"Who are you?"
Uchiha Yashiro's gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed intently on Shinji, who was surrounded by the group.
The person wore a fox mask and ordinary ninja attire. Yashiro speculated inwardly: Could he be from the Anbu?
But Shinji remained silent throughout.
When Yashiro's eyes fell on Shinji's bulging backpack, his expression instantly darkened.
"Drop the bag on your back and surrender."
His Sharingan suddenly focused, and Yashiro subtly activated a Genjutsu, attempting to subdue the opponent quietly.
However, Shinji merely raised his hand and lightly pressed his backpack, showing no reaction to the Genjutsu.
The next moment, crimson Tomoe lit up in his eyes as well—he had also activated the Sharingan, having been wary of Genjutsu ambushes from the start.
"Sharingan?!"
Yashiro exclaimed in shock, staring at the familiar Dōjutsu beneath the mask, finally realizing.
"You are from our clan. Why are you doing this?"
His voice was filled with fury and disbelief.
The surrounding Police Force ninjas grew even more furious upon hearing this.
Several stepped forward, tightening the encirclement instantly.
Yashiro completely lost patience and waved his hand sharply: "Attack together, capture him!"
"Yes!"
The Police Force members responded in unison.
Before the words finished, Yashiro himself had already drawn a Kunai first, lunging straight at Shinji.
Shinji dared not be careless even slightly. He turned his body and charged toward the right rear.
Facing the encirclement of over twenty people, that area had only three ninjas—the weakest and easiest point to break through.
Those three Uchiha Police Force members reacted swiftly.
One flung dozens of Shuriken, shooting them toward Shinji; another immediately pressed a hand to his lips and spewed flames, attaching them to the flying Shuriken.
The two coordinated seamlessly, executing a combined attack resembling the Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu.
The last one drew his sword and swung horizontally, firmly blocking all possible escape angles for Shinji.
Those who joined the Police Force were elites of the Uchiha Clan, skilled in coordination and experienced.
Facing the Shuriken group enveloped in flames, Shinji rapidly performed Hand Seals, his chest heaving violently.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing orange-red fireball erupted violently, colliding fiercely with the flame Shuriken.
In the explosion, sparks scattered everywhere, turbulent currents sweeping the surroundings.
Even so, several Shuriken pierced through the aftermath of the explosion, continuing unabated toward Shinji.
Shinji's pupils contracted slightly, dodging sideways abruptly using the Sharingan's dynamic vision.
At that moment, the sword-wielding Police Force member had already closed in, stepping forward swiftly, the blade slashing directly.
The two other Uchiha members who had just completed the combined attack also flanked him instantly from left and right, forming a three-sided assault.
Shinji hurriedly raised his arm, forcefully blocking with a Kunai.
The footsteps of pursuers behind grew closer. Knowing he couldn't prolong the fight, he deliberately retreated backward, intentionally revealing a flaw.
The sword-wielding ninja's eyes flashed with sharp light, thrusting the blade forward without hesitation.
The blade stabbed deeply into Shinji's abdomen.
"Success!"
But the next moment, the "Shinji" pierced dissipated abruptly, dozens of black crows exploded and scattered, flying away.
"He vanished?! Substitution Technique!" The sword-wielding ninja was stunned.
"Behind! Open your Sharingan! He can hide!" Someone immediately sensed the anomaly, shouting sharply.
At the instant of being "hit," Shinji had used the Substitution Technique combined with Transparent Escape to conceal his form, tearing open a gap during everyone's moment of shock, and sprinted toward the direction with fewer people without looking back.
The lights in Konohagakure's residential area lit up one after another.
More and more people pushed open doors, looking suspiciously toward the direction of the disturbance, some even mistakenly thinking it was an enemy village attacking Konohagakure.
The Anbu, Root, and Jonin from various clans were also drawn by this commotion.
When they saw the Uchiha Clan collectively pursuing a ninja wearing a fox mask, a thought instantly flashed through their minds:
Something major had happened within the Uchiha.
Many immediately followed, both fulfilling their duty to protect Konohagakure and wanting to understand the truth of this turmoil.
Shinji leaped swiftly across rooftops, landing on the top of a three-story residential building after several jumps.
The rooftop was covered with green tiles, already one of the rare high points nearby.
He stood still, slowly exhaling a breath.
Continually fleeing was ultimately not a solution.
With a thought, the System Shop unfolded in his consciousness. He locked onto a disposable consumable item he had seen earlier.
Not long after, Yashiro led the Police Force to encircle him again.
Nearby, Uchiha Fugaku also arrived with several clan members. Raising his gaze, he saw Shinji's crimson Sharingan, his brows suddenly tightening.
He also understood Shinji was from the Uchiha Clan.
Scanning the figures standing in the shadows around, he declared loudly:
"This is an internal matter of the Uchiha. Please, fellow Konohagakure colleagues, do not interfere."
After a pause, he added: "The Police Force will capture this person. Afterwards, I will report to the Hokage myself."
Figures flickered around; ninjas from various clans and the Anbu all appeared.
"Fugaku Clan Leader, proceed as you wish."
Someone responded, yet none retreated, clearly intending to observe quietly.
The Uchiha were Konohagakure's largest clan. A clan member fleeing was enough to shake the entire village.
Fugaku's face darkened, yet he couldn't forcibly drive them away, sighing helplessly before turning his gaze back to Shinji on the rooftop.
Yashiro immediately stepped forward to whisper a reminder: "Clan Leader, be careful—he can hide!"
Fugaku nodded slightly, coldly ordering the Police Force:
"All open your Sharingan, block all escape routes, watch his every move closely!"
"Ensure you capture him alive!"
Shinji felt the gazes converging from all directions, raising his hand to lightly pinch his temples.
"The scene is getting bigger indeed."
He silently closed the System.
The next moment, Shinji bent his knees, crouching down, then forcefully propelled his legs, his form shooting upward like an arrow.
Fugaku's heart tightened, sharply ordering:
"Attack together, seize him!"
Over twenty Police Force members leaped simultaneously, overwhelming the sky as they lunged toward midair.
Everyone's gaze was firmly locked on that figure.
Under the moonlight, Shinji's form gradually aligned with the bright full moon.
He raised his hands to his face, Chakra erupting like raging waves.
"Solar Fist!"
[Solar Fist (Consumable)]
[Type: Skill]
[Description: Concentrate Chakra in both hands, suddenly open palms toward the enemy direction, instantly erupting with light brighter than the sun]
[Note: Powerful high beam!]
Blinding white light exploded from his palms, instantly sweeping the entire scene.
The originally cool moonlight was completely swallowed; night lit up like daylight, waking most of Konohagakure with this intense glare.
The Police Force members charging upward screamed, covering their eyes, falling like broken kites. Even the Sharingan had no defense against this extreme brilliance.
Fugaku, Yashiro, and all observing ninjas all suffered intense eye pain, tears streaming uncontrollably, kneeling awkwardly on the ground, their formation completely collapsing.
"My eyes!"
"So bright! I'm going blind!"
"Damn it!"
Wails and curses rose intermittently.
Seizing this gap, Shinji's figure vanished once more into the night.
This time, no one could catch up again.