https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-923-The-Stirring-of-the-Shinobi-Villages-/13078046/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-925-Danzo-How-Can-the-Flying-Dragon-s-Face-Lose-/13078048/
Chapter 924: The Two Pillars, a Stark Contrast
Chapter 924: The Two Pillars, a Stark Contrast
On the stone bridge!
Both sides stood eye to eye, their gazes calm, but the tension between them was palpable.
"Tuan Cang, it's time to pay back what you owe the Uchiha!"
As the Second Pillar spoke, a strong sense of a protagonist's vengeance filled the air.
"Hmph, I should've taken care of you and Itachi back then. The Uchiha are indeed ungrateful!" Tuan Cang's tone was disdainful.
He truly looked down upon the Uchiha.
They possessed the powerful Sharingan, yet they couldn't utilize its full potential. If he had such power, he would have already led Konoha to greatness.
Thus, the only ones he ever looked down upon were the Uchiha, not the Sharingan itself.
One could only say that his thought process was peculiar; he coveted their power while also wishing to destroy them.
Even now, he only regretted not finishing them off back then, never once feeling that his actions were wrong.
Everything was for the sake of Konoha.
(Konoha: No regrets, ungrateful!)
It was this belief that allowed him to do anything.
Whether it was targeting Qian Shou Zhu Jian, assassinating the Fire Shadow, using the Senju Clan as test subjects, or destroying the Uchiha—all of it was justified.
One could only conclude that his actions were those of a foolish child.
Under this mindset, Tuan Cang truly felt no guilt or remorse.
"You will regret your actions!"
The Second Pillar removed his Dawn uniform, making it easier to fight.
"Is that so? I don't know if I'll regret it, but you will soon!"
Tuan Cang's expression was one of triumph, as if he had just trapped his prey.
Whoosh!
Dark shadows emerged from all directions, surrounding the stone bridge.
There were nearly a hundred of them, including more than one elite ninja, all dressed in black combat attire and wearing Root Division masks.
Indeed!
These were Tuan Cang's subordinates, nurtured from within the walls of Konoha's Root Division.
One could only say that Tuan Cang was truly skilled at cultivating dark forces.
In a short time, he had gathered a formidable force.
The training of ninjas doesn't take a short time?
For Tuan Cang, this was not an issue; he could simply take advantage of Konoha's resources.
It was only because of the time constraint that the newly reorganized Root Division by Kusagakure Konoe might not always follow orders in the future.
Nearly a hundred was no small number.
The Root Division ninjas were no ordinary warriors; they were all skilled in combat, making them formidable opponents.
Even Shadow Level warriors had to be cautious to avoid falling into their trap.
"Uchiha Sasuke, do you think I don't know you want to get rid of me?"
"This is just an opportunity I'm giving you!"
"Today, you will leave behind this Sharingan!"
...
Tuan Cang's eyes gleamed with greed as he stared at Sasuke's eyes, as if admiring a rare treasure.
He had long coveted the Sharingan.
He had succeeded with Shijima, but unfortunately, one of the Sharingan was taken, making things more complicated later on.
Now, another pair of Sharingan appeared before him, and this time, he wouldn't be careless.
The key was his strength, which was no longer as weak as before.
His combat power was now comparable to that of a High Shadow Level warrior, and with the 'Revival Coin,' he dared to face any enemy head-on.
It was just a mere Uchiha, even with the Sharingan.
He had the 'Wood Release' at his disposal.
Just as Senju Hashirama had defeated Uchiha Madara's Sharingan with Wood Release, he, Tuan Cang, could do the same today.
However, Tuan Cang failed to understand one thing.
The gap between people could sometimes be even greater than that between humans and dogs.
This was the case with the difference between him and Senju Hashirama.
Despite transplanting Hashirama's cells and allowing Orochimaru to fuse them with the Ghost Yakushi's technique,
his Wood Release was not significantly stronger than that of Yamato.
But Tuan Cang didn't see it that way.
He merely believed that with the Wood Release in his possession, the world was his for the taking.
The power that once brought peace to the world was now in his hands; how could he possibly fail?
He was confident, but his confidence was misplaced.
At this moment, Tuan Cang was a man driven by delusion.
"The Sharingan is right here; if you want it, come and take it!"
Sasuke's gaze swept over the approaching Root Division ninjas, and with a light shout, he began to retreat.
It wasn't out of fear but to gain a strategic advantage by creating space and avoiding encirclement.
