Chapter: 57 Mysterious Man

"Ah!"

The sudden appearance of the fallen Anbu elicited gasps of surprise from the students, unsure of their fate.

Iruka and Mizuki rushed to the Anbu's side: one keeping watch, the other kneeling down to assess the situation.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the forest, prompting Mizuki to shout, "Who goes there?"

Before he could finish, the figure swiftly closed the distance.

"You!"

In an instant, the man kicked Mizuki with incredible speed.

Bang!

Despite being a Chunin, Mizuki had no chance to react. He was sent crashing into a large tree, unconscious.

Iruka, still crouched beside the fallen Anbu, looked up in shock. He shouted urgently to the students, "Run, all of you!"

Drawing a kunai, he positioned himself between the students and the approaching threat, hoping to buy them time to escape. But against the enemy's swift technique, far beyond his own capabilities, he could only delay the inevitable.

With a casual movement, the assailant incapacitated Iruka, who crumpled to the ground.

"How... How can this be? They're Chunin!" The students, stunned, momentarily forgot to flee.

With Mizuki and Iruka dealt with, the figure advanced towards the students.

Amidst the chaos, Shinji's expression darkened slightly. "Could it be Orochimaru?"

Despite the man's face being obscured by bandages, Shinji's deduction was based on his intense gaze towards Sasuke and his unsettling grin.

Sasuke stood up and called out to Shinji and Neji, "This is our chance to test our skills!"

Shinji glanced at Sasuke, thinking, "You're quite bold."

Neji, utilizing his Byakugan, observed seriously, "Be cautious. His chakra reserves are over ten times greater than any Jonin I've encountered."

"What!?" Sasuke was taken aback.

Shinji thought to himself, "Is this really Orochimaru?"

Chakra reserves that surpass even a Jonin implied a level of power close to a Kage, confirming the attacker's identity.

The mysterious man licked his lips, addressing Sasuke in a raspy voice, "Are you the kid who tamed the Nine-Tails?"

Sasuke activated his Sharingan and fixed his gaze on the man, "If you seek trouble, you've found the wrong person!"

"Hahaha!"

The man stretched his arms wide, laughing.

Instantly, an overwhelming chakra, accompanied by a tangible aura of menace, spread from him.

Under this intense pressure, many students froze, unable to move.

Sasuke and Neji felt their hearts tremble, almost paralyzed by the overwhelming presence.

Amidst the stupefied crowd, only Shinji managed to resist the suffocating aura, though he too felt a deep sense of dread.

Advancing, the man's gaze fixated on Sasuke's double tomoe Sharingan, his eyes gleaming with obsession.

Sensing the danger, Sasuke bit his tongue, using the pain to break free from the immobilizing effect. He shouted to Naruto, "Idiot, run!"

Shinji turned to Haku, commanding urgently, "Take everyone and go!"

Reluctantly, Haku obeyed, organizing the students to flee.

The man made no move to stop them, his focus entirely on Sasuke and Shinji.

Shinji realized the truth.

If this was indeed Orochimaru, he had likely been drawn by Sasuke's Sharingan and his recent subjugation of the Nine-Tails.

Moreover, at this point in time, Orochimaru might have just been defeated by Itachi, intensifying his interest in the Sharingan.

Understanding this, Shinji knew the situation was dire.

As one of the last surviving Uchiha besides Itachi, Orochimaru would undoubtedly target him and Sasuke.

Soon, the other students fled, leaving only Shinji, Sasuke, and Neji to confront the man.

Shinji understood escape was futile; the man was here for him. Sasuke and Neji, famed as "geniuses," stood ready to face the threat.

The man nodded approvingly, "You three dare to challenge me. Admirable!"

Wasting no time, Shinji turned to Sasuke and Neji, "Cover me. If we make enough noise, the village will realize something's wrong here!"

Sasuke and Neji's eyes gleamed with understanding.

Swish, swish, swish.

Shinji swiftly acted, hurling several kunai towards the man and then forming hand seals.

Initially dismissive, the man smirked, effortlessly dodging Shinji's kunai.

However, his smirk froze as he realized each kunai was tethered to discreet steel wires, each wire connected to ignited explosive tags.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions reverberated around the man in rapid succession!

Reacting swiftly, the man leaped away, emerging from the ensuing smoke and debris.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Shinji completed his seals, unleashing a colossal fireball aimed above the man's position, engulfing the forest canopy.

"Huh?"

The man, momentarily surprised, was engulfed by the blazing inferno.

"This...?"

Sasuke and Neji, witnessing the spectacle, were stunned.

They knew Shinji had long mastered the Great Fireball Technique, but they had never witnessed its raw power.

This wasn't the Great Fireball they knew—it was on an entirely different level.

After initiating the first phase of his attack, Shinji didn't wait idly. Instead, he turned and fled.

Even if the man hadn't jumped, Shinji's purpose was to ignite the treetops, creating thick smoke to alert the village.

Passing Sasuke and Neji, who were still mesmerized by the flaming treetops, Shinji grabbed them forcefully. "What are you waiting for? Run!"

Moments later.

Emerging from the smoke, the man surveyed the fleeing trio, licking his lips in amusement. "How intriguing!"

End of chapter.