Inside the forest, the air suddenly fell into deathly silence.
The Uchiha clan members standing around froze where they were. Every face was filled with shock, their pupils shrinking violently from extreme disbelief. They even forgot to steady their breathing.
How was this possible?
That was Uchiha Izumichi, the clan leader of the Uchiha, publicly recognized across the ninja world as the strongest person alive.
Looking across the entire ninja world, only Senju Shuuichi of the Senju clan could barely exchange a few moves with him. No one else even had the qualification to get close.
Yet this plainly dressed, unfamiliar old man in front of them had casually beaten their clan leader into confusion without the slightest chance to fight back.
Even more terrifying was that the clan members present who had activated their three-tomoe Sharingan had pushed their eye power to the limit and still couldn't see the old man's attack path. They couldn't even capture the faintest afterimage.
Speed like this was far beyond what Senju Shuuichi could reach. Even the perception ability of the Sharingan had completely failed.
"This is f***ing terrifying!"
"Is this old man even human!?"
What made everyone's hair stand on end the most was that the old man had not released even the slightest chakra fluctuation from beginning to end.
He looked just like an ordinary mortal with no weapon in hand, without the faintest trace of chakra.
In the center of the field, the old man called Arisu still wore a gentle expression, without the slightest anger between his brows.
Having lived through endless ages, how could he get angry with a younger person?
These Uchiha clan members naturally did not know that even if Hagoromo himself appeared, he still would not be able to sense the slightest trace of Arisu's presence.
Arisu's sage arts had long reached the state of returning to simplicity. His body had merged with nature itself. Ordinary sensory methods simply could not perceive his existence.
Arisu looked calmly at Uchiha Izumichi and slowly spoke, "Young friend, don't attack anymore. Are you exchanging or not?"
Looking at Izumichi's cold and proud face, Arisu's heart stirred slightly, and he could not help but think of Indra.
The arrogance in this child's every movement was somewhat similar to Indra's. Unfortunately, his strength was far too different.
When Indra was this age, he had already stepped into the Super Kage level. Izumichi was only at the Kage level, and he had not even understood the method to evolve the Mangekyo Sharingan into the Eternal Mangekyo.
That was understandable. Indra himself had no bloodline restrictions and had never left behind any inheritance regarding the evolution.
Izumichi stared fixedly at Arisu. After several seconds of silence, the chakra around his body suddenly surged.
The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, instantly transforming into the fierce-patterned Mangekyo Sharingan.
"I want… to try again!", Izumichi said coldly, his voice full of unwillingness.
Arisu's heart tightened slightly. 'This kid still refused to give up?'
"Let me show you the power of the Uchiha clan… the power of a god!"
Izumichi's eyes widened fiercely as he poured all his strength into summoning Susanoo.
A humming roar shook the world. A blue skeletal Susanoo suddenly appeared, wrapping him firmly inside as overwhelming pressure swept across the battlefield.
The Uchiha clan members instantly erupted with excitement, their eyes blazing with fanatic light.
It appeared.
This was the clan leader's exclusive power, the ultimate combat force that could lead the Uchiha to sweep across the ninja world.
"Make your move, old man!", Izumichi crossed his arms and stood proudly inside the Susanoo.
This time he chose to defend. No matter what, he had to see the old man's attack clearly.
Kurama, who had been standing to the side like background decoration, curled its lip with a face full of disdain.
This level of defense might be an absolute fortress in the eyes of mortals, but in front of its teacher, it was no different from a plastic bag that could be poked through with one finger.
Arisu looked at the stubborn Izumichi and let out a light sigh.
"So be it…"
The moment his voice fell, a dazzling white light suddenly burst from around his body. The blazing brilliance made all the Uchiha members unable to open their eyes, forcing them to cover their faces tightly.
After only two seconds, the white light slowly faded.
When everyone looked again, they felt as if struck by lightning.
Uchiha Izumichi was kneeling heavily on both knees, gasping for breath.
His Susanoo had already disappeared without a trace, and his clan clothes had been torn into strips of cloth. He looked extremely miserable.
Sixty seconds...
Their clan leader, the strongest man in the ninja world, Uchiha Izumichi, had been instantly defeated twice within just sixty seconds.
"How is this possible? How is this possible?! Why? What exactly happened?", Izumichi collapsed to his knees, his eyes empty as he muttered to himself.
He simply could not believe that such a terrifying powerhouse existed in the world.
Arisu still stood where he was. With a gentle expression, he bent slightly and asked, "Young friend, are you alright?"
"You… who exactly are you? Are you Sarutobi, the third leader of the Ninja Sect?!", Izumichi demanded in a deep voice.
In his understanding, only Sarutobi, the third leader of the Ninja Sect who had once single-handedly slaughtered the first and second generation elites of the Uchiha, possessed such heaven-defying strength.
Arisu slowly shook his head, feeling somewhat amused inside.
He had not expected that he would be mistaken for Sarutobi.
It seemed that he, the Sage of Six Paths, had already become a myth-like figure of legend, while Sarutobi had become the strongest person in people's eyes.
Izumichi clenched his teeth tightly. Knowing the difference in strength between them was like heaven and earth, he immediately restrained his arrogance and bowed his head respectfully.
"Grandmaster It was our Uchiha who offended you. We were rude!"
At this moment, Izumichi had already changed how he addressed him and called him Grandmaster.
Arisu casually threw the Flame Fan toward Izumichi and said calmly, "This old man keeps his word. Farewell!"
Uchiha Izumichi hurriedly caught the Flame Fan, his fingertips trembling. How would he dare say even half a word of objection?
"Grandmaster, I will certainly repay today's guidance in the future. Could you leave an address so I can repay you later?", Izumichi asked respectfully.
Arisu raised his brows slightly. This kid still wanted to come find him later for revenge?
"Hehe…", Arisu smiled but said nothing.
Izumichi's eyes flickered with unwillingness. 'I will remember today's humiliation!'
But since the old man refused to say anything, there was nothing Izumichi could do.
"Farewell!"
With that, Izumichi left with the Uchiha clan members.
"..."
"Old man… oh no, teacher!! Long time no see!!", Kurama excitedly lay on the ground and moved closer to Arisu.
"Long time no see, Kurama.", Arisu stepped forward and gently stroked the fur on the Nine-Tails' forehead.
"Teacher, the world is really chaotic now. There's killing everywhere. If you don't step in to correct things soon, society will really collapse and moral order will fall apart!"
Kurama knelt on the ground and complained pitifully.