*Chapter 38: A Gift of Wood Release—How Could One Refuse?*

"Whoosh!!"

A powerful surge of energy erupted from Izumi Uchiha's eyes, flooding her pupils.

Chakra burst forth from her eye sockets.

The three tomoe of the Sharingan began to shift, connecting into a single line.

In an instant, they converged into a new pattern.

"Squawk."

Itachi Uchiha's body was suddenly severed in two, but what fell from the sky was only a crow.

The remaining black shadows took to the sky.

Even though Izumi Uchiha was on the brink of death, she still used a clone to finish the job.

"These eyes..."

Itachi Uchiha, standing at a distance, felt his pupils contract sharply.

He had only seen such eyes once before—in Shisui Uchiha.

Originally, Itachi believed the Mangekyō Sharingan was nothing more than a myth.

But after witnessing Shisui's eyes, he had delved into countless clan records.

In some obscure documents, there were secret references to the Uchiha clan's eyes.

These eyes could only be awakened in moments of extreme anger and emotional turmoil.

They carried both love and hatred.

In other words, Izumi Uchiha's eyes had awakened because of him.

"Itachi Uchiha!"

Izumi Uchiha, with a trace of unwillingness, had just awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The chakra within her body was drained instantly when she used her eye technique.

It was the last bit of chakra squeezed out of her nearly exhausted body.

Coupled with her severe injuries and depleted chakra, Izumi Uchiha fell into a coma.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan!"

The moment those eyes appeared, a glint of intense desire flashed in the eyes of a Root ninja watching from a distance.

Such a pair of eyes must be delivered to Lord Danzo.

"This body must be brought back!"

The Root ninja, standing afar, thought to himself.

This special Sharingan had to be presented to Lord Danzo.

He moved forward, intending to kill Itachi Uchiha and take Izumi's eyes.

"Just a pack of wild dogs raised by Danzo, and they dare show their fangs at the Uchiha clan."

"What a fool!"

A hand reached out from the darkness, grasping the Root ninja's neck out of thin air.

With a distortion of space, the figure appeared on the spot.

The figure, Raijin, carried a flame-patterned fan on his back and wore the unique robes of the Uchiha clan.

With the three tomoe Sharingan in his eyes, he looked down at the ninja in his grasp with disdain.

"Wood Release! Silent Strangle Technique!"

The boy beside him shouted in surprise, forming hand signs rapidly.

Branches grew from his palms, rushing toward Raijin.

"Bang!"

The branches passed right through Raijin's figure, as if piercing through air.

They didn't hinder his movements in the slightest.

"They went through him."

The Root ninja was stunned, unable to comprehend the technique. What kind of jutsu was this?

He had never heard of such a technique in Konoha.

Wasn't Wood Release supposed to be the nemesis of the Uchiha clan?

"A Wood Release user?"

Raijin's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected Danzo to go this far.

Sending a Wood Release ninja to execute him.

This Wood Release was Danzo's secret weapon.

And he was willing to use it.

"Wood Release!"

Itachi Uchiha also exclaimed in shock.

This was the legendary technique said to rival the Uchiha clan.

He hadn't expected Konoha to have another person like this.

Compared to Izumi Uchiha, the Wood Release user was of greater value to Konoha.

This person couldn't be allowed to fall into Raijin's hands.

"Seems like my luck isn't too bad today. A Wood Release user delivering himself to me."

Raijin flung the Root ninja in his hand, sending him crashing into the charging Itachi Uchiha.

Thud!

Itachi quickly caught the ninja, who was one of Konoha's elite jōnin.

With immense strength, it was certain that this person would have many more opportunities to shine in Konoha's future.

There was no reason to abandon someone like that, but as Itachi Uchiha tried to retrieve him, Raijin had already reached the side of the Wood Release user, placing a hand on his shoulder.

In the next moment, countless seals spread from Raijin's palm, covering the Wood Release user's entire body.

"I can't move!"

The Wood Release user's eyes darted around as he realized he had lost control over his own body.

He tried to channel his chakra, only to find it suppressed as if by a mountain—completely immobilized.

"Wait!"

Itachi Uchiha reached out, attempting to stop Raijin's actions.

But Raijin wasn’t about to listen.

"I'll gladly accept the First Hokage's Wood Release!"

"If Danzo wants it back, he can come and get it himself."

Raijin hoisted the paralyzed ninja and vanished from sight.

Simultaneously, the unconscious Izumi Uchiha also disappeared.

Raijin had hit the jackpot this time: Izumi Uchiha had awakened her eyes.

Her Mangekyō Sharingan possessed extremely powerful offensive abilities.

In the future, those eyes could become his greatest asset.

And as a bonus, he had even picked up a Wood Release user for free!

There was no reason to refuse such a gift.

He’d be a key player when the time came.

As for Itachi Uchiha, Raijin wasn't in a rush to kill him.

The kid hadn't awakened his Mangekyō yet.

He could wait until Itachi opened his eyes; then, he could kill him and gain another pair of Mangekyō as a reward.

Those eyes would become his trophies, not an opportunity for Sasuke Uchiha to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō.

The forest fell silent once more, leaving only two survivors clinging to life.

Itachi Uchiha’s face was grim. He couldn’t understand why Raijin, who clearly had the power to kill him, would let him go back to report to Danzo.

But the power Raijin had displayed far exceeded his expectations.

Such strength was unlike anything he had ever encountered. If he hadn’t seen that Raijin still had three tomoe in his Sharingan, he might have believed that the man had awakened the Mangekyō.

Now, with a Mangekyō user at Raijin's side, there was likely no one who could stop him—except maybe Shisui.

After thinking it over, Itachi made up his mind.

"I'll report back. I'll tell Lord Danzo everything that happened today."

The Root ninja, saved by Itachi, showed no gratitude.

He simply got up coldly and hurried back to the Root base.

They had not only lost a Wood Release user on this mission but had also allowed the Uchiha clan to gain a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.

Such an outcome was unacceptable to them.

"Understood!"

Itachi responded in a deep voice, following behind the ninja.

His mind was preoccupied with the abilities of Izumi Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Only with sufficient information could he attempt to find a weakness in her technique.

As for why Izumi Uchiha awakened her Mangekyō—it didn't really matter.

(End of Chapter)