More than a month had passed since Shinsuke joined the Guard.
With strength far surpassing his peers, Uchiha Shinsuke quickly secured his position in Uchiha Tekka's First Squad.
Whether during routine patrols or sparring sessions, the seasoned veterans in the squad were all convinced by the combat prowess Shinsuke displayed.
That day, the atmosphere in the mission hall was somewhat grim.
Uchiha Inabi, the Deputy Chief of the Guard, stood at the front with a stern expression.
"Urgent intelligence has come from the border of the Land of Fire."
"A group of rogue ninja, numbering around ten, has crossed the border and infiltrated Konoha's jurisdiction."
"These individuals are extremely brutal and have already committed several bloody massacres along the way. Their strength is not to be underestimated. The Hokage himself has ordered our Guard to completely annihilate these scum within three days!"
Inabi's gaze swept over the squad leaders present and finally settled on Uchiha Tekka.
"Tekka, this mission goes to you and your First Squad."
"Yes, sir! We will complete the mission!"
Tekka accepted without a moment's hesitation.
...
Outside Konoha Village, deep within the forest.
The First Squad had assembled, each member clad in battle gear, their expressions grave.
"Listen up!"
Tekka looked around at his team members.
"This time, we're dealing with a group of vicious rogue ninja, not some ordinary bandits. Stay on high alert!"
"Shinsuke."
Tekka turned to Shinsuke, who stood at the back of the formation.
"Your job is reconnaissance and long-range fire support. At the critical moment, I want you to tear through their defenses with Fire Style, got it?"
"Understood."
"The rest of you, follow standard combat groupings: three men per team, advancing with alternating cover! Move out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Ten figures instantly dispersed, rushing swiftly towards the last known area where the rogue ninja had been reported.
This was Shinsuke's first official mission since joining the Guard that required coordinated teamwork.
The group moved with great speed, dashing rapidly through the treetops.
By dusk.
Tekka, leading at the front, suddenly raised a hand in a stop signal.
The group quickly concealed themselves behind a dense thicket.
Ahead lay a valley in a hidden terrain.
Inside the valley, campfires flickered, shadows moved about, and faint sounds of noisy clamor could be heard.
Tekka's brow furrowed deeply, his expression turning grim.
"The intelligence was wrong. There are at least twenty of them down there!"
A squad member lowered his voice and asked, "Captain, what now? They outnumber us. Should we request backup?"
Tekka shook his head decisively.
"If we pull back, we'll definitely be spotted. Plus, the terrain here is unfavorable for a direct assault."
Tekka pondered for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
"Wait for nightfall! We'll attack under cover of darkness!"
"For now, stay hidden!"
...
A moonless, windy night – perfect for killing.
A dark figure moved silently through the shadows of the large trees.
Shinsuke looked up.
On a branch of a giant tree not far away, a rogue ninja sentry was leaning against the trunk, yawning listlessly, completely unaware that death was upon him.
'Got you.'
A cold glint flashed in Shinsuke's eyes, and his right wrist moved slightly.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three shuriken flew from his hand, tracing three barely perceptible arcs of cold light through the night sky, forming a triangular pattern that sealed off all possible escape routes for the target!
The sentry only registered the cold gleam before his eyes, instinctively opening his mouth to raise an alarm.
But it was too late!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three dull thuds of blades piercing flesh sounded almost simultaneously.
Throat, heart, forehead!
Three vital points, precisely pierced by the three shuriken!
Thud.
The faint, muffled sound of the body hitting the ground was completely masked by the wind.
Almost simultaneously, extremely faint sounds of clashing weapons came from two other directions, quickly fading back into silence.
The three outer sentries around the valley had been cleanly and silently eliminated in less than ten seconds!
"Well done!"
"Everyone, await my command!"
Tekka's eyes turned ice-cold, his killing intent palpable.
