A whirlpool-like distortion appeared in space. Obito and Uchiha Itachi emerged from the twisted space.
Itachi collapsed to the ground, coughing nonstop. A huge handprint could be seen on his throat.
Just a little more. Just a few hundredths of a second, and Itachi's neck would have been twisted off like a chick's by Star Platinum. If not for Obito, Uchiha Itachi would already be dead.
"Is he really that strong?" Obito couldn't believe it.
This was Uchiha Itachi, a peerless genius who awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at the age of 13!
Even Obito, no, even Uchiha Madara at his peak couldn't possibly blow up Itachi in such a short time.
"Too strong."
Itachi recalled the details of the battle.
He did underestimate his opponent, allowing Ryosuke to seize the initiative.
But underestimating wasn't an excuse.
"The speed, strength, and explosiveness shown by that 'invisible enemy'… exceeded the realm of humans."
Seizing the initiative wasn't scary. But pairing that with unmatched speed, precision, and overwhelming power?
That was terrifying.
"Almost like a Tailed Beast."
Uchiha Itachi stood up and looked back toward Konoha's direction.
However, defeat would only happen this once.
The effect of a first-strike kill wouldn't work the second time.
Next time they met, Itachi wouldn't underestimate him again.
But what Itachi didn't know was that Ryosuke wasn't static.
As long as Ryosuke had enough time, he could pull out one Stand after another, each with an entirely different ability.
Obito returned to a relaxed appearance.
Uchiha, after all, they always had these kinds of bizarre situations.
"Should we go back and kill him?" Obito asked.
Itachi shook his head, "No need, let's go."
He had fulfilled his promise to Danzo.
One more alive, or two more alive, wouldn't affect the big picture. The other Konoha shinobi weren't fools. Going back again would only attract unnecessary disputes.
Obito shrugged. Space distorted again, and the two disappeared without a trace.
———
[Uchiha Clan Compound]
[Defeated Uchiha Itachi, gained Soul Fragments: 800]
[Repaid mortgaged soul, deducted Soul Fragments: 500. Remaining: 300]
'Remaining 300 fragments, which means… 30 pulls!'
Ryosuke felt an urge to immediately draw Stands.
Glancing at Star Platinum guarding his side, he held himself back.
Originally, Ryosuke's soul value was 500 Soul Fragments.
To make up for 10 pulls, he mortgaged 30 fragments.
To level Star Platinum from Level 1 (0%) to Level 2 (7%), it consumed 470 fragments.
Doing the math, Level 1 → Level 2 cost 400 fragments.
Then from Level 2 → Level 3 would require a full 1000 fragments.
'So expensive. Not only are pulls expensive, but leveling up is too.'
But the effect is outstanding. Strength, speed, and reaction were all significantly stronger than at Level 1.
The so-called absolute defense, Susanoo, which couldn't be broken before, at Level 2, it could smash it apart by force.
Of course, part of that was because Uchiha Itachi summoned Susanoo hastily and wasn't fully conscious.
But still, Star Platinum was only Level 2.
The highest Stand level is tied to its star rating.
Four-star Hermit Purple can reach Level 4.
Star Platinum, a five-star, can reach Level 5.
When Star Platinum reaches Level 5, sheer strength and speed alone will be enough to obliterate all creatures within range.
Ryosuke thought for a while and decided to keep the Soul Fragments for now. Later, based on the situation, he would decide whether to pull or upgrade.
He checked the system prompt.
'So that kid just now was called Uchiha Itachi.'
Ryosuke searched his predecessor's memory fragments and found some memories about Uchiha Itachi.
'So that means, he's also a member of the Uchiha Clan? One of their own killed their own?'
Ryosuke had a subway old man reading phone expression.
'For what?'
The Uchiha Clan was a big family. Even someone like Ryosuke, a parasite who muddled through life, could live comfortably on welfare.
Uchiha Itachi was the clan's prodigy. The resources he got would only be more.
'Could it be that killing the entire clan brought even more benefits? That must be the only possibility, right?'
Having received proper national anti-dragon education and read plenty of history, Ryosuke racked his brain but couldn't imagine that Itachi's reason for destroying his clan was to prevent a coup and war.
Clan coup, war outbreak… What's that got to do with an eighty-year-old granny?
What's that got to do with kids coming over to play games?
What's that got to do with a "trash" like his predecessor who gets winded after running two steps?
"Brother Ryosuke… you're not hurt, right…"
A childish voice came from behind.
