Chapter 306: Assassination Declaration, Crisis Returns, Akatsuki Assembles!
Amid the silence that followed the most brutal and savage display of power—
Suddenly—
"Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!~"
A deep, oppressive laughter descended from the sky, echoing through the battlefield.
Everyone looked up—
And saw—
Uchiha Ci standing atop the Four-Tails' shoulder, his head and face drenched in blood, his expression twisted like a vengeful demon.
At this moment, he threw his head back, covering part of his face with one hand. The golden snake-like pupils peeking through his fingers gleamed with a chilling light as he scanned his surroundings, like a predator still unsatisfied, brimming with rage as he declared:
"Too weak!"
"Too weak!"
"Too weak!"
"You worthless beasts are so weak that I can't even summon the slightest battle intent!"
A brief silence followed.
Uchiha Ci exhaled deeply, his icy gaze sweeping over the battlefield before finally landing on the trembling, enraged yet silent Killer Bee.
He let out a mocking chuckle.
"Fine, I'll spare your life!"
"Listen well—"
"Etch my words into your heart, and pass them on to the cowardly rats hiding in the shadows!"
The golden snake pupils in his eyes abruptly focused into sharp slits, revealing his murderous intent!
He raised his hand and pointed toward the only structure still standing within the inner city—a partially destroyed secondary keep of the castle.
"In six days—"
"I will arrive at the Five Kage Summit in person—"
"And personally behead the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning and the Third Raikage!"
The words fell.
Silence.
Such an audacious assassination declaration—
Yet no one dared to refute him!
All eyes were on the young man standing atop the headless Tailed Beast—
Some tense, some horrified, some trembling, some burning with fighting spirit, some satisfied, some calculating—
Countless gazes converged on one point.
However—
While everyone was already convinced that Uchiha Ci was an unstoppable force of nature and awaited his grand departure—
Uchiha Ci's expression twitched.
He stubbornly locked eyes with the countless ninja below.
The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
At this moment, his body trembled slightly as he instinctively glanced downward at the 70-meter drop beneath his feet. His vision darkened for a moment, and he swallowed hard.
His "macho experience" was expiring after just half a minute, as an overwhelming sense of weakness surged through his body.
Natural energy exhausted, chakra depleted, stamina at its limit—he was completely drained.
Right now, even an ordinary Jōnin could easily take his life.
Seventy meters… That's about the height of a 25-story building…
If he jumped from this height in his current state, he'd probably become a puddle of Uchiha Ci sauce on impact.
Faced with this undeniable reality, Uchiha Ci had to acknowledge a pressing issue—
Wait a second.
How the hell am I supposed to get down?!
Guys… could you stop staring at me?!
With everyone watching, if I don't make a dramatic exit, it'll ruin the whole moment!
I really don't want to be seen crawling down like some pathetic insect!
The wind on this rooftop is so strong and cold… I'm shivering here!
Where are my teammates? Someone come help me out!
Uchiha Ci licked his dry lips and instinctively glanced at Mei Terumi, who was staring at him with sparkling, infatuated eyes—so enthralled that it looked like she was about to drool.
He shot her a glare, full of frustration.
Hey, you lovestruck idiot—move!
But at that moment—
"BEE!!!"
A frantic, urgent cry suddenly rang out!
In the next instant, a streak of lightning shot toward them from the distance.
A tall, muscular young man with dark skin, short blond hair, and the standard attire of Kumogakure landed beside Killer Bee's battered, half-destroyed face.
It was none other than the son of the Third Raikage and future Fourth Raikage—A!
At this moment, seeing his brother in such a miserable state, A's expression turned as dark as a stormy sky, his fury palpable.
He raised his head in anger—
And took in the scene—
The ruined city, flames and molten rock still smoldering across the battlefield, the vast walls and palaces reduced to rubble, the land itself severed as if by a giant blade—
And the boy standing atop the 70-meter-tall, headless Tailed Beast.
When those indifferent golden snake-like eyes swept toward him—
A shudder ran through his entire body.
A suffocating chill crawled up his spine, as if he were being swallowed by a pitch-black abyss of terror.
The icy gaze (which A imagined was full of malice) instantly froze his previously burning rage, causing his breath to hitch.
"W-What happened here?"
"That guy… Is he Uchiha Ci?!"
A's heartbeat pounded violently, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as his body tensed.
