Chapter 3: Eyes (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)

Clang, clang!
Boom!
Shuriken, Lightning Release, close-quarters kenjutsu... Facing the continuous, unbroken offensive unleashed by the three Cloud shinobi, Gen'ichi Shishita repeatedly retreated.
Thanks only to the speed augmentation of the Secret Mantra of Military, coupled with his rich combat experience and formidable sword skills, was he barely able to withstand the relentless assault of the Cloud shinobi.
However, Gen'ichi Shishita was well aware that he could not sustain such a situation for long.
Among these three Cloud shinobi, one was a jounin, and the other two were seasoned chuunin. The slightest lapse in concentration or the briefest opening would result in severe injury or even cost him his life.
Therefore, he had to create an opportunity to weave hand seals.
After a few more exchanges, Gen'ichi Shishita seized an opening, allowing himself to be kicked flying and sending him spinning rapidly across the surface of the river.
Enduring the intense pain in his chest, Gen'ichi Shishita rapidly formed hand seals with both hands amidst his tumbling flight.
Boom!
The Cloud jounin, descending from the sky, was intercepted by a surging pillar of water.
Gen'ichi Shishita flipped backward, landing lightly while completing the Tiger seal.
Bringer of Darkness Technique!
The two charging Cloud chuunin were instantly plunged into absolute darkness. Glancing at the oncoming Cloud jounin, Gen'ichi Shishita retreated while continuing to weave seals.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
The surging water coalesced into a water dragon that hurtled toward the Cloud jounin. Finally granted a momentary reprieve to catch his breath, Gen'ichi Shishita could not help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
That kick from earlier had been severe.
Taking a deep breath, Gen'ichi Shishita formed seals once again.
Water Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles!
Droplets of river water rose into the air, condensing into countless senbon needles that shrieked through the air as they rained down upon the three Cloud shinobi.
The two Cloud chuunin had yet to break free from the genjutsu, but alerted by the Cloud jounin, they scrambled backward. Still, they were unable to evade all the senbon; their bodies were pierced, leaving trails of blood in their wake.
"Fall back to the bank!"
The Cloud jounin's expression was grim as he led his two injured comrades in another retreat.
Scarcely had they reached the shore when a massive wall of water came crashing after them. Before the Cloud jounin could free his comrades from the illusion, he drove his ninja blade into the earth and rapidly formed seals with both hands.
The next moment, thick bolts of lightning descended from the sky, slamming into the oncoming tidal wave and blasting the surging water apart.
As the water receded, Gen'ichi Shishita vanished from the river surface.
"Where is he?"
The Cloud jounin hastily scanned the area for any trace of Gen'ichi Shishita, only to spot a figure plunging down from the sky.
Immediately afterward, his vision went dark, and the sound of a blade tearing through the air reached his ears.
Reaching down to pull his sword from the ground, the Cloud jounin deflected the incoming shuriken, but the next instant, the dying screams of his comrade echoed from behind.
"Damn it!"
"Abominable genjutsu!"
With no time to dispel the illusion, the Cloud jounin instantly leaped away from the spot.
Having eliminated two more foes in quick succession, Gen'ichi Shishita did not pursue them further, instead retreating swiftly along the riverbank.
Because Kakashi Hatake and the two Root operatives were also falling back.
Of the three Root shinobi, one from the Aburame clan had already perished, but two of the four Cloud shinobi opposing them were dead.
And of the six Cloud shinobi who had engaged his teacher, Kakashi Hatake, only two remained alive.
Yet Gen'ichi Shishita could see that his teacher Kakashi Hatake's left arm was stained crimson with blood. Drawing closer, he discovered that the wound on his upper left arm exposed the bone, nearly severing the limb entirely.
Gen'ichi Shishita halted upon the water's surface and formed hand seals.
The five pursuing Cloud shinobi were instantly stripped of their vision.
At the same time, Gen'ichi Shishita noticed that the Lava Release shinobi, Dotai, bore a distinct scar across his left eye.
"Gen'ichi, do not engage in a protracted battle!"
Kakashi Hatake's voice rang out from behind.
With no intention of launching a counterattack, Gen'ichi Shishita completed the ninjutsu and immediately fell back.
The five Cloud shinobi, having finally dispelled the illusion, resumed their pursuit.
The two sides, locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse, crossed into the Land of Hot Water, shifting endlessly between combat and flight as night bled into day.
