Hearing Kakashi's question, the ANBU captain with the Yellow Flash mask replied gravely,
"White Fang, I don't believe this enlarged Water Prison can truly contain Uchiha Yuan.
"What worries me is what happens after he breaks free. If he comes out enraged… we'll be facing a completely different opponent."
The captain knew very well—
Earlier, when Yuan slaughtered the Root shinobi like livestock, there had still been restraint in his demeanor.
He had remained controlled.
But now, after repeated assassination attempts from Root…
Would someone as domineering and proud as Uchiha Yuan remain calm?
Impossible.
The retaliation would be far more violent.
Kakashi heard the unease hidden in Yellow Flash's tone. Beneath his mask, his expression turned complicated.
"No matter what… we must stop him."
Their orders were clear—reinforce the ANBU prison and suppress Uchiha Yuan.
Kakashi's gaze remained locked on the massive water sphere below.
Uchiha Yuan… stay calm. Don't let this spiral further.
If you become a missing-nin… Seikū will be devastated.
Moments later, as the crackling lightning within the sphere began to fade—
The Root operative maintaining the Four-Limb Binding Seal suddenly changed expression.
"Scatter!"
He severed the connection between his chakra and the ink scroll and leapt backward.
He had just felt it—
The Four-Limb Binding Seal had been shattered by a terrifying force.
The next second—
The interior of the water sphere turned white as waves churned violently.
BOOM!
The sphere exploded outward.
Water droplets erupted like a torrential downpour.
A cloud of mist dispersed—
Revealing Uchiha Yuan.
His right arm was extended forward like a blade.
A razor-sharp killing intent surged skyward.
In that brief instant before the explosion, Yuan had tensed every muscle in his body and unleashed a full-body vibration, forcibly breaking the seal—
Then used his palm as a blade to cleave open the reinforced water prison.
The onlookers felt their vision blur for a heartbeat—
As if a massive phantom blade had flashed before their eyes.
His killing intent alone manifested like a genjutsu, momentarily seizing their minds.
Behind the white canine mask, Kakashi's shock turned into something deeper.
So that's it…
A blade intent so refined it manifests like illusion and overwhelms the spirit.
Your swordsmanship has reached the realm Father once spoke of.
The falling rain halted midair within several feet of Yuan's body, dispersed by an invisible pressure field.
He lowered his hand and slowly raised his gaze toward the platform.
His eyes pierced into Danzō's lone eye like a drawn sword.
"Old dog… you're courting death!"
Rage exploded from him.
At the same moment, Kakashi and Yellow Flash vanished.
Yuan shot upward like a cannon shell—
Straight toward Danzō.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
In an instant, a towering earthen wall rose before Yuan.
Four vividly sculpted dog heads adorned its surface.
Seeing them, Yuan halted abruptly before the wall.
Kakashi's here.
Figures flickered around him.
He was surrounded once more.
Two silhouettes appeared atop the earthen wall—
Yellow Flash.
And White Dog.
Yuan's gaze settled on the white-haired shinobi beneath the canine mask.
He gestured lightly toward the sculpted dog heads, a teasing smile on his face.
"Exquisite craftsmanship. To shape Earth-Style Wall like that requires precise chakra control."
"Thank you."
Kakashi met his eyes. He knew Yuan had recognized him.
"Uchiha Yuan. Before you commit an irreparable mistake, stand down.
"If you have grievances, present them when the Third Hokage arrives."
Though his voice remained cold, there was unmistakable persuasion in it.
Yellow Flash glanced sideways at Kakashi, surprised.
Since joining ANBU, Kakashi had become like ice—silent, distant.
Those words… did not match the man he had known.
Is it because of that Uchiha teammate?
Yellow Flash unconsciously thought of the Sharingan hidden beneath Kakashi's headband.
Suddenly—
A cold snort echoed.
Danzō appeared between them.
"Capture the traitor Uchiha Yuan at once!"
Root and ANBU surged forward together.
In a blink, over a dozen attackers converged.
Blades slashed. Kunai thrust. Fists and kicks crashed like relentless waves.
Yuan's figure blurred—
Graceful footwork, devastating counters.
Shinobi were sent flying one after another.
Slash!
Blood sprayed.
A headless corpse was kicked from the platform.
Yuan broke through the encirclement and charged directly at Danzō.
Danzō felt it—
A suffocating killing intent locking onto him.
For a heartbeat, he saw it clearly—
A blade descending.
His body stiffened.
He could not move.
In that instant, terror surfaced in his heart.
Death.
He saw his own head severed.
Then—
A white flash cut across the air.
Clang!
A shockwave erupted.
Yuan's palm-blade was intercepted by a katana.
Kakashi.
At the last possible moment, he had stepped in and blocked the strike.
Yuan's eyes locked onto Kakashi's exposed left eye.
The crimson Sharingan spun vividly beneath the headband.
Only with the Sharingan's enhanced perception had Kakashi been able to intercept that lightning-fast strike.
The confrontation reached a new height.
And for the first time—
Danzō had truly felt fear.
Some people die…
But they don't die completely.
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