At that moment—
Killer Bee, lying battered on the ground, suddenly reached out and grabbed A's pant leg, his face full of tension.
"Big bro… don't act recklessly!"
He was terrified that A would let his anger get the best of him—
And rush headfirst into battle against this monster in human form.
After their fight, Killer Bee had developed a deep, instinctual fear of Uchiha Ci in his current state.
Now—
Seeing those golden snake eyes still glowing ominously—he dared not make a single move.
And as far as he knew, their father, the Third Raikage, was bound to the Daimyō's side at all times and wouldn't be in Yunming City.
Even though A had arrived in time—he wasn't strong enough to defeat this monster.
Meanwhile, the hidden shinobi observing from the ruins suddenly understood something.
They had wondered why Uchiha Ci hadn't left yet.
Now they realized—
He was waiting for A.
In an instant, everyone's eyes returned to Uchiha Ci.
At that moment—
Standing atop the Four-Tails, Uchiha Ci's heart sank. Cold sweat drenched his forehead as his jaw tightened and his muscles twitched uncontrollably.
No way…
I was just about to jump toward Mei Terumi…
And now another bird-brain shows up?!
Am I cursed?!
His expression twisted slightly as he glanced warily at A, hoping the brute wouldn't act on impulse and see through his now-exhausted state.
But—
As the saying goes, whatever you fear most tends to happen.
From the ruins, a spiky-haired shinobi with green face paint suddenly appeared.
Forming a Ram seal with his hands, he ran toward A and Killer Bee, shouting:
"BEE! LORD A!"
"That brat—he has no chakra left!"
"His current appearance is just an act!"
A and Killer Bee froze.
They turned sharply toward the newcomer.
"Motoi?!"
Motoi—the Cloud Village's sensory ninja.
His words sent a shockwave through their minds.
"Are you sure?!"
Motoi nodded firmly.
"There's no doubt! I've been sensing him this entire time!"
"I don't know how he pulled off those last few attacks, but right now—"
"Even if we do nothing, he'll pass out on his own!"
"That feeble chakra signature doesn't lie!"
A and Killer Bee's eyes flashed with cold killing intent.
"Damn it!"
"That brat actually dared to deceive us!"
Killer Bee gritted his teeth, tilting his head back to glare at Uchiha Ci.
"As always—he reeks of deception!"
A's expression darkened.
He raised his arm and locked eyes with his brother.
"Can you still move?"
Killer Bee nodded heavily, struggling to support his nearly paralyzed body, which had been shattered by a single punch from Uchiha Ci. He extended his fist, clashing it against A's!
"This wicked Uchiha brat is far too dangerous! We must end him—"
"Kill him!"
Their fists collided, and at that moment, their thoughts became one. They both raised their heads, locking onto Uchiha Ci with murderous intent burning in their eyes!
Meanwhile—
The moment Motoi's shout echoed through the ruined inner city, countless startled gazes turned back toward Uchiha Ci.
On the city wall—
Mei Terumi's delicate face instantly changed.
Just a moment ago, she had been wondering why that idiot was still standing atop the Four-Tails' shoulder, striking a pose.
Now she understood—he had reached his limit!
Of course!
After consecutive battles against five powerful opponents, and before that, unleashing that terrifying chakra colossus within the Daimyō's son's palace—
Even with all the chakra in the world, Uchiha Ci, who no longer had a Tailed Beast, should have been completely drained by now!
Mei Terumi's heart tightened. Without hesitation, she prepared to leap forward and rush to Uchiha Ci's side.
However—
A pale arm suddenly extended in front of her, blocking her path!
"Mei Terumi, you can't go!"
Hozuki Mangetsu, barely able to stand, gripped the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei on his back, his face pale and weak as he stopped Mei Terumi.
Then, he raised his hand and pointed at Uchiha Ci, who stood atop the Tailed Beast's shoulder, his lips pressed tightly together in helplessness.
He pointed at the forehead protector on Uchiha Ci's head—one that had been slashed through with a single horizontal cut.
"Look closely—he is now a rogue ninja!"
"And just moments ago, he uttered such an outrageous assassination declaration!"
"From this moment on, whether he follows through or not—"
"The Five Great Nations, the smaller nations, the entire shinobi world will place him on the wanted list!"
"To be involved with him… means throwing away your future!"
