Chapter 31: Three Against One, the Advantage Is Mine!
The sharp command rang out.
The kunai in the girl's hand grew longer against the wind, transforming into a sixty-centimeter short blade.
It was a Water Release technique — one that condensed flowing water into a spinning blade, much like the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
In the next instant, she hurled the water blade. With a sharp clang, it struck the oncoming black spear, knocking it slightly off course — the spear's tip grazed Uchiha Ci's face before flying past.
Immediately after—
Water Release: Water Surface Cutter!
The girl bent low, palms brushing the ground as two jets of water burst from beneath her feet. Reducing friction between herself and the ground, she glided forward at lightning speed toward the falling Uchiha Ci.
Then, with graceful precision, she caught him in a princess carry.
Uchiha Ci blinked, dazed. A faint, sweet fragrance filled his nose — like the hibiscus flowers that bloom by the sea.
Before he could gather his thoughts—
The cult leader of the Evil God Sect narrowed his eyes coldly at the unexpected intruder. With a flick of his wrists, he threw out two long black spears and stomped the ground, forming a Ram hand seal — clearly preparing to unleash a powerful jutsu.
"Snap out of it! We need to run!"
The girl's green eyes contracted sharply. She glanced down at the stunned Uchiha Ci in her arms, furrowed her brows in irritation, and without hesitation tossed him aside — nearly sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.
Then she quickly formed hand seals.
Ox → Snake → Ram!
Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!
A thick white mist spread rapidly, enveloping the entire area in a dense fog.
Uchiha Ci suddenly felt a soft hand grab his own, and the girl's bell-like voice whispered in his ear—
"Let's go!"
"Go?" Uchiha Ci looked up at the hooded girl before him. A loose strand of reddish-brown hair escaped from beneath her hood, dancing at her ear like a wisp of red sunset.
He quickly snapped out of it, furrowing his brow and pulling his hand free.
"I can't leave!"
When he'd blocked the black spear to protect the little girl Yuko earlier, his palm had been sliced open.
Now, his blood was on the ground where the spear had landed. If the Evil God cultists retrieved it — or even dug up the soil stained by it — they could use it to activate their deadly forbidden art: Curse Technique: Death's Blood Oath!
He couldn't take that risk.
If he ran now and got killed later, the system might count it as suicide.
And then the five hundred million reward would be gone!
From the moment he stood up to protect the child, Uchiha Ci had already made up his mind — he wasn't running.
His eyes hardened. The crimson tomoe of his Sharingan spun into motion.
His hands flew through seals before slamming down onto the ground.
Super Battle Barrier!
It was a technique he'd recently acquired from Moroi — perfect for this kind of situation!
A pale red barrier spread out instantly, encasing the three cultists and Uchiha Ci within.
A column of red light shot into the sky as the barrier expanded, forcibly ejecting everyone else from the plaza.
"This is my fight alone!"
Uchiha Ci rose to his feet, staring into the fog-choked battlefield, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Through the mist, his crimson Sharingan eyes gleamed as he locked onto three hazy figures.
"Like sneak attacks, huh?"
A cold chuckle escaped his lips.
"Perfect. Let's begin round two!"
Outside the barrier, the girl who had saved him moments ago stared in stunned disbelief. Her face twisted in frustration as she glared at the man standing tall within the scarlet dome.
"Is he an idiot?! I literally created an opening for him to escape!"
Instead, he had trapped himself inside — with three members of the Evil God Sect!
Was he trying to die?
Even Hidan, who'd been thrown outside the barrier, was dumbfounded.
"Ci, are you out of your damn mind?!" he shouted.
"If you attack the leaders of the Evil God Sect, the entire village will be slaughtered! You're just a genin — you can't possibly beat them!"
Uchiha Ci's eyes flicked slightly at the words. He turned his back, raised a thumb high into the air, and laughed loudly:
"Relax! Until I'm dead, none of them are leaving this barrier alive!"
"Hidan — take everyone and run while you can!"
Without waiting for a reply, Uchiha Ci vanished into the swirling mist, darting between the fog-shrouded shapes.
The red glow of his Sharingan trailed behind him like a streak of light.
Thanks to the girl's timely interference, he'd avoided serious injury — and her mist had given him a perfect chance to strike back.
But the Evil God Sect's leader was no fool. He quickly assessed the situation and barked calm orders to his subordinates:
"He's got a Sharingan — he can see through this mist. That gives him the visual advantage."
"But we still outnumber him. Three against one — the advantage is ours!"
"Mado, use your Wind Release to disperse the fog. Takeshi, stay alert and guard me."
"I'll retrieve that boy's blood and use Curse Technique: Death's Blood Oath to cripple his legs!"
"Then we kill him."
With that, the leader dashed toward the black spear embedded in the ground not far away.
The cultist named Mado clapped his hands together, preparing to weave signs for a Wind Release.
But just then—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three shadows tore through the fog toward them.
"What—? Rocks?!"
All three men recoiled in surprise, halting their hand seals.
But these weren't just stones—
They were part of Uchiha Ci's Uchiha-Style: Threaded Shuriken Technique, elevated to a masterful level!
In his hands, anything could become a deadly projectile.
He dashed low through the mist, circling the battlefield, snatching up stones, splintered branches, even yanking one of the black spears from the ground — hurling them with precise, deadly force.
The first three stones merely startled them.
But the next wave — dozens of stones and ten sharpened branches — came down like a storm.
A relentless barrage rained from every direction!
Ever seen a barrage-style attack?
Hidden among the countless stones and branches—
A single black spear whistled through the air like a thunderbolt!
The cult leader's pupils shrank.
Beside him, Mado — who had just about finished forming his Wind Release seals—
Schlk!
The black spear punched straight through his chest.
He collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, lifeless.
But Uchiha Ci wasn't done yet!
He slid to a stop, body crouched low, hands already forming another rapid string of seals.
Rat → Tiger → Dog → Ox → Hare → Tiger!
Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Six fireballs burst forth, snarling like flaming beasts as they lunged toward the remaining enemies!
Immediately after—
He reached behind him, pulling out three ninja threads tied to small stones and flung them forward.
Then another string of seals followed:
Snake → Dragon → Hare → Tiger!
Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!
Hooking his index finger, Uchiha Ci guided the flames — they raced along the wires like serpents, slashing through the mist in a blazing assault!
"Damn it! What's with this brat?!"
The cult leader gasped, eyes wide in disbelief as he threw himself to the ground, narrowly avoiding the inferno.
His mind reeled.
Why the hell does this kid have so many jutsu?!
"You thought it was three against one?"
Uchiha Ci's mocking voice echoed through the fog.
"Heh—"
"It's me who's surrounded you!"