Starting with the Uchiha clan, they began cultivating demonic arts.

Chapter 39 Discovery of Iwa Ninja

If it had been a few months ago, upon sensing these unfamiliar presences, Uchiha Touyu would probably have already retreated. However, he was now quite skilled and daring, and after a slight hesitation, he rushed towards the place where he sensed the gathering of unfamiliar souls.

"Uh... what's going on? Is it an invisibility spell?"

When Uchiha Hiyu arrived at the location where he sensed something amiss, he found no one there, but his soul perception revealed four unfamiliar souls hiding in a thicket.

When Uchiha Touyu focused his gaze there, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong. The two tomoe in his Sharingan kept spinning, and he finally discovered that the outline there seemed a bit strange.

"This is... camouflage concealment technique!?"

Ninja academies also teach some simple concealment methods that do not involve chakra, including using camouflage cloth to hide one's figure. However, this concealment method can only deal with being seen from tens or hundreds of meters away. At close range, one's flaws will be immediately discovered.

However, in the ninja world, there is a wind-style ninjutsu called the Camouflage Concealment Technique, which is a semi-invisibility ninjutsu developed based on this principle.

By precisely controlling the invisible water molecules in the air through wind-style chakra and wrapping them around the body, one can achieve an effect almost like optical invisibility. Although it belongs to the wind style, it is a ninjutsu unique to Iwagakure.

If Uchiha Touyu didn't possess the ability to sense souls, even if he had activated the Sharingan, he probably would have overlooked these ninjas.

"We're only two or three kilometers from Konoha's camp. The appearance of Iwagakure ninja here suggests they're preparing a surprise attack?"

With that thought firmly in his mind, the sound of wind and thunder rang out from Uchiha Touyu's body, and with a whoosh, he rushed directly towards the hidden Iwa ninja!

Hearing the sound of wind and thunder coming from behind, the hidden Iwa ninjas reacted immediately and scattered. Their camouflage concealment technique, which was used for high-speed movement, shattered instantly, revealing the figures of four Iwa ninjas.

Facing Uchiha Touyu at the very front was an extremely tall Iwa ninja who, after letting out a furious roar, turned completely black. At the same time, Uchiha Touyu slashed down with his sword.

"This guy's reaction time is pretty good... he actually managed to react to my attack, he's at least at the level of a Special Jonin!"

With a flash of light, Uchiha Touyu immediately felt resistance in his short sword. If the White Fang Sword Technique could cut through an ordinary person's body as easily as cutting tofu, then Uchiha Touyu felt as if he had cut through a piece of rotten wood.

This tall rock ninja used the Hardening Technique, the easiest to learn but most difficult to master among Earth Release techniques. The ordinary Hardening Technique is roughly equivalent to a layer of iron armor, and the stronger the ninja, the more effective the Hardening Technique becomes.

For example, the Earth Spear developed by Kakuzu, the immortal ninja in the manga, is also a type of Earth Release Hardening Technique. It can completely withstand ordinary A-rank ninjutsu, and it can only break through the defenses of A-rank Lightning Release and S-rank ninjutsu.

Of course, Kakuzu was a Kage-level ninja, while Uchiha Touyu was only facing an ordinary Iwa ninja Jonin. So when he struck, the blade was only slightly obscured, but it did manage to break through the opponent's defenses.

The tall Iwa ninja opposite him grunted and used Earth Release: Hardening Technique to block the blade. He quickly retreated and was not cut in two. He only suffered a deep, bone-revealing wound on his chest.

Just as the tall Iwa ninja retreated, the other Iwa ninjas rushed over without saying a word. The fastest to arrive were two ninjas who looked alike, each drawing a long sword from the left and right and slashing down instantly.

Uchiha Touyu's short sword flashed with white light, easily blocking the opponent's sword technique. He even retaliated by slashing back, forcing the two back, but he was also secretly startled.

"These guys are all Jonin-level fighters, capable of going toe-to-toe with Sakumo Hatake!"

However, upon closer examination, it makes sense. These are ninjas preparing to launch a surprise attack on Konoha's camp. Iwagakure would definitely send out the elite of the elite; anyone not at the Jonin level would be a liability.

While thinking this, Uchiha Tou raised his hand and threw a signal flare. As the signal flare exploded in the sky, the entire Konoha camp seemed to awaken as if a giant beast had come to its senses.

"Oh no!! The plan has failed, prepare to retreat!"

The Iwa ninja who was standing at the back and hadn't fought with Uchiha Touyu suddenly changed his expression. At the same time, Uchiha Touyu's eyes were fixed on him.

The camouflage concealment technique just now must have been used by this Iwa ninja. Judging from their positions, this guy should be the captain of this group of Iwa ninja.

A typical camouflage technique can only conceal one's own figure, but when this ninja used his technique, he also included a range of several meters around him in the camouflage, turning a single-person invisibility technique into a group invisibility technique. Based on this alone, this guy is probably not a simple character even among Jonin.

"Trying to run? Do you think you can escape?"

A cold smile appeared on Fei Yu's face. At this moment, the two Iwa ninjas, who were probably brothers, once again brandished their long swords and rushed up, trying their best to entangle Fei Yu.

The Iwa ninja who narrowly escaped being disemboweled reached out, a faint green light emanating from his hand, and began to heal himself. The last Iwa ninja squad leader, meanwhile, simply formed hand seals:

Earth Release: Light and Heavy Rock Technique

"Earth Release - Earth Split Palm!"

The earth cracked open rapidly, creating a huge chasm that blocked the way for Uchiha Tou and the other Iwa ninja. The two Iwa ninja brothers who had just been holding Uchiha Tou also retreated at the last moment, but each of them had a deep, bone-revealing wound on their bodies.

Earth Split Palm was originally a ninjutsu used for attacking by splitting the earth, but this Iwa ninja clearly used it as a retreat technique. The squad leader spoke up:

"Konoha truly lives up to its reputation as a cradle of geniuses! To have such strength at such a young age is practically Kage-level... Young man, could you tell me your name?"

Uchiha Touyu sneered. This guy was just looking at the chasm on the ground and felt safe, so he wanted to find out some information.

If it had been a month or two earlier, Uchiha Hiu, being a melee fighter, wouldn't have been able to do much against them, but now...

Slowly raising his head, Uchiha Touyu's Sharingan eyes swirled with two tomoe, instantly causing the Iwa ninja squad leader's expression to change:

"Sharingan! Oh no!"

Unfortunately, by the time he realized what was happening, he was already trapped in the illusion. Just then, Uchiha Touya swung his short sword horizontally, and a sword aura formed by wind release instantly ripped out like a giant crescent moon!

(End of this chapter)