Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 22: A Cruel Choice - The Uchiha Chose Love!

Outside the Barrier

Dodai rapidly formed hand seals.

Upon seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna's expression immediately changed.

He instantly recognized the ninjutsu Dodai was preparing to use: Earth Release: Open Earth Rising Excavation!

This was a large-scale Earth Release technique capable of raising a massive volcano from underground, forcefully dragging out any enemies hidden below.

However, in the land of hot springs and mountainous regions like the Land of Hot Water, where volcanic activity was extremely high, using this jutsu would drastically alter its nature.

What would be drawn out by Open Earth Rising Excavation would not be enemies, but instead, an endless supply of scalding, boiling water, which could cause third-degree burns after mere contact,

with temperatures exceeding 100°C!

Using this terrain to amplify the jutsu's power was the key to why the Cloud Village team was confident they could kill Uchiha Setsuna. It was also why they chose to ambush him in the Land of Hot Water, rather than on the borders of the Land of Fire.

Dodai couldn't wait any longer.

All of this was due to that crazy Uchiha brat inside the barrier!

If it weren't for him, who forcibly turned the tide of battle and stubbornly held off Moroi, the situation wouldn't have escalated to this point, where the brat even awakened the Sharingan, tipping the scales in his favor.

Dodai would never have been forced to go to such lengths.

These thoughts swirled in Dodai's mind as he looked at Moroi, his expression suddenly conflicted.

Because doing this would mean...

sacrificing his good brother... Moroi.

The Cloud Village had always been a place where brotherly bonds were revered.

Feelings of guilt, regret, and shame hammered at Dodai's heart, filling his face with a look of struggle.

But Uchiha Setsuna, with his extreme rhetoric and the full wrath of the most powerful clan in the current ninja world, 

instilled an overwhelming sense of suffocating fear in Dodai.

Kill him!

Kill him!

Kill him!

Once this thought arose, it spread like a curse, uncontrollably replicating in Dodai's mind.

Until his mind was filled with only these three words.

In the next instant—

Dodai's gaze sharpened, and he shouted angrily:

"Enough!"

"Moroi, dispel the barrier!"

"I'll kill him myself!"

Inside the Barrier

"What did you say, Dodai-senpai?"

Moroi was stunned by Dodai's words.

This moment of shock gave Uchiha Ci the opportunity to strike; gripping the blade of his ninja sword with his bloodied hand, he pulled the sword out, then delivered a fierce kick to Moroi's abdomen.

Bang!

Moroi was sent flying, losing grip of his sword, which fell into Ci's hand.

Moroi tumbled across the ruins, using his hand to brace himself and halt his momentum.

Ignoring the fight with Uchiha Ci, he turned his dazed face toward Dodai outside the barrier.

However, Dodai, standing there, merely took a deep breath, continuing to form hand seals as he coldly ordered:

"I said, dispel the barrier!"

"Dispel the barrier?" Moroi's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Dodai.

"You're asking me to dispel the barrier now?"

His face flushed red and then paled, his expression shifting rapidly.

As a member of the team who had participated in planning from the beginning, how could Moroi not know the terrifying power and massive range of Dodai's Earth Release: Open Earth Rising Excavation?

And now, Dodai was asking him to dispel the barrier, claiming he would personally kill Uchiha Ci!

Did he not realize that the jutsu would cover even his own teammate?

At this thought, Moroi felt a chill run through his heart as he looked at Dodai, who had always been like a big brother, with a sense of unfamiliarity.

Finally, he angrily retorted:

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"You're forming seals for Open Earth Rising Excavation and asking me to dispel the barrier?!"

"Do you want to kill me too, Dodai!!!"

Hearing this, a trace of guilt appeared on Dodai's face.

He did not respond, nor did he dare look at Moroi again. He simply turned to Rami beside him and gritted his teeth:

"Rami, protect me. Don't let that old Uchiha bastard get close!"

Rami was also shocked by this:

"Dodai, you..."

Dodai just shook his head, his face grim as he said:

"Do I need to repeat myself? Do you not realize the consequences if that old bastard escapes?"

Rami bit his lip slightly, "But why does Moroi have to..."

Dodai exhaled deeply, forming the last seal as he coldly replied:

"Nonsense! If we don't kill that crazy brat too, without the barrier to stop him, the old bastard will escape on his own!"

"The situation is different now."

"Moroi has already done his part by sealing all the explosive tags on that crazy brat."

"That brat is no longer a threat."

"Instead, he'll become our ally!"

Rami couldn't help but glance at the right-hand man of the Third Raikage.

A trace of apprehension flickered in his eyes.

No wonder Dodai had reached such a high position in Cloud Village at such a young age, while Rami, despite a lifetime of effort, remained just an ordinary jonin captain.

Shaking his head, Rami sighed and said indifferently:

"You're right."

"Sometimes, bonds are stronger restraints than barriers."

Dodai didn't respond, merely narrowing his eyes.

He watched as Uchiha Setsuna, wielding a crimson blade with a fiery trail, rushed forward with a cold gaze, his crimson Sharingan blazing, preparing to strike.

Dodai sneered.

He slammed his palm on the ground!

In the next moment, the earth shook violently!

Earth dragons surged as countless chunks of earth began to rise and converge.

A massive volcano slowly emerged from the ground, engulfing the entire barrier where Moroi was located.

At the volcano's rim, thick fog billowed.

Seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened in rage, and he shouted:

"What are you doing, Cloud Village?!"

"Uchiha Setsuna, let's make a bet," Dodai continued forming seals, a cruel smile appearing on his face.

This time, he was about to unleash Lava Release: Great Lava River.

This would transform the earth into a molten river of lava, sealing the volcano's mouth.

The boiling water drawn by Open Earth Rising Excavation would create a strong pressure difference within, causing the volcano to swell,

The hellish conditions within the volcano and the final eruption of boiling water would be an act of nature beyond human control!

"You have two choices now."

Dodai coldly glared at Uchiha Setsuna and shouted:

"You can stay here and fight us to the end."

"And watch as that brat who's about to defeat Moroi is killed by me."

"I have to admit, you won. You ruined all our plans by sacrificing just one genin brat!"

"If you leave now, I won't stop you!"

"Of course, there's another choice."

Dodai pointed to the massive volcano, now spewing thick white steam.

He sneered:

"Jump in now!"

"With your abilities, maybe you can save that brat. Who knows?"

Uchiha Setsuna's face changed dramatically.

"My jutsu is about to seal the mouth. Will you make your choice?!" Dodai's eyes widened as he shouted.

Uchiha Setsuna glared at him, gritting his teeth. Standing on the edge of the volcano,

without a second thought,

he turned and leaped into the volcano!

Dodai sneered, "Now, it's over!"

As he finished speaking, he completed the seal and unleashed a surging river of molten lava!

The hot, molten lava flowed like a lid, sealing the volcano's mouth tightly.

Everything settled!