Whoosh!
Chougo on the side entered Curse Mark Mode, ready for a major battle.
Whoosh!
Sasuke first threw kunai, shuriken, and senbon.
For the Uchiha Clan, throwing techniques were a mandatory course, and due to the Sharingan, they excelled in this aspect.
Sizzle!
Several Genbu members were pierced by the thrown weapons as they tried to block them.
It wasn't that they lacked basic blocking skills, but these weapons could alter their trajectory mid-air upon collision, resulting in this situation.
It was no wonder the Uchiha clan was renowned for their exceptional throwing skills. Their throwing techniques were unmatched by others.
Ordinary people could only dream of achieving such proficiency.
Not a single mistake, a perfect strike!
With such energy and time, wouldn't it be better to invest in Ninjutsu or other areas?
The Genbu members showed no fear, even in the face of this onslaught.
After all, they were 'killing machines,' and fear was not in their vocabulary.
Tuan Cang slowly caught up with them.
He planned to let his subordinates wear Sasuke down while extracting more information, and then deliver the fatal blow himself.
As for the sacrifices along the way?
Dying for the future Fire Shadow was an honor they would gladly accept.
(Various Subordinates: ...I really should be grateful!)
Sasuke and Chougo fought while retreating from the encirclement.
They could have faced the assault head-on, but it would have been too exhausting and troublesome.
Sasuke quickly realized he had exhausted his supply of thrown weapons and had no choice but to draw his sword.
For him, conserving Chakra was crucial.
After all, he still had to deal with Tuan Cang.
The opponent's combat prowess was no weaker than his own, and with their special abilities, they held the advantage. Without maintaining his condition, there was no chance of victory.
Indeed, Sasuke was well aware that Tuan Cang's strength surpassed his own.
But battles weren't solely about statistics, especially for ninjas.
It was about gathering more intelligence.
Sasuke had gathered plenty of information about Tuan Cang during their time in the Land of Steam.
Additionally, his teacher had provided extra 'gifts' of intelligence, ensuring Sasuke knew everything about Tuan Cang.
Sasuke's bold move to confront Tuan Cang, despite his inferior strength, was backed by this wealth of information.
Of course, on the surface, he appeared to be acting on a 'rash' desire for revenge.
Tuan Cang could never have guessed that his secrets were laid bare before Sasuke.
On a high cliff beside the stone bridge, a figure watched the battle below. When they saw Sasuke's desperate struggle, they whispered in admiration:
"Impressive! You've improved!"
Tang Ping's words were sincere.
Er Zhuzhi's personality, under his 'tutelage,' had truly changed from the original storyline.
At the very least, in the original story, Er Zhuzhi would never have been able to maintain his disguise until now, despite having greater strength.
Sasuke's plan had been set in motion long ago.
Remember how much Tang Ping had invested in him?
Aside from various Lightning Releases, he had also given Er Zhuzhi the S-rank Lightning Release 'Thunderbird' of Uchiha Mei.
After all, Er Zhuzhi had willingly handed over all of Orochimaru's 'inheritance' to Tang Ping, so the rewards were substantial.
Not only in Ninjutsu but also in Luminescent Elixir, Natural Energy, and... other investments.
Additionally, his physical abilities had been enhanced during their time in the Land of Steam.
It could be said that Sasuke's current strength far surpassed his original self in the storyline.
Yet, whether it was capturing Killer Bee or his performance at the Five Kage Summit, he had perfectly replicated the original storyline, leaving Tang Ping in awe.
His patience and strategic thinking had improved tremendously, and he was no longer easily manipulated like in the original story.
There was no choice; the book 'My Struggle' had revealed too much.
It had cleared Sasuke's doubts, allowing him to understand the origins and perpetrator of the Uchiha clan's tragedy.
With his newfound clarity, the support of Hyuga Shougetsu, and Tang Ping, and the new pillar of the Sunlight Nation's will, Sasuke Uchiha was born.
Indeed, there was also the untouched Indra Chakra within him, untouched by the White Erosion.
Had it been tampered with, as seen in the 'Unburnable Transmission,' it would have taken the form of the 'Fire Will,' devoid of any individuality.
A village that slaughtered its entire clan, yet was ultimately protected with all its heart and soul.
It sounded beautiful, but in reality, it was terrifying.
Soon, Tuan Cang began to make his move.
(End of Chapter)
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