Sam collapsed to his knees in agony.
The genjutsu imposed by the Sharingan began to fracture under the violent surge of alien information flooding his mind, and in the next moment, the illusion shattered completely.
"Damn it! What did you do to me?!"
The moment he regained consciousness, terror and rage overwhelmed him. He didn't even have time to process the strange symbols that had flashed through his head—his survival instinct took over immediately.
Summoning every ounce of strength, he screamed toward the night sky.
"Bumblebee!!!"
BOOM—
At the far end of the yard, the tightly sealed warehouse doors exploded outward from within. Splinters and debris scattered in every direction as a yellow-and-black figure burst out like a cannonball.
Metallic grinding filled the air as panels rotated, parts folded, and structures expanded in rapid succession. In the blink of an eye, the Camaro vanished—
Replaced by a towering steel giant over five meters tall.
Bumblebee.
Its gaze locked onto Uchiha Shūjin at the second-floor window.
Its right arm transformed instantly, reassembling into a multi-barreled machine gun. At the same time, chaotic radio signals crackled through its voice emitter.
"Danger! Danger!""Step back, stranger!""This is not a drill!"
The hostility was unmistakable.
The barrels spun—
And without hesitation—
It opened fire.
RATATATATAT—
Bullets poured out like a storm.
Glass shattered instantly. Walls were riddled with holes. Furniture exploded into splinters under the barrage.
Shūjin's eyes sharpened.
He hadn't expected the machine to be this reckless.
Wasn't it worried about hitting Sam?
He formed hand seals instantly.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A thick wall of earth surged upward, blocking the majority of the incoming fire.
But Bumblebee didn't stop.
It advanced while firing, like an enraged child smashing everything in sight.
"Stop, Bumblebee! This is my house!" Sam screamed, crouched behind the bed.
No response.
Bumblebee had only one objective—
Eliminate the threat.
It even began sweeping fire across potential movement zones, destroying everything indiscriminately.
Shūjin moved swiftly through the bullet storm, not retreating. Instead, a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes.
This machine—
Was powerful.
But chaotic.
Unrefined.
Perfect.
A test subject.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small clay jar wrapped in dark red talisman paper, its mouth sealed with cinnabar-soaked thread.
Inside—
Bone-eating parasitic insects.
A forbidden hybrid technique, originally cultivated using Aburame clan kikaichū, then refined through unorthodox methods. Devastating against humans.
Unknown against machines.
He bit his fingertip.
Blood dripped onto the talisman as his voice dropped into a low incantation.
"Blood as the guide… devour and break the shell."
The talisman ignited, turning to ash.
From the jar, dozens of nearly invisible black insects burst forth, surging forward like a cloud of ink.
At that moment, Bumblebee had just ceased fire, preparing to smash through the wall—
Completely unaware.
The insects landed on its metal surface—
And began devouring instantly.
Rust spread like infection across the yellow-black plating, accompanied by a harsh sizzling sound.
CRACK—CRACK—
Bumblebee struck its own body, trying to dislodge them, but only fragments of corroded metal fell away.
The insects had already infiltrated the joints.
"It works."
Shūjin's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Sam and leapt out the window.
"Let me go! Bumblebee!" Sam struggled in panic.
Behind them, Bumblebee fell into chaos.
The parasites didn't just corrode the surface—they attempted to invade its internal circuitry. It flailed violently, its radio voice glitching erratically.
"Got bugs? Use insecticide!""Come on! Let's have fun!""BZZZT—!"
"…Can't even form coherent speech?" Shūjin sneered.
He formed a hand seal.
"Detonate."
The parasites exploded simultaneously, splashing dark green corrosive fluid across Bumblebee's body. Its movements slowed noticeably, and its right knee joint screeched under the strain.
But—
It didn't fall.
"…Hmm?"
Shūjin frowned slightly.
The effect was real—its outer plating was heavily damaged, and its mobility reduced. But the core structure remained intact.
Far sturdier than expected.
Bumblebee dragged its impaired leg forward, still advancing.
Its voice distorted—
But more furious.
"Pests… must be eliminated!"
Its left arm transformed again, unfolding into a missile launcher that locked directly onto Shūjin—
Completely ignoring Sam.
Even willing—
To kill the one it was meant to protect.
Shūjin's eyes narrowed.
"A lunatic."
He formed seals instantly and used Body Flicker to evade.
BOOM—
The missile struck the yard, creating a massive crater. Debris blasted outward, striking Sam and sending him stumbling.
The boy stared in horror at his destroyed home—
Then at Bumblebee.
For the first time—
Fear replaced trust.
Shūjin landed atop a distant wall, calmly analyzing the situation.
The parasites worked—
But not enough.
To completely disable this machine, stronger methods would be required.
In the distance, sirens wailed.
Another deep engine roar approached rapidly.
At the same time, the front door burst open.
"Oh my God!" Sam's father nearly collapsed at the sight—their home half-destroyed, a giant robot standing in the yard.
"Sam! Let go of my son!" his mother screamed.
Bumblebee ignored them entirely.
Its focus remained locked on Shūjin.
The machine gun spun up again, emitting a deadly hum.
"Bumblebee, stop! My parents are there!" Sam cried in panic.
RATATATAT—
The barrage resumed.
Bullets rained toward Shūjin.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
Another earthen barrier surged upward, blocking the assault.
Stone cracked and splintered under the relentless fire—
But it held.
Not a single bullet broke through.