In that moment, Yoru had issued his final ultimatum to "Kinoe."
The ultimatum was a single word.
Death.
Kinoe's face twisted in shock!
But as someone trusted by Shimura Danzo, he was no ordinary ninja.
Though still young, his time in the Root organization had honed his battle instincts and experience far beyond that of a typical ninja.
Before Yoru's words even fully landed, Kinoe seized the initiative, unleashing his Wood Release secret technique.
"Wood Release! Gun Tree Barrage!"
In an instant, Kinoe formed hand seals, and from his arms, shoulders, and back, Wood Release vines and branches shot out with lightning speed, surging toward Yoru like electrified spears!
Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamakaze, witnessing Wood Release for the first time, were both shocked and intrigued.
But they weren't worried about Captain Yoru.
Because…
In their eyes, their captain was absolutely invincible.
Unmatched by anyone.
Yoru let out a cold smirk. In a flash, his samurai sword appeared in his hand, already crackling with dazzling, explosive lightning!
Zzt! Zzt! Zzt…
Buzz—
A deafening roar, like a thousand birds shrieking or the void itself being torn like cloth!
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Yoru's Lightning Release: False Darkness Blade effortlessly sliced through every Wood Release vine, then exploded, reducing the Gun Tree Barrage to a shower of splintered debris!
But at the same moment, the four Root members behind Kinoe launched a coordinated attack on Yoru.
Aoki and Yamakaze sneered. "You think you're worthy of fighting our captain?!"
The two darted forward, each taking on two Root ninjas, engaging them in fierce combat!
After their recent trials, both their Sharingan prowess and their battle experience and willpower had surged dramatically.
For an Uchiha, once their eye power grew and their fighting spirit ignited…
They could crush any ninja of the same level.
Any.
In that instant, Yoru himself became a streak of lightning, charging downward with a booming crash, his False Darkness Blade slashing ruthlessly at Kinoe!
Kinoe reacted swiftly, slamming his hands to the ground.
"Wood Release! Wooden Dome Wall!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With sharp cracks, rows of wooden pillars burst from the earth, rising to form a hemispherical shield, firmly protecting Kinoe within.
But…
Boom!
A deafening explosion, unstoppable and devastating.
The entire Wooden Dome Wall was obliterated into countless wood chips, scattering wildly in all directions!
Kinoe was caught by the edge of the False Darkness Blade.
Though it was just a graze, the lightning detonated, blasting a bloody hole through one of his legs, flesh and blood spraying in a gruesome display!
Kinoe, with all his strength, stomped the ground at the last second, dodging sideways, but he was now gravely injured, his movements hampered!
Terror surged in his heart.
The man before him was a true demon, a god of slaughter, a reaper!
Such ferocious power, paired with an unrelenting, death-defying will to fight and a crazed killing intent, was simply inhuman!
"Earth Release! Stone Spear Torrent!"
"Water Release! Raging Torrent!"
Even in this dire situation, Kinoe's reactions were lightning-fast, simultaneously unleashing Earth and Water Release, showcasing his exceptional combat instincts.
In an instant, countless sharp stone spears stabbed upward, turning the dozens of meters around Yoru into a thorny forest of piercing lances!
At the same time, a raging Water Release blasted out like a high-pressure cannon, roaring toward Yoru!
Yoru scoffed, swinging his False Darkness Blade with force, shattering every stone spear on the ground into dust.
Then, with a casual sidestep, he effortlessly dodged the high-pressure water torrent.
In the next moment…
His body moved like a phantom, like lightning, like a mirage, appearing before Kinoe in a blink, his False Darkness Blade thrusting forward!
So fast it was like teleportation!
Kinoe, horrified, had no time to dodge.
Boom!
A massive explosion rang out!
His entire body was pierced through, and as the lightning detonated, a gaping hole blasted open in his chest!
But…
Yoru sneered. "Pathetic tricks."
The next moment, the body turned into a wooden statue, collapsing into flying wood chips.
This was Kinoe's Wood Release clone, created in the split second he unleashed his Earth and Water techniques.
In terms of being "indistinguishable," it surpassed even Shadow Clones!
Even Uchiha Madara had once been deceived by the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's Wood Release clone, leading to his defeat!
But Yoru had already seen through it.
His perception was no less than Madara's!
Thinking he'd succeeded, Kinoe launched his final trump card from behind Yoru!
"Wood Release! Tree Binding Eternal Burial!"
Suddenly…
Rumble!
A towering tree erupted from beneath Yoru's feet, instantly growing to two or three meters thick. Countless vines and branches crazily extended, entwining, overlapping, binding, sealing…
Completely swallowing and engulfing Yoru's body…
"Captain!"
On the other side, though Aoki and Yamakaze trusted Yoru completely, they couldn't help but cry out in shock!
Kinoe panted heavily, hands still forming seals, and said in a low voice, "This is a Wood Release technique that suppresses chakra and strength!"
"Uchiha Yoru, even you can't break free easily!"
"Become nourishment for the earth and trees!"
In an instant, the power of the Tree Binding Eternal Burial surged, fully consuming Yoru's figure…
Kinoe, gasping for breath, finally let out a sigh of relief.
The other Root ninjas sneered coldly.
"You underestimated Captain Kinoe's Wood Release!"
"That's the power of the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage!"
But in that very moment…
Shnk!
A samurai sword, infused with raging lightning, pierced through Kinoe's heart from behind!
"W-What?!"
"Captain Kinoe!"
Kinoe's eyes widened, his face drained of color, feeling the searing pain in his chest and the paralyzing numbness spreading through his body. He tried to speak but could barely manage…
Struggling, he turned his head to look.
"Y-You… you're…"
"Just a simple Shadow Clone. Since you wanted to play, I humored you."
"Now, you're dead."
In an instant.
Boom!
The False Darkness Blade piercing Kinoe's chest exploded with lightning, obliterating his heart and entire chest into a spray of blood and flesh, leaving behind…
Nothing but a hollow void.
Kinoe collapsed to the ground, blood gushing out, staining the earth red.
He was dead.
The man who would have been known as Yamato…
Would never appear.
"Captain Kinoe!"
The remaining Root ninjas screamed in despair, but they were no match for Aoki and Yamakaze. With Kinoe's death, they were completely overwhelmed, suppressed by the two Uchihas!
Yoru glanced over, choosing not to intervene, wanting to temper Aoki and Yamakaze's skills.
Ding!
[You killed "Kinoe," ending his tragic life as a human experiment subject. Great deed! +200 Merit Points!]
Yoru casually allocated the merit points to his eye power.
By now, Aoki and Yamakaze had each killed one Root ninja. The remaining two exchanged a glance and immediately turned to flee.
They were close to the Root's secret base—if they could reach it, they might still survive!
Aoki and Yamakaze gave them no chance, pursuing relentlessly and quickly catching up, raising their blades to strike. But in that moment…
"Stop!"
A voice called out from the entrance of the Root's secret base.