Chapter Twenty-Three: Acting on One’s Desires

"If not to cover the retreat, then for what?" Troy instinctively retorted, a vague sense of foreboding rising within him. He couldn't quite explain why he felt this way—after all, he was the one with the advantage, the one who had surrounded his enemy. Yet Uchiha Li was far too calm, and that was unsettling.

"You'll know soon enough." Uchiha Li swept his gaze over the assembled Cloud shinobi, casually discarding the metal weapons at his waist. "If you don't make a move, I will," he said.

"You're at death's door and still putting on airs!" Troy's eyes narrowed, the unease growing in his chest. He decided he could not afford to hesitate any longer, and ordered his men to attack.

At once, the Cloud shinobi hurled their weapons, and under the influence of magnetic force, the metal projectiles converged toward Uchiha Li. The barrage was like a massive net, sealing off any possibility of escape.

Meanwhile, Troy himself stomped forward, instantly closing the distance between him and Uchiha Li. The rest of the Cloud shinobi tightened the encirclement, ensuring there was no chance for Uchiha Li to slip away.

"Let’s see where you run now!" Troy sneered as the web of weapons wrapped Uchiha Li’s body, leaving only his head exposed. The weapons then began to spin.

Troy’s lips curled into a triumphant smile, as though he could already picture his enemy being shredded to death. Yet as the seconds ticked by, he sensed something amiss—the spinning net slowed, then began to reverse direction.

"So