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[NTU] [ARC-18] Chapter : 228
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 11:03:54 +0000 UTC"According to the communications squad, the battle on that side is still raging. Uchiha Shisui has stayed behind alone to hold off the elite Kirigakure forces!"
"As expected," Danzo remarked without a trace of surprise.
He had anticipated Shisui’s decision to stay behind and cover his teammates’ retreat. As someone deeply hostile to the Uchiha clan within Konoha, Danzo was intimately familiar with their tendencies and mentality.
The Uchiha always carried an air of arrogance, believing in their ability to handle everything themselves. This situation was no different.
"Their forces have encircled Shisui. I’m concerned about his chances..."
"There's no need to worry," Danzo interjected confidently. "With the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, those Mist Ninjas won’t be able to contain him."
Danzo’s subordinates, still young and inexperienced, clearly underestimated the true power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. For Shisui, dealing with a group of Mist Ninjas who had come ashore was far from being a challenge. Trapping him was an impossibility.
"The Mist Ninja negotiation team is also en route to the battlefield," the hawk-masked subordinate added, sensing no concern from his leader about Shisui’s predicament.
Danzo waved it off dismissively. "Pay them no mind. If they survive, kill them. They’re nothing more than worthless trash. Whether they’re disposed of or sent to the lab as experimental fodder, it makes no difference. They don’t deserve any of my attention."
Turning his gaze forward, Danzo gave his next command. "Keep following the Konoha team ahead. Our task is simply to stay close behind them."
He knew Shisui too well. Having just signaled his teammates and now surrounded by those he considered allies, Shisui would undoubtedly stall the Mist Ninja troops and eventually regroup with his comrades.
All of this was proceeding according to Danzo's meticulous calculations.
“Deploy personnel to monitor the Mist Ninja forces once Shisui makes his escape,” he ordered coolly.
Since the Mist Ninjas had dared to venture into the Land of Fire, Danzo had no intention of letting them leave alive. Whether Uchiha Madara might object was of no consequence to him.
After all, their alliance was far from genuine—it was a relationship built on mutual exploitation. Concerns about Madara’s opinion were simply unnecessary.
“Should we... focus on the primary objective first?” a subordinate in a dog-faced mask hesitantly asked. “I’m worried dividing our attention could lead to failure on both fronts.”
For this mission, every elite member of the Root had been mobilized. If they became distracted by targeting the Mist Ninjas, it could leave the operation vulnerable to unforeseen complications.
Danzo said nothing, but the underlying tension in his presence was enough to convey the potential consequences of failure. The ominous history of missions gone awry loomed large in the minds of the assembled team—no one who returned empty-handed ever met a good end.
“It’s not a major issue. Those Mist Ninjas won’t abandon their mission so easily. When the time comes, they’ll definitely tail Shisui.”
Danzo paused, resting his weight on his cane as he considered the situation. He was well-acquainted with the tenacity of the Mist Ninjas, knowing they wouldn’t easily relinquish their mission. At the same time, he was confident that Shisui, armed with the Mangekyō Sharingan, could evade them if necessary.
“We’ll deal with Shisui first, then turn our attention to the Mist Ninjas,” he stated firmly.
Priorities had to be clear. Compared to the invaluable Mangekyō Sharingan in Shisui’s possession, a handful of Mist Ninjas were insignificant.
His real concern, however, was Uchiha Madara. If that man became aware of the secrets hidden within Shisui’s eyes, would he attempt to seize the Mangekyō for himself?
This very possibility was why Danzo had brought such a large force with him. The stakes were too high for even the slightest misstep.
Trailing a considerable distance behind Ishii and his team, Danzo received updates from his subordinates while meticulously planning his next move.
Just capturing Uchiha Shisui wasn’t enough to satisfy his ambitions.
With the Mangekyō Sharingan in Shisui’s possession, Danzo could solidify his leverage against the Uchiha clan. Once that was accomplished, a wealth of Sharingan eyes would fall into his grasp, ripe for his use.
With the power of Izanagi at his disposal, what limits could possibly bind him?
