CHAPTER 110

The direction Uchiha Kai chose was technically backward, but deliberately off the path that Fujiu Hangping had taken. Kai had paused for a few minutes before leaving, not out of hesitation, but to ensure that what would happen next wouldn't affect Fujiu — or be traced back to him.

Uchiha Kai was known for his composure and careful planning. But this calm didn't mean he lacked a temper. On the contrary, Kai firmly believed that the most efficient way to deal with trouble was to eliminate the root cause — permanently. In that way, there would be no lingering threats, no unfinished business.

It reminded him of a joke from a stealth video game in his past life: "If I kill everyone, there'll be no one left to report me." He used to laugh at that line. Now, having lived through the chaos of the Third Shinobi World War, he understood the truth behind it all too well. Before awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, Kai had made sure that every enemy who had seen his Sharingan — even in its base form — was silenced. If no one lived to tell the tale, then his secret stayed safe.

Of course, now that he wielded the Mangekyō, such secrecy no longer mattered as much. Power changed the rules.

His upcoming confrontation with Loess wasn't just another mission. There was bad blood between them — blood-soaked, bitter, and unresolved. Uchiha Kai had once killed several of Loess's comrades — shinobi the Iwa commander had grown up with, trained beside, and trusted with his life. Kai had nearly killed Loess himself once, but his jutsu back then lacked the raw force to punch through the Iwa-nin's earth-enhanced defenses. Kai's own chakra reserves and stamina had also been limited at the time.

If it hadn't been for Kenta Imai arriving in the nick of time, Kai would've died — humiliated and broken under Loess's fists. He never forgot the feeling of being powerless, or the cold taste of dirt and blood in his mouth.

Loess hadn't forgotten either. And even after that battle, the man had hunted them relentlessly — until the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, arrived and decimated the Iwa assault team. That had been the only thing that saved Kai and Kenta.

Now, Kenta had moved past it. But Kai? Kai wasn't the forgiving kind. His hatred burned slow, not hot. He kept it banked like coals — ready to ignite.

Slowing his pace slightly, Kai formed a shadow clone and sent it back to monitor the battlefield. He had no doubts: Loess would follow. They were alike in that way. Kai was no sadist, but he was a realist — and he believed Loess would crave revenge just as deeply.

And sure enough, less than a kilometer out, the shadow clone sent him confirmation. Loess was on his trail.

"Tch. If you want to die that badly… I'll oblige you," Kai muttered, his eyes narrowing.

To kill Loess, Kai would need every advantage. He scouted until he found favorable terrain — rocky, elevated ground with narrow choke points — perfect for an ambush. Then he waited.

Loess stood over the remains of a vanishing shadow clone, his jaw clenched. The other Iwa-nin looked to him silently. Morale was low — their operation in the Land of Grass had failed, and now, any survivors risked becoming leverage in negotiations with Konoha.

As the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Loess had his pride — and his obligations. He had survived an encounter with both Minato Namikaze and that damned Uchiha boy. Barely.

The Uchiha had taken everything from him. Comrades. Friends. Brothers-in-arms.

"Captain," a Chūnin approached carefully, "the enemy's scattered. They've split into at least five directions — two in the center, one in each quadrant."

Loess nodded. The sensory-nin beside the Chūnin added, "That Uchiha is the one who dropped the clone here. He went that way." He pointed toward the route Kai had taken — straight toward the mountainside.

Loess considered the situation. Kai had already eliminated four Iwa-nin and critically injured another. Twenty-five of their own remained. Most were mid-tier — not elite jōnin.

Still, there was no turning back.

"We split into five squads. Leave a few shadow clones to mark and track. Avoid engagement unless absolutely necessary," Loess ordered, selecting several chūnin and tokubetsu jōnin. "I'll take point on the Uchiha."

He moved quickly, heart steady but heavy. Kai was dangerous. Loess didn't want to risk his men, but protocol — and vengeance — demanded he try.

The Iwa squad reached a clearing flanked by stone pillars and uneven terrain. The sensor's clone gave a brief nod. "He's close—"

Before the sentence finished, a kunai sailed through the air, gleaming in the sun.

Loess whipped his own blade into its path with practiced precision — metal clashed on metal, and both fell harmlessly to the dirt. But the Iwa-nin around him didn't miss the tag wrapped around the handle.

"Detonation tag!" the sensor shouted.

They scattered.

BOOM. Smoke and debris flooded the clearing, obscuring vision and deafening senses. The explosion wasn't lethal — a feint — but it was enough.

In the confusion, the Iwa sensor clone turned sharply, having sensed a sudden chakra flux.

A blur of blue chakra surged forward — a blade humming with electricity, guided by a hand that moved too fast to follow.

Scarlet Sharingan spun like cursed stars.

There was no time to scream.