Chiba's response was simple and effective.
He stomped the ground, his body shifting sideways in an instant, narrowly evading the Water Dragon Projectile.
Then—
Without a moment's hesitation, he charged straight forward, drawing the katana at his waist and slashing fiercely toward Sarutobi Hiyu.
Just how terrifying was Chiba when his killing intent truly erupted?
Even Uchiha Fugaku did not know.
But in this moment, everyone saw it.
It was like a streak of lightning tearing across the heavens in a blink, its edge bursting forth with ruthless brilliance.
The cold gleam of the katana cut through the air, carving a shining arc as it cleaved toward Sarutobi Hiyu.
Hiyu had not expected such speed.
His expression changed instantly.
But he was, after all, the acting head of the Sarutobi clan, a veteran shinobi with decades of experience.
Though he had lived comfortably for years and had not seen real battle in a long time—his reactions dulled for just a fraction of a second—he still managed to draw his blade and meet the attack head-on.
Clang!
The two blades collided, sparks bursting as a harsh metallic screech tore through the air.
Sarutobi Hiyu staggered backward.
In terms of strength, he was clearly overpowered.
"Clan Head!"
Members of the Sarutobi clan cried out, rushing forward to assist.
But Hiyu barked angrily,
"Stay back!"
As he shouted, Chiba's eyes suddenly bloomed with a blood-red glow.
A soft, resonant hum echoed.
Uchiha Chiba had finally unleashed the power of the Sharingan.
Hiyu's heart lurched.
He hurriedly lowered his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.
He did not know whether Chiba specialized in genjutsu.
But he did not dare take the risk.
In the shinobi world, anyone knew the rule—
Facing a genjutsu specialist alone left only one safe choice: retreat, unless a companion was present to break the illusion.
That was true for ordinary genjutsu users.
Let alone an Uchiha with the Sharingan.
However—
Chiba did not cast genjutsu.
Instead, the moment he activated the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he forced his opponent into a mistake.
And seized that fleeting opening.
His katana twisted sharply.
A cold flash swept outward, knocking Sarutobi Hiyu's blade aside and sending it flying.
Hiyu attempted to retreat—
But it was already too late.
Slash!
The katana pierced cleanly through his lower abdomen.
The pain exploded instantly.
Sarutobi Hiyu staggered backward, wrenching the blade free.
Blood streamed through his fingers as he clutched his wound.
"Dodged the vitals, huh?"
Chiba's brows knit slightly.
A veteran jōnin and clan head was not so easily finished—even if he had grown rusty.
"Y-You…!"
Hiyu clenched his teeth, his body trembling as sweat poured down his face.
Yet he released his wound and formed hand seals again with blood-soaked hands.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
He slammed his palm against the ground.
The earth surged upward as though alive, forming a massive dragon that opened its jaws and fired a barrage of stone projectiles.
Fugaku's eyes widened.
"He can use Earth Release as well?!"
But under the sight of Chiba's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, such an attack was trivial.
The spinning tomoe tracked every movement of the earth bullets.
Chiba weaved through them effortlessly.
Then he closed the distance again, blade flashing.
Hiyu struck the ground once more.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Rumble—!
A towering wall of earth rose instantly, shielding him from Chiba's advance.
Chiba let out a cold laugh.
"Lightning Release…"
"False Darkness."
The air crackled violently.
A sharp electric hum filled the battlefield as a massive spear of lightning erupted forward.
Boom!
With a single strike, it tore through the ground and shattered the earth wall into fragments.
Fugaku stared in disbelief.
"When did Chiba master such a powerful Lightning Release?!"
Fear surged in Hiyu's heart.
The lightning spear blasted through the wall without slowing—
and crashed directly into him.
He had no time to evade.
A scream echoed across the riverbank as lightning engulfed his body.
Violent currents coursed through him, filling the air with the scent of scorched flesh.
"Clan Head!"
The Sarutobi rushed forward despite his earlier command.
Several shinobi unleashed their techniques to stop Chiba.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
Flames and wind merged into a raging inferno, forming chaotic blades of fire that tore toward Chiba.
The crimson Sharingan gleamed coldly.
The three tomoe rotated smoothly as Chiba moved through the flames and wind blades with eerie calm.
Even when he was struck—
He did not stop.
Blood sprayed.
His shoulder, arm, and waist were slashed open one after another.
Yet he continued forward.
Katana in hand, he leapt over the shattered wall, cut through fire and wind, and descended directly before Sarutobi Hiyu.
"Don't!"
"Stop!"
The Sarutobi clan cried out in despair.
Struck by False Darkness, paralyzed and gravely wounded, Hiyu no longer had the strength to resist.
The blade descended toward his throat—
"Chiba, stop!"
"Stand down!"
Two voices rang out simultaneously.
Chiba recognized one instantly—
Uchiha Shisui.
The other he identified with a sidelong glance of his Sharingan—
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the eldest son of Hiruzen Sarutobi and captain of the ANBU.
One was the wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan, hailed as the strongest of the Uchiha.
The other was the Hokage's son and commander of the ANBU.
Either one alone was a major figure in Konoha.
Yet—
Even their simultaneous commands could not halt the blade in Chiba's hand.
What of Uchiha Shisui?
What of Sarutobi Shinnosuke?
The katana sliced cleanly across Sarutobi Hiyu's throat.
A head rolled onto the muddy banks of the Naka River.
Sarutobi Hiyu…
Was dead.
In that instant—
Whether it was Fugaku and the Uchiha, the Sarutobi clan, or the rushing Shisui and Shinnosuke—
All stood frozen in shock.
Ding!
[You have helped Sarutobi Hiyu and Sarutobi Jiro reunite as father and son. A family should be together. Good! Merit points +100!]
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