Naruto: Uchiha Survivor Forced to Save the Shinobi World

At the edge of a small river, villagers who had fled from the Hidden Grass Village were replenishing their water and tending to their wounds.

Due to her unique constitution, Ryuzetsu's injuries had already healed significantly, and she busied herself among the crowd, helping where she could.

Uchiha Shinji and Yakumo, who had been protecting this group of Hidden Grass Village refugees, stood on a nearby high ground, keeping watch over the surroundings.

Yakumo suddenly spoke up, "Shinji, the village's reinforcements should be arriving soon, right?"

"Maybe," Shinji replied, his tone distracted.

A worried expression crossed Yakumo's face. "I wonder how Lady Tsunade and the others are doing."

"She's one of the Hidden Leaf's 'Sannin.' Isn't worrying about her a bit unnecessary?" Shinji chuckled lightly before continuing, "You'd better worry about us instead."

Yakumo nodded, her gaze shifting to the Hidden Grass Village refugees by the river.

If it were just her and Shinji, whether escaping the Land of Grass or handling other matters, things would be far easier.

But with this large group of Hidden Grass Village refugees in tow, the situation was entirely different.

At that moment, Shinji suddenly said, "Trouble's coming."

Yakumo quickly followed Shinji's gaze and saw, far downstream, a figure cloaked in crackling lightning, rushing against the current toward them at breakneck speed.

"So fast!"

Yakumo's expression tightened.

The figure's speed was astonishing, even to someone like her, a shinobi with the Koryugan dojutsu Bloodline Limit.

"You go get everyone gathered. I'll hold them off!"

After calmly issuing the order, Shinji's form flickered and vanished from the spot.

"Shinji…"

Yakumo had wanted to intercept the enemy herself, but seeing Shinji already on the move, she hurriedly rushed to the riverbank, calling for the Hidden Grass Village refugees to regroup and prepare to evacuate once more.

On Shinji's side, his speed was no less impressive. He quickly intercepted the incoming enemy about one or two kilometers from the riverbank where the group was resting.

After carefully sizing up his opponent—particularly noting the kanji for 'Upper Rank Six' in their eyes—Shinji identified them.

The figure, wreathed in flickering lightning, was likely Kaigaku, the replacement for 'Upper Rank Six.'

As Shinji observed his opponent, Kaigaku, 'Upper Rank Six,' was also studying Shinji and the group behind him.

His gaze then settled on Yakumo, who was organizing the refugees, and a slow grin spread across his face. "Finally found you! Hmph, a woman who can control blood… I wonder what her blood tastes like!"

Shinji's brow furrowed.

From his opponent's words, he picked up a critical piece of information: the Demon King—or rather, the mysterious 'Lampbearer' from the Demon Slayer world—had the ability to share information among all demons.

The demons they had previously encountered had all been thoroughly eliminated, so under normal circumstances, Kaigaku, 'Upper Rank Six,' shouldn't have known about Yakumo's abilities.

"So every demon aimlessly hunting across the Land of Grass is one of that guy's eyes?"

The realization hit Shinji, and he finally understood how the enemy was tracking him.

If he, the 'Lampbearer' of the shinobi world, wasn't cautious, facing the countless demons striking from all directions in the Land of Grass would inevitably expose his position.

Once exposed, the enemy could lock onto his location through shared information and come knocking!

Clang!

At that moment, Kaigaku, 'Upper Rank Six,' drew the long blade at his waist. "All that fresh blood belongs to me!"

Shinji stepped in front of him. "Hey, your opponent is me!"

"Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit!"

Kaigaku exhaled a turbid breath, and in an instant, his entire body transformed into a bolt of black lightning, slashing fiercely toward Shinji.

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening blast, Shinji was completely engulfed by Kaigaku's strike, dissipating into smoke!

Kaigaku spat disdainfully. "A mere weakling dares to stand in my way!"

Just as Kaigaku took a step, preparing to charge toward Yakumo in the distance, a voice came from behind him. "Hey, your opponent is me!"

Kaigaku turned, his expression souring. "Damn ninja techniques!"

"You seem to have some misconceptions about shinobi…" Shinji paused, then whispered, "Turning your back on me could get you killed."

With that, Shinji's hands rapidly formed seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Boom!

A massive fireball, illuminating half the night sky, surged toward Kaigaku.

Despite his unparalleled regenerative abilities, only a fool would face flames head-on. Kaigaku quickly darted to the side, attempting to evade Shinji's Fire Release.

Swish swish swish.

However, as Shinji unleashed his Fire Release, his hands, which had already completed their seals, didn't stop. He immediately threw several kunai, their tails wrapped with steel wire and explosive tags.

Under the cover of the Fire Release, the kunai silently formed a web of steel wires in the air, perfectly ensnaring Kaigaku as he dodged the flames.

"Weakling, I'll tear you apart!"

Kaigaku, caught in the steel wire net, roared in fury.

At that moment, he heard a faint hiss. His gaze shifted, and he realized the wires trapping him were igniting countless explosive tags.

"Damn it!"

Boom boom boom.

In an instant, a dazzling burst of fireworks erupted in the night sky!

Kaigaku, riddled with wounds and trailing smoke, crashed to the ground. But as an 'Upper Rank demon,' he quickly regenerated most of his injuries, climbing back to his feet, cursing under his breath. "Fine, weakling, I won't let you die so easily!"

"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

Yakumo arrived at that moment, immediately activating her Wood Release.

Countless vines burst from the ground, entangling the newly regenerated Kaigaku.

However, Kaigaku was 'Upper Rank Six,' not like the demons they'd faced before. He wasn't immediately overwhelmed by Yakumo's Wood Release. Instead, he unleashed his sword techniques, clashing against the Wood Release.

"Thunder Breathing, Third Form: Thunder Swarm!"

"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"

"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"

One bolt of lightning after another flashed through the sea of trees. Yet, no matter how ferocious the lightning was, it was ultimately buried by the endlessly regenerating vines!

After a long struggle, the contest between Wood Release and Thunder Breathing neared its end.

Kaigaku's resilience exceeded Shinji's expectations, but even so, in a battle of chakra, he was no match for Yakumo, who had the First Hokage's cells implanted in her. He eventually exhausted all his chakra and the demonic vitality of his blood, succumbing as Yakumo drained his blood entirely, meeting his end in defeat.

Swish swish.

At that moment, Tsunade and Shizune hurriedly arrived at the battlefield.

Upon learning that Yakumo and Shinji had worked together to take down 'Upper Rank Six,' the two were utterly shocked.

They then delivered news to Shinji: the Hidden Leaf shinobi army, led by the Third Hokage, had been ambushed by a creature from the Box of Bliss named 'Satori' and was now stalled near the border.