Chapter 9: Is It Really Necessary to Be This Unlucky?
"Thanks, kid! See you next time~"
Tsunade waved goodbye with a satisfied, slightly flushed expression, clearly in high spirits.
In stark contrast, Uchiha Kazuki looked completely drained—eyes vacant, legs wobbling as he leaned against the wall for support while stumbling out of Tsunade's office.
Don't misunderstand—he absolutely had not used hypnosis to do anything inappropriate to Tsunade.
Forcibly applying psychological suggestions to the subconscious mind of a Kage-level shinobi... it's definitely not easy.
His recently recovered spiritual energy was already showing dangerous signs of depletion. Two consecutive major drains of spirituality left Kazuki hearing faint whispers in his ears—a warning sign that his Beyonder potion was beginning to destabilize.
He could never again recklessly push the limits of the pathway system like this. One slight misstep could lead to losing control entirely. This time served as a harsh lesson.
"Um, Dr. Kazuki, are you... alright?"
A passing medical ninja, witnessing Kazuki staggering out of Tsunade's office while leaning heavily against the wall, immediately showed a shocked—and deeply knowing—expression.
Without even needing to check the man's aura, Kazuki could guess exactly what he was thinking. He quickly tried to explain. "I just used up too much chakra while treating Lady Tsunade."
"Mmm, I understand. I completely understand, Kazuki-san."
The man patted his chest with an expression that clearly said, Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. "I, Morita, am very discreet. I definitely won't say anything to anyone."
Kazuki's eye twitched, and a bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple. "I really was just treating her!"
"Of course you were!" Morita's face split into a knowing grin. "No need to explain, Kazuki-san. I'm rooting for you and Lady Tsunade~"
Before Kazuki could clarify further, Morita vanished down the hallway with a supremely smug look.
Damn it!
Kazuki cursed internally. If he weren't afraid of losing control of his powers, he would have given that bastard the full "Jigsaw Mind Games" treatment!
Under the astonished and gossipy stares of medical staff and nurses throughout the entire hospital, Kazuki finally escaped the building, silently shedding tears of frustration.
From this day forward, his reputation was utterly ruined.
Without a doubt, those gossip-hungry medical ninjas would spread this "news" throughout the entire village by nightfall.
He just hoped Tsunade wouldn't come after him when she inevitably heard the rumors.
Kazuki pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm his turbulent thoughts, and decided to return to the Uchiha compound to rest and recover his spirituality.
As he rounded a corner into a deserted alley—
WHOOSH!
A cat-masked ANBU operative suddenly appeared before him like a ghost.
"Uchiha Kazuki. Your mission has arrived. Follow me."
The cat-masked ANBU's tone was distinctly unfriendly, his body language radiating cold hostility.
Kazuki's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Those who walked the Spectator pathway, while initially weak in direct combat, possessed outstanding mental acuity and keen observational skills. After advancing sequences, their perception was no longer limited to surface impressions—they could delve into mysterious realms like auras and etheric bodies. Combining these abilities, they could even read the surface thoughts of others.
At this moment, deep within the cat-masked ANBU's eyes, Kazuki clearly read emotions: indifference, hostility, and unmistakable killing intent.
This guy is definitely up to no good.
Despite his internal assessment, Kazuki's expression remained unchanged as he calmly nodded. "Understood. Lead the way."
The cat-masked ANBU led him deep into the Forest of Death.
"Are we there?"
Seeing the operative finally stop, Kazuki adjusted his glasses and casually surveyed the surroundings.
A dense primeval forest stretched in all directions. Massive tree canopies provided ample shade, branches intertwined overhead, and the sounds of insects and birds echoed through the undergrowth.
Isolated. Remote. Perfect for something underhanded.
"We're here."
The cat-masked ANBU turned around, his eyes beneath the porcelain mask growing even colder.
Kazuki extended his spirit vision, scanning the area thoroughly.
No ambush. He's alone.
Kazuki felt marginally relieved, once again marveling at the utility of spirit vision. Even if a shinobi could perfectly conceal their physical presence and chakra signature, they could never hide the etheric aura inherent to all living beings.
"Uchiha Kazuki, according to ANBU protocol, I will now interrogate you."
The cat-masked operative's voice was flat, mechanical. "As a so-called 'psychiatrist,' you have used genjutsu techniques on numerous individuals within the village. What was your true purpose? Was Fugaku Uchiha directing your actions? Are you still loyal to the Hokage and Konoha?"
"Rather than answering your interrogation, I'm more curious about who sent you to find me."
Kazuki's eyelids lowered slightly, and deep vortexes seemed to swirl within his crimson eyes. "Why don't I take a guess?"
