At the Akahane clan's compound, the Three-Clan Alliance and Kimei Takuya were carrying out a brutal, inhumane slaughter. The two Peak Jōnin took the lead, practically forming an overwhelming, crushing force against the defenders.
"Young Miss, we can't hold them off! Let the two of us escort you out of here first!" Akahane Hoshi said anxiously after slashing down an enemy Jōnin.
Akahane Yui's hands blurred through hand seals. Having been elevated by a full rank through the Divine Maiden Contract, she now possessed the strength of an Elite Jōnin. She unleashed streaks of crimson flames, blocking the paths of the advancing enemy experts.
"How long have we held out?" she asked calmly. In truth, she knew her side had zero chance of winning. However, before Xuan left, he had ordered her to resist for ten minutes. Even if she truly wanted to flee, her body wouldn't obey her. Of course, as long as she continued to resist, she still retained control over her own body.
"Seven minutes, Young Miss," Hoshi replied, not understanding why she was asking this.
"Oh? Isn't this Akahane Akira's precious daughter?" Casually unleashing a massive A-rank Ninjutsu, Kimei Takuya enveloped dozens of Akahane Genin in front of him with eerie blue ghost fire. They let out bloodcurdling screams as their skin shriveled and everything combustible on their bodies ignited, ultimately turning into charred skeletons that crashed heavily to the ground.
Kimei Takuya laughed bizarrely and charged toward Yui, his hands weaving seals. "Genjutsu: Ghost Eyes!"
Yui's entire body jolted. Suddenly, she felt the world warp and shift, transforming into a pitch-black void. All around her were countless terrifying, disembodied eyes. Being stared at by these gazes, a profound sense of terror surged from the depths of her heart. Her body stiffened, completely unable to move.
Abruptly, a burst of radiant light erupted from within her body. It was soft and holy, exactly the same light that had enveloped her when she fused with the Divine Maiden Contract. Washed over by this light, the ghostly eyes vanished completely. She was snapped back to reality, the deafening roars of battle once again filling her ears.
Hmm? She actually broke it? Kimei Takuya raised an eyebrow, highly perplexed that she could break his Genjutsu so easily. However, he didn't dwell on it. His side currently held an overwhelming advantage; no matter how he looked at it, victory was already his. He even thought to himself delightfully, That old geezer Akahane Akira looked plain, but he birthed quite a stunning daughter. I shouldn't strike too heavily. I'll capture her and take her back with me.
"Protect the Young Miss!"
Akahane Hoshi roared, charging forward alongside Akahane Horetsu. Their longswords drew two streaks of freezing light as they slashed straight at the Peak Jōnin.
"Annoying pests!" Kimei Takuya frowned, drawing the nodachi from his back to parry. The three of them instantly tangled together like three blurring black shadows, moving so fast they were indistinguishable from one another. Only the ceaseless clashing of steel and scattering sparks could be seen and heard.
Kimei Takuya was, after all, a full rank stronger than the two of them. Fearing that dragging the fight out would allow Yui to escape, he forced them back with a heavy slash and simultaneously wove hand seals. "Earth Style: Earth Burial Coffin!"
The ground beneath the two Elite Jōnin trembled violently. Infused with chakra, five slabs of earth became exceptionally hard, rising up to seal them inside. They looked exactly like two upright coffins.
"Hehehe. Akahane Yui, be a good girl and come back with this old man." Having temporarily trapped the two Elite Jōnin, Kimei Takuya laughed and charged at her.
Yui's face remained calm as she assumed a defensive stance. With my current strength, I should be able to hold out for a short while. As long as Hoshi and Horetsu break out, there is still a chance.
"I really love the expression on your face right now! Hahaha!" Kimei Takuya laughed boisterously. His nodachi slashed down toward her head, while his left hand reached out to grab her slender neck.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Suddenly, a raging, violent fire dragon tore through the air straight toward Kimei Takuya. Takuya hastily halted his advance and dodged it.
A black shadow descended from afar, landing squarely between the two of them. Under the pure white moonlight, the three tomoe in his eyes were clearly visible, eerie and demonic. "Old man, are you the one trying to take my maidservant back with you? Are you tired of living?"
Uchiha Xuan sneered coldly at Kimei Takuya the moment his feet touched the ground, the Ama-no-Murakumo Sword in his hand reflecting a blinding, freezing light.
"The Uchiha clan?!"
Seeing Xuan appear, Kimei Takuya's heart jolted with shock, and he subconsciously took a step back.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame Bomb!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
...
Suddenly, a massive barrage of Fire Style Ninjutsu rained down, linking together into an overwhelming sea of flames that bombarded the rear flanks of the Three-Clan Alliance and Kimei Takuya's forces. Three enemy Jōnin were killed on the spot.
One after another, Jōnin clad in Uchiha clan attire appeared on the battlefield. Xuan roared loudly, "Hear my command! The Akahane clan has already surrendered to me and become a subordinate clan of the Uchiha! Join forces with them now and slaughter every last person from the Three-Clan Alliance and the Ghost Fire Alliance!"
Amplified by chakra, his voice echoed across the entire battlefield. The Akahane clansmen, who had already fallen into complete despair, felt their spirits instantly invigorate. Although they didn't understand why they had suddenly become a subordinate clan to the Uchiha, it looked as though the Uchiha had come to save them. Finding a surge of strength from out of nowhere, their collapsing battle lines actually began to stabilize and push back.
"Stupid woman, speak up!" Xuan turned his head and reprimanded Yui, who was staring at him with absolute shock.
The moment Xuan appeared, Yui's mind buzzed as if a bomb had gone off. Through the unique telepathic connection of the Divine Maiden Contract with her master, she instantly recognized that Xuan was the black-cloaked 'Owl'. Although she had guessed 'Owl' was an Uchiha, she never imagined he would be this young. He looked like a mere child, twelve or thirteen at most!
At the same time, her mind flashed back to six years ago—the night the Twelve-Clan Alliance ambushed the Uchiha clan. She remembered the Uchiha boy genius she had encountered. In an instant, the two figures perfectly overlapped in her mind. It was undoubtedly the same person! Countless mysteries unraveled in her head. Owl's actions, Owl's ultimate goals... she instantly understood it all now. But... it was too late.
Receiving Xuan's reprimand, her body automatically reacted. Likewise amplifying her voice with chakra, she shouted, "All members of the Akahane clan, hear my command! I have already acknowledged Uchiha Xuan as my master! Counterattack alongside the Uchiha reinforcements! Do not let a single enemy escape tonight!"
Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. Stand here and don't move. Once I finish off this old bastard Kimei Takuya, we can have a nice, slow chat."
Even as he spoke, he had already raised his hand and hurled three kunai, shooting toward Kimei Takuya in a triangular formation.
Kimei Takuya was completely rattled by this rapid chain of unexpected events. He had just turned his head to see Hoshino Ren already engaged in a fierce, inescapable battle with another figure. By the time he snapped his attention back, the kunai were already in front of him. He swung his nodachi, deflecting the three kunai, but before he could make another move, a silhouette suddenly materialized right in front of him. A longsword radiating the chilling aura of death was already descending upon his head.
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