"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Kurozawa Ren's hopes were clearly in vain. The enemy instantly sensed his position, and a massive fireball incinerated the large tree behind him.
Rolling sideways, Kurozawa evaded the attack just in time. An Uchiha clansman clad in black emerged from the smoke, and more were approaching fast behind him.
I have to eliminate one first… or this will spiral out of control.
Kurozawa's gaze sharpened. The Uchiha before him didn't have activated Sharingan—clearly a lower-ranking ninja. In this situation, reducing the number of enemies was his only way out. Otherwise, he'd be overwhelmed in no time.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
Three golden, beak-shaped energy blasts shot forth, pinning the Uchiha's hands and midsection against a nearby tree.
"Hiasobi: Benihikō!"
Kurozawa didn't give him a chance to struggle. The blade of Benihikō—his released Zanpakutō—flared with piercing crimson light. It extended in a sudden thrust, impaling the enemy cleanly through the chest. The Uchiha died instantly.
Killing him was too easy. Looks like a Shinigami's power is extremely effective in this world…
Even after that kill, Kurozawa didn't let his guard down. That Uchiha hadn't even awakened his Sharingan. Likely just a genin. Eliminating him wasn't worth feeling satisfied.
With a flick, Benihikō retracted to its base form. Kurozawa immediately vanished using Shunpō, unwilling to risk delay. His normal running speed wouldn't keep him ahead for long.
Uchiha Setsuna, leading the squad, witnessed the kill and cursed before accelerating the pursuit.
Kurozawa glanced back during his escape and saw Setsuna's group closing in quickly. They hadn't yet reached the Uchiha compound, but they were closing the gap fast.
Damn it… what now?!
Panic gnawed at him. Stopping meant getting surrounded. Once that happened, escape would be nearly impossible. If it were only Setsuna, he might stand a chance—but there were at least a dozen Uchiha, many with activated Sharingan. Facing that many head-on was a death sentence.
Right now, even with his Benihikō + Hollow Mask combo, he could barely reach Tokubetsu Jōnin level. His Reiryoku was still too low—he couldn't fully unleash Benihikō's secondary abilities yet.
But blindly running wouldn't help either. Even with repeated Shunpō, his stamina and spiritual energy weren't unlimited. His physical body—though reinforced by his Shinigami powers—couldn't keep this up forever.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Setsuna and his followers were equally astonished. Setsuna had estimated that Ren—Fugaku's second son—could manage five or six Shunpō at most. But the kid had already used it over ten times effortlessly. Even Setsuna himself could only manage around fifteen in a row.
This child can't be left alive. Two prodigies were already leaning toward Konoha's side. If this one rose any further, the true Uchiha line would fade.
Setsuna clenched his teeth as a chill of genuine fear crept into his heart.
"Katon: Ryūen Hōka no Jutsu!"
Setsuna rapidly formed seals. Five massive fire dragons surged toward Kurozawa—top, bottom, left, right, and center.
A wave of scorching heat enveloped Kurozawa from all directions. When he glanced back, the dragons were already upon him—and Setsuna's group was grinning behind him.
I have no choice... I'll have to go all in!
Kurozawa's expression hardened. His final trump card was now his only hope. A fiery hollow mask materialized in his hand. He pressed it against his face without hesitation—and a crushing spiritual pressure erupted outward.
Birds scattered. Several small forest animals collapsed under the overwhelming pressure.
But it wasn't over.
Just as the fire dragons converged on him, Kurozawa began a chilling incantation:
"All things in the universe turn to ash… Benihikō!"
BOOM!
The fire dragons struck simultaneously, detonating in a brilliant explosion. A massive crater tore open the forest floor, flinging rocks and dirt in all directions. Smoke and fire billowed high into the air.
Uchiha Setsuna stopped and sneered.
That should do it. No one's walking away from that.
After all, Ryūen Hōka no Jutsu was an elite A-rank technique. Most jōnin would struggle to survive. A mere academy student stood no chance.
"If you'd just surrendered, I might've left your corpse intact," Setsuna mocked. "Dying under a jōnin's A-rank jutsu should be an honor for someone like you."
He turned to his subordinate. "Drop the standard containment seals here."
But the hawk-eyed Uchiha didn't respond. He was staring wide-eyed at the impact zone. Setsuna followed his gaze—and froze.
A black-and-red barrier had risen from the crater. Crimson flames danced along its surface, while black energy—tainted with hollow reiatsu—swirled like smoke.
A cold, arrogant voice echoed from within:
"If it's an honor… then why don't you take it?"
The flame barrier exploded outward.
A young boy emerged—face hidden behind a fiery red hollow mask, and wielding a deceptively simple blade. His Zanpakutō, Benihikō, burned with black and red fire. Though smaller than during the Nine-Tails battle, it radiated overwhelming heat.
Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened. An invisible weight bore down on his shoulders. The boy before him didn't feel like a child anymore—he felt like a predator.
"Heh... You ever wonder if you've been cut before you even realized it?"
A surge of bloodlust consumed Kurozawa. He no longer suppressed it—the Hollow side whispered sweetly in his mind. It felt good.
Whoosh!
In a blur of Shunpō, Kurozawa appeared beside one of Setsuna's men and brought his blade down.
The Uchiha had activated his Sharingan and couldn't track Kurozawa's movement, but the arc of the blade was visible.
In front of these eyes… your every move is clear!
The Uchiha smirked and sidestepped the swing—only to find a palm on his face.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō."
Kurozawa's voice was cold, absolute. A brilliant flash—and the Uchiha's headless body hit the ground.
Point-blank Kidō. Absolute dominance.