Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 47: Deception upon Deception, More Deception After That!

The battle between ninjas is a battle of intelligence.

Uchiha Ci attacked using taijutsu, and Kakuzu responded in kind, also using taijutsu. While part of Kakuzu's motivation was the desire to beat up this poor brat out of anger, he was primarily probing for information.

After all, the brat had charged at him without a word, raising a barrier and acting as if he were certain he could cover for the escape of the other two brats.

Kakuzu didn't believe that this kid didn't have some tricks up his sleeve.

Caution had been his greatest asset for surviving from the Warring States period until now!

Ever since he had been slapped by that man's wood clone, Kakuzu's eyes had become much clearer.

He had long since etched the word "caution" into his very bones.

At this moment,

Seeing Uchiha Ci stand firm again after enduring a storm of taijutsu attacks, with all his injuries healed and his body seemingly unscathed—other than appearing slightly tired and out of breath—his condition was simply too good.

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Medical ninjutsu? No, this level of healing is too strong; something's off."

Such a powerful recovery, even using something like Mystical Palm Technique mid-battle, wouldn't be this exaggerated.

At this thought, Kakuzu tilted his head slightly and glanced up the cliff.

Besides the three brats, he remembered there was also a tall, middle-aged man in a yellow coat up there.

Moreover, that man gave him a rather strange feeling,

A feeling that he would be difficult to kill.

"Hmm?"

Just as Kakuzu turned his gaze, he suddenly noticed something in the direction outside the barrier.

At some point,

That middle-aged ninja in the yellow coat was already standing on the cliff outside the barrier, his eyes filled with a strange shock as he stared intently at the poor brat across from Kakuzu.

Seeing this, Kakuzu immediately understood.

"This terrifying forbidden technique was taught to that poor brat by that guy!"

"Are these two master and apprentice? Is he surprised by his disciple's progress?"

"Could it be that this guy is using me to temper his disciple?"

Kakuzu frowned, feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed.

This poor brat had set up a barrier for a one-on-one fight like a real man, unleashed this troublesome forbidden technique, and made his teammates step aside to face him alone.

He looked like he was practically begging to be beaten to death, giving even a seventy-year-old veteran like Kakuzu a real fright.

He couldn't help but think, "Which one of us is deceiving the other here?"

Looking at it now, the situation was becoming quite clear.

This kid definitely had someone backing him!

With this realization, Kakuzu's mindset began to subtly shift.

On the battlefield,

Uchiha Ci stared at Kakuzu, his gaze slightly focused.

At this moment, he briefly sensed the state of his body. After using the Forbidden Technique: Body Revival to restore himself, his body felt like rusty machinery, not working as well as it had before.

This technique, while powerful, came with severe side effects.

Shinno could use this technique with almost no side effects because he used the power of the incomplete Zero-Tails Chakra, which acted like a power adapter for the consumption.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, could push this technique to its limits because he had body modifications and his Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu, so he could just switch bodies when one was used up.

But Uchiha Ci, he was expending his own life force.

He estimated that with his current body, he could use the Forbidden Technique: Body Revival only twice more before needing immediate medical attention.

Otherwise, he would die from having all his life force drained.

So, he only had two chances left.

With this in mind, Uchiha Ci took a deep breath, his Sharingan gleaming as he leaned forward into another sprint. The slight difference this time was that in his hand,

He was holding a Water Vortex Blade entrusted to him by Mei Terumi!

Water Release: Water Fang Blade!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Three shuriken shot through the air!

"Trying the same tactic again?"

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes, immediately shifting his stance and swinging out three Earth Grudge Fear tendrils to block the shuriken while simultaneously crushing Uchiha Ci.

After the earlier taijutsu exchange, Kakuzu had gained some insight into this brat's reaction speed.

Yeah, it's a bit freakish.

If it weren't for his unique body structure, which allowed him to unexpectedly bind a kunai with his Earth Grudge Fear threads, the kid's rapid kicks would have landed earlier.

Now, the brat had pulled out a water blade capable of cutting through tendrils.

His plans were clear, nearly blasting Kakuzu's seventy-year-old mind with their precision.

Kakuzu wasn't stupid and naturally wasn't going to stand still and let Uchiha Ci kick him again.

The battle quickly escalated.

Seeing Kakuzu change tactics and shoot out a mass of Earth Grudge Fear tendrils, Uchiha Ci's heart leapt in joy.

This water blade is far better at deceiving people than kunai!

Before he could even get close to kick Lord Kakuzu, Kakuzu had already sent him a pile of valuable ninja tools in return!

Uchiha Ci quickly skidded to a stop,

Then, holding his sword, he swung it in a smooth flourish.

His Sharingan locked onto the oncoming tendrils,

Then,

He positioned the sword along his arm, crouching into a stance,

And suddenly slashed out!

First was Cloud-Style: Feint Slash, tricking Kakuzu's tendrils into brushing past his right shoulder, followed by a swift follow-up,

Cloud-Style: Crescent Moon Slice!

A perfect replication of the Cloud-Style sword technique he had only witnessed once amidst volcanic steam!

The rotating Water Fang Blade suddenly unleashed three crescent-like arcs of light!

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Three of Kakuzu's tendrils were severed on the spot.

Uchiha Ci quickly crouched down, gathering up the severed tendrils scattered across the cliff like someone collecting Mahjong tiles, and stuffed them into his ninja tool pouch.

With a grin, he turned and dashed away, twisting and dodging Kakuzu's subsequent attacks with rolls and flips.

As he moved, he pulled out the empty ninja wire spindle and swiftly threaded the tangled Earth Grudge Fear tendrils through it.

Only when the spindle was fully wound did Uchiha Ci finally reveal a satisfied smile from his successful pilfering.

Though Ci currently had access to a large number of jutsu, including forbidden techniques, excluding the flashy but ineffective Fire Release: Great Fireball and Phoenix Sage Fire techniques,

The only techniques that could truly threaten Kakuzu

Were the two he had recently learned from Uchiha Setsuna:

Uchiha Style: Manipulated Shuriken Technique!

This was the core of Uchiha Ci's entire battle strategy.

It all boiled down to one word:

Speed!

Speed so fast that the enemy wouldn't have time to form hand seals, cast jutsu, or even defend!

Forced to dodge as best they could, they would inevitably expose a weakness, giving Uchiha Ci the perfect opportunity to strike and decide the battle in an instant!

A third-rate Uchiha uses shuriken to feint,

A second-rate Uchiha uses shuriken to ambush,

A first-rate Uchiha uses shuriken to seize the moment!

As for the Manipulated Shuriken Technique at the peak of mastery,

It was rated S-class because

It was, in itself, a killing move!