Ryosuke broke from his thoughts and looked at the small child in front of him, searching his memory for a while.
"So you're Sasuke, huh."
Long admired the name.
Even someone who had never watched Naruto like Ryosuke had seen plenty of memes of this kid's future.
Covering his face with one hand, peeking through his fingers, shouting "Amaterasu!"
Ryosuke rubbed his soft hair, thinking of an old friend in overalls.
"Brother Ryosuke, my brother…"
Thinking of his dead parents, Sasuke changed his wording, "Is Itachi dead?"
"He escaped."
Sadness flashed in Sasuke's eyes, and after the sadness came hatred.
He couldn't understand why the once endlessly gentle brother would massacre the whole clan.
But the reason didn't matter. The result was already here. What mattered was, Sasuke had to avenge his family, avenge the entire clan… 'Revenge!'
"So what do we do next?" Sasuke asked.
"Wait for rescue. With such a big incident happening, even if they were pretending before, now they have to show up."
Ryosuke pointed toward the village.
"Look, they're here."
A dozen figures, like fleas, jumped and flickered across rooftops, rapidly approaching.
Ryosuke let out a breath of relief.
Tonight's disaster was finally over for now.
Ryosuke was ready to wrap himself in a blanket, hold a cup of hot cocoa, and blankly watch the rescue team work.
That's how disaster movies usually go.
Now that the killing spree was over, no matter how arrogant the mastermind was, they couldn't possibly openly kill Ryosuke and Sasuke, the two surviving witnesses, right?
'Naruto is a shonen manga, surely it's not that dark, right?'
———
"How many times do I have to say it?"
"We are victims. The killer, Uchiha Itachi, ran away. Sasuke and I are eyewitnesses. You're the experts, you can definitely find physical evidence at the scene."
"What else do you want to check? Or maybe..."
Ryosuke stared at the interrogator opposite him, eyes almost overflowing with questioning and disgust, "What answer do you want to hear from my mouth?"
The interrogation room was dimly lit. Ryosuke's hands were cuffed to the table.
Four shinobi from Root stood in the room, each in a corner, watching Ryosuke from all angles.
As if Ryosuke was the murderer.
Yamanaka Fū sat across from Ryosuke.
He was a member of the Yamanaka Clan, skilled in Mind Transfer techniques, and equally proficient in soul interrogation and memory reading, he was the interrogator specifically assigned to Ryosuke.
As an interrogation master, even without using secret techniques, Yamanaka Fū could tell from Ryosuke's tone, manner, and eyes that the young man before him wasn't lying.
But often, the truth didn't matter.
What mattered was the intent of those in power.
The key lay in Lord Danzo's decision.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside, and the heavy metal door opened.
A Root shinobi stood at the door and beckoned to Yamanaka Fū.
Yamanaka Fū stepped out.
Ryosuke spread his palm toward his back.
[Hermit Purple]
A purple vine wrapped around Yamanaka Fū's boot and followed him out, with the other end pressed to Ryosuke's ear.
Bang.
The interrogation room door shut again.
The voices of the two Root shinobi traveled clearly along the vine.
"Lord Danzo gave the order, kill him, leave no trace."
One Uchiha left in the village is enough.
No need to keep two.
Besides, Danzo's deal with Itachi only included Sasuke. There was no buy-one-get-one-free.
"Got it."
Yamanaka Fū didn't question it for a second, nor did he ask why.
When Lord Danzo gives an order, they execute it.
That's the rule.
"What about the other one?" Yamanaka Fū asked.
"That's not your concern."
Yamanaka Fū nodded slightly and apologized.
He had overstepped.
"Leave it to me."
Silent killing was as easy as breathing for the Yamanaka Clan. He grabbed the heavy metal door handle and twisted it halfway.
Boom!
The ten-centimeter-thick metal door slammed down like a giant's iron palm, crushing Yamanaka Fū against the wall like a fly.
The Root operative who delivered the message stared in disbelief. Reflexes honed through years of training kicked in, and he pulled out a kunai, taking a defensive stance.
"ORA!"
Star Platinum's punch came down. The kunai, his arm, and his ribs all shattered.
The messenger flew out and landed on the previous metal door.
Two people sandwiched with an iron door, like a human burger.
Clang!
The two hit the ground, barely clinging to life, staring in horror at Ryosuke walking out of the room.
Ryosuke sighed softly, "This is the f*** you call a shonen manga? Way too dark!"
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