—
“So this is the power of the Uchiha?”
Shrouded in emerald mist Mei’s eyes widened in astonishment as she scrutinized the skeletal chakra framework enveloping Shisui.
It was this very ability that had caught them off guard earlier. If they hadn’t swiftly used ninjutsu to block it, their companions would likely have ended up as lifeless bodies.
“It’s truly a technique that perfectly combines offense and defense,” Mei observed, her eyes narrowing at the skeletal structure encasing her opponent. She recalled how the skeletal arm had materialized moments ago—strong enough to withstand her acid mist while delivering swift, powerful attacks.
“That’s only because your acid mist is incredibly difficult to counter,” Shisui replied evenly. “If I didn’t rely on this jutsu, I wouldn’t be able to hold my ground for long against you.”
The acid mist was relentless, far too corrosive to handle with chakra alone for an extended period.
“And my eyes…” Shisui continued, glancing at Mei, “If exposed to this mist for too long, even they wouldn’t escape unscathed.”
“Eye Power Jutsu?” Mei remarked, skillfully controlling a stream of water to carry her injured companions out of the corrosive acid mist. Her tone was firm as she continued, “Even if you use your trump card, I won’t let you escape. You’d better abandon that idea!”
The injured teammates were no longer able to endure the harsh effects of the acid mist, but with plenty of reinforcements at her disposal, replacements quickly stepped in to fill the gaps.
“It seems… You won’t let me leave here unless I show you what I’m truly capable of,” Shisui said, his gaze sharp and unyielding.
As he surveyed the acidic fog and felt the toll it was taking on his Susanoo, he realized he had no choice but to escalate. If he didn’t act decisively, there would be no way to shake off Mei—or the Mist Ninjas lying in wait beyond.
"Stay alert, everyone!"
Standing near a vast green mist spanning nearly 100 meters in diameter, Ao, using his Byakugan to monitor the battlefield, suddenly issued a stern warning.
His expression, already pale from blood loss, darkened further, a faint bluish hue creeping into his face. The change did not go unnoticed, heightening the tension among the Mist Ninjas. All eyes turned warily toward the swirling acid mist ahead, their caution sharpening.
“It’s coming!”
Ao’s shout cut through the tense silence as his gaze locked onto the ominous movements within the mist.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
No sooner had he spoken than a barrage of emerald green projectiles—chakra condensed into physical forms—erupted like a relentless storm, hurtling toward them with lethal speed.
The emerald projectiles instantly engulfed Ao and the Mist Ninjas beside him.
Before they could fully recover from the onslaught of concentrated attacks, the green acid mist ahead began to churn violently, as though disturbed by an unseen force.
Then, suddenly—
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the battlefield, shaking the earth beneath their feet. Moments later, several Mist Ninjas were hurled out of the mist, their forms battered and disheveled.
"Mangetsu! Kaito! Get over there and support Mei!"
A shaken Mist Ninja, barely managing to steady himself after landing, barked orders without sparing a glance at the pale, anxious faces of his comrades. His attention turned to Mangetsu Hozuki, who had paused to catch his breath, and Kaguya Kaito.
“Take more people with you!” he added urgently, his tone heavy with worry, and his expression more serious than ever before.
“Damn it!”
Mangetsu and Kaito exchanged a quick glance, determination flashing in their eyes, before charging into the dense fog, their clansmen following closely behind.
The heavy mist conjured by Mei Terumi spared no one, friend or foe. Yet, judging by the tremors and distant sounds of chaos, it was clear that the situation within had reached a critical point. There was no time to hesitate.
“What the—?”
The moment Mangetsu stepped into the mist's range, his chakra-coated skin braced against its corrosive effects, and a massive figure began to take shape in the haze. His bloodied face twisted in confusion and urgency as he tried to discern what lay ahead.
Before he could focus, a colossal, charred boulder—nearly three meters long and wide—hurtled toward him.
Boom!
The ground quaked violently as the boulder crashed, sending a plume of water spraying into the air.
Comments
Jose Miranda
Thanks for the chapter
