Chương 24: Intermission, In the Blink of an Eye
Forty-five years ago,
On the eve of Clan Head Uchiha Madara leaving the village, Young Uchiha Shana once asked him:
What must a person do to possess the power of a god?
Uchiha Madara gave him a cold glance and said: Do you also wish to dance?
Golden flames shattered through the sky, Igniting the writhing dome, with molten rubber burning and falling.
This scene reflected in Uchiha Jin's eyes, as if the firmament was flickering and stars were falling.
Yet he no longer had the strength to move.
He could only gaze up at the ever-enlarging falling fireball, his eyes slightly widening.
Suddenly—
A shadow leapt down and grabbed Uchiha Jin by the neck, tossing him onto a nearby stone platform.
Sizz—
The fireball struck the boiling spring, causing a large splash of sparks that scattered everywhere.
Uchiha Jin was momentarily stunned, gazing in shock at the Great Elder who appeared before him.
Uchiha Shana did not say much more, instead sweeping his gaze around the surroundings.
At this moment,
The volcano formed by the earth's upheaval was continuously drawing up the scalding boiling spring from underground.
The water level surged wildly, the air compressed, and it was evident that a world-shaking explosion was imminent.
He lifted his head, gazing at the burning dome with slightly squinted eyes.
Then, he formed hand seals and consecutively performed several Ninjutsu:
Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique, Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Several Fire Release techniques flew out and struck the dome, but only caused a violent shaking inside the volcano.
Uchiha Shana frowned slightly and stopped his actions.
Uchiha Jin looked at him with a face of astonishment, as if he had just seen a polar bear in the Antarctic Circle.
"Great Elder, how did you end up here??"
Before the barrier was thrown into the volcano, he clearly saw that Uchiha Shana was not within the range of the Hidden Cloud Ninja Dodai technique.
Uchiha Shana snorted coldly and said:
"Nonsense, of course I'm here to rescue you."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Jin was momentarily stunned. "Wait, Great Elder, you should…"
Uchiha Shana shook his head and calmly responded:
"According to what you said, I should retreat."
"I should fulfill my duty, go to the Valley of Hell to oversee matters, and prevent Hidden Cloud from causing trouble, to avoid massive losses to the clan."
He looked at Uchiha Jin's bloodied and cut-up body, with arms dislocated and hanging limply, and frowned slightly.
The battle damage was even more terrifying than that of a Ninja just coming off the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
Uchiha Shana's eyes flickered slightly as he exhaled deeply.
"But—"
"What about you?"
"Huh?" Uchiha Jin was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"Great Elder, stop joking. Compared to the clan, what value do I have to be saved?"
Uchiha Shana's gaze hardened as he said solemnly:
"I believe on you !"
Uchiha Jin's smile froze on his face.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shana closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He placed a hand on Jin's head and ruffled his disheveled hair, which had become tousled from the electrical surge.
When he opened his eyes again, a pair of crimson blood-red pupils lit up.
His gaze was calm but resolute.
"Jin, as you can see—" Uchiha Shana released his grip, took a step forward, and grasped the hilt of the sword.
"From the Warring States period to the present, this old body of mine should have long since embarked on its destined fate."
"Age has withered away, moving towards death."
"However,"
"I have spent my entire life mired in the dirty quagmire of power."
"And I have never, as my title suggests, experienced the fleeting yet brilliant moments that life should offer."
Uchiha Shana's gaze was stern,
"Until your appearance—"
"I know, this is the guidance given to me by the former Clan Head Uchiha Madara."
"I firmly believe now that this is the moment.!"
Uchiha Jin looked on in shock, seeing Uchiha Shana in such a sacrificial state, and couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety.
"No, wait, please, Great Elder, what are you talking about?"
"Do you think what you understand and what I understand are the same?"
"I'm not as noble as you think, I…"
Uchiha Jin was about to say something, but Uchiha Shana suddenly turned his head and smiled knowingly.
Then, his tone changed abruptly, becoming cold and indifferent as he said:
"I know—"
"You want to die."
"Since childhood, losing your parents, being bullied by the clan members, living in a quagmire, and finding the world utterly meaningless…"
"You've wanted to die for a long time."
Uchiha Shana squinted his eyes and sneered maliciously:
"But your desire to die is laughable."
"You want to wash away your shame, to die gloriously, to die as a Uchiha!"
"So—"
"I won't let you die."
Uchiha Jin opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but suddenly remembered.
His background seemed to match Uchiha Shana's description exactly, but the motives didn't align with what Uchiha Shana said at all!
It should be me who wants to die!
"Hmph." Uchiha Shana snorted coldly, his expression one of arrogance and obstinacy: "I have my own judgment."
"Then next…"
Uchiha Shana apathetically looked at the boiling spring about to erupt beneath him, slowly drew his longsword, and coldly declared:
"Watch carefully, you little rascal."
"I will use the Uchiha Clan's secret S-rank forbidden Kenjutsu technique—"
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Jin was stunned.
He wondered if, besides Fire Release, Shuriken, and giant mecha battles, the Uchiha Clan had such a thing?
An S-rank Kenjutsu technique? How many does Konoha even have?
While Uchiha Jin was lost in thought, No one expected it, Uchiha Shana suddenly leaped backwards, and struck the back of Uchiha Jin's head with the hilt of his sword.
The blow was like a heavy hammer, causing Uchiha Jin to see stars and collapse to the ground.
"Damn it, you… you old bastard, playing dirty!"
Uchiha Jin couldn't help but curse as darkness fell before his eyes, and he fainted into unconsciousness.
However, vaguely, he heard Uchiha Shana's final cold sneer:
"Just like this, harbor your hatred towards me! Resent me! And then,no matter how ugly you are, live on."
Then, with a leap!
In his dazed state, Uchiha Jin seemed to see a blaze that suddenly illuminated the entire volcano.
A vague figure wielding a colossal flaming sword,
With a gentle swing, the volcano immediately collapsed and shattered.
As if a deity!
Then, he heard a splash, as if something had fallen into the boiling sea about to erupt.
Then, consciousness fell into a haze of darkness.
At that moment, a voice of innate reporting sounded in Jin's mind.
[Dang!]
[You bravely retaliated against your mocking enemy, who has already died and cannot rebut.]
[The retaliation was substantial, resulting in a critical hit.]
[You have gained a random skill from the opponent: Deathmatch Barrier (Proficient, A)]
[Skill has been critically hit, current attribute: Ultra Deathmatch Barrier (Mastery, S)]
[The level of your Heart of Steel has increased.]
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