Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 136: Taijutsu Upgrade, Charging into the Enemy Formation

Amidst a forest of jagged stone spikes rising from the barren wasteland, the winding path was cracked and uneven. Wind whistled softly, slipping through eroded stone pillars, producing a low, mournful sound.

Despite the Sand Village forces gaining the upper hand, the horrifying display from that singular sword and the image of the resolute, lone wolf-like boy were deeply engraved in the hearts of all present Sand ninja.

It was almost nightmarish.

The Sand Village commander exhaled deeply, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. The outrageous, awe-inspiring spectacle of the sword had nearly scared him to death. However, when actually countering it, the collaborative Wind Release: Super Great Sickle Weasel Technique shredded the sword into nothingness with ease.

This realization allowed the commander to quickly analyze the situation.

Raising his head to observe the temporarily quiet battlefield, his expression turned grim. He frowned in thought before making a conjecture:

"It seems that technique is something that brat can't use again within a short time."

"And even if he could pull it off again, we'd only need four squads to completely neutralize him. The rest can focus on Manda, which should be enough to keep that snake at bay."

Feeling fortunate, the commander heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

"Good thing it's just a kid. If Orochimaru himself were here, none of us would stand a chance against him."

"Let's finish them off quickly."

The Sand Village commander was about to issue orders when—

"Commander!"

A Chūnin, pale-faced and trembling, stumbled forward over the jagged stone pillars. His expression was as if he had seen a ghost.

"What is it now?" The commander, feeling confident about his prior deductions, was annoyed at being interrupted. He scowled and asked impatiently.

"C-Commander! That... that kid! He... he's not human!"

The Chūnin pointed shakily behind him, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

"Calm down and explain properly. What do you mean he's not human? What happened?"

The ninja gulped, turned, and pointed ahead. "Look over there!"

Following his gaze, the commander looked up and froze.

Under the enchanting moonlight, the jagged forest of stone spikes began to tremble.

Suddenly, the area erupted in brilliant flashes of light, painting the surroundings an eerie white.

A figure, impossibly fast, shot through the air, weaving mid-flight. It descended in an arc like a crescent moon, skimming the edges of jutsu with an almost predatory grace.

Blood-red Sharingan eyes reflected the moon's glow, shining with an unsettling brilliance.

The figure's spinning movements left behind an arcing trail of light, slicing through everything in its path: stones, dirt, wind blades, grass, and even the thorns of desert plants.

"Ahhhh!"

"Ugh, pfft!"

"Help!"

"Stay back, you demon!"

"Don't come any closer!"

Shrieks from Sand ninja shattered the silence, turning the previously quiet slaughter into a chaotic, gruesome spectacle.

The commander's eyes widened in shock. "Why? How can that brat fly?!"

"He's like a bird in the sky!"

"Commander!" the Chūnin yelled, panic-stricken. "We need to act fast! If we don't stop him, he'll reach us!"

Pressure mounted as sweat poured down the commander's face. Though rattled, he quickly recovered, commanding decisively.

"Saikuta, Inoe, Takaji, take squads and intercept Manda immediately! Whatever you do, keep it out of our formation! If that snake gets through, we're finished!"

He then turned his fierce gaze back to the battlefield. Clasping his hands together, he barked, "The rest of you, with me! All squads, full force! Kill that brat at any cost!"

---

Meanwhile, within the spiked forest, Uchiha Ci darted through the terrain, wielding his Kusanagi Sword in one hand while manipulating Earth Grudge Fear threads with the other. These threads retrieved ninja tools from the ground, flinging them toward enemies.

Using the threads for leverage, he vaulted into the air, evading shadows and striking down any Sand ninja—whether they reacted in time or not—with deadly precision.

His objective was singular: break through the Sand Village's central formation and complete his assassination mission.

As Uchiha Ci fought, a stream of notifications appeared before him:

You fiercely counterattacked a Sand Genin attempting to kill you. You obtained a random skill: Water Walking.

Your Water Walking proficiency has increased.

You obtained a random skill: Wind Release: Gale Palm.

You obtained a random skill: Transformation Technique.

Most of the outer forces were fodder, newly graduated Genin who barely knew how to use low-level D- and E-rank techniques. Duplicate skills simply enhanced his mastery of them.

One particularly useful skill was Basic Taijutsu. Continuous combat rapidly honed this foundational ability, advancing it to mastery.

Ci's movements became swifter, his strikes sharper, and his overall fighting style more seamless.

Combining his refined swordsmanship with improved taijutsu, Ci envisioned new techniques—merging all his skills into a higher-tier combat system.

Suddenly, Ci's instincts screamed danger. He stopped abruptly, leaping back just as a massive wind vortex crashed into his previous position.

The Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere exploded on impact, sending razor-sharp wind blades outward, shredding the ground and forcing Ci back several meters. Blood trickled from six fresh wounds etched across his body by the passing blades.

Gritting his teeth, Ci leapt atop a stone pillar, his Sharingan locking onto a group of elite Sand ninja—twelve in total, including their commander—preparing synchronized jutsu.

The atmosphere shifted ominously. Lower-ranking ninjas had silently retreated, leaving only elites to engage.

Ci scanned the battlefield, his lips curling into a grin. Licking a bead of blood from his lip, he chuckled darkly.

"Finally, a real challenge! I was getting bored of cutting down cannon fodder."

With that, he launched himself toward the enemy formation, drawing a flurry of attacks. A kunai with an explosive tag hurtled toward him, sparking with fire.

Ci bent low, activating Water Release: Water Surface Slash on his soles to reduce ground friction. With a swift tug of his threads, he surged forward, catching the kunai mid-air before tossing it back at another enemy.

Dodging the resulting explosion, he leapt into the fray, skillfully evading blades and retaliating with brutal precision.

His taijutsu and kenjutsu flowed seamlessly, each move enhanced by his Sharingan's predictive capabilities.

The battlefield became a stage for Ci's violent artistry as enemies fell one by one.

From a distance, the Sand commander trembled with rage.

"Commander, we can't wait any longer! Sacrifices are necessary to kill him!"

The commander snarled, his voice hoarse. "Fine! All units, prepare a joint attack! Obliterate that entire area—leave nothing behind!"