Uzumaki Raiden casually destroyed the door and walked into the dimly lit room, his eyes scanning the surroundings and the three people inside.
Among them was Uchiha Ayako, who had fled earlier, and two unfamiliar figures—a middle-aged man and a younger individual standing behind him. A quick glance using his Kagura perception technique told Raiden that neither of them had weak chakra.
"Heh, you sure ran fast. What are you guys discussing in here without me?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything... am I?"
Raiden's hoarse voice echoed through the room as he studied the trio. Though he hadn't made any threatening moves, Uchiha Ayako instinctively tensed, drawing a kunai and gripping it tightly.
The middle-aged man, however, went through a series of expressions before stepping forward with a smile. Bowing slightly, he spoke, "Greetings, Lord Raiden!"
Ayako was stunned by his sudden display of respect, while the younger man behind him remained silent, observing the situation coldly.
"Oh? Not bad," Raiden remarked, slightly surprised by the man's reaction. After a moment, he smirked.
"Lord Hokage, you must know what's happening within our clan. If I can be of any assistance, I would gladly offer my help!"
The man remained in his bowing posture, his head slightly raised, speaking in a flattering tone.
"Interesting... What's your name?" Raiden asked, eyeing him closely.
"I am Uchiha Shi, currently serving in the Konoha Police Force."
Just as Shi introduced himself, his eyes flickered to red, and the three-tomoe Sharingan appeared. In an instant, he launched an illusion at Raiden while simultaneously drawing a kunai and aiming for his heart.
The sudden shift in demeanor was shocking—just moments ago, Shi had been groveling, and now he struck with lethal intent.
At the same time, the younger man flashed forward, his kunai targeting Raiden's neck.
The two attackers coordinated seamlessly, forming a pincer attack aimed at ending Raiden in an instant.
"Not so fast!"
In Raiden's mind, Kurama's voice echoed with amusement. Chakra surged through Raiden's body, disrupting the illusion effortlessly.
In reality, the entire exchange lasted only a split second. Raiden's eyes momentarily lost focus, but in an instant, they were filled with clarity once more.
"I thought he was sensible, turns out he's just another schemer."
With lightning speed, Raiden countered. In a blur, both attackers were disarmed and sent crashing to the floor. Kunai impaled their right shoulders—the very same weapons they had used in their failed assassination attempt.
The speed of his counterattack was terrifying; neither had even registered when Raiden had made his move.
"So fast! Even with Sharingan, I couldn't track it!"
"My genjutsu failed? How is that possible?"
Shi groaned, clutching his chest as he struggled to sit up. He had heard countless stories of Uzumaki Raiden's prowess during the Third Ninja War, yet he still underestimated him.
"Let me guess... you're one of the voices opposing Fugaku within the Uchiha clan, aren't you?"
Raiden's gaze bore down on the two men, noting the identical black tattoo on their wrists—similar to the ones he'd seen on Ayako and the guards earlier.
"Some kind of organization within the clan?"
"Now then... tell me who you really are!"
With a flick of his wrist, Raiden released lightning nets, ensnaring both Shi and his accomplice. Then, he slowly turned toward Ayako.
Panicking, Ayako raised her kunai in defense, but Raiden struck her with a small burst of lightning, knocking her unconscious in an instant.
"Hmph! The mighty Uchiha clan will never betray their own!"
Shi shouted defiantly, his face filled with stubborn pride as he shut his eyes, bracing himself for whatever was to come.
Raiden chuckled softly and turned to the younger man.
When their eyes met, the young man quickly averted his gaze, his resolve visibly wavering.
"You think staying silent will save you? If you're smart, you'll talk now and spare yourself the trouble," Raiden said, crouching next to Shi.
"I could call in the Yamanaka clan. They'll rip the truth out of your head whether you're willing or not... and trust me, it's not a pleasant experience."
Shi's expression contorted. He was well aware of the Yamanaka clan's infamous interrogation techniques. Even corpses weren't safe from their abilities.
"I..."
Before Shi could speak, the black tattoo on his wrist suddenly pulsed and expanded, spreading rapidly across his body. His eyes widened in horror as an immense surge of chakra flooded into him.
"Aaaaahhh!"
Shi's screams filled the room as blood began to stream from his eyes. The foreign chakra took over his body, pushing him to his limits.
His convulsions caused him to struggle against Raiden's lightning restraints, intensifying the pain.
Suddenly, Raiden sensed a fluctuation in space nearby.
"Who's there?!"
He whipped around, but before he could take action, a violent chakra eruption behind him drew his attention back to Shi.
Shi's body was grotesquely inflating, his form swelling as if he were about to explode.
"An explosive seal?!"
Raiden's eyes widened as he realized the black tattoo was designed to turn Shi into a walking bomb.
He instinctively reached for Ayako with a lightning rope, but noticed that she, too, was inflating in the same grotesque manner. The younger man was experiencing the same transformation.
"Damn it! The curse seals were a trap all along!"
Cursing under his breath, Raiden dashed outside and rapidly formed hand seals. A barrier of chakra encased the building just as the explosion erupted.
"BOOM!!!"
A muffled blast shook the area, but the barrier held, containing the destructive force within.
Several Uchiha shinobi rushed to the scene, forming a perimeter around Raiden. The dust settled, revealing a large crater where the house once stood, the air thick with the scent of blood and burnt debris.
Raiden dispelled the barrier, allowing the cloud of smoke to disperse.
The once modest hut was now a smoldering pit, several meters deep.
(End of this chapter)