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Chapter 5 - The Will of Fire and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist

By the third day, Rin's eyes had finally evolved into the three-tomoe Sharingan.

With that evolution came clarity—along with a sharp drop in the effects of ephedrine.

The fully awakened Sharingan had become completely immune to the drug's mental interference.

Only physical side effects remained.

And they were severe.

Extended drug use had wreaked havoc on Rin's hormonal balance.

His body's functions were beginning to collapse.

Worst of all… he couldn't piss anymore.

The rest of the symptoms were still creeping in, subtle and insidious.

But one thing was certain—

His mind was changing.

The chemical overstimulation had damaged his emotional centers.

The grief, trauma, and guilt from watching his clan die…

Gone.

The weight had vanished.

He was calm—too calm.

Detached.

Emotion no longer swayed his decisions.

Now, as a Level 3 Evolutionist, Rin generated three evolution points per day.

Six points total during the march back toward the village.

He had used them to raise Blood Shadow to Level 4.

Its power had grown from a weak support ability to a solid offensive technique—comparable to B-rank ninjutsu.

Tomorrow, it would reach Level 5.

And with that, he would unlock a new derived gene ability.

"We're one day from the village. From here on, we need to be extra careful," Rin said flatly, ceasing all further drug use.

Ephedrine could keep enhancing his Sharingan—but it was killing his body.

The impurities in the crude extract were damaging his organs.

He needed hospital treatment soon.

"This is for you," Rin said with the same cold tone, emotionless.

"It might help your training. Take a fingernail-sized amount daily. It should last you a month or two."

He handed Shisui a large white paper packet—packed with the remaining ephedrine mix.

Shisui accepted it with both hands, carefully storing it in his gear pouch.

A trace of confusion lingered on his face.

"Thank you, Rin-senpai."

"But… why are you still so tense? The area around the village is secure. We're close to Konoha. There shouldn't be any more danger."

Rin's expression didn't change.

"You really think what happened to us was just a random ambush?"

That innocence.

That naïveté.

Foolishness that would get him killed one day.

Shisui blinked. "Wasn't it?"

There wasn't even a hint of doubt in his voice.

He couldn't imagine that the village itself might have betrayed their unit.

"Some things you'll only believe once you see them for yourself."

Rin met his eyes.

"You don't have to believe me. Just remember this: Konoha and the Uchiha… have never truly shared a heart."

He said no more.

There was no point trying to explain.

Shisui was too young to understand.

But the words embedded themselves deep in the boy's heart.

They packed up, ate a little grilled fish, and continued toward the village.

Just a day's walk from Konoha now.

They made good time, not stopping.

Within half a day, they had nearly reached the outer perimeter.

About ten kilometers from the Valley of the End—

A squad of masked shinobi suddenly blocked the path.

They wore the armor of Kirigakure's ANBU.

"Why are Mist-nin here?"

Shisui's voice trembled in shock.

The Hidden Mist hadn't yet officially joined the war.

If they were here, it could only mean one thing—

Kirigakure was ready to enter the conflict.

"Something's off…" Rin muttered.

"They're not here for us. They're chasing Konoha shinobi."

He noticed how the Mist-nin didn't approach them—keeping distance, avoiding engagement.

Then Shisui's face lit up with grim recognition.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist…!"

"The elite assassination squad of the Mist! Rumor says they've never failed a mission—over twenty S-rank kills. No one escapes once they've been marked."

"Each of them is a jonin-level assassin, skilled in silent killing. Their power rivals that of the Mizukage."

Shisui rattled off the information like a textbook.

He was a model student—sharp mind, excellent memory.

Compared to Rin, a battlefield medical-nin, Shisui's intelligence knowledge was broader.

Rin had also recognized them.

Not from their uniforms—

But from the massive, unmistakable blade one of them carried.

Samehada.

"That's Might Guy's squad."

Rin's eyes narrowed.

"This is bad. They're completely outmatched."

"There's no time! We have to help!"

Shisui's voice was urgent, desperate.

He recognized the Leaf shinobi being hunted.

Three of them were recent academy graduates—

One of them: Might Guy himself.

Only one jonin led them.

The Mist side had nothing but jonin.

Shisui didn't hesitate.

Even in the face of overwhelming danger, he wanted to save them.

As they spoke, the lone Leaf jonin was overtaken.

Two moves.

That's all it took.

A short blade pierced his chest.

Lightning Release exploded in blue sparks—flesh sizzling.

Hopelessly outnumbered.

"Wait."

Rin stopped Shisui from rushing in.

"We won't make a difference. They're elite jonin. This is suicide."

He knew how to treat wounded allies.

He had saved lives.

But now?

Now, he chose to let them die.

It was rational.

Cold.

Necessary.

Even if the one bleeding out was Might Guy—someone destined to become a cornerstone of the future—Rin wouldn't lift a finger.

Survival came first.

His instincts were clear.

Emotion no longer clouded his judgment.

But Shisui was different.

He had been raised with the Will of Fire.

The duty to protect comrades was carved into his soul.

"I'm sorry, Rin-senpai."

"But we carry the Will of Fire. Protecting our comrades is the Uchiha's duty."

And then he was gone.

Before Rin could stop him, Shisui moved—

His body flickered into afterimages.

Six of them.

His speed blinding.

He intercepted the blade just before it struck the next Leaf-nin.

Steel clashed against steel.

But the jonin he had tried to save…

Was already dead.

Heart pierced.

Gone.

"Huh? Reinforcements already?"

Raiga Kurosuki—one of the Swordsmen—snarled in surprise.

His blade, still crackling with electricity, trembled in his grip.

"A damn kid?"

His eyes widened in anger.

They were elite killers—

And the Leaf had sent a child to stop them.

"Is this a joke to you bastards?!"

Raiga's fury erupted.

Not at the resistance—

But at the insult.

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