Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 148: The Gale Blows Fierce, Confronting Ebizō!

The storm unleashed by Manda struck with terrifying speed!

A sandstorm, resembling a tsunami, surged forward, instantly dispersing the purple toxic mist enveloping the Secret Technique: Insect Tornado.

Even the spinning vortex of insects was swallowed by this violent sandstorm!

"What is that?!"

"Could it be Lord Rasa?"

Several members of the Sand Village's Anbu stared in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Wait, what's that?"

"There's someone flying in the wind!"

Hearing this, even Ebizō, standing at the rear of his squad, raised his head slightly to gaze at the sky.

When he spotted the figure of a youth soaring through the air like a kite, Ebizō's face showed a trace of surprise.

"So, Orochimaru was willing to send this disciple to a place like this."

"No matter. I'll kill him as well!"

Ebizō narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharpening with killing intent. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved a scroll and summoned a puppet cloaked in white robes.

Before the Sand Village ninjas could react, Uchiha Ci formed the tiger hand seal mid-air and brought it to his mouth. Three massive fireballs shot toward the Sand Village group!

Using the recoil from spitting the fireballs, Uchiha Ci adjusted his position in the air. After several agile flips, he landed like an acrobat, sliding to a stop with his hand plunged into the sand, halting his momentum.

He stopped directly in front of Aburame Ryōma.

As the fierce wind howled past, Uchiha Ci's tattered robes flapped wildly.

"Cough, cough!" Aburame Ryōma crawled out of a pile of sand, spitting out grains as he lifted his head. Seeing Uchiha Ci standing before him, he was momentarily dazed.

Quickly regaining his senses, he frowned.

"You—"

"Save it. No need to thank me," Uchiha Ci interrupted with a grin, his side glance revealing the cursed seal markings on half of his face, making him look menacing. He spoke concisely:

"Tell me something useful."

"I can't hold on for long."

The Heaven Curse Seal released a torrent of uncontrollable power within Uchiha Ci.

This was the first time he'd used this power since obtaining the seal from Orochimaru.

From what he could tell, the cursed seal not only strengthened his body but significantly enhanced his control over it, enabling him to perform even basic Fire Style techniques with a single-handed seal.

However, along with this power came an unsettling sensation—his skin began to sprout tiny scales, and something seemed to be bulging from both sides of his forehead.

This gave Uchiha Ci the ominous feeling that his transformation under the Heaven Curse Seal differed from Sasuke's future complete transformation with wings or Kimimaro's lizard-like tail.

His transformation resembled that of a snake—or perhaps, a dragon.

It seemed more akin to the modified Sage Mode of Orochimaru's son, Mitsuki. Orochimaru's curse seal likely contained pure, unaltered Senjutsu chakra from Ryūchi Cave.

This was undoubtedly stronger, but it came with problems. The power was extremely difficult to control and couldn't amplify ninjutsu into Senjutsu.

The apparent benefit was that the first-stage curse seal drastically enhanced his body's strength and control.

The downside was that the natural energy within the seal was rapidly altering his body. At this rate, he feared it wouldn't be long before he mutated into a snake.

This technique was something Orochimaru hadn't fully understood yet.

But Uchiha Ci had no choice. Facing Ebizō, a seasoned powerhouse of the Sand Village, whose strength was at least on the level of a Kage, he had to play his trump card.

Otherwise, he couldn't guarantee he'd last even half a minute.

Right now—

Swoosh!

A sharp, invisible wind blade hurtled toward Uchiha Ci's head!

The blade was unimaginably fast!

Before Uchiha Ci could react, his body moved instinctively. Controlled by his reflexes, he tilted his head just enough to dodge the attack.

Thud!

Elsewhere, a muffled sound rang out as the wind blade shattered the protective insect dome surrounding Aburame Ryōma, flying past him with terrifying speed. It struck a distant sand dune, piercing straight through it.

Uchiha Ci turned his head, his expression grave as he looked toward the source of the attack.

There, beyond the thirty-man squad of Sand Village ninjas, stood Ebizō, dressed in a black robe and wearing a white head covering. He raised a hand, his fingertips glowing with the sharp edge of a wind blade.

Wind Release: Wind Blade!

This A-rank Wind Style technique condensed chakra into a razor-sharp blade at the user's fingertips. Using whirlwinds to transform the wind into a blade, it was a nearly undetectable and unavoidable attack.

In the future, Sand Jonin Baki would use this same technique to kill Konoha Special Jonin Gekkō Hayate during the Konoha Crush.

At this time, wielded by Ebizō, the technique was even deadlier!

Uchiha Ci's gaze hardened. He had no time to worry about the damage the Heaven Curse Seal might cause to his body. He focused entirely on the thirty Sand Village ninjas and Ebizō, who was observing the situation, ready to strike at any moment.

Behind him, Aburame Ryōma, sensing the overwhelming danger, didn't ask how Uchiha Ci had arrived.

Judging by Ci's disheveled appearance and missing arm, it was clear he wasn't in good shape.

Shaking his head, Ryōma exhaled heavily and focused his sharp gaze on Ebizō.

"Fine. Let's talk about something useful!"

Bracing himself on Uchiha Ci's shoulder, Ryōma stood unsteadily. Glancing around, he covertly pulled a kunai from his pouch and passed it to Ci.

Though Uchiha Ci's expression didn't change, he was surprised.

As someone with exceptional shurikenjutsu skills, he could immediately discern the kunai's weight and design upon holding it.

This kunai was a specially crafted one.

"Listen," Ryōma began, handing over the kunai.

"Ci, this mission is far different from what you imagine."

"All of our actions and sacrifices are for one purpose."

Ryōma's tone grew heavy.

"That purpose is to kill the Sand Village's top commander in this war—Ebizō!"

"Now, the time has come!"

"The next step is clear!"

A manic glint appeared in Ryōma's eyes beneath his sunglasses. He immediately pulled out a signal flare and launched it into the sky!

Amidst the night, an orange smoke trail—different from the usual red, yellow, blue, and green—rose high into the air.

Uchiha Ci blinked, then inhaled deeply, his spirits lifting.

He shoved the kunai into his pouch, turned back, and slapped Ryōma on the shoulder.

"Got it!"

Uchiha Ci's gaze was resolute.

"Now, I'll leave it to you to get my people out safely!"

"This place is mine to handle!"

Ryōma was stunned. "Wait, what are you—"

Before he could finish, Uchiha Ci had already sprinted forward, diving into the encirclement of thirty Sand Village ninjas.

Ryōma froze, his scalp tingling. After a moment, he muttered the rest of his sentence:

"Damn it!"

"I meant for you to help stall for time until reinforcements arrive!"