Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 17: The Elder Moved! "Uchiha Doesn't Need Your Sacrifice!"

Outside the barrier,

Two Cloud Shinobi surrounded Uchiha Setsuna from the front and back.

Seeing Moroi gain the upper hand, the two exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

Rami, in the rear, used Lightning Style and Earth Style to assist in harassment, while Dodai in the front continuously attacked with the Hot Knife and Lava Fist, pressuring Uchiha Setsuna.

Uchiha Setsuna wanted to find an opportunity to cast a Genjutsu to control one of them, then use Izanagi to take one down in a desperate move. However, the two Cloud Shinobi constantly changed their positions, avoiding any life-or-death confrontation, merely exchanging light blows before retreating.

It was clear they were determined to stall until Moroi killed Uchiha Ci, and then they would attack Uchiha Setsuna together.

This left Uchiha Setsuna struggling to cope, with no chance to strike.

His expression grew increasingly grim, his anxiety evident.

At this rate,

Not only would he fail to save Uchiha Ci, but he himself might be killed by the three of them here.

The situation was dire!

However, at this moment,

The situation on the battlefield suddenly changed again—

"Hahaha, ahahaha!"

A manic laugh echoed from inside the barrier!

Moroi, his face full of fear, changed the seals on the barrier, allowing the sounds from inside and outside to pass through.

"Rami-senpai, Dodai-senpai! Quickly, retreat!"

Moroi's terrified voice followed the laugh.

"What?!" Rami was stunned upon hearing this and quickly turned to look inside the barrier.

What he saw was—

Uchiha Ci, bare-chested, his body covered in dense Explosive Tag patterns.

He held an Explosive Tag in front of his chest, sneering and slowly approaching Moroi.

"What the hell is this?!" Rami's eyes nearly popped out.

Seeing Uchiha Ci covered in Explosive Tags, Rami's scalp tingled, and he couldn't help but shudder.

With just one glance, his old and cloudy eyes became clear.

"This kid, is he crazy?!"

"So many Explosive Tags, enough to blow this village to the sky!"

Dodai, beside him, couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

As the right hand of the Third Raikage, he was accustomed to the ways of reckless fighters.

But at this moment, seeing Uchiha Ci like this, even his scalp tingled, his face filled with shock.

Who uses Explosive Tags as clothing?!

Even the Hozuki clan of the Mist wouldn't dare do something like this!

This isn't recklessness; this is complete madness!

Outside the barrier, the three of them simultaneously stopped and turned to look inside.

Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened with rage.

Seeing Uchiha Ci dressed like a terrorist, he feared that a single misstep would trigger the Explosive Tags on his body.

And then,

With a single explosion, this freshly minted genius of the Uchiha Hawkish faction would be gone.

"Uchiha Ci, what are you doing?!"

He angrily shouted, sweat pouring down his forehead, his heart filled with immense shock.

Uchiha Ci, holding the Explosive Tag in front of his heart, turned around and calmly responded:

"Elder, you can see it yourself. I have no other choice; this is the only way!"

Uchiha Setsuna's throat moved, his heart burning with worry, but he tried to maintain a calm appearance as he persuaded:

"Ci, calm down!"

"Quickly, take off those Explosive Tags! I'll get you out of here!"

"Don't worry, these three fools can't stop me!"

"No." Uchiha Ci shook his head firmly, taking a calm step towards Moroi, and said:

"Elder, we both know the situation very well."

"If I give up resisting and let this guy leave the barrier alive, the three of them together will undoubtedly kill you here!"

"If you die here, our clansmen in Hell Valley will soon be attacked by the Two-Tails Jinchuriki!"

"At that time, the Uchiha will suffer heavy losses!"

"And not just in terms of people..."

Uchiha Ci exhaled deeply and said heavily:

"The Blood Pool Clan will be released, and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning's commission will fail. Our clan's reputation will take a serious hit."

"Losing external sources of income, and with the loss of the Hawkish faction leader, internal strife, division, and disputes will inevitably occur within the Uchiha."

"Moreover, the hatred of the old dogs like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo towards our clan is far from extinguished!"

"This is a time of internal and external crises, a critical moment for survival!"

Uchiha Ci's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he took a big step forward and tugged hard on the Explosive Tag on his chest.

"I now understand the meaning of my presence here!"

Moroi, using both his hands and feet, scrambled backward in terror, screaming:

"What do you understand?! Get away!"

"What are you trying to do?! Stop right there! Don't move!"

"Don't pull it anymore, it's going to explode, it's going to explode! Aaaaahhhh!"

"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!"

Outside the barrier,

The Elder Uchiha Setsuna, hearing Uchiha Ci's words, couldn't help but clench his fists tightly, his hand holding the sword trembling.

Everything Ci said, he knew very well.

But he hadn't expected—

Uchiha Ci actually possessed such sharp insight, as if he were standing on the same level as him, seeing everything so clearly.

This... this...

Uchiha Ci,

He's not just a genius; he's a genius with far-reaching vision!

No wonder, no wonder he volunteered for this mission!

It turns out, he had already seen all of this.

This fledgling eagle leaped from the cliff,

Not because he longed to fly,

But because he foresaw the downfall of his clan!

It was the fear of the destruction of his nest that drove this child, who should be enjoying stability and growing stronger,

To step into the bottomless abyss!

But precisely because of this, Uchiha Setsuna felt a pain in his heart that almost made it impossible to breathe!

"Ci!"

His eyes were red, the icy expression that had lasted for years finally moved!

Uchiha Setsuna clenched his sword tightly, his eyes slightly reddened, his gaze becoming extremely sharp!

He swept a glance at the three Cloud Shinobi, his anger almost burning the sky!

Uchiha Setsuna took a deep breath and shouted sternly:

"Uchiha Ci! Enough!"

"Stop this now!"

"The Uchiha doesn't need you to sacrifice yourself!"

Uchiha Ci smiled, his calm expression softening as he turned to look at Uchiha Setsuna, shaking his head with a smile:

"Elder, there's no need to persuade me."

"An eagle must have the posture of an eagle!"

"This is our final farewell!" Uchiha Ci said with a smile,

"After this mission, please don't forget me. Next year, burn some paper for me at the Memorial Stone."

"I'll be satisfied with that!"

Uchiha Setsuna's heart trembled, he quickly raised his head, wanting to persuade him further.

But then he heard Uchiha Ci softly ask:

"Elder, you don't regret choosing me, do you?"

Uchiha Setsuna's vision blurred,

Uchiha Ci's figure reflected in his Sharingan, as if overlapping with the reckless child from the clan meeting...

The Elder's expression moved again, recalling how, in a fit of anger, he had sent Uchiha Ci to the battlefield.

His face twisted with regret, his intestines turning green with remorse!

If he had known earlier that Uchiha Ci was such a genius, how could he have sent this kid to the battlefield?!

Moreover, back then, he had even thought of using Uchiha Ci as a pawn in the coup.

Now, seeing Uchiha Ci, who was using his life to buy him a chance to survive.

Uchiha Setsuna wished he could slap himself hard!

He truly deserved to die!

Uchiha Setsuna's lips trembled as he looked at Uchiha Ci, his eyes full of reluctance.

"Ci!"

(TN: Changed yen to yuan)