Chapter 32: Cursed Technique: Death by Blood! Genjutsu!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A storm of projectiles filled the air!
Their trajectories twisted like falling petals—unpredictable and deadly, every glint of steel hiding an instant of fatal danger. The relentless rhythm of his throws sent chills down everyone's spine.
Such precision and density in shurikenjutsu—none of the onlookers had ever witnessed anything like it.
It was shocking, unbelievable—like seeing a sword slice open the heavens themselves!
The two cultists of the Cursed God scrambled backward, ducking behind a crumbling wall. Even with their quick reflexes, they couldn't avoid being grazed and cut all over.
"Boss! This kid's firepower is insane!"
The cult leader's expression darkened.
Things were no longer under his control.
Before joining the cult, the three of them had been rogue ninja from the Land of Hot Water—each of them at least Chūnin-level. Under normal circumstances, three against one should have been an easy victory.
But now, under the glowing scarlet light of his Sharingan, Uchiha Ci's attacks—his flawless shuriken techniques paired with a storm of Fire Release—were an unending cascade. His assault came like a human machine gun, forcing the two cultists into pure retreat, unable to counter at all.
Still, these were battle-hardened survivors from a war-torn land. Even while dodging, they followed the original strategy.
At that moment—
The cult leader snatched the black spear lodged in the ground and roared:
"Takeshi! Hold him off! I'll start the ritual!"
The one called Takeshi gritted his teeth and nodded. With a savage gleam in his eye, he burst from cover, hands flashing through a dizzying series of seals—
He slammed his palms onto the ground.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
There were two versions of this jutsu—an 18-handseal low-grade form, and a 3-handseal high-grade A-rank version. Clearly, the rogues from the Land of Hot Water only knew the low-tier one.
The ground split apart with a violent crack, and a roaring torrent burst forth! The surging wave rose more than three meters high, crashing down toward Uchiha Ci with overwhelming force!
Everything in its path—stones, fireballs, embers—was swallowed up and extinguished.
Uchiha Ci leapt sideways, flipping onto the roof of a nearby house to avoid being swept away.
Takeshi seized the chance. Using the torrent as cover, he drew another black spear from his robe and charged straight toward Ci!
Meanwhile, on the other side—
The cult leader had already drawn a blood-stained ritual circle: a triangle within a ring.
His expression twisted into madness.
"Kid, you forced me to this!"
He spread his arms wide. Black lines began crawling over his face and body until his entire form was pitch black.
Holding the blood-stained spear with Ci's blood—he grinned wildly and turned it on himself. Clenching his teeth, he shut his eyes tight—
And stabbed it deep into his thigh!
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
A deranged, ecstatic scream tore through the air!
"Feel it! Suffer! Rejoice!"
"This is the rite of our Cursed God!"
"This is—"
"LOVE!!!"
Cursed Technique: Death by Blood — Activated!
At that instant, an overwhelming sense of dread clamped around Uchiha Ci's heart.
Every cell in his body screamed the same word—
Danger! Danger! Danger!
It was as if a giant, blood-red death mark had been carved into his forehead.
The next moment—
His heartbeat thundered in his ears. His blood surged like a ruptured dam, rushing violently toward one point.
Then—suddenly—
A searing pain exploded in his right leg!
A hole as wide as four fingers burst open, blood gushing like a fountain.
No way to dodge.
No way to block.
No way to resist.
Flesh split. Blood sprayed.
The agony was blinding—Ci's eyes widened, his face trembling uncontrollably. His leg buckled, his vision flickered. He could barely stand.
"Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!"
The cult leader's laughter was pure mania, echoing around the battlefield.
"Brat!"
"Now you see the truth!"
"Even weak ninja like us—through the Cursed God's rite—can turn hatred into power greater than yours!"
"Tremble! Despair!"
"Watch yourself be torn apart, gutted, dismembered!"
"And then you'll understand—"
"In this world—"
"Pain is Power!"
The cult leader snapped his head toward Takeshi and shouted:
"Kill him! Kill him now!"
Killing intent flooded the air. Takeshi lunged forward, his massive frame blocking the light. With the black spear raised high, he swung it toward Ci's neck—
Only for laughter to break the silence.
"...Heh...hehehehe…"
Uchiha Ci—was laughing.
He raised his head, hand covering his face, standing atop the shattered rooftop, eyes glinting through the cracks of his fingers.
He laughed louder—madder—his lips twisting upward in unrestrained amusement.
Even with his leg bleeding, even with death upon him, his eyes burned with wild exhilaration.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Not bad! Not bad at all!"
"You're right—ninjas are creatures born to endure pain! The greater the pain, the deeper the strength!"
"But—"
He stopped laughing abruptly, gaze turning to ice. His voice dropped low, cold as ancient frost:
"Who gave you the right—"
"—to think your pain surpasses mine?"
With that, he uncovered his eyes, turning sharply toward Takeshi—
"Look at me, you bastard!"
A single tomoe spun wildly within his crimson Sharingan!
Those who gazed into those eyes could never forget their haunting, terrifying beauty.
"It's genjutsu! Takeshi, beware—he's using the Sharingan's illusion!"
The cult leader's warning came too late.
Takeshi hesitated. The boy stood perfectly still—unmoving, expression blank. Was it the real one? Or an illusionary projection?
He couldn't tell.
Not in the fog. Not in this chaos.
Cursing under his breath, Takeshi slowed down and step sideways onto another rooftop. Attacking that illusion was not a good idea, he gripped his spear tightly, eyes fixed on Ci's unmoving figure as he cautiously approach.
Yes… it had to be an illusion.
But—
The illusionary Uchiha Ci suddenly sprang to life!
He reached into his tool pouch and pulled out his last weapon—ninja wire!
He wound it around his fingers, sparks flying where the threads clashed, glowing like a burning blade.
With a roar, he lunged forward with all his might. His movements blurred into a spiral pattern, grabbing the startled opponent spear and swiftly performing an unorthodox taijutsu maneuver.
He wrapped his arm around Takeshi's neck, hooked his leg around the man's ankle, twisted his body— And in a single fluid motion, immobilized him completely!
One hand gripped the wire taut, forming a razor edge as he swung it across!
Shhhk!
Takeshi's throat sprouted blood, before collapsing lifelessly.
Uchiha Ci, panting, tumbled from the roof. He staggered on his bleeding leg, step by step approaching the wide-eyed cult leader.
He tilted his head, a tired grin crossing his face.
"This—" he said softly, "—is the genjutsu of the Sharingan."