As the Uchiha shinobi charged into the ranks of the Kirigakure shinobi, a large-scale melee erupted. The Yuki clan's coordinated ninjutsu could no longer be maintained.
They did not possess the Tiger Unit's high level of mutual trust. There was no way they could believe the Kirigakure shinobi would protect them. They could only split up according to familiarity and personal ties, forming the most familiar three-man squads they could and joining the chaotic battle.
Once the Yuki clan shinobi entered the melee, the Kirigakure shinobi's coordinated ninjutsu naturally came to an end.
Uchiha Yoru immediately ended his own combined senjutsu as well, carefully sending the firestorm high into the sky. He did not dare disperse it directly. If it fell into the crowd, that would become a tragedy.
Right now, the Kirigakure formation was filled with Uchiha younger brothers fighting everywhere. If the firestorm went out of control, it would be far too easy to injure his own people.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
After carefully ending the combined ninjutsu, Uchiha Yoru blew the copper whistle again, ordering the ever-reserve Third Company and the logistics company to launch their attack.
As for himself, he took the lead and charged straight toward the core caster of the Yuki clan's coordinated ninjutsu.
Uchiha Yoru intended to keep this person here and snuff out the seed of Kirigakure's reform.
In the battle just now, the Yuki clan shinobi had been extremely eye-catching. Their discipline, organization, and execution were all excellent. No matter how one looked at them, they did not resemble the scattered Kirigakure shinobi at all. Instead, they seemed more like Iwagakure shinobi, who were known for discipline.
The other three hundred Kirigakure shinobi were completely different.
That familiar ferocity.
That familiar reckless madness.
They were the most authentic Kirigakure shinobi.
During the battle, the difference between the two sides had been like heaven and earth.
The Yuki clan's coordinated ninjutsu had clearly suppressed the Tiger Unit. If this group from the Yuki clan had also been present four months ago at Kubota Village, then that battle definitely would not have produced a kill count exceeding three thousand. Reaching five hundred would already have been remarkable.
Meanwhile, the ordinary Kirigakure shinobi had been unable to interfere from beginning to end. Only after the Tiger Unit charged into their ranks did they get involved—and then they were slaughtered like vegetables beneath a knife.
Traditional shinobi from the era of hidden villages like them had almost no combat effectiveness against the Uchiha's Tiger Unit. They were purely delivering heads.
If not for the existence of the Yuki clan, the Tiger Unit would not even have needed to charge. They could have wiped them out from afar with Fire Release.
A clear disconnect had appeared between the Yuki clan and the Kirigakure shinobi. They were like two entirely different organizations forcibly patched together.
Based on this, Uchiha Yoru judged that the Yuki clan shinobi represented an accidental breakthrough brought about by some genius, not a comprehensive reform of Kirigakure as a whole.
Generally speaking, even geniuses needed to undergo the test and feedback of practice before they could expand their understanding to a more comprehensive level. It was impossible for them to possess all-around understanding from the very beginning.
Unless that person was a transmigrator who came with their own system of knowledge.
Of course, a genius's talent might be extraordinary enough to approach divinity, allowing them to understand things comprehensively and thoroughly through intuition alone. But if they wanted to drive a group's breakthrough, they would inevitably be restricted by authority and could only proceed step by step.
In other words, since the Yuki clan was this powerful when it came to long-range coordinated ninjutsu, then they would inevitably be weaker in close-range melee combat.
After making that judgment, Uchiha Yoru decisively ordered the Tiger Unit to charge, dragging the enemy into a melee.
Sure enough, after the Yuki clan was forced into close combat, they instinctively adopted the three-man squad model. Under the Tiger Unit's impact, they were quickly reduced to fighting on their own.
Naturally, Uchiha Yoru locked onto his target.
This leader of the Yuki clan was definitely a pioneer of Kirigakure's innovation. After emerging during this great internal chaos, he had come to the battlefield to prove that his reform ideas were correct.
If he were allowed to return, he would become like a spark, igniting the flames of reform within Kirigakure.
Uchiha Yoru admired him greatly.
So he decided to kill him.
Another side's hero was his own enemy.
Since Uchiha Yoru had chosen the Uchiha clan of Konohagakure as his own nest, his position naturally fell with Konoha, and with the Land of Fire. Of course he could not accept the strengthening of Kirigakure and the Land of Water.
When the spark of Kirigakure's reform was exposed before him, he made his decision without the slightest hesitation.
…
Hotaru's hands moved like fluttering flowers as he rapidly formed hand seals, swiftly casting a ninjutsu.
Ice Release: Ice Swallows Soar Through the Sky.
