Chapter 39: Team Formation, Confronting Shinno!

Chapter 39: Team Formation, Confronting Shinno!

When Uchiha Ci heard Terumi Mei say she wanted to go too, he was momentarily stunned.

Though he might be carefree, he wasn't foolish. Naturally, he wouldn't think that someone as talented as Terumi Mei from the Hidden Mist Village would be captivated by his wild charm, like Hidan, and impulsively decide to join him.

At this time, the Hidden Mist Village was engaged in a small-scale conflict with the Hidden Sand Village, which had just lost its Third Kazekage.

It was during this period that Rasa and Yura built their reputations, vying for the title of Fourth Kazekage.

On top of that, the Hidden Stone Village, which had a deep-seated hatred for the Hidden Mist, was soon to launch an assault across the sea.

This battle, known as the Battle of Green Reef Fog, nearly silenced the Hidden Mist during the Third Great Ninja War.

However, what was strange was that, during such a turbulent time, Terumi Mei, the prodigy of the Hidden Mist, was neither in her village nor on the battlefield.

Instead, she had gone into hiding and appeared in the Land of Hot Water.

Moreover, she also seemed to have her sights set on the Jashin cult, looking to gain something from it.

Uchiha Ci furrowed his brow slightly and looked at Terumi Mei, sensing that beneath the already chaotic situation in the Land of Hot Water, there was an even darker undercurrent surging.

Under Uchiha Ci's direct gaze, Terumi Mei's face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her head away, explaining hastily:

"What are you staring at?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. I've been targeting the Jashin cult much longer than you, and I have my own goals that must be achieved."

Her tone grew heavier as a serious expression appeared in her clear emerald eyes.

"I must find someone."

"If I don't, my homeland could fall into grave danger."

Uchiha Ci pondered for a moment, but without sufficient information, he couldn't figure out who Terumi Mei was looking for.

However, it was clear that this situation was far more complicated than what a weak Genin like him could handle.

Even if Pan Zi and Ga Zi were here, they wouldn't be able to deal with this.

Besides, Hidan was currently clinging to him like a leech and was impossible to shake off. Perhaps having Terumi Mei around could help keep an eye on him.

Uchiha Ci, with his Super Death Battle Barrier, wasn't worried about Terumi Mei hindering his battles.

At that time, all he'd have to do was shout:

"Welcome to a man's world!"

Then he would slam the ground, pushing all his teammates aside and face the enemies alone.

In the astonished gazes of the enemies, he would then unleash the Forbidden Technique: Fire Release Chakra Mode!

Even if a God descended, it would be hard to save him!

Uchiha Ci chuckled to himself, replaying the scene in his mind over and over.

But no matter how he envisioned it, it seemed like a dead-end scenario.

With that thought, he sized up the two before him for a while, and finally nodded helplessly.

"Alright, let's go together."

Hidan and Terumi Mei exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile.

However, just at that moment—

"If you're all going, why not count me in as well?"

A deep voice came from behind.

The three turned in surprise, with Hidan even exclaiming:

"Shinno, sir?"

The one who spoke was none other than Shinno, who had been so quiet up until now that it seemed like he didn't exist.

"I'm technically a medical ninja as well. I should be able to contribute in some way."

Wearing a brown hood, draped in a light yellow robe, with a large red dot on his forehead, Shinno slowly walked forward, his gaze calm and his tone steady.

Uchiha Ci immediately narrowed his eyes slightly, looking coldly at Shinno.

This leader of the Hidden Sky Village, disguised as a wandering medical ninja, had been silently following them all along, clearly harboring ill intentions.

As a doctor, there was no reason for him to be banished from his village.

Yet, here he was, tagging along with them—more accurately, following Hidan.

There was no way Uchiha Ci could believe this wasn't some sort of scheme.

"I'm sorry, Shinno, sir. I appreciate you healing my injuries, but the Jashin cult is not a peaceful place. For your own safety, it's best if you stay behind," Uchiha Ci decisively refused.

"Uchiha Ci, is it?" Shinno frowned slightly and let out a small sigh.

"You don't need to be so cautious. We have no enmity between us, and I pose no threat to you."

He glanced at Terumi Mei and calmly added:

"Just like this young lady, I have my own goals to achieve."

