind, Kazuki felt his arm bones crack under the impact. He was sent flying backward, crashing through the undergrowth.
He carved a deep, body-shaped furrow into the ground, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. Damn it... my attention was so focused on the swarm that I didn't notice him closing in!
Ryōma spun gracefully in midair, using the momentum to kick off a tree trunk, then charged forward with lethal intent.
Kazuki forcefully flipped backward mid-flight, adjusting his posture while simultaneously drawing and throwing several shuriken.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The projectiles traced elegant arcs through the air, converging on Ryōma from multiple angles simultaneously.
"Secret Technique: Insect Wall!"
However, Ryōma made no attempt to dodge. He simply constructed a defensive barrier around himself using a dense layer of kikaichu.
The shuriken struck the living wall and were immediately consumed, disappearing as if swallowed by quicksand.
"Die, you Uchiha brat!"
Just as Ryōma closed to striking distance, Kazuki's lips curved into a smile. His right hand suddenly jerked backward, his jaw clenched tight.
SNAP—
Ryōma, who had been charging forward with overwhelming momentum, suddenly stopped as if yanked backward by invisible chains.
"This is... wire?!" Ryōma's eyes widened as he finally noticed he was bound by over a dozen near-invisible ninja wires, and these threads were impossibly strong—even his kikaichu couldn't bite through them.
The shuriken from moments earlier flashed through his mind, and sudden realization struck. "The Uchiha clan's Manipulated Shuriken Technique?!"
"That's correct."
Kazuki bit down on the steel-wire threads gripped between his teeth, his hands already blurring through seals at incredible speed. "The Uchiha clan excels at more than just Fire Release and the Sharingan. You should have done your research, Ryōma Aburame—because you're the one who's going to die here!"
Snake—Dragon—Rabbit—Tiger!
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
HISSSSSS—BOOM!
Concentrating extreme heat into a single wire, the technique shot forward at blinding speed like a roaring fire dragon, instantly engulfing Ryōma's bound form.
The Dragon Fire Technique—renowned for its penetrating power and devastating heat—pierced clean through his insect-reinforced body.
"AAAAAAAAHHH!"
Ryōma's screams echoed through the forest as he collapsed, completely engulfed in flames.
"Finally... I won." Kazuki panted heavily, glaring hatefully at the burning pyre.
"Did you, though?"
Just as Kazuki's guard dropped, a calm voice spoke directly behind him, making every hair on his body stand on end.
"You're celebrating far too soon, Uchiha brat. Secret Technique: Insect Swamp!"
The ground beneath Kazuki's feet instantly transformed into a writhing swamp of kikaichu. Immense suction pulled him downward as thousands of insects swarmed over him, constantly devouring his chakra. Within moments, he felt completely powerless—no longer possessing even the strength to struggle.
"An... Insect Clone," Kazuki managed to gasp, only his head remaining above the surface of the living swamp.
"The first lesson every jonin learns: never let your guard down, no matter the circumstances." Ryōma emerged slowly from the bushes, completely unharmed, mockery glinting in his eyes. "Anything can happen before an enemy's death is confirmed. But I suppose there's no point teaching you this now—it's far too late."
He looked down at Kazuki's trapped form and summoned another swarm. "Uchiha Kazuki... I'll be taking those eyes of yours."
Just as Ryōma reached down to extract the Sharingan, he noticed something that sent ice through his veins.
Kazuki was smiling—completely relaxed, as if he hadn't a care in the world.
"What are you smiling about, Uchiha Kazuki?!"
"Ah, nothing really."
Kazuki's smile widened, his tone almost pleasant. "I just wanted to thank you for putting on such an entertaining performance, Ryōma Aburame."
Ryōma suddenly felt a throbbing pain in his temples, as if a thick layer of mud had been smeared across his vision. Then, like water washing away dirt, the obscuring veil receded.
The world changed.
The forest that had been consumed by a sea of flames was now lush and green again, completely untouched.
All traces of their battle had vanished as if they'd never existed.
Uchiha Kazuki wasn't trapped in any insect swamp. In fact, he stood in the exact same position as when the fight had "begun," as if the entire encounter had been nothing but a dream.
"This is... genjutsu?!"
Cold dread shot down Ryōma's spine as his pupils contracted to pinpoints. "When... when did you cast this illusion on me?! My insects should have detected any chakra manipulation!"
"An interesting question."
In the dappled shadows of the forest, Kazuki's silhouette stretched long and dark, like a predator lurking in the depths.
He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses with one finger, a gentle smile playing across his lips as he posed a counter-question:
"And when, exactly, did you start having the illusion that I didn't use genjutsu, Ryōma Aburame?"
Author's Note: GOTTEM! The Spectator pathway shows its true colors. Psychological manipulation + Sharingan = absolutely devastating. Thanks for reading!
[End of Chapter 10]
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