Uchiha Koku, who called himself Tobi, shook his head and looked at the crowd below with a half-smile.
He didn't recognize anyone except Asuna, Mizuki, and Uchiha Ken, and he wasn't interested in getting to know them.
Only Fujimura Yuuki, as the reincarnation of Ashura, held some importance, but the people he truly valued had always been these three.
Among them, Uchiha Ken, the reincarnation of Indra, was a crucial part of the plan and someone he needed to protect.
As for the other two, they were people he despised.
Although the soul in this body wasn't the real Uchiha Koku, the residual memories of Uchiha Koku became its entirety due to the soul being almost ignorant and insensible.
Naturally, it inherited Uchiha Koku's disdain for the Uchiha Kagami lineage, and the descendants of Fumori Masaki, who prevented its birth back then, were also thorns in its side.
Even if it was just a subconscious impression, Uchiha Koku also disliked Fumori Masaki, which further intensified this aversion.
Uchiha Koku planned to retaliate against Fumori Masaki while executing his plan, which was why he assisted the Daimyo in curbing the Hidden Leaf Village.
It was for the plan, but also for revenge.
However, in the previous exchange, Uchiha Koku was slightly surprised by the strength of the two.
It seemed that their survival in the Shinobi World War wasn't just luck; they indeed possessed real strength.
The old Uchiha Koku might not have been able to win against them.
But now, Uchiha Koku possessed the ability to absorb others' negative emotions and convert them into chakra, and he had also awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, causing his confidence to surge unprecedentedly.
He didn't believe these two girls could defeat him.
Of course, in ninja battles, pure strength isn't the only deciding factor, but the genjutsu stored within Uchiha Koku's Mangekyo Sharingan could guarantee his safety.
Even if Fumori Masaki himself came, he might not be able to stop him.
At the same time, the people below were also pondering the opponent's intentions.
After a while, Mizuki stepped forward and loudly said, "Is that why you launched an attack in broad daylight?!
If something went wrong, innocent people could get caught in the crossfire."
Asuna's reason for stopping Mizuki from using ninjutsu to counterattack was her concern that the clash of ninjutsu would involve the surrounding people, which was why she chose that tactic.
Mizuki understood Asuna's intention.
As the daughter of the ANBU Captain, she also knew what kind of casualties powerful ninjas fighting without restraint could cause.
In the Hidden Leaf Village, ninjas were forbidden from engaging in actual combat on the streets.
It was precisely because of this that she was so angry at Uchiha Koku's actions.
"You are Guardian Shinobi, aren't you? If you can't even protect civilians, how can you protect the safety of Lord Daimyo?" Uchiha Koku replied leisurely.
In his eyes, civilians didn't exist, and he wouldn't care about them at all.
Rather, deep down, he even wished for as many civilians to die as possible.
After all, civilians caught in the crossfire would definitely generate intense resentment, which Uchiha Koku's special ability could absorb and convert into his own power.
"What kind of twisted logic is that?!" Mizuki immediately became furious.
"Twisted logic or not, if you have any complaints, you can appeal to Lord Daimyo." Uchiha Koku patted the dust off his clothes and said, "I have faith in the strength of you Leaf ninjas, but it seems you don't seem very confident in your own strength, not even having the confidence to protect the people around you."
"That's not the point at all!" Mizuki angrily flung her hand, and just as she was about to step forward, Asuna reached out and stopped her.
"So, what's your test result?" Asuna asked.
"It was just a preliminary test.
The official test will have to wait until the Guardian Shinobi assemble." Uchiha Koku looked at Asuna. "I'm looking forward to your performance.
See you again."
With that, Uchiha Koku used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.
After Uchiha Koku left, the atmosphere on the scene finally relaxed.
"What a jerk! This guy is actually the leader of the Guardian Shinobi.
I really don't know what the Daimyo is thinking." Mizuki put her hands on her hips, her face full of dissatisfaction.
"If I wasn't afraid of the battle escalating too much, I really would have gone up there and taught him a lesson!"
"This person is very strong, Mizuki.
You might suffer if you go alone.
Although his character isn't great, his strength is indeed sufficient to lead the Guardian Shinobi," Asuna replied.
"This guy named Tobi is the one who proposed the Guardian Shinobi idea, right?
I wonder what his background is." Fujimura Yuuki looked at the fragments of the earth wall and the remains of the Earth Dragon Bullet on the ground.
He was a ninja skilled in Earth Release, so he clearly understood how high the opponent's Earth Release level was.
"Currently, it seems he's skilled in Earth Release.
I wonder if there's any other information," Shino Aburame said quietly.
"Besides Earth Release, he should also be proficient in Wind Release." Asuna raised her sword and said, "He was able to block my powerful strike just now without damaging his blade.
Unless that scythe is some kind of divine weapon, he must have used a similar Wind Release to defend."
"He also has high genjutsu resistance.
He was actually able to dispel my genjutsu in an instant; he's truly impressive," Mizuki chimed in, taking over Asuna's words.
"So, he's skilled in Wind Release and Earth Release, can master two chakra natures, and has genjutsu resistance.
His strength is at least Jonin level," Uchiha Ken concluded.
"This is just my feeling, but his strength should be more than that.
He definitely has a bigger mystery," Asuna said, looking at where Uchiha Koku had been earlier.
She had been closest to Uchiha Koku just now, and her senses, sharpened by her Senjutsu training, made her feel a chill, as if immersed in an ice spring.
This person was permeated with such an aura.
Everyone looked at the earth spikes, which were very dense.
On the surface, it clearly looked like he intended to seriously injure or even kill his opponents, with no intention of holding back.
They didn't believe Uchiha Koku's claim of it being a test, agreeing with Mizuki's judgment that this guy was definitely an enemy and harbored deep hostility towards the Leaf ninjas.
"It seems the village was right to tell us to be careful of this guy.
After we enter the Daimyo's mansion later, who knows how this guy will make things difficult for us.
Everyone, please be careful, especially Asuna and Mizuki.
This guy specifically targeted you two, obviously thinking you're soft touches because you're girls and can be easily manipulated," Fujimura Yuuki said.
"Hmph, if that guy thinks that, he's wrong.
It's no longer the Warring States Period; female ninjas can also hold up half the sky.
If he dares to come, I'll make him understand why flowers are so red, right, Asuna?" Mizuki rubbed her fists together, then looked at Asuna.
"Ah, mm." Asuna seemed to be thinking about something.
Hearing Mizuki's words, she snapped out of it and nodded, but in her heart, she wondered if that guy's reason for targeting her and Mizuki wasn't just because they were girls and seemed easier to bully.