Chapter 7: Misdirection
"Well, is this so surprising?"
Yasushi adopted Itachi's deadpan expression, emotionless, his Sharingan cold as frost, his voice flat and wooden, devoid of feeling.
"I cooperated with Danzo. I know his nature very well. He'll definitely dispose of tools after using them."
"Danzo can't be trusted. The Third can't be trusted. Everyone in the village is untrustworthy. The only thing I can rely on is sufficient strength."
"I already possess the Mangekyo Sharingan. If I add the Nine-Tails' endless chakra, I'll be invincible. Even the village won't be able to threaten me anymore."
"Is this reasoning so hard to guess?"
Damn it!
How could it be Itachi?
Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Ryoma exchanged glances, both frowning deeply.
Itachi was the village's renowned genius prodigy. They knew very well how formidable he was—not an enemy easily defeated.
However, as Root members, even at the cost of their lives, they must complete their mission.
Their gazes met, reaching silent understanding instantaneously.
Aburame Ryoma stepped forward several paces, blocking Yamanaka Fu behind him while making a gesture. His two teammates immediately lunged forward, forming seals simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A spark ignited, rapidly expanding into a massive fireball. The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, spreading swiftly, surging toward Yasushi like an overwhelming tide.
Blazing flames roared and churned through the air. Wherever they passed, vegetation instantly withered, the ground cracking under intense heat.
The composite jutsu's heat waves distorted distant scenery, as if the entire space was burning.
But Yasushi merely curled his lip dismissively. "Heh, boring tricks."
As a member of the Uchiha clan most skilled at Fire Release, he understood that most times, Fire Release served to obstruct enemy vision, conceal movements, or force opponents into position to control battle rhythm—not for direct damage.
But he had no interest in prolonged combat here. Quickly resolving this fight and rushing into the Land of Rain was the urgent priority.
Otherwise, Konoha's endless waves of pursuers could drag him to death within Konoha territory.
So he didn't dodge at all, instead rapidly forming seals and returning fire.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A fire dragon roared from his mouth, colliding head-on with the oncoming wind-fire composite jutsu.
The same jutsu used by different people could produce vastly different effects.
If Uchiha Yasushi were still an ordinary jonin, this jutsu clash would have completely crushed him.
But now possessing the Mangekyo, enhanced by formidable chakra, his Fire Release's power had multiplied countless times.
The fire dragon and fireball briefly contested before rapidly pushing toward the fireball's side.
The crimson fire dragon swelled several times after consuming the wind-fire composite jutsu. What had been overwhelming flames now completely aided Uchiha Yasushi. Scorching heat distorted the surrounding space.
The violent flame torrent swept over the Root members with overwhelming force. Wherever it reached, earth cracked, rocks melted, searing air waves raising layers of soil, everything consumed utterly.
The forest where they'd hidden moments ago rapidly ignited, emitting crackling explosions, sparks scattering like meteors.
The night sky stained crimson, billowing smoke rising like a monstrous beast, flames filling the heavens, black smoke permeating everything.
The high temperature ignited the air itself, forming a suffocating hellish inferno.
But Yasushi showed no carelessness. His three-tomoe eyes swept rapidly across the sea of flames.
This level of Fire Release couldn't kill jonin.
Indeed, a clear shout emerged from the blaze.
"Wind Release: Tornado Jutsu!"
A massive tornado suddenly erupted from the fire's center. Violent wind and flame chakra collided with deafening explosions. The rotating air currents forcibly tore open a gap in the flames, carving a passage through the inferno.
Then shadows flashed. Six figures broke through the fire field. Aside from some burn marks on their ninja attire making them look somewhat disheveled, they sustained no injuries.
Now!
Yasushi tapped his feet repeatedly, his body shooting out like lightning, becoming a streak of light leaving searing air waves in its wake, directly targeting Aburame Ryoma at the front.
In this flame-filled environment most hostile to insects, eliminating him first was the best strategy.
Aburame Ryoma, battle-hardened and prepared, calmly raised both hands. Swarms of insects poured from his sleeves.
The dark mass formed a moving curtain. Countless destruction beetles vibrated their wings with bone-chilling buzzing, pressing toward Yasushi like a death cloud.
"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!"
But the moment his insects appeared, Yasushi rapidly formed seals again, so fast only afterimages remained.
Scorching chakra quickly gathered in his throat. A close-range Fire Release shot from his mouth at high speed.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Poof!
The insect swarm instantly ignited, collision producing crackling explosions. Charred insects fell like rain, the air filling with the nauseating stench of burning protein.
After crushing through the swarm, the flame torrent's momentum didn't decrease, continuing to surge forward relentlessly like angry waves, completely engulfing Aburame Ryoma's figure. Brilliant white fire instantly illuminated the entire battlefield.
But after the flames passed, Ryoma's figure immediately transformed into a mass of black insects clinging tightly to the flames.
While emitting their final buzzing, these insects sacrificed their lives to secrete special mucus, extinguishing the flames and forcibly carving out a small safe zone in the fire sea.
"Tch, an insect clone!"
Uchiha Yasushi frowned. His eyes swept around but didn't spot Ryoma reappearing. He simply stopped searching and charged directly toward Ryoma's two teammates behind him.
The two held kunai, fully alert. Seeing the enemy charge, they simultaneously threw kunai forward while jumping aside.
His three-tomoe Sharingan swept once. Yasushi spotted explosive tags well-hidden behind the kunai.
Good tactics, but useless against Uchiha!
He casually deflected both kunai, letting the explosive tags detonate mid-air. But immediately spotted Yamanaka Fu, who'd been hiding behind the two.
Fu had already completed his seals, hands now pressed together at his chest in a heart-shaped seal, aimed directly at the charging Yasushi.
"Secret Technique: Mind Body Switch Jutsu!"
"Damn!"
Yasushi's heart jolted. His body suddenly stiffened, no longer under his control.
His left hand flung upward, throwing the Nine-Tails jinchuriki toward the opposite side. Simultaneously, from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a figure flash—the previously vanished Aburame Ryoma suddenly appeared, his wide sleeves sweeping out swarms of insects covering toward his body.