"We're all Uchiha—how can you raise your hands against your own clan?!"
"Heh. We learned from your pal Itachi. He sure didn't think twice before pummeling us. If you wanna blame someone, blame him for being such a cocky bastard."
Uchiha Inabi sneered, then added with a smirk:
"Oh, and don't even think about screaming for help. Today's the clan meeting. All the elites are occupied. No one's gonna come save you."
"Y-you planned this?! You scum!"
Izumi's eyes filled with despair. Her retreat stopped. She lowered her voice and said bitterly:
"Fine. I'll go with you. Just promise me you won't do anything beyond that. Show some decency as fellow clansmen."
"Of course! We're nothing if not gentlemen. We'll be real gentle with you."
Yashiro reached toward her slender, pale neck.
Puff!
A soft explosion interrupted him as a thick cloud of smoke burst into the alley.
Izumi had pulled a smoke bomb from her pouch and triggered it just as she feigned surrender.
Using the chaos as cover, she bolted from the alley at full speed.
If she could just get to a crowded area, the three wouldn't dare touch her.
"You conniving little brat! When I get my hands on you, I'll make you regret ever being born!"
The three Uchiha burst from the smoke, swearing as they gave chase.
Running for her life, Izumi suddenly spotted a silhouette at the mouth of the alley.
The lighting made it hard to see clearly, but she cried out like a drowning person clinging to driftwood:
"Help! Please help! They're out of their minds! Uchiha Yashiro and the others have gone crazy!"
"Huh? Who's yelling for help?"
Rukawa, just passing by, turned toward the voice.
He immediately spotted three Uchiha with activated Sharingan chasing after a girl.
His eyes narrowed.
As the distance closed, Izumi recognized him.
Rukawa? What's he doing here? Shouldn't he be at school right now?
Panic surged through her.
"Run, Rukawa! You have to get out of here!
They're after your brother—if they see you, they'll come for you too!"
"Go! I'll stall them! Hurry, Rukawa!"
She turned to block the alley, shielding him with her small frame.
Damn it, she thought, I never should've shouted for help. If Rukawa gets hurt because of me, Itachi-kun will never forgive me.
She had to buy him time.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Isn't this Itachi the traitor's little brother—Uchiha Rukawa!"
The three caught up and spotted Rukawa immediately.
Their eyes lit up.
"Buy one, get one free! This is our lucky day. Grab the kid, and Itachi'll come crawling. Double insurance!"
Yashiro licked his lips, already fantasizing about humiliating Itachi.
"No! Leave Rukawa alone—he's just a kid! He has nothing to do with this! I'll go with you, just please let him go!"
Izumi's face turned pale. She stepped forward to surrender.
Before she could take two steps, a small hand grabbed her arm.
Then came a force she couldn't resist—pulling her gently but firmly backward.
"I hate cowards who only bully the weak."
"Izumi-nee, relax. While I'm here, these three losers won't lay a finger on you."
Rukawa stepped forward, shielding her behind him.
He stared at the trio with complete calm.
"Tch. Arrogant brat! Even worse than your traitor brother. I'm gonna beat you until you see stars!"
Yashiro growled and lunged, hand clawed to strike Rukawa's throat.
A kid who hadn't even graduated from the Academy? Easy prey.
"Look out, Rukawa! Dodge!"
Izumi screamed.
That kind of attack could snap a child's neck.
She was filled with regret. If he gets hurt because of me...
But the next moment left her speechless.
Rukawa calmly raised his small hand—and caught Yashiro's strike effortlessly.
"W-what?!"
Yashiro's eyes bulged.
It was like slamming into a mountain. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't move an inch.
Rukawa's gaze turned icy, filled with contempt.
"Pathetic."
"If you've got a problem with Itachi, then take it up with him.
Picking on Izumi—what kind of man does that make you? You disgrace the Uchiha name."
"No—you three aren't worthy of it."
His voice cracked like thunder, his presence suddenly overwhelming.
To the three bullies, it was like staring down a primeval beast.
"Today, I'm taking out the trash."
Crackle!
—Lightning Release: Chidori Stream!
In the next instant, lightning surged from Rukawa's hand, flooding the alley with brilliant blue ht.lig