Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 99: A Flood Submerges the Capital, Cries Echo Across the Land!

The streets and alleys were already filled with the figures of Mist Hidden Pursuit Ninjas, though no one knew when they had gathered.

This organization seemed to have emerged in full force from the Hidden Mist Village, surrounding the six-story pagoda at the center of the street.

"Not good!"

Seeing the seals being formed by the opponents, Uchiha Ci immediately recognized it as Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, a technique performed collectively by multiple pursuit ninjas.

This jutsu had an exceptionally wide range, capable of creating a small ocean. Upon its initial release, the terrifying water pressure could even smash steel plates to pieces!

Once the jutsu was fully unleashed, half of the City would be submerged. And the three of them were right in the attack range of the first wave, which was the most forceful!

Uchiha Ci's gaze turned cold. Swiftly, he pulled out four kunai from Mei Terumi's ninja pouch.

With a flick of his index finger, threads of Earth Grudge Fear extended from his wrist and wound around the rings of the kunai, which he then threw to the nearby rooftops.

Grabbing Mei Terumi, he leaped into the air, pulling the taut threads to swing toward higher ground.

He didn't forget to shout a reminder to his companion:

"Hidan, play dead where you are and don't make a sound!"

Hidan, who was about to curse, froze as he saw Uchiha Ci perform a seamless series of actions, carrying the beauty away.

Momentarily stunned, he muttered to himself, All I wanted was a bite to eat—why are you so afraid?

The next moment, dozens of water columns crashed down behind Hidan, and tens of thousands of tons of water hit the ground, instantly smashing the six-story pagoda at the street's center.

The massive volume of water surged into towering tsunamis, crashing with unrelenting force!

In an instant, the sky darkened, and a shadow engulfed Hidan's entire vision.

He turned his head, going from astonishment to shock, then to fear.

Boom!

The waves descended, plunging the entirety of the City into a moment of silence.

A cold, bone-chilling gale blew across the water-laden air.

Breaking the silence, shadows leapt from the ruins of the pagoda—ninjas, brimming with unquenchable resolve.

Carrying their missions, walking in the darkness, mired in hatred, they charged under the banner of their ideals, fighting on the narrow path of their ninja ways.

In mere moments, the city echoed with the agonized cries of heavily injured civilians.

With that first painful scream, the clashing of kunai rang out, marking the start of the Third Great Ninja War.

---

Uchiha Ci swung through the air, narrowly avoiding the oncoming tsunami, using kunai and shuriken to secure threads to high points as he leaped forward.

Mei Terumi, momentarily stunned by his audacity to steal her tools, quickly snapped back to her senses. She glanced over the cresting waves to the crumbling pagoda in the distance, her voice sharp with alarm:

"How could the Third Mizukage know where Lord Yagura is? This information should only be known to me and Hozuki Mangetsu!"

"I kept my eyes on Mangetsu the entire time and ensured he was sealed. He shouldn't be the problem."

Eliminating all other possibilities left only the unlikeliest truth.

Mei Terumi's face froze as she muttered to herself, "Could it… could it have been me?"

In a sense, she wasn't wrong.

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci fell silent for a moment, recalling the inexplicable subtitles that had appeared in the castle last time:

'The Third Mizukage expresses disdain toward you.'

Looking back, that wasn't a glitch in his abilities. The Third Mizukage must have been present, tailing Hozuki Mangetsu at the time.

Perhaps the Mizukage had long been aware of Mangetsu's disloyalty and planned to turn the tables?

Uchiha Ci couldn't discern the full picture, but Mei Terumi's ninja pouch was now empty.

He carried Mei Terumi through several swings, bypassing the waves, and finally landed on the roof of a four-story building that wasn't in the direct path of the massive water technique.

Upon landing, Uchiha Ci surveyed the scene and saw the once-bustling capital of the Land of Hot Water in devastation.

This sudden assault had shattered the dreams of the citizens relaxing in the hot springs. The pagoda had collapsed, and the city was submerged in water.

On every visible rooftop, terrified civilians huddled together.

A mother holding her child sobbed uncontrollably; merchants despaired over their instant losses, while others sat dazed, having lost loved ones in the blink of an eye.

Amid the swirling waters, countless bodies floated.

One body drifting past caught Uchiha Ci's attention—it was familiar.

It was the candy shop owner who had earned a hefty profit from Mei Terumi just moments ago.

Half a minute earlier, the old man might have been happily counting his money, smiling at the budding romance between the young boy and girl.

Perhaps he had even sighed wistfully at the joys of youth.

But now, half of his body was crushed under debris, his face frozen in sheer terror.

He died not knowing why.

Uchiha Ci's face darkened.

Hissss.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the anger boiling within him at the unjust tragedy unfolding before his eyes.

He stifled his hatred for the culprits and his urge to demand answers.

He curbed the overwhelming desire to change everything.

He kept reminding himself—Uchiha Ci, didn't you already foresee this? This world's true nature is brutally cruel.

In this power-driven world, you, Uchiha Ci, are merely a passerby.

"Phew."

Shaking his head, Uchiha Ci exhaled and reached down to pull roof tiles loose, tying them with Earth Grudge Fear threads. He threw them into the water to rescue the survivors drifting by.

After saving two people with Mei Terumi's assistance, she urged anxiously:

"Ci, we need to leave now. These pursuit ninjas are after Lord Yagura. There might be an even more terrifying battle here soon."

Her brows furrowed, her gaze tinged with worry.

"Perhaps even the Third Mizukage might appear."

Uchiha Ci frowned slightly but didn't reply. Narrowing his Sharingan-enhanced eyes, he continued rescuing survivors while observing the distance.

There, two figures skimmed over the turbulent waves, moving as if on solid ground.

One had green hair, purple eyes, and a stitched-like scar under his left eye. Shorter than Uchiha Ci, his youthful face was paired with a hooked staff adorned with green flower-like decorations.

This was none other than Yagura Karatachi, the future Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist!

The other had white hair and purple eyes, an emotionless face, and a large bandaged sword strapped to his back.

It was none other than Hozuki Mangetsu, the "Prodigy" of the Hidden Mist, whom Uchiha Ci had recently fought fiercely!

"It's them?" Mei Terumi's eyes lit up with surprise as she finally recognized the figures. Relief washed over her as she exclaimed,

"Thank goodness, they're safe."

However, beneath Mei Terumi's relieved tone, Uchiha Ci stood silently, his expression grim.

He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his abdomen.

Pressing on the ouroboros-like Zero-Tail mark on his stomach, his gaze turned icy cold.