---
Shisui's eyes turned bloodshot, crimson liquid seeping from the corners as a sharp pain reverberated through his mind. His genjutsu had been forcefully rebounded, and the backlash of his Mangekyō Sharingan's power overwhelmed his body. His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, barely able to remain conscious.
The orange-haired man smirked coldly, casually waving his hand as if discarding trash. Shisui's body was flung to the dirt, motionless but alive. His eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the scattered Konoha Anbu.
"Such bothersome ants," he muttered.
A burst of repulsive force exploded from his body, deflecting the incoming ninjutsu from two Anbu attacking from opposite sides. The same force ricocheted back at them, sending them hurtling into nearby trees.
Meanwhile, another pair of Anbu faced off against the man's mechanical-armed ally. One ninja was brutally swept away by a swing of the prosthetic arm, the force of the impact sending him flying through the air.
The orange-haired man returned his focus to Shisui, who lay prone at his feet. His lips curled in disdain.
"Konoha ninjas who dare meddle in our plans…" His voice was calm yet chilling. "You all share the same fate—death."
A black chakra rod slid from his sleeve into his hand, its menacing tip aimed directly at Shisui's chest. Before he could strike, a Konoha Anbu darted into action, throwing his blade in a desperate bid to save his captain.
Clang!
The blade lacked chakra reinforcement and was easily deflected by the black rod. It spun harmlessly away, embedding itself into the ground.
Swish!
In the same instant, the Anbu surged forward, his speed enhanced by a burst of chakra. His figure blurred as he closed the gap between them, aiming to snatch Shisui from danger.
But the orange-haired man's eerie violet eyes narrowed, locking onto the Anbu's form.
"You want to save him? Then die first!"
Gravity erupted from his palm, pulling the Anbu directly toward him. With ruthless precision, he plunged the black rod through the ninja's chest.
"Urgh..."
The Anbu gasped, blood trickling from his mouth as the light faded from his eyes. The orange-haired man discarded the body with a flick of his wrist, letting it slump lifelessly to the ground.
Shisui's breathing quickened. Though paralyzed by the backlash of his own power, he remained painfully aware of every moment. His comrades—his brothers-in-arms—were dying before his eyes.
"No…" he rasped weakly, his voice trembling with anguish.
The orange-haired man ignored him, raising his weapon to deliver the final blow. Before he could strike, another Anbu charged at him from behind, his kunai aimed at the enemy's exposed back.
"Hmph. Foolish."
With a simple flick of his wrist, the orange-haired man hurled the black rod backward. The weapon pierced the Anbu's forehead, killing him instantly.
Shisui's heart twisted as he caught a final glimpse of his comrade's lifeless eyes. His mind screamed in despair, but his body refused to obey.
"Why… Why is this happening…?"
The orange-haired man sneered, stepping closer to Shisui.
"Is this the best Konoha has to offer? All of you rush to your deaths like moths to a flame."
His taunting words were the final spark that ignited Shisui's will. Rage and grief surged through him, eclipsing his pain. The strain on his body was immense, but his sheer determination forced him to act.
"Stop… me…"
His voice, though hoarse, carried an undeniable resolve.
"RAAAAH!!!"
With a primal roar, Shisui's Sharingan blazed to life. The three black tomoe spun wildly, merging and transforming into an intricate new pattern.
A torrent of chakra exploded from his body, shaking the earth beneath him. The orange-haired man froze mid-step, his weapon mere inches from Shisui.
"What…?!" he muttered, his eyes widening in surprise. "This interference… Is it his pupil power?"
Shisui's newfound strength gave him just enough time to act. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing beside one of his fallen comrades. With a swift motion, he pulled the injured ninja out of harm's way.
The orange-haired man regained control of his body moments later, but his expression had shifted from confidence to alarm. His gaze locked onto Shisui's eyes, now blazing with the unmistakable pattern of a Mangekyō Sharingan.
He staggered back, the realization sinking in. The Uchiha before him was no ordinary ninja—he was something far more dangerous.
Shisui clenched his fists, his voice cold and unwavering.
"This ends now."
---
Despite the interruption to his previous attempts, Shisui continued releasing his pupil power. This time, the strain no longer triggered the backlash that had incapacitated him earlier.
As he steadied himself, Shisui's sharp gaze fell upon the orange-haired man standing before him. A tremor coursed through his body as his eyes, now empowered by the Mangekyō Sharingan, unveiled a horrifying truth.
With his heightened vision, Shisui could finally perceive the chakra flow within the orange-haired man's body. What he saw made his blood run cold.
"Those black rods…"
Shisui muttered in disbelief. Every ounce of chakra coursing through the orange-haired man's body originated from the black rods embedded in his flesh. His own body produced no chakra at all.
"He's not… human," Shisui whispered, his voice thick with shock.
The rods acted like chakra threads, akin to those used by puppet masters to control their puppets. But unlike a puppet controlled from a distance, the orange-haired man's body appeared lifeless—more akin to a corpse animated by some external force.
Before Shisui could process this revelation further, he sensed movement behind him. The mechanical-armed man charged toward him with alarming speed, his hulking figure prepared to strike.
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan flicked to the new threat, and his heart sank further.
"This one… he's the same."
The internal state of the mechanical figure mirrored that of the orange-haired man. Both of them were nothing more than puppets, manipulated by some unseen master.
"Who's controlling them…?"
Shisui leapt back to avoid the mechanical man's attack, retreating as his mind raced.
The orange-haired man extended his hand toward Shisui again. Instantly, a crushing gravitational force enveloped him, yanking his body forward.
"This technique again," Shisui muttered, his tone steady despite the situation.
Even as his body was pulled helplessly toward the orange-haired man, Shisui remained calm. His Mangekyō Sharingan darted to the mechanical figure, its blades gleaming as it prepared to strike.
The pattern in Shisui's right eye twisted and flared.
The mechanical puppet's blade suddenly lunged at Shisui with deadly intent. In one hand, Shisui still held his unconscious comrade, who had succumbed to severe injuries. With his free hand, Shisui reached out, catching the blade mid-strike.
Blood dripped from his palm as the sharp edge bit into his skin. But Shisui didn't flinch. Instead, he gritted his teeth and yanked the mechanical puppet closer to him with surprising force.
"Pupil technique interference… again?"
The orange-haired man's previously calm demeanor faltered as he observed the scene. The mechanical puppet's actions were no longer entirely its own.
"This power… His pupil technique can manipulate others?"
The orange-haired man's voice betrayed a hint of unease as he watched the mechanical puppet's assault falter under Shisui's influence.
Shisui, ignoring the pain from his injured hand, locked eyes with the mechanical puppet. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun with deadly precision, the pattern in his left eye solidifying.
A split second later, the mechanical figure froze in place, its movements completely halted.
---
p@treon.com/Siam_37 up to 15 advance chapter.