"Uchiha Kazuki, don't change the subject!"
The cat-masked ANBU's voice suddenly turned sharp and aggressive. A kunai appeared in his hand as killing intent radiated from him in palpable waves. "This is a direct order. ANBU operatives don't ask questions. They don't need emotions. They don't need personal will. They exist only to execute orders. Understand?"
"Hmm, where have I heard that philosophy before?" Kazuki smiled knowingly, scrutinizing the cat-masked operative from head to toe. "Oh, I remember now. There's only one organization in Konoha that constantly preaches about eliminating emotions and personal will."
His smile turned cold.
"You're from Root, aren't you?"
"It appears you're planning to refuse interrogation."
The cat-masked operative formed a tiger seal with both hands, chakra surging violently around him. His tone dripped with murderous intent. "It doesn't matter. From the very beginning, Lord Danzo knew the Uchiha clan would never cooperate willingly."
WHOOSH!
Scattered leaves danced through the air.
In the next instant, the Root operative used Body Flicker Technique to move with incredible speed, choosing to avoid direct confrontation by attacking Kazuki from behind.
The razor-sharp kunai aimed directly for a vital point—showing absolutely no mercy whatsoever.
THUNK!
The kunai pierced clean through Kazuki's chest.
But rather than collapsing, the target seemed almost amused.
POOF!
The "Kazuki" struck by the kunai instantly dispersed into white smoke.
"Damn it—a shadow clone!" The cat-masked operative's pupils contracted in shock, realizing he'd been deceived. He immediately tried to retreat.
But after only a few steps, he heard a sharp whistling sound cutting through the air behind him.
A dozen high-speed spinning shuriken traced elegant arcs through the air, forming an inescapable net that sealed off every retreat route.
When did that Uchiha brat set up a shadow clone?!
The Root operative was both shocked and furious. He drew the tantō from his back, spinning and slashing in rapid succession to deflect the incoming projectiles.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Just as the cat-masked operative finished his defensive maneuver, his muscles screaming from exertion—
Kazuki seized the opening.
His chakra erupted like a geyser as he shot forward like black lightning, closing the distance in an instant.
The moment their eyes met, the Root operative saw three blood-red tomoe spinning rapidly in Kazuki's pupils.
In the shinobi world, there was a common saying among experienced jonin:
"When encountering an Uchiha ninja in one-on-one combat, if they possess the Sharingan, retreat immediately."
To some extent, this adage demonstrated just how overwhelming the advantage an Uchiha with active Sharingan possessed in single combat.
Normally, the moment eye contact was established, the battle was essentially over.
POOF!
However, under the Sharingan's hypnotic gaze, the cat-masked operative suddenly dispersed into smoke.
Another shadow clone.
"A very correct tactical response. As expected of Danzo's subordinates," Kazuki commented calmly, completely unsurprised by this development.
After all, the opponent was Root—Danzo's personal black ops division. If he could be instantly defeated by such a basic technique, how could he have possibly survived in an organization as ruthless as Root?
You could call Root disgusting, morally bankrupt, and cruel—but you could never call them weak.
"Let's end this little test here, shall we?"
Kazuki's gaze drifted upward to a specific treetop, the three crimson tomoe in his eyes rotating slowly. "Our time is precious. Let's not waste it playing hide-and-seek."
"Uchiha Kazuki... you're far more capable than the reports suggested."
A figure leaped down from the concealed position—the cat-masked operative, now abandoning all pretense of stealth. "As you wish. I'll show you what true cruelty looks like."
BZZZZZZZZ...
Countless black insects suddenly poured from the operative's sleeves like a living tide.
The swarm of insects formed a massive black cloud that quickly engulfed the Root operative's position. The individual insects were so small that even with Sharingan enhancement, they were difficult to track individually. Anyone with trypophobia would probably feel suffocated just looking at the writhing mass.
The black insects beat their wings in unison, their chitinous carapaces rubbing together to create a deeply unsettling sound.
"The Aburame clan."
Kazuki raised an eyebrow slightly. Such distinctive techniques belonged exclusively to the Aburame clan within the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
"Lord Danzo anticipated your refusal to cooperate, which is precisely why he sent me."
The Aburame operative's voice remained cold and emotionless. "Our clan's insect techniques cannot be copied even by the Sharingan. And our massive kikaichu swarms are the perfect counter to your vaunted dōjutsu!"
The insect cloud surged forward like a living tsunami.
Well... this is problematic.
Author's Note: The 24-hour misfortune period strikes! Can Kazuki handle an Aburame clan member's insect techniques? Thanks for reading!
[End of Chapter 9]
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