Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Three foot-long water arrows shot out from Daiki Chikamura's hands, forming a triangular pattern, aimed at Seimei's head, back, and right side.
Their speed was so fast that an ordinary person's eyes couldn't keep up.
But faster still were two bolts of lightning.
Zzt! Zzt! The sound of crackling electricity filled the air as Reiko Koike unleashed her signature jutsu—Lightning Release: Thunder Rope! In an instant, two chains of lightning surged forward, racing toward Seimei's neck and waist, aiming to bind him in place.
It was clear the two were in sync: one attacking with lethal force, the other restricting his movement.
Unfortunately for them, Seimei had sensed their chakra the moment they set foot on the island.
The only reason he hadn't acted sooner was because he had some unfinished business to wrap up.
And now?
As the lightning ropes closed in from both sides, ready to ensnare him, a sudden wind blade spun out from Seimei's palm.
The blade didn't look like much—small and almost delicate—but the moment it met the lightning ropes, it sliced through them like they were nothing.
Sure, wind chakra's natural resistance to lightning played a part, but the real reason was Seimei's mastery of wind-style chakra, far surpassing Reiko's control over her lightning.
That's why he cut through her jutsu so effortlessly.
If their skill gap had been too wide in the other direction, even a type disadvantage wouldn't have let Seimei break her technique so easily.
But the idea of their strength surpassing his? Laughable.
In fact, Seimei's power was leagues above theirs.
Even without using wind release, he could've stopped those lightning ropes with ease.
But why waste the effort when he could counter them so simply?
That said, this was just the first wave. Three water arrows were still hurtling toward him.
With a flicker of thought, chakra surged within him, forming a thick ice wall less than half a meter behind him.
Daiki's water arrows were fast, no doubt, but they couldn't maneuver. They slammed straight into the ice wall.
A moment later, the sound of cracking ice echoed.
Seimei glanced back, noticing the web of fractures spreading across the wall.
Seeing this, he muttered to himself, "As expected, even if I've got the basics down, without the right jutsu, it's hard to fully tap into a bloodline's power."
But while he was reflecting, Daiki and Reiko were panicking.
The moment he turned, they recognized him.
"Ghost Blade Seimei?!"
"Uchiha Seimei!"
Their shocked cries rang out one after the other.
Without a second thought, they bolted toward the spot where their Water Demon Shark was hiding.
As the saying goes, a person's reputation casts a long shadow.
They'd never fought Seimei directly, but his battlefield exploits were legendary, and they knew them well.
Even at their peak, they wouldn't have fancied their chances against him—let alone now, when they were far from their best.
So, running was the only option.
Daiki silently thanked his foresight for stationing the Water Demon Shark by the coast, giving them an escape route. Otherwise, they'd have no chance at all.
If they could just reach the shore and hide inside the shark, they might make it out alive.
With that thought, Daiki's footsteps quickened.
Reiko, seeing this, matched his pace.
What they didn't notice was that the path back seemed just a tad longer than it should've been.
By the time they realized something was off, the world around them shattered like a broken mirror.
When they opened their eyes, they were still standing in the same spot.
And in front of them stood a figure.
None other than Seimei.
Their hearts sank. Without time to process what had happened, they instinctively leaped back, putting distance between themselves and Seimei.
Each drew a kunai, ready to attack.
But the moment the thought crossed their minds, intricate sealing patterns appeared across their bodies, locking them in place, unable to move.
What's going on?!
Panic surged as they stared at Seimei, who remained eerily calm. They exchanged glances, hoping for some reassurance.
But there was none to be found. Both were trapped, completely immobilized.
The paralysis lasted about ten seconds. When they could finally move again, attacking Seimei was the last thing on their minds. They turned to flee.
But the instant they took a step, an indescribable pain erupted from within—deep, soul-searing agony they couldn't endure.
"Aaagh!" they screamed, collapsing to the ground, writhing in torment.
Seimei stood by, watching silently.
The truth was, the moment he turned, he'd activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, trapping their minds in a genjutsu.
Their desperate escape? Nothing but a fantasy.
He'd even dulled their senses, making them oblivious to the fact that their "escape" was going nowhere.
Seizing the chance, he'd cast Heart-Sealing Soul Contract: Instant Binding Seal on them, embedding a few simple conditions.
That's what led to this moment.
Why didn't he warn them?
Simple. If they didn't suffer a bit, why would they ever obey?
Besides, they'd attacked him first. Sure, it hadn't done much, but an attack was an attack. Seimei didn't care about the outcome.
If he didn't still have questions to answer, he would've ended them both with a single strike.
About five minutes later, when both had passed out from the pain, Seimei finally lifted the seal's punishment.
Looking at the two sprawled out like dead dogs, he stepped forward, formed hand signs, and cast Ninja Art: Mind Reading Jutsu on Reiko.
Feeling her memories being probed, Reiko's bloodshot eyes glared at him, struggling to resist.
But after the "torture" she'd just endured, she was in no state to fight back. And even if she were, Seimei's mental dominance was absolute—her resistance was meaningless.
(End of Chapter)