His cheeks puffed out as he blew forth an extremely cold icy wind. The Ice Release chakra within the wind quickly took shape, forming one crystal-clear swallow after another, each with a forked tail.
The ice swallows spread their wings and soared, nimbly avoiding the Yuki clan shinobi while striking the Uchiha shinobi caught off guard, cutting bloody gashes into their bodies.
After hitting a target, the ice swallows would melt entirely into the wound, causing secondary frostbite. They could even freeze the wound directly.
When Uchiha Yoru charged over, he happened to see this scene, and his heart immediately trembled at the viciousness of this ninjutsu.
After a wound was frozen, it no longer bled. It no longer looked so hideous either. But in truth, the frozen cells had already had their cell walls pierced by micron-level ice spikes during the freezing process. They were completely necrotic.
Once the freezing melted, one would see the flesh rapidly rot. No matter how good a medical ninjutsu was, it could not treat such a wound. The entire affected area could only be dug out.
Hotaru's attack had created more than a dozen crippled members of the Tiger Unit who would have no choice but to retire. The destructive power was shocking.
Even Uchiha Yoru, who considered himself ruthless, could not help cursing.
"Damn. He looks like a great beauty, but turns out he's a vicious angel-faced devil. Go die."
Golden flames rose from Uchiha Yoru's hands. From more than a hundred meters away, he threw a straight punch toward Hotaru, whose long black hair was tied into a ponytail.
Naturally, his fist could not reach the enemy.
But the golden flame actually separated from his fist, maintaining the shape of a fist as it flew toward the target at extreme speed.
Fire Release: Incinerating Flame Fist.
Hotaru noticed this annoying attack. He extended his left hand, spread his five fingers, and frost instantly condensed into an ice-crystal mirror directly facing the direction of the flaming fist.
Ice Release: Demonic Ice Mirrors — Reversal.
Through the translucent Demonic Ice Mirror, Hotaru watched as the enemy fired four flaming fists in succession, then began charging along the path of the flame fists.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his rosy lips forming a refined curve.
Ice Release: Demonic Ice Mirrors — Reversal was not a defensive ninjutsu. It was a ninjutsu-reflection technique Hotaru had developed by referencing Yagura Karatachi's Water Release: Water Mirror Jutsu.
He could not reflect the enemy and copy the enemy to fight for him the way Yagura Karatachi did. But by combining it with the spatial ability of Ice Release's Demonic Ice Mirrors, he could directly absorb an enemy's ninjutsu and reflect it back exactly when necessary.
The improved Demonic Ice Mirrors — Reversal activated faster than the original Demonic Ice Mirrors, and its size could also be freely controlled.
The Demonic Ice Mirror in Hotaru's hand right now was a circular mirror only one foot and three inches in diameter. It looked like a small arm shield. He waved his arm flexibly, precisely aiming it at the flaming fist. When the mirror surface touched the flame, water-like ripples appeared, directly swallowing the flaming fist.
Then came the second.
The third.
Hotaru aimed the mirror at the fourth flaming fist, already preparing to return all four Fire Release ninjutsu to their owner at the same time.
According to his experience, if someone were attacked in an instant by several ninjutsu they had used themselves, even the caster would not be able to withstand it. They would be defeated in an instant, perhaps even killed outright.
Hotaru had already foreseen the enemy's death. His smile could not help becoming radiant, blooming like spring flowers, making the corner of Uchiha Yoru's eye twitch.
Damn sissy. You actually think you can bend this great lord? Go die!!
The golden flames around Uchiha Yoru's fists grew even brighter. Clearly, he had injected even more chakra and was prepared to launch a continuous attack.
But at the instant the fourth flaming fist touched the surface of the Demonic Ice Mirror, Hotaru's smile froze.
He felt the mirror in his hand change.
It went from cold and dry to scalding hot and dripping with water.
Hotaru looked down in horror and discovered that the Demonic Ice Mirror in his hand was spewing intertwined golden-red flames. The ice crystal was rapidly melting into water.
With the vessel of the ninjutsu damaged to this extent, the technique was naturally broken. The fourth flaming fist could no longer be absorbed. It smashed through the half-melted Demonic Ice Mirror, then struck Hotaru in the chest, piercing through his snow-white clothing and leaving a golden fist imprint on his body.
The shattered Demonic Ice Mirror could no longer restrain the flame fists it had swallowed earlier, nor did it have a mirror surface to release them from. The chakra forming the ninjutsu erupted, blasting the shattered ice crystals into fragments.
The explosive storm flipped Hotaru over.
While Hotaru was still spinning through the air, Uchiha Yoru relied on his Foundation Establishment-strengthened body and his resistance to flames to charge straight through the explosive fire, rushing right in front of him.
