At that moment, Chiyu had already given "Kinoe" his final ultimatum.
An ultimatum comprised of just one word.
That word was: die.
"Kinoe's" face instantly changed drastically!
Yet he was hardly some nobody if he had earned Shimura Danzo's trust.
Though still young, he had been tested repeatedly within Root, possessing combat spirit and experience vastly beyond that of an average shinobi.
In the instant before Chiyu's words finished echoing, "Kinoe" launched a preemptive strike, activating his own Wood-Release secret arts.
"Wood Release: Great Spear Tree!"
In a flash, "Kinoe" swiftly formed seals, and from his arms, shoulders, and even his back, a multitude of wooden vines and branches shot forth like lightning, lashing toward Chiyu!
Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamakaze were seeing Wood Release with their own eyes for the first time, instantly shocked and curious.
Still, they felt no worry at all for their captain, Chiyu.
Because…
In their eyes, the captain was absolutely invincible, his victory certain against any foe.
Chiyu gave a scornful laugh. In the blink of an eye, a katana appeared in his grasp, crackling with dazzling, explosive lightning!
Zz—Zz—!
Humm—!
A fierce roar, as though ten-thousand birds cried out together—like tearing the very air itself to shreds!
Boom—!
With a single thunderous burst, Chiyu's Lightning Release: Blade of False Darkness easily hacked apart all the wooden vines, then explosively shattered them, leaving only drifting wooden fragments behind!
But at the same moment, the four Root members behind Kinoe charged straight at Chiyu.
Aoki and Yamakaze sneered:
"You lot think you can take on Captain?!"
Immediately, they dashed forward, two of them facing four Root shinobi together, and a fierce clash ensued!
Having endured trials before, both Aoki and Yamakaze had grown significantly in their visual prowess as well as in their will to fight.
Once an Uchiha's visual powers rise and the fighting spirit ignites, they can trample any foe of the same level—any foe.
Meanwhile, Chiyu himself had seemingly turned into a streak of lightning, racing downward with a thunderous crash. In his hand, the Blade of False Darkness struck brutally at "Kinoe!"
"Kinoe" responded quickly, slamming his palms on the ground.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
Bam, bam, bam!
Several sharp cracks rang out. Rows of wooden pillars erupted from the earth in an arched dome, sealing him inside as if forming an impenetrable fortress.
Yet…
Boom!
With a single shattering roar, everything collapsed like rotten wood, splintered to fragments that scattered in all directions!
Even Kinoe, who had been momentarily shielded by that Wood Locking Wall, felt the destructive aftershock of the Blade of False Darkness.
Though the blow grazed him by a hair's breadth, the exploding lightning tore open a gory hole in one of his legs, flesh and blood bursting outward—horrifying to behold!
Kinoe gritted his teeth, employing every last ounce of strength at the final moment to stomp backward, barely escaping with a severe wound on one leg that impaired his mobility.
His heart pounded with terror.
Facing this man was akin to facing a genuine demon, a Shinigami, a god of slaughter!
Such a terrifying battle prowess—coupled with a completely merciless, kill-or-be-killed fighting spirit—was unlike anything human!
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!"
"Water Release: Tearing Torrent!"
Despite his predicament, Kinoe's reflexes remained excellent, simultaneously launching Earth and Water ninjutsu, showing impressive tactical skill.
Instantly, countless rocky spear points erupted around Chiyu's feet, forming something like a forest of barbed lances, while a raging torrent of water roared forth like a high-pressure cannon aimed at him!
Chiyu showed nothing but disdain. The Blade of False Darkness slashed out, blowing all those sharpened earth spears to dust, then, with a casual sidestep, he effortlessly dodged the onrushing water blast.
In the next instant…
Chiyu's figure—like a spectral phantom or a crack of lightning—appeared behind Kinoe almost instantly, Blade of False Darkness thrusting forward!
His speed was so extreme it seemed like true teleportation!
Kinoe was stricken with horror, incapable of dodging in time.
Boom!!
A fierce explosion rang out, and electricity crackled violently.
Kinoe's entire chest cavity was pierced through—then the lightning exploded, leaving a giant void in his torso!
Yet…
Chiyu gave a cold sneer:
"Tricks of a small-time show-off."
What fell to the ground, riddled with lightning blasts, was just a complete wooden dummy, showering splinters everywhere.
It was Kinoe's Wood Clone, conjured just as he cast his Earth and Water ninjutsu, hoping to fool Chiyu.
Indeed, the Wood Clone was notoriously harder to distinguish from the real body than even Shadow Clones.
Back then, even Uchiha Madara had been deceived by Hashirama's Wood Clone, leading to his defeat.
But Chiyu had long since seen through it.
In terms of insight, he was by no means inferior even to Madara.
Having successfully tricked Chiyu—so Kinoe believed—he seized the chance to strike a finishing blow from behind:
"Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourishing Burial!"
Rumble…!
A towering tree abruptly erupted beneath Chiyu's feet, thick roots and vines spreading in an instant. The trunk swelled to several meters in diameter, with countless branches fiercely wrapping, winding, layering, binding him from every angle…
This technique forcibly suppressed chakra and power.
Soon, Chiyu's entire silhouette was swallowed up, leaving nothing visible.
"Captain!"
Aoki and Yamakaze, despite their deep faith in Chiyu, involuntarily let out alarmed shouts at this sight.
Kinoe panted heavily, clutching his hands in a seal:
"This is a Wood-Release secret that can seal away both chakra and strength.
"Uchiha Chiyu, even you can't break free so easily!
"Become mere nourishment for the land and trees!"
At once, Tree Bind Flourishing Burial surged its strength, utterly devouring Chiyu's figure…
Kinoe gasped for breath but still felt a sense of release—like his plan had succeeded.
The other Root members sneered grimly.
"You all underestimate Captain Kinoe's Wood-Release!
"After all, it's the God of Shinobi's technique!"
Yet in that exact moment—
Shhkk!
A sword—brilliant with crackling electricity—stabbed mercilessly from behind Kinoe, piercing him clean through the heart!
"Wh…at?!
"Captain Kinoe—!"
Kinoe's eyes went wide, blood draining from his face. He could feel the searing pain in his chest, the total numbness spreading. He wanted to speak but found it near impossible…
Straining, he angled his head slightly to see behind him:
"You… you… are…?"
"Just a simple Shadow Clone. Since you want to play tricks, I'll humor you a bit.
"And now… you die."
Boom!
In an instant, Blade of False Darkness exploded with lightning, blowing Kinoe's heart and his entire chest into fragments of flesh.
What remained was a hollow void.
He slumped to the ground, blood pouring out in torrents, staining the land scarlet.
He was dead.
The man known as "Yamato" would never come to be.
"Captain Kinoe—!"
the other Root members shrieked in anguish, but it did them no good.
Facing Aoki and Yamakaze, they had already lost their morale. Now, with Kinoe's death, they were wholly outmatched, forced into a desperate retreat.
Chiyu, seeing them attempt to flee, allowed Aoki and Yamakaze to continue pursuing, not intervening. He wanted to give the two of them more battle experience.
Sure enough, Aoki and Yamakaze swiftly overtook the fleeing pair, preparing to deliver the finishing blow. Just at that moment—
"Stop!"
A voice rang out from the entrance of the Root headquarters.
~~~
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