"All I need is a bit of data to verify my findings. Do whatever you want; I won't interfere, just observe from the side."

"If necessary, I can even treat your injuries."

"So, there's no need for you to be so wary of me."

Finally, with a calm expression and a hint of subtle threat in his voice, Shinno said:

"Besides, if I wish to follow, your words alone can't stop me."

"Care to try?"

[Shinno not only disdains you but is also attempting to provoke you.]

Uchiha Ci's eyes instantly sharpened, and without wasting any words, he swiftly grabbed Terumi Mei's ninja tool pouch and pulled out a kunai, flinging it directly at Shinno's face.

Then he swept his leg, kicking up a cloud of dust towards Shinno.

Using the dust as cover, Uchiha Ci crouched and moved to the side, spinning the kunai in his fingers.

The dazzling and cold blade twirled, and Uchiha Ci gripped it in reverse, aiming straight for Shinno's temple.

The kunai from the front, the dust, and the surprise attack from the side all converged simultaneously.

Even an average Jonin would hardly have time to form hand signs against such a rapid assault.

Danger erupted in an instant!

Both Hidan and Terumi Mei froze, their faces showing shock.

They hadn't expected Uchiha Ci to attack the doctor who had just healed him so decisively.

However, facing this complex assault, Shinno merely shook his head, and a surge of energy exploded from his body.

Forbidden Technique: Body Revival.

Forbidden Technique: Eight Gates Release, Sixth Gate—Gate of View, Open!

Then, tilting his head slightly, he dodged the kunai from the front and flicked his fingers.

Boom!

A sonic boom echoed from his fingertips!

It was like a violent level-eight gale rushing forward!

Uchiha Ci was like a hammer slammed by a great force, instantly sent flying backward.

In his vision, subtitles appeared:

[Ding!]

[You have bravely confronted the leader of the Hidden Sky Village, Shinno. You have obtained a random skill from him: Forbidden Technique: Body Revival (Master, S-Rank, Incomplete).]

[Your Heartsteel level has increased.]

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Uchiha Ci bounced on the ground several times, creating a long trench.

"Cough! Whoa!" He coughed up a mouthful of blood, feeling as though his internal organs had shifted out of place.

Compared to the top-tier ninjas of the current world, he was still far too immature.

However, before Uchiha Ci could recover—

A large hand rested on his chest, emitting a soft green glow as it slowly healed his misaligned organs and the internal injuries caused by Shinno's strike.

This was the Mystical Palm Technique, a high-level medical ninjutsu.

This left Uchiha Ci completely dumbfounded.

"Uncle, if you want to fight, could you just kill me in one hit?"

He looked at Shinno, who appeared calm and composed as if nothing had happened, and asked, feeling extremely frustrated:

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Shinno raised an eyebrow.

"Why not kill me? And why save me again and again?" Uchiha Ci glared at him, cold anger in his eyes.

"Would you care if an ant tried to punch you?" Shinno shook his head and sighed before replying in a heavy tone:

"If you really want to know why, I guess it's because seeing you reminds me of my past."

"I too had a home I wanted to return to, but could never go back."

"Is that so?"

Uchiha Ci knew he was referring to the Hidden Sky Village, which had been destroyed by the Leaf Village.

It was the destruction of his home and village that had driven this man to seek power for revenge against the Leaf.

Uchiha Ci exhaled, pushing Shinno's hand away, stopping him from continuing the treatment.

Then he glared at him and gave a cruel smile:

"I'll believe you for now."

"But if you dare harm these two behind my back, I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"

"Believe me. I always keep my word."

Forbidden Technique: Body Revival was similar to Tsunade's Creation Rebirth, allowing one to continuously heal from injuries. However, unlike the Yin Seal, which consumed chakra, this technique consumed lifespan.

This is why it's classified as a forbidden technique.

With this technique, combined with the Fire Release: Chakra Mode, Uchiha Ci estimated that it would give him an additional five seconds of combat time.

Five seconds—under this near-godlike power—would be enough to break through the floating Angkor Fortress, the incomplete Zero-Tails creation, and even Shinno himself.

"Heh." Shinno didn't say anything, merely assuming that Uchiha Ci was just talking tough.