Hozuki Mangetsu coughed violently, his face resolute as he stared Mei Terumi down and spoke coldly:
"I know this is cruel. I also know that you two have feelings for each other."
"But—"
"This is reality!"
Hearing his rapid, relentless words, Mei Terumi's expression darkened instantly. A vein throbbed on her forehead as she glared at Hozuki Mangetsu, her voice sharp with fury:
"At a time like this, who the hell cares about all that!?"
"Hozuki Mangetsu—"
"Get out of my way!"
Hozuki Mangetsu took a deep breath, his stance firm as he spoke with solemn resolve:
"No chance!"
"Mei Terumi, don't forget the great cause you're fighting for, the promise you made to me! To abandon the village's future for this guy—"
"I will never allow it!"
Mei Terumi's fair, delicate face instantly turned ice-cold. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in anger, her slender brows arched sharply. Just as she was about to act and force her way through—
Suddenly—
Hozuki Mangetsu spoke again, his voice filled with unwavering determination:
"That's why—you can't go!"
"I'll go!"
"I'll be the one to save him!"
Hearing this utterly absurd statement, Mei Terumi's expression froze.
It was as if someone had just smacked her over the head with a wooden club.
She stared blankly at Hozuki Mangetsu, utterly dumbfounded, as if looking at a complete idiot.
What the hell kind of logic is that?!
Because I can't become a rogue ninja, you're going to become a rogue ninja instead?!
You're going to save Uchiha Ci and throw your lot in with this guy who supposedly has no future?!
Wait—whose side are you even on?!
"For the village's sake, Uchiha Ci is a valuable asset—especially now that he's become a rogue ninja!"
Hozuki Mangetsu curled his lips into a sly smirk, standing tall as he patted Mei Terumi's shoulder like an elder offering guidance.
"Relax, until I've settled things with that guy—"
His lone violet eye flashed with burning battle spirit as he declared—
"I won't let him die before me!"
With that—
Hozuki Mangetsu bent his knees, ready to launch himself off the broken city wall.
However—
Just as he was about to leap—
A figure beat him to it!
Before A and Killer Bee could charge toward Uchiha Ci—
From the rubble, someone suddenly sprang forward, landing in front of the Four-Tails!
The newcomer wore a stylish pair of square sunglasses, donned traditional shinobi attire from a bygone era, and had short, ashen-gray hair.
Behind the sunglasses, bloodshot red eyes gleamed with cold intensity.
It was none other than Uchiha Ci's lost, perpetually misguided teammate—Yuyashiro Homura!
The moment he heard Uchiha Ci utter such a bold, inescapable declaration in front of the Cloud shinobi—
Yuyashiro Homura recognized him.
Now—
"So, you want to kill my business partner?"
Yuyashiro Homura stood calmly in front of the Four-Tails, narrowing his sinister Blood Dragon Eyes. He sneered at A and Killer Bee, his voice laced with mockery:
"Did you ask me first?"
"This guy… who is he?"
A's expression tensed as he stared at Yuyashiro Homura, his brow furrowing.
But—he didn't think much of him.
With Killer Bee by his side, their combination—A and B—was nearly unbeatable in the shinobi world!
However—
Just as A was about to ignore Yuyashiro Homura and launch his attack—
His words acted like the firing shot of a signal flare!
The very next moment—
Powerful chakra waves surged through the air as multiple hidden figures, lurking in the ruined inner city, sprang into action!
The first to emerge—
A towering figure with dark green eyes, clad in a long black cloak that covered his entire body.
A rogue ninja from Takigakure—Kakuzu!
Right behind him—
A red-haired young man, draped in a black robe, his face indifferent as if nothing in the world could faze him. He leaped down from the city wall, landing in front of the Four-Tails with quiet elegance.
The former prodigy of Sunagakure—Sasori of the Red Sand!
"Kakuzu, Sasori?"
A's eyes narrowed, his wariness deepening.
However—
After taking a deep breath, his gaze turned cold and resolute.
He had already steeled himself for a desperate battle!
"Even if it's the two of you—you won't stop us from killing Uchiha Ci today!"
Yet—
As if in response to his words—
A crisp, confident voice suddenly rang out from the Four-Tails' front!
In the next moment—
Three figures, draped in black cloaks adorned with red clouds, abruptly materialized—
Alongside an enormous, chameleon-like summoning beast!
"Then—"
"What about the five of us?"
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