There was no nonsense.
No sentimental sigh about pitying beauty.
Uchiha Yoru swung both fists and struck Hotaru's body six times in succession, sending him flying far away.
After that instant of explosive exertion, Uchiha Yoru exhaled a long breath. His body went weak beyond his control, forcing him to half-crouch on the surface of the sea while gasping heavily.
He looked toward the enemy and said regretfully, "A pity. He intercepted three punches."
The flames on Uchiha Yoru's shoulder suddenly expanded. Miwa Masayo leapt out from within the fire, swinging her claws and using Sage Art: Pure White Claws. In an instant, she pounced on the three Yuki clan shinobi who had rushed up to take advantage of the situation, tearing them apart into shredded flesh scattered across the ground.
The tabby cat's ferocity made the other shinobi hesitate.
Only after confirming that no enemies were coming to ambush Uchiha Yoru again did she soften her body and lightly jump back onto the shoulder that belonged exclusively to her.
Miwa Masayo licked away the blood she had accidentally stained herself with and complained, "Yoru, aren't you supposed to be the most careful and cautious one, nya? Why did you suddenly take a risk? You scared me, nya."
"How was I taking a risk? Rika-chan was right beside me, wasn't she?"
"Nya?"
"With you there, I feel very reassured."
"Hmph, hmph. Yoru, you finally understand how amazing this cat is."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me, nya."
Having truly protected her litter-scooper and no longer being merely a support role, Miwa Masayo was extremely satisfied. She proudly puffed out her chest, her upright tail swaying happily.
As for the dangers on the battlefield, Miwa Masayo did not care in the slightest.
As long as Uchiha Yoru caught his breath, he was an invincible existence on this battlefield.
After all, he had already completely mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. With the help of marked kunai, he could play evenly with Miwa Masayo within a small area.
Even without using the Flying Thunder God Technique, relying purely on his body, Uchiha Yoru was still the strongest taijutsu shinobi here. Now that he had completely digested the results of the third stage of Foundation Establishment, his physical qualities had long since surpassed the category of ordinary shinobi.
By Uchiha Yoru's own estimate, he was already comparable to Might Duy after opening the Sixth Gate.
Of course, the future Might Guy would only need to open the Fifth Gate to completely crush him.
The reason Might Guy would be called Emperor Guy was because, on the foundation laid by his father, he took a great step forward and broke through the limits of human taijutsu.
In the future, with a mortal body, he would nearly slay a god.
Having accomplished such a feat, in Uchiha Yoru's eyes, calling him Emperor Guy was truly deserved.
With his powerful physical qualities, every movement Uchiha Yoru made carried immense force. As a result, his straight sword had already been destroyed during training.
It had only been a perfectly ordinary flourish, yet the custom weapon worth fifty thousand ryo had actually shattered.
In fact, that was not all.
During the process of adapting to his evolved body, even his backup ninja swords had been destroyed during practice. That left Uchiha Yoru with no weapon to use at the moment. He could only swing his fists at people.
Kunai and shuriken could still be used, but these little things were far too weak.
Any enemy a kunai could stab to death could also be killed by one strong punch from him.
Even Kaguya clan shinobi that kunai could not stab to death could still be hammered to death by his fists. Those he could not beat to death could be burned to ash with his golden flame fist imprints.
Since that was the case, Uchiha Yoru naturally used his fists to beat people.
The efficiency was the same anyway, and it saved trouble.
…
After taking six punches from Uchiha Yoru, Hotaru had already lost consciousness in midair.
As a shinobi of the Yuki clan, his physical defense was very average. Each of Uchiha Yoru's punches could break bone, driving his entire fist twenty centimeters deep into the body and directly transmitting destructive force into the internal organs.
Only after more than ten seconds did Hotaru regain consciousness.
He quickly discovered that he had completely lost all sensation below the waist. Enduring the intense pain, he examined his whole body. When he felt his broken lumbar vertebrae, despair surged up unstoppably.
He understood Kirigakure's level of medical ninjutsu very well.
Injuries involving damage to the main nerves could not be treated.
In other words, he was crippled.
Hotaru knew he was finished.
No matter how great his ambition was, no matter how vast his wisdom was, without strength, everything had lost meaning.
The Kirigakure shinobi would never submit to a cripple.
No matter how intelligent he was, it would not work.
This was decided by the traditions of the Bloody Mist, and it would not shift according to an individual's will.
Although Hotaru was an abnormal shinobi within Kirigakure, the policies of the Bloody Mist had affected him all the same.
Despair bred killing intent within his heart.
The thought of mutual destruction could no longer be stopped.
