Mamoi stared at the smile on Uchiha Souji's face and felt an urge to slap him twice.
Why was this brat smiling at a time like this?
Nothing about this situation was funny.
Mamoi stood between two terrifying options. On one side were two genius children holding rare bloodline abilities—Souji from the Uchiha and Hinata from the Hyūga. If he successfully brought them back to the Land of Lightning, then in a few years the Cloud Village would gain two powerful clans with kekkei genkai.
On the other hand…
The Land of Lightning could no longer afford war.
The daimyō refused to give money for another conflict. The Third Raikage had died not long ago, and the entire country was torn apart by internal arguments. Everyone was busy fighting for power, not fighting for their nation.
If they forced Konoha into another war now, Cloud Village might win battles, but the country would crumble from inside. Their strength would fall. They would not survive another prolonged conflict.
So… what should he do?
Return the children?
Run away and abandon the mission?
Kill someone and blame Konoha?
He stared down at his hands.
He wasn't unfamiliar with dirty work—he had served in Anbu, after all. But this situation was so twisted that even he felt lost.
After a long moment of silence, Mamoi's eyes hardened.
He removed the Third Generation Ghost Blade strapped to his back, then turned to Souji and asked quietly:
"I heard you fought Orochimaru for several rounds. Tell me—if a severely injured Jōnin with a hollow wound attacks someone by surprise, could you kill him? Worst case, take the Hyūga princess and escape?"
Mamoi swallowed.
"I can pretend to let you escape. You become the hero… and I become the mastermind. We don't have to kill if we can avoid it."
Souji blinked, confused.
He did not want to become a hero.
He did not want to be involved in Cloud Village politics.
He especially did not want to become a future breeding stud for the Land of Lightning, which was definitely what Mamoi's superiors would plan once they captured him.
But Mamoi clearly held the antidote.
Without it, Souji's body was still paralyzed and hiccupping uncontrollably. He could barely think straight.
Mamoi raised a small pill between his fingers—a smooth, shining antidote.
Souji accepted it, but before he could swallow—
Mamoi suddenly collapsed.
"AAAH!!! I've been shot!!"
He rolled dramatically across the ground, screaming, clutching his chest, even spitting fake blood. His performance was so exaggerated that Souji almost laughed.
At the same time—
"Long Ming Flash!"
A piercing sound exploded across the forest.
"OMMMMM!!!"
The vibration shook leaves and sent birds falling from the trees. Animals collapsed, their ears bleeding. The Jōnin in front of them staggered; blood dripped from his ear but his hearing wasn't destroyed.
What happened next stunned Souji.
Instead of using the attack as a distraction to defend himself, the Jōnin reacted instantly—pulling out a kunai, grabbing the sack containing Hinata, and preparing to strike with lightning-enhanced chakra.
Souji narrowed his eyes.
This man's instantaneous combat instinct was terrifying.
Even Souji had to respect that speed.
"PUFF!"
Behind Souji, Mamoi coughed violently, sounding like he might actually die.
"Leave me! Take the Byakugan and run… cough cough!!"
His voice trembled dramatically.
Souji couldn't decide whether Mamoi was a dedicated actor or completely insane.
But then things grew worse.
The Jōnin suddenly dropped into character as well, placing the sack gently on the ground.
"Kid," he said to Souji, "take this girl and go. I must save Lord Mamoi!"
Souji blinked.
Was… everyone suddenly acting?
The Jōnin continued, stepping back:
"I'll retreat, then go around from the side. You approach slowly and take her away."
Behind them—
"PUFF!!"
Mamoi spat blood again, and this time Souji wasn't sure if it was fake.
Souji took a deep breath.
He wasn't stupid.
"Open the sack," Souji demanded.
"I want to see her."
The Jōnin hesitated, then knelt and loosened the knot.
Inside was a small, frightened Hyūga Hinata, trembling, her ears bleeding slightly from the earlier attack. Tears streamed down her face as she wiped them with shaky hands.
Her tiny sobs made Souji clench his fists.
"Alright," Souji said, "I'll move slowly. You move sideways. No sudden moves."
Mamoi nearly choked.
Was Souji… giving orders now?
But Mamoi stayed still. He had one last chance: a sneak attack.
A faint vibration traveled through the ground—Mamoi felt it instantly.
Without hesitation, he made a hand seal beneath Souji's cover.
"Earth Style: Hiding in Earth!"
His body sank underground, leaving behind a clone in the dirt.
Just as Souji prepared to step forward—
CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!
The sound of branches breaking.
Ninja footsteps.
Tree trunks echoing with rapid movement.
Every shinobi recognized this sound.
Someone was sprinting up trees at high speed.
The Cloud Jōnin's eyes widened in panic.
"Kuso…!"
If reinforcements were coming, he was trapped.
Since he couldn't escape—he would kill Hinata instead.
He raised the kunai—
Lightning crackled across the blade—
And stabbed toward Hinata's heart.
Hinata couldn't hear, but she saw death coming.
The kunai was only inches away.
Her pale eyes widened.
Her small body froze completely.
Time seemed to stop.
---
Souji's Choice
Souji was no stranger to violence.
He had fought powerful enemies.
He could kill if necessary.
But killing an innocent child?
Watching her die in front of him?
Absolutely not.
Every lesson from his past life, every moral he had held close, screamed at him. He refused to let a child die because of his inaction.
His Sharingan awakened instantly—
Two Tomoe spinning violently.
Time slowed.
Souji saw every detail:
The electric sparks dancing along the kunai
The Jōnin's twisted expression
Hinata's tearful, frozen face
The exact trajectory of the blade
His Sharingan reached its limit—
He could see everything.
But his body…
His body was too slow.
He forced his muscles to move—
Faster—
Faster—
Faster—
But no matter how hard he pushed, his physical speed could not match the vision of his Sharingan.
The world around him moved like syrup.
And the kunai continued falling toward Hinata.
------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------- .