Volume One, Chapter 13: Success

“What do you intend to do?”

Upon hearing these words, Fengtian’s pupils instantly contracted. He slowly turned his gaze toward the source of the voice, only to see a man with pale yellow hair, wearing the ninja forehead protector of the Hidden Sand Village, his face brimming with murderous intent as he stared at him.

“Yashamaru?”

In almost an instant, Fengtian recognized the ninja before him as none other than Gaara’s uncle—Yashamaru!

As Gaara’s blood uncle and a member of the Hidden Sand’s Anbu, Yashamaru’s life was nothing short of tragic.

Gaara’s birth had led to the death of Yashamaru’s sister, Gaara’s mother. Though harboring deep hatred toward Gaara, he was ordered to protect him.

Later, he was commanded by the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa—Gaara’s father—to assassinate Gaara. The assassination attempt failed, and in the end, he detonated the explosive tag strapped to his body, bringing his miserable life to an end...

This event also drove Gaara into utter despair.

After briefly gathering his thoughts, Fengtian swiftly employed the Flying Thunder God Technique to break free from Yashamaru’s restraint and reappeared outside the door.

“Yashamaru, you are a good man. I do not wish to kill you...”

“So please leave on your own accord. I can pretend nothing happened...”

Fengtian’s eyes instantly shifted into the Mangekyō Sharingan. As he stepped toward Gaara, he spoke with a threatening tone.

“Oh? Is that so? Judging by those eyes, you must be from the Uchiha clan of the Hidden Leaf Village...”

“As an ally, to stoop to such shameless acts behind our backs! Today, you won’t leave here unscathed!”

Before he finished, Yashamaru’s hands suddenly swept through the air, and several kunai, manipulated by his silk threads, shot like arrows toward Fengtian.

Each kunai was laden with deadly intent, as if intending to pierce Fengtian through completely.

Yet, facing this sudden attack, Fengtian only shook his head slightly, a disdainful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Thanks to the perfect combination of the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Cause and Effect Reversal, his figure vanished in an instant, blending seamlessly into the night, flawlessly evading every kunai.

In the next moment, while Yashamaru was still stunned, Fengtian’s silhouette appeared like a phantom behind him, a kunai pressed against his neck.

The icy cold metal against Yashamaru’s warm skin created a sharp contrast, and a chilling aura of death instantly enveloped his heart.

“Give up. If I wanted to kill you, you would already be nothing but a corpse…”

Fengtian’s voice was low and powerful, each word striking Yashamaru’s heart like a hammer.

His eyes brimmed with boundless murderous intent, as if at any moment he could materialize it and utterly consume Yashamaru.

***

Yashamaru scoffed coldly, a flicker of unwillingness and anger flashing in his eyes.

He attempted to launch several kunai from behind in a sneak attack, but under the terrifying insight of the Mangekyō Sharingan, these small attempts were like an ant trying to shake a tree.

The moment he acted, Fengtian had already flawlessly evaded again using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

“Looks like you’re ready to die at any moment...” Fengtian’s expression was icy cold, his entire being radiating with unending killing intent as he advanced step by step toward Yashamaru—resembling the grim reaper himself!

Yashamaru’s face grew exceedingly solemn; he was painfully aware of his absolute disadvantage in this confrontation.

Yet, as an elite of the Hidden Sand Anbu, he would never surrender easily, even when facing an Uchiha wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan.

“Uchiha brat, do you think such tricks will make me surrender? That kid Gaara—I, Yashamaru, will defend him until my dying breath!”

Yashamaru’s voice was filled with defiance as he swiftly pulled out a paper explosive tag from his waist, preparing for a final desperate struggle.

Seeing this, a trace of regret flickered in Fengtian’s eyes. He had no wish to take things this far; after all, much of Yashamaru’s tragedy stemmed from the internal power struggles within the Hidden Sand Village, not personal fault.

But since the battle had begun, there was no turning back.

“Yashamaru, why do you persist? The future of the Hidden Sand Village should not be written with sacrifice and hatred.”

Fengtian’s words carried a hint of admonition, yet his movements showed no hesitation. His Mangekyō Sharingan eyes slowly rotated, ready to counter any counterattack from Yashamaru.

“Waaaah!”

Just as Yashamaru was about to detonate the explosive tag, Gaara’s crying shattered the heavy atmosphere.

At that moment, Yashamaru suddenly realized that if the explosive tag went off here, the terrifying blast would also engulf Gaara!

This realization filled Yashamaru with remorse. He turned to look at the crying Gaara, a flicker of apology shining in his eyes.

However, Fengtian had no such considerations. His Mangekyō Sharingan ceased its rotation, and in the next instant, Gaara appeared in Fengtian’s arms through the Cause and Effect Reversal.

“What?”

Seeing Gaara suddenly vanish and then appear in Fengtian’s arms, Yashamaru couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

“You’d better not touch that child, or you will face…”

“The entire Hidden Sand Village hunting you down! Until death!”

Yashamaru’s eyes burned as if they could spit fire. He stared fiercely at Fengtian, the killing intent on his face impossible to conceal.

***

“Hmph, just the Hidden Sand Village? I don’t really care about it...”

A sneer lifted the corners of Fengtian’s mouth as he spoke disdainfully. Then, he immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, disappearing instantly under Yashamaru’s murderous gaze.

Inside the room, only Fengtian’s taunting voice remained:

“Bye-bye now, see you later~”

...

Outside the Hidden Sand Village, the night was as dark as ink, stars scattered across the sky. Fengtian’s figure appeared like a phantom in an open expanse.

At his feet, a kunai lay quietly—that was the carefully placed mark of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

“Waaaah!”

Gaara’s crying continued incessantly in his arms, the innocent yet piercing cries cutting through the silence of the night as if tearing apart the tranquility.

Fengtian’s brows furrowed tightly. Usually calm and composed, he now felt a wave of irritation.

“Stop crying! You’re giving me a headache!”

He scolded softly, a hint of helplessness and annoyance in his voice.

Yet, this simple reprimand failed to soothe Gaara; his cries grew even louder.

With no other choice, Fengtian resorted to his genjutsu abilities.

He gently closed his eyes, raising his hands slightly, fingertips shimmering with faint light.

After a moment, Gaara’s cries gradually ceased, replaced by peaceful silence. Under the influence of the genjutsu, he had fallen asleep, tears still damp on his cheeks.

Fengtian carefully laid Gaara down on a flat stone, his movements gentle and cautious as if afraid to disturb his dreams.

Standing up, he quickly formed hand seals, a smug smile spreading across his face, eyes sparkling with cunning delight.

“Finally got it...” he murmured, his tone filled with satisfaction and pride, “My second Tailed Beast, the One-Tail Shukaku...”