...
Landing amidst the trees, Gen'ichi Shishita gazed down at several corpses.
Two from Root, one from Cloud.
This sight made Gen'ichi Shishita's expression grow grave.
It meant that behind Yamanaka En, only two people remained: a Root operative and the wounded Uchiha Namiichi.
Uchiha Namiichi, in particular, was at high risk of colliding with the other group of Cloud shinobi.
"Don't overthink it!"
Kakashi Hatake spoke up.
Gen'ichi Shishita nodded and pressed forward, though his pace involuntarily quickened.
Trailing behind the two of them was a single Root shinobi.
Of the three original Root operatives, only one remained, hailing from the Yamanaka clan.
If one factored in the other group, only two survivors were left—a devastating loss.
Gen'ichi Shishita himself was faring poorly, bearing several fresh wounds upon his body.
And the relentless Cloud shinobi were still closing in from behind.
Moreover, the severe wound on his teacher Kakashi Hatake's left arm had not received proper medical attention; if things continued this way, the arm would likely be crippled.
As they drew increasingly close to the border of the Land of Fire, Gen'ichi Shishita flared his nostrils, catching the faint, unmistakable scent of blood lingering in the air.
Before long, three figures came into view.
Swish, swish, swish!
Gen'ichi Shishita landed beside Uchiha Namiichi.
At that moment, Uchiha Namiichi was slumped against a tree trunk, his eyes tightly shut, breathing faintly. His abdomen had been torn open, spilling his intestines and internal organs out into the open air.
Gen'ichi Shishita hurriedly pushed them back inside, then invoked the Secret Mantra of Military to apply medical treatment.
The efficacy far surpassed that of the palm healing jutsu he had mastered.
"Don't... don't waste your chakra."
Uchiha Namiichi suddenly opened his eyes.
He knew the extent of his own injuries; they were simply too severe for Gen'ichi Shishita's medical prowess to salvage.
The green light glowing in Gen'ichi Shishita's hands gradually dimmed. He turned his head to see two Cloud shinobi retreating rapidly, choosing not to engage Kakashi Hatake and the others.
"Gen'ichi, we cannot pursue! Take Namiichi and fall back immediately!"
Kakashi Hatake commanded.
Uchiha Namiichi grasped Gen'ichi Shishita's hand, his gaze shifting toward Kakashi Hatake. "Captain... I'm finished."
"Though... though I don't want to die here, I cannot drag everyone down, nor can I shame the Uchiha name."
Uchiha Namiichi's eyes rolled back to focus on Gen'ichi Shishita, a forced smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Gen'ichi, take this eye of mine. I can no longer look upon this world, but you..."
"Use it to keep seeing this world for me!"
Gen'ichi Shishita's heart shook violently. He instinctively opened his mouth to refuse, but his hand was firmly gripped by Uchiha Namiichi. "There are still so many things I haven't done, and I don't want to die, but... Gen'ichi, live on in my stead."
A stinging sensation bloomed in the bridge of Gen'ichi Shishita's nose. He took a deep breath, stared at Uchiha Namiichi, who was now at death's door, and nodded heavily. "Alright!"
At that, Uchiha Namiichi wore a look of utter relief. "Come... do it!"
Gen'ichi Shishita raised a hand, but could not stop it from trembling.
Flashes of the time spent training and fighting alongside Uchiha Namiichi continuously played through his mind.
At this moment, Gen'ichi Shishita finally understood Tsunade.
To have killed countless people yet suffer from hemophobia—it sounded like a cruel joke.
Yet when one watched helplessly as a comrade—someone who could entrust their back to you—perished before your eyes, the bitterness, the anguish, and the nameless dread were beyond description.
"The Cloud shinobi are catching up..."
The Yamanaka clan ninja from Root spoke abruptly.
Steadying his hand, Gen'ichi Shishita carefully extracted Uchiha Namiichi's right eye.
"Gen'ichi, from now on... I leave it to you~"
A smile lingering on his face, Uchiha Namiichi's life faded away forever.
Gen'ichi Shishita picked up the pouch Uchiha Namiichi had asked him to carry, retrieved a sealing scroll, safely stored the eye, and then carefully sealed Uchiha Namiichi's body away as well.
These tools had originally been prepared for enemies, but Gen'ichi Shishita never imagined the day would come when he would use them on his own comrade.
Indeed, the ways of the world were unpredictable!