At this moment, the town of the Yuki Clan wasn't only occupied by its own people—two outsiders had also arrived.
They wore large black cloaks with hoods, hiding quietly in a narrow alley.
"If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it. Kirigakure is actually persecuting Kekkei Genkai clans like this? So this is the infamous Blood Mist Village?" one of them whispered in shock, holding a forehead protector with the Leaf Village symbol.
The other person, with a clear and calm voice, also tucked away a Leaf forehead protector and said, "We need to leave quickly. We can't let the Mist Anbu find us."
These two were none other than Kumade Yuuichi, a ninja from Kakashi's generation, and Uchiha Hikari—Uchiha Sora's older sister.
They had come to the Land of Water as spies under Danzo's orders.
Danzo was very interested in the mysterious Kekkei Genkai ninjas of Kirigakure and had instructed the two of them to capture one and bring them back.
That was why they had come to this town.
But before they could even act, the Mist shinobi started killing their own.
Such brutality—perhaps only the Mist Village among the Five Great Nations was capable of this.
Uchiha Hikari watched the tragedy unfold, but her calm appearance didn't reflect her true emotions.
She thought of the Uchiha Clan.
Her clan's relationship with Konoha was also strained.
If something like this ever happened back home, what would happen to her younger brother?
As his older sister, she had to protect him—this was also her parents' dying wish.
Uchiha Hikari silently vowed to herself that she would complete Danzo-sama's mission no matter what.
She wanted the higher-ups to see that the Uchiha weren't just rebellious—there were those loyal to the village as well.
If her loyalty could guarantee her brother's safety, then even if she could never return to Konoha again, she would accept that fate willingly.
Just as these thoughts flashed through her mind and she and Kumade Yuuichi were preparing to leave quietly, the surrounding mist suddenly grew thicker.
"This is bad... it's the Hidden Mist Technique!"
Uchiha Kagari was shocked.
Before she could warn Yūichi Kumade, a scream came from behind her.
Yūichi Kumade had already fallen into a pool of blood.
Who killed him, if not the Demon Zabuza?
Kagari didn't have time to mourn her comrade's death.
She quickly formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball burst forward.
As a genius who became a jonin at the age of fifteen, her Fire Style was exceptional.
Even this C-rank Great Fireball looked like a blazing inferno, and the strong wind it carried blew away the surrounding mist.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
A water dragon surged from the ground and collided fiercely with the fireball.
The powerful impact forced Zabuza to retreat.
"Such a strong Fire Style... She's definitely not from the Yuki Clan. Is she a foreign spy hiding here?"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes.
He wasn't participating in the massacre of the Yuki Clan just to satisfy a thirst for blood.
He was looking for the right tools.
If he could find a talented Ice Release user to serve him, it would greatly help his future plan to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage.
But he hadn't expected to uncover a foreign spy.
"Hmph, since you've come to the Kirigakure... don't even think about leaving!"
Zabuza gave chase.
The noise from the battle attracted the attention of other Hidden Mist ANBU nearby.
They quickly discovered that Zabuza was pursuing an unfamiliar woman.
That woman was no ordinary ninja.
She had actually managed to push back Zabuza, the Demon himself.
"Heh, looks like that brat Zabuza's finally met his match."
"Which country's spy would dare set foot in our Land of Water?"
Hoshigaki Kisame's eyes were fierce, his mouth full of sharp teeth bared in a bloodthirsty grin.
"We can't let anyone leave Kirigakure alive with that information!"
He vanished in a blur, leaping onto the rooftop, with Kisame right behind him.
Hozuki Mangetsu and Ameyuri Ringo also joined the pursuit without hesitation.
Uchiha Hikari had chosen to break out through the west side.
Just as she was about to leave the edge of the town, a blast of strong corrosive acid shot toward her.
"Lava Style: Melting Aberration Jutsu!"
Terumi Mei, a ninja with both Lava and Boil Release Kekkei Genkais, unleashed a deadly technique from her red lips — acid strong enough to melt steel.
"My Byakugan spotted you a long time ago, Konoha's Uchiha ninja," Ao said coldly, standing next to Mei.
Hikari's heart trembled slightly.
The Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan... That explains it...
Ssshhhhh~
The acid splashed onto Hikari, instantly burning through her clothes, and even her beautiful face was disfigured.
But before Ao could even celebrate, Hikari's figure vanished suddenly.
"What?! A shadow clone?!"
Ao's face changed, and he immediately activated his Byakugan to search for the real one.
Terumi Mei's eyes sparkled with interest as she wiped the acid from the corner of her lips.
"A calm woman even in crisis... I like that."
"Found her!"
Ao pointed toward the four o'clock direction.
Mei Terumi was the first to give chase.
Arriving late, Zabuza said irritably, "Hey, Mei Terumi, that woman is my prey."
Mei Terumi replied gracefully, "Then let's see whose skills are better."
Right now—
Uchiha Hikari was almost at a dead end.
Even though her strength wasn't weak and her mind was clear, she was still just one person, while those chasing her were the top elites of Kirigakure.
Even a Kage-level shinobi would likely fall in such a desperate situation.
Yet there was little fear on Uchiha Hikari's face.
Back when she was sent to the isolated Land of Water, she had already expected a day like this would come—just not so soon.
"Brother… Raizen… Even if I'm gone, you must take care of yourself."
Uchiha Hikari whispered this to herself in her heart.
Then, she stopped running, turning to face Mei Terumi, who had gotten closest.
"Sharingan!"
Hum~
Invisible eye power spread out.
Mei Terumi's body suddenly froze, unable to move.
"To think you'd fall for a basic Sharingan genjutsu… Mei Terumi, how embarrassing," Zabuza mocked coldly, swinging his giant blade toward Uchiha Hikari.
Though she knew there was no escape today, Uchiha Hikari had no intention of giving up.
She would fight to the very end.
Her Sharingan flared to its limit, releasing its full eye power without holding back.
She raised her kunai to block Zabuza's massive sword.
Zabuza suddenly felt his vision blur, and before his eyes appeared countless Uchiha Hikari and countless kunai.
"Is it another genjutsu?"
"No, it's hypnosis!"
"Crap!"
Zabuza instinctively tilted his head to the side, and a shuriken flew past his scalp.
He was so close to being finished!
Regaining his senses, cold sweat dripped down Zabuza's face. He dared not underestimate the Sharingan again.
Across from him, Uchiha Hikari's eyes flashed with a trace of regret.
If she could take down one or two Kirigakure elites with her life, it wouldn't be a loss.
Lord Danzo and the village leaders would remember her contribution and treat her little brother well afterward.
Naive Uchiha Hikari still believed in Danzo and the Konoha leaders at this moment.
"Release!" Ao arrived just in time and dispelled the genjutsu on Mei Terumi.
"Sorry, I was careless," Mei Terumi said, looking displeased.
As an extremely rare dual Kekkei Genkai ninja, she had been a genius since childhood, far stronger than her peers.
This was the first time she had suffered such a major loss.
So this was the famous Uchiha clan—truly powerful.
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