Ignoring the fact that his body was soaking in seawater, Hotaru formed hand seals with his still-movable hands and poured all of his chakra into this technique.
Ice Release: Ice-Crystal White Dragon.
Ice from the Demonic Ice Mirrors condensed around Hotaru's hands. The ice swiftly spread along both arms, freezing his chest, torso, and head, eventually extending past his broken waist and wrapping around his legs as well.
Even after his entire body was encased in ice, the freezing continued.
Endless seawater rapidly condensed into blue-white ice around his body under the effect of the extreme cold.
Even when Uchiha Yoru charged over and smashed down hard with a punch, sending broken ice shards flying everywhere, the rapid freezing process did not stop.
After several attempts, Uchiha Yoru discovered that he could not imprint his incinerating golden flame onto the ice. Only then did he confirm that this ice was different from the bones of the Kaguya clan. It did not belong to the human body system.
He knew that if he could not peel away this thick ice layer, he would be unable to complete the final two fist imprints and make Hotaru die from the incinerating flames.
Uchiha Yoru quickly took out his copper whistle and blew it, issuing an emergency retreat order to the members of the Tiger Unit.
He could already feel it.
This enemy's chakra was radiating death.
That flavor of extracting chakra without regard for anything else, causing cells to break down and die, proved that this extremely powerful shinobi was going all out with his life on the line.
Between whistle blasts, Uchiha Yoru also shouted loudly, "Retreat! Scatter and retreat! The enemy is risking his life!"
His voice was incomparably deep and resonant. Especially after being amplified with chakra, the tremendous sound wave was deafening, ensuring every Uchiha could hear him.
The Tiger Unit shinobi retreated in a rush.
When the Uchiha heard their leader's retreat order and looked up to see that huge freezing monster taking shape, they were not fools. Of course they knew something was terribly wrong. One by one, they ran faster than rabbits.
Fortunately, the Uchiha had held the absolute upper hand in battle. Their active retreat would not be obstructed by the enemy at the first moment.
But Kirigakure shinobi were still shinobi from one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Their strength could not be underestimated.
In the melee, the Tiger Unit's Uchiha held the advantage through organization. Although the Uchiha had fewer people, they could create situations where multiple allies fought one enemy during battle, and that was how they firmly suppressed the Kirigakure shinobi.
When retreating, however, that organizational advantage no longer existed.
The powerful Kirigakure shinobi seized the opportunity, clinging tightly to their opponents and even suppressing the Uchiha in return.
This was especially true for several thirteen-year-old Uchiha younger brothers. Their strength, taijutsu, and chakra had not yet fully developed, and their battle experience was quite lacking as well. After being held back by the enemy, they were soon caught in a Kirigakure encirclement and were about to die here.
Among the retreating Uchiha, several company commander-level cadres stopped.
They quickly formed a temporary four-man squad, preparing to rush into the enemy ranks and bring their younger brothers out.
At that moment, Uchiha Yoru's whistle rang out again.
He was emphasizing the order.
Retreat.
Uchiha Kazushi became uncertain. He looked toward the Tiger Unit's second-in-command.
"Shigenobu, what do we do?"
Uchiha Shigenobu's breathing grew heavy.
But in the next moment, he smiled.
"Quick. Catch the younger brothers. Once we catch them, we leave!"
Kazushi hurriedly turned his head. At first glance, he saw several younger brothers flying through the air.
Then he saw Uchiha Yoru charging left and right among the Kirigakure shinobi.
While blowing the copper whistle and issuing orders, Uchiha Yoru sprinted at full speed toward the trapped younger brothers.
No longer concealing his physical strength, Uchiha Yoru was like a steam train, madly crashing through the Kirigakure shinobi ranks. Any Kirigakure shinobi who dared block his path was struck with broken tendons and fractured bones.
Some unlucky ones were even sent flying high into the air, spinning like torn sacks before crashing heavily into the sea.
Some of those unlucky fellows were already dead while still in midair.
Uchiha Yoru smashed open the encirclements surrounding the Uchiha, grabbed the younger brothers one by one, and hurled them with force toward the company commanders' position. Very quickly, he rescued them all.
Uchiha Kazushi stared dumbfounded. He gazed blankly at the younger brothers flying through the sky until one of them crashed straight into his arms.
Uchiha Tadamichi struggled to catch one younger brother, only to have his entire body smashed into the seawater. After surfacing, he burst into loud laughter.
"As expected of Brother Yoru! He's seriously too amazing!"
The retreat whistle was still sounding.
The company commanders did not dare delay. Carrying the dizzy younger brothers on their shoulders, they turned and ran for their lives.
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