I Am Uzumaki Menma

Northeast of the Land of Bears.

Shisui, Hayama, and Hoheto moved along the edge of Devil's Ravine, heading north.

They were searching for a narrow point where they could cross Devil's Ravine.

Soon, relying on Hoheto's Byakugan, the three found a relatively narrow section.

Hayama took out a bundle of hook ropes from a sealing scroll.

"Let me handle this." Shisui said, taking the hook ropes. He then aimed at a large tree on the opposite side of Devil's Ravine, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan suddenly activating!

Whoosh-

The hook rope shot through the air like an arrow, piercing a giant tree two hundred meters away on the other side of Devil's Ravine. With a taut, humming sound, a rope stretched across the abyss filled with billowing poisonous mist.

Hayama tied the other end to a large tree on their side. Then, Shisui stepped onto the rope first, holding his breath to avoid inhaling the toxic gas, and quickly crossed the poison-filled Devil's Ravine.

As he neared the opposite side, Shisui drew a kunai and instantly moved forward, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Only after confirming there were no ambushes or traps did he signal to Hayama and Hoheto on the other side.

The two then followed, crossing the poisonous chasm via the rope.

"Cough cough-" The moment they reached the territory of the Land of Bears on the other side, Hayama couldn't help but cough twice, unnerved by the slight amount of poison he had inhaled.

"Hayama-senpai, are you okay?" Shisui asked with concern.

Hoheto also checked Hayama's condition with his Byakugan and nodded to Shisui after confirming there was no serious issue.

"It's nothing. Let's keep moving." Hayama shook his head, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

The three moved swiftly through the forest in a triangular formation.

Shisui took the lead, Hoheto activated his Byakugan and positioned himself on the right flank, while Hayama covered the left.

The three of them had just walked a short distance when Hoheto suddenly gave a sharp warning: "There's something ahead!"

Shisui landed on a tree branch, and Hayama also halted.

"Such… such enormous Chakra..." Hoheto's Byakugan veins bulged as he spoke, his voice filled with shock.

"Location!" Shisui asked, turning his head.

"Northwest of us! About two kilometers away!" Hoheto quickly reported.

As a Special Jonin of the Hyuga Clan, his Byakugan's scouting range at this distance was already exceptional.

The three cautiously advanced toward the northwest.

Soon, they arrived at a border area between the Land of Bears and the Land of Earth.

On the Land of Bears' side of the territory, three Iwagakure's Ninjas were engaged in battle with two women.

Hidden in the shadows, Shisui and his teammates stared in disbelief at the center of the battlefield.

A red-haired woman stood with three golden chains dancing like living creatures behind her, binding two of the Iwagakure's Ninjas in midair, while the third was impaled through the chest and pinned to a tree.

Not far away, a black-haired girl stood with her arms crossed, coldly observing the scene.

"Cough!" Gari spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the red-haired woman, the golden chain that had impaled his abdomen still pinning him to the tree.

"Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!" Gritting his teeth against the pain, Gari concentrated Chakra into his right fist and struck the golden chain.

Boom!

The moment his fist made contact, the golden chain exploded violently, allowing Shou to break free and stagger to the ground.

The remnants of the golden chain embedded in his body lost their Chakra and gradually dissipated, but the gaping wound in his abdomen continued to bleed profusely.

Gasping for breath, Gari no longer held even a shred of underestimation for the two women before him.

That red hair also reminded him of the Uzumaki Clan, who are once renowned throughout the Ninja World for their Sealing Techniques!

"To think there are still survivors of the Uzumaki Clan..." Gari panted heavily, glancing at his two teammates still bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, desperately thinking of a way to rescue them from these mysterious Kunoichi.

"Captain! Run! Don't worry about us!" One of the bound Iwagakure's Ninja roared desperately. "Get the intel back to the village!"

"Shut up!" Gari bellowed through gritted teeth, forcing himself to ignore the searing pain as he suddenly lunged toward the black-haired girl observing the fight.

As a member of the Explosion Corps and a Jonin of Iwagakure, Gari, who is deeply influenced by the [Will of Stone], refused to abandon his companions just like that.

Thus, he decided to strike at the black-haired girl who had been observing the battle.

She appeared much younger than the red-haired woman, and her relaxed demeanor suggested a lack of combat vigilance… making her seem like an easy target.

"Foolish!" The black-haired girl snorted coldly before charging straight at Gari.

Gari's fists surged with Explosion Release Chakra, aiming to deliver a devastating blow.

He had full confidence in his Taijutsu combined with Explosion Release, as any direct hit would trigger an explosion, engulfing the enemy in a devastating blast, just like stepping on a landmine!

This move had never failed him before!

However, just as their fists were about to collide, Kaguya caught a glimpse of the girl's scarlet Sharingan beneath her fluttering black hair!

Instantly, his body froze for a split second.

By the time he snapped out of it, the girl had already closed the distance, delivering a brutal spinning kick that sent him flying.

"Cough-"

The agony of crashing into the rocks shattered the Genjutsu's hold, but as Gari slumped against a boulder, he could feel multiple bones fracturing inside him.

Staring at the blood he had just coughed up, he struggled to lift his head, his eyes widening in horror at the black-haired girl before him.

'The Uchiha Clan! She's from the Uchiha Clan!'

Gari's eyes were filled with fear.

Every Ninja who had ever fought in a war knew one crucial rule: When fighting an Uchiha, never look into their eyes!

And Gari had faced Uchiha Clan's Ninja during the Third Great Ninja War and knew all too well how terrifying they were in battle.

In a one-on-one fight against an opponent of the same level, victory was nearly impossible!

'The Uchiha Clan...' Gari looked at the black-haired girl in front of him.

'The Uzumaki clan...' He then glanced at the red-haired woman not far away in surprise.

'What in the world was happening in Hoshigakure and the Land of Bears?!'

"Still not skilled enough, huh?" The red-haired woman sighed before another golden Chakra Chain shot out, tightly binding the now-defenseless Gari.

The Adamantine Sealing Chains were not just weapons, but were also sealing barriers. The number of chains one could manifest was directly tied to their strength.

As a beginner, Kanon could only barely manage three Chakra Chains at once.

"Wait… someone's there!" Just as Kanon was securing Gari and sealing the three prisoners with a barrier, she suddenly sensed something and snapped her gaze toward a nearby thicket.

Hikari reacted instantly, hurling several shuriken in that direction.

From within the forest, Shisui, who is now discovered, quickly threw his own shuriken to deflect the incoming projectiles.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Amid the metallic clashes, a chilling sense of danger shot down Shisui's spine.

The black-haired girl was already charging toward him like a bullet!