Chapter 72: Orochimaru's Covetousness: A Perfect Work of Art
Nightfall completely swallowed the last glimmer of light from the Uchiha Clan's territory. Only the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs could be heard throughout the area.
Over 20 figures silently dispersed and infiltrated the territory. These A-rank Missing-nin from various parts of the Ninja World were like hyenas, driven by the desire for money and slaughter.
The leader was a Missing-nin named Zabuza Momochi, formerly an Anbu from Kirigakure. He was known for his extremely fast and silent sword techniques and had a bounty as high as 40 million ryo.
"Hmph, the Uchiha Clan is nothing special after all." Zabuza licked his cracked lips, already smelling the sweet scent of money mixed with blood.
"Such lax defenses. It seems that the new clan head, Uchiha Akira, is just a brash young kid who only knows how to talk big." A short, stout Missing-nin from Iwagakure beside him chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
"Who cares what kind of kid he is? Lord Danzō promised extra money for every Sharingan."
"Tonight, we're going to get rich!"
"After this job, we'll have enough to live comfortably for quite a while."
However, when they kicked open the door of the first residence, they were met not with terrified screams or desperate resistance. Instead, they found an empty room.
"No one?" The Iwagakure Missing-nin was stunned.
Zabuza frowned, his figure flickering as he instantly appeared in the courtyard of another residence. It was still empty.
The third, the fourth... they investigated over a dozen houses in a row, and the results were all the same. The furniture was neatly arranged, and some tables even had unfinished meals, but the people had vanished without a trace, as if they had evaporated into thin air.
An ominous premonition arose.
"Something's wrong!" Zabuza's expression darkened, and he tightened his grip on the short sword on his back. "They were prepared. Everyone, be careful!"
This desolate street, in their eyes, now seemed to have transformed into a monstrous beast with a gaping maw, ready to devour them.
Just then, a faint "clink," like a raindrop falling on a stone slab, came from the center of the street. All the Missing-nin's gazes were instantly drawn to it.
On the edge of the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters' rooftop, two figures quietly appeared. One figure was tall and imposing, his black clothes fluttering in the night wind—it was Uchiha Akira. The other had a solemn expression; it was the former clan head, Uchiha Fugaku.
They gracefully descended from the rooftop, dozens of meters high.
"They finally arrived." Akira's voice rang out.
"Only two?" The Iwagakure Missing-nin was stunned when he saw who had arrived, then burst into arrogant laughter. "Hahahaha! Is the Uchiha Clan out of people? They only sent two people to their deaths?"
"One is an old geezer who was kicked out, and the other is a snot-nosed brat!"
"Don't waste words with them!"
In Zabuza's eyes, there was only Akira's disdainful gaze. This contempt enraged Zabuza. How many years had it been since anyone dared to look down on him like this? This Uchiha brat had touched his reverse scale; today, he must be tortured thoroughly to let him know the consequences of disrespecting Lord Zabuza.
"Kill them! Then drag out all those hiding rats for me!"
No sooner had Zabuza finished speaking than his figure transformed into a blurry afterimage, vanishing from his original spot.
Silent Killing!
Zabuza's target was precisely Akira, who appeared to be the least threatening. He wanted to use the new clan head's head to declare the start of this hunt.
What greeted Zabuza was not a look of fear, but a dazzling burst of blue-white electricity.
"Chidori—!" The sound was like a thousand birds screaming sharply in Zabuza's ears simultaneously.
On Akira's right hand, a violent mass of lightning had condensed at some unknown point.
Lightning Release: Chidori.
Akira's movements were faster than Zabuza's sword. When Zabuza's short sword was still half an inch from Akira's throat, the hand wreathed in lightning had already, without any obstruction, struck Zabuza's chest.
"Thud." A dull sound, the sound of flesh being pierced, rang out. The sinister grin on Zabuza's face instantly froze. He looked down to see a charred, fist-sized hole in his chest. Blood hadn't even had time to gush out before it was completely evaporated by the violent lightning.
"How... how could..."
"...possibly..."
Zabuza's body fell backward limply, his eyes still filled with shock and incomprehension.
Akira slowly withdrew his right hand. In killing a Missing-nin, Akira hadn't even activated his Sharingan.
"First one." Akira uttered two words indifferently.
The entire scene was silent. The Iwagakure Missing-nin, who had been laughing uncontrollably just moments ago, felt cold sweat pouring down his fat cheeks.
Dead? Zabuza Momochi, known for his speed, was instantly killed in a single encounter? He couldn't even clearly see how the opponent had made his move. The key was that this Uchiha hadn't even activated his Sharingan.
This young man in front of him was no mere brat. He was a monster!
"Go together!" Someone, he didn't know who, let out a hysterical roar. "Kill him! Avenge Zabuza!"
The instinct for survival and the greed for money overcame their fear. Over 20 figures, like enraged beasts, rushed forward from all directions.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Ninjutsu of various elements were instantly released—mudslides, gales, and turbulent waves, all mixed together, swept towards Akira and Fugaku.
In Fugaku's pupils, three tomoe spun rapidly, finally converging into the Mangekyō Sharingan pattern.
"Akira! Be careful!" Fugaku stepped forward, his chakra surging, preparing to summon the Susanoo's skeletal frame to block these attacks.
"Stand back." Akira commanded.
His hands quickly formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation."
Akira took a deep breath, then forcefully exhaled forward. The next second, towering flames transformed into a sky-obscuring wave of fire. The Ninjutsu released by the Missing-nin turned into a sky full of steam under Akira's flames.
"Ahhhhh—!" The first few Missing-nin didn't even have time to react before they were completely swallowed by this sea of fire. Not even a complete skeleton was left behind.
In the distance, on a higher rooftop, four figures quietly observed everything.
"Heh heh... heh heh heh heh..." Orochimaru extended his long tongue, licking his lips, his golden snake eyes gleaming with a sickly fanaticism. "This is... truly wonderful."
"Such immense chakra, such perfect Fire Release."
"This body is simply a work of art born for Ninjutsu."
"Akira-kun... I want to obtain you more and more."
Kakuzu, beside Orochimaru, had a slightly grave look in his eerie green eyes. Based on the strength Akira had displayed so far, he was already on par with most Kage-level powerhouses. The target was quite troublesome.
It seemed after this was over, he would have to ask Danzō for more bounty. He definitely had to fleece Danzō good.
However, the heart of a powerhouse like Akira...
"It would surely be wonderful to become a part of my body!" Kakuzu's eyes gleamed with greed.