Chapter 29 Desperate Situation
"Akai!"
As the flow of time returned to normal, Kitsuchi roared again, but with his roar, the crimson mark on his neck became even more conspicuous.
Only then did he realize what he had truly encountered. He quickly grabbed his neck and felt it carefully, but the look in his eyes as he stared at Uchiha启 had become more alert than ever!
In that instant, Uchiha启 had suddenly burst out with an incredible speed in his eyes, even faster than when he first killed Shigo and Genboku!
Kitsuchi couldn't understand why this brat suddenly had such speed, nor why he waited until his teammates were almost incapacitated before using such power.
Because if he had used such power earlier, his teammates might not have ended up so tragically.
However, regardless of whether he understood it or not, Kitsuchi knew that this brat had to be killed.
If Kitsuchi hadn't been vigilant enough, taking a series of precautions to prevent this brat from playing tricks, he too might have become one of this brat's achievements!
"You're very good, Uchiha brat." Kitsuchi released his hand from his neck. "Your speed is truly astonishing. Even Minato Namikaze might only be at your level. But it's a pity you met me, and you probably don't have any strength left to resist, do you? If only you had used your abilities sooner—"
Uchiha启 couldn't be bothered with Kitsuchi. If Kakashi hadn't been beaten to near death, Hyuga Aya hadn't been severely injured, Kitsuchi had consistently avoided eye contact, and Imai Kenta couldn't even attend to him, Uchiha启 might not have used the Mangekyo's power so quickly.
Although this power was formidable, at this stage, it felt somewhat 'non-renewable.' Most importantly, Uchiha启 absolutely did not want anyone else to know he possessed this power!
Uchiha启 was all too aware of the trouble a pair of Mangekyo could bring. Looking at the current clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku, he too should have a Mangekyo, but he never dared to use it.
Although his outcome wasn't good, that was his own choice. Compared to other reckless users, he was probably the most comfortable, wasn't he?
Uchiha Shisui had one eye gouged out, Uchiha Itachi carried the burden of sin and almost couldn't clear his name, Uchiha Obito was a complete tragedy, and Uchiha Madara was treated as a tool, played around with endlessly.
And while Uchiha Sasuke seemed alright, if it weren't for his unbreakable bonds with Uzumaki Naruto and Kakashi, the Sixth and Seventh Hokage, what he had done would have been enough to get him killed countless times!
Uchiha启 didn't have such bonds. While the future was uncertain, at least for now, he had none!
Coupled with the current relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha, he truly couldn't take that risk and bring trouble upon himself.
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha启 staggered to his feet. His Chakra was already low, but Kitsuchi clearly wouldn't let him go.
"Die! Uchiha brat!"
As expected, Kitsuchi didn't waste any words. He clenched his fist, his Chakra exploding wildly throughout his body, then he pushed off the ground, leaving a trail of dust, and charged towards Uchiha启!
Uchiha启 looked at this terrifying guy. Although he could see the trajectory of his attack, it was tragically apparent that Uchiha启 couldn't dodge such an attack now.
The consumption of the Mangekyo Sharingan was truly too great, and coupled with how long Uchiha启 had been fighting, he really couldn't hold on any longer!
"Damn it, where in the world is Minato Namikaze?"
Looking at the guy in front of him, Uchiha启 for the first time wondered if he had been deceived by the seemingly gentle, kind, and honest Minato Namikaze?
He didn't have time to dwell on such useless thoughts. Uchiha启 tried to make a simple movement to avoid Kitsuchi's fist, but he found that at that very moment, his collar was grabbed.
Then, with a force that wasn't weak but also not particularly strong, the weakened Uchiha启 was yanked away!
"Bang!"
The loud sound made Uchiha启's ears ache, and shattered rocks splattered around him.
The huge impact left Uchiha启 momentarily stunned. When he came to, he found himself already on the ground, then dragged back about ten meters.
This made Uchiha启's neck and back ache. Turning his head slightly, Uchiha启 realized that the one who had saved his life was Imai Kenta!
"You—" Uchiha启 was somewhat incredulous.
"Shut up! How much longer until Jonin Namikaze arrives? And can you move?" Imai Kenta didn't even look at Uchiha启, he stared ahead and spoke quickly.
"I don't know how long it will take him, but I need some time to recover."
"I can hold on for one minute. If you haven't recovered basic combat strength after one minute, I'm running."
"Then run now."
Although Uchiha启 was a bit surprised, he quickly understood the situation with this guy.
It turned out this kid, like Uchiha启, was still hesitating whether to take the most desperate step, but the time he gave Uchiha启 was too short. What could Uchiha启 do in one minute?
Even if he used the Akimichi Clan's special medicine to restore Chakra, Uchiha启 probably couldn't recover basic combat strength within a minute.
Imai Kenta ignored Uchiha启's sarcasm and complaints. He gripped the short sword in his hand, looking at the smoke in front of him. Perhaps it would have been better if his hands weren't trembling slightly.
"Here he comes!"
As Imai Kenta's words fell, Kitsuchi charged straight out of the smoke. As he sprinted, he formed hand signs with both hands. When his hand signs were complete, the ground where Uchiha启 and Imai Kenta stood began to shake and crack.
As the tremors grew more violent, Imai Kenta seemed unable to even stand steadily, and Uchiha启, who had just managed to get to his feet, was once again thrown to the ground.
Uchiha启, losing his balance, sat on the ground. He happened to see Kitsuchi, with subtle movements, bypass Imai Kenta, while simultaneously drawing a Kunai with his left hand and thrusting it towards Imai Kenta's chest.
At the same time, his right hand, imbued with terrifying Chakra, slammed towards Uchiha启!
At this moment, Uchiha启 was truly disheartened. In order to survive, Uchiha启 no longer cared about his physical condition, forcefully activating his Mangekyo Sharingan again, intending to stall for time.
But Uchiha启's Chakra was truly insufficient. He even regretted why he hadn't used it sooner. Wouldn't it have been better to just kill those damned Stone Ninja first and then deal with his teammates?
Watching Kitsuchi get closer, Uchiha启 drew his Kunai. He felt as if he was seeing his first time on the battlefield—also so helpless, so fragile.
Frantically gripping the Kunai, Uchiha启 tried to raise his hand, his eyes now filled with fear.
But just at that moment, when Uchiha启 could feel the punch-wind rushing towards his face, when Imai Kenta felt his chest about to be pierced—
Suddenly, Kitsuchi disappeared.