"We'll strike simultaneously from three directions! Shinsuke, find a good vantage point and hit them with your widest-range Fire Style! Tear their formation apart! The rest of you, follow my signal and cut them down as fast as you can!"
"Yes, sir!"
With Tekka's command, the squad members rushed towards the rogue ninja camp from three directions simultaneously!
"Enemy attack—!"
A piercing scream finally shattered the valley's tranquility!
The rogue ninja inside the camp erupted into chaos, scrambling for their weapons.
Just then, Shinsuke positioned himself on a high vantage point, his hands having already completed a complex sequence of hand seals!
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the next instant, dozens of blazing fireballs, like scattered blossoms, rained down overwhelmingly on the densest concentration of rogue ninja!
Boom! Boom! Boom—!
A series of intense explosions erupted!
Screams, curses, and the clash of weapons transformed the valley into a slaughterhouse in an instant!
The range and precision of Shinsuke's Phoenix Sage Fire were both terrifying, completely shattering the rogue ninja's formation and preventing them from mounting any effective resistance!
"Kill!"
Tekka roared, charging forward at the head of the assault!
The three tomoe in his eyes spun wildly, his sword glinting with a cold, deadly light amidst the flames, each swing sending a spray of hot blood into the air!
The other Guard members, like tigers among sheep, unleashed a bloody slaughter on the chaotic battlefield, relying on the immense perceptive power of their Sharingan!
Just when everyone thought victory was within reach, an unexpected turn occurred!
"Take out that Uchiha leader!"
A fierce shout rang out!
Three figures with exceptionally strong auras suddenly burst forth from the chaotic crowd, their target clearly Tekka, who was charging at the forefront!
These three rogue ninja were all at the Jonin level!
More alarmingly, their coordination was flawless, their attacks aimed with cruel precision, instantly cutting off all of Tekka's escape routes!
"Captain, look out!"
A Guard member cried out in alarm, wanting to provide support, but was pinned down by several other reckless rogue ninja and couldn't break free.
"You're asking for it!"
The strongest among the rogue leaders grinned savagely, his long sword wrapped in sharp Wind Style chakra, transforming into a cyan arc as he slashed viciously down at Tekka's head!
Tekka tried to dodge, but the other two rogue ninja had sealed off his left and right sides with kunai and chains!
No escape!
At this critical moment!
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A sharp, cold voice rang out!
Roar—!
A massive, ferocious dragon of flames slammed violently into the three rogue ninja!
The three Jonin-level rogues' faces changed drastically!
Take the hit?
They would definitely be injured!
Forced to abandon their perfect assassination opportunity, the three leapt backward!
Boom—!
The fire dragon exploded violently where they had just stood, sending a fierce wave of blazing fire raging outward, carving a charred trench into the earth!
Seizing this chance, Tekka narrowly escaped the predicament.
"Shinsuke!"
The power of that Dragon Fire Technique just now… was already no less than what he himself could unleash at full strength!
'This kid… he's gotten stronger again!'
The three rogue leaders steadied themselves, looking at Shinsuke with a mix of shock and fury.
"Where did this brat come from! How dare you interfere with our business!"
"Look at his age, he must have exhausted his chakra using that last move!"
"You're right! Take him out first!"
The three exchanged a glance, reaching a consensus in an instant.
Two of them engaged Tekka again, while the strongest leader turned into a blur, charging straight at Shinsuke with murderous intent.
"Courting death."
Watching the enemy rush towards him, Shinsuke scoffed coldly, his eyes showing not a trace of fear.
Shinsuke lifted his head, meeting the rogue leader's frenzied gaze.
"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Though it was only a single-tomoe Sharingan, Shinsuke's mental strength far exceeded normal standards, and combined with the system's gift of perfect control over the Sharingan, the genjutsu he cast was frighteningly potent!
The rogue leader's charging figure came to an abrupt, screeching halt less than five meters from Shinsuke!
His face still held the ferocity of his charge.
But his eyes had instantly lost all their luster, becoming empty and vacant.
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