"You spoke with righteous indignation, using logic to counter Uchiha Seiichirou."

"You acquired the skill from the opponent: Fire Release - Phoenix Fire Technique (C-rank) (Proficient)."

"Your heart of steel layer has increased."

"Now, you can check the accumulated layers of heart of steel and open your skill panel."

Uchiha Ci was slightly taken aback, then a hint of speechlessness appeared on his face.

He really hadn't intended to trigger this talent; he just wanted an excuse for a death wish.

Can this really happen?

With a thought, Uchiha Ci saw a phantom grid appear before him.

[Employee: Uchiha Ci]

[Title: Heaven-sent Man]

[Talent: Heart of Steel (SSS), Sharingan (Not Awakened, B), Combat Instinct (Not Developed, S)]

[Skills: Uchiha Style - Manipulating Shuriken Technique (Exquisite, S), Fire Release - Great Fireball Technique (Beginner, C), Fire Release - Phoenix Fire Technique (Proficient, C), Taijutsu (Beginner)]

[Accumulated Heart of Steel Layers (Expandable)]

[Insurance Status: Paid]

Uchiha Ci glanced at it briefly; it looked about the same as he estimated, and he used his mind to close the panel.

There was suddenly an extra talent, "Combat Instinct," which puzzled him.

Everything else was within his expectations.

Having an extra panel and an additional ninjutsu was not a big deal...

After all, the panel was just for viewing, and this ninjutsu was merely a C-rank technique, the Phoenix Fire.

Fire Release was famously a benevolent ninjutsu, following the rule of "no harm with smoke."

As long as he could persuade two members of the team, this opportunity to take a risk could still be tried.

However, while Uchiha Ci thought this way, reality was not as he wished.

His lecturing words rang in Uchiha Seiichirou's ears, instantly darkening the latter's expression.

Seiichirou was a member of the Uchiha clan's dovish faction, aware of the task's ins and outs.

He was already filled with resentment for participating in this task, and when Uchiha Ci confronted him, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his Sharingan quietly activated.

"Uchiha Ci, are you lecturing me?"

Seiichirou raised an eyebrow coldly, staring at Uchiha Ci with an icy tone.

"You, a lowly genin who hasn’t even unlocked the Sharingan, how dare you lecture me?"

"It seems you need to learn a lesson!"

What Uchiha Ci said had some truth, but Seiichirou’s original intention for participating in this task was to preserve his own life.

Sneaking across the border was something only a madman would do; it was far too dangerous and not within his consideration.

That was why he appeared so angry.

Uchiha Ci instinctively averted his gaze when he saw the Sharingan light up in Seiichirou's eyes, only looking at his chest and below.

Then he saw—

Uchiha Seiichirou suddenly made a move, grabbing his hair with one hand while using the other to grip his shoulder, pushing his head down.

A knee strike quickly came toward Uchiha Ci's head!

Uchiha Ci's pupils contracted suddenly; he had not expected that Uchiha Seiichirou would dare to directly attack him while Elder Uchiha Shakunan was still nearby!

In the next moment,

Ci inhaled sharply and instinctively moved his body, using the force from Seiichirou's grip to pivot his feet on the ground, engaging his waist and legs at the same time to perform a backflip, slightly turning his face in midair to dodge the incoming knee strike.

At this moment, his hand reached to his lower back, quickly throwing out three shuriken.

In an instant, he locked onto Uchiha Seiichirou's exposed throat, wrist, and the temple beside his ear.

"What!" Uchiha Seiichirou was suddenly taken aback; his Sharingan widened, allowing him to clearly see the shuriken rapidly spinning toward him.

He quickly leaned back, urgently releasing his grip on Ci's hair, dodging the three shuriken.

His heart was slightly shocked, and after the shock, a surge of anger rose!

Uchiha Ci actually dared to resist!

To resist his superior, a chūnin!

Seiichirou's Sharingan's two tomoes spun, his eyes narrowing dangerously, and the next moment, his palm quickly formed hand seals—

However, Uchiha Ci had already begun forming seals in midair before Seiichirou landed.

Rat - Tiger - Dog - Ox - Rabbit - Tiger!

Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!

As Seiichirou was forming the last Tiger seal, six sizable fireballs appeared before him, rapidly flying toward him.

Following the fireballs, several whistling sounds rushed toward him!

Six shuriken, three kunai, accompanied by six fireballs, surged toward him like a tidal wave.

"Not good!" Seiichirou's eyes widened in shock.

A quantitative change caused a qualitative change, with a total of fifteen throwing units coming at him; even with his two tomoe Sharingan, he could see the trajectory of all the projectiles, but it was useless.

All he could do now was quickly dodge using Body Flicker Technique.

However, after the fifteen projectiles, Uchiha Ci was still pulling out more.

His left hand had already pinched four more shuriken,

And it wasn't over yet!

Uchiha Ci's right hand had reached the scroll pouch at his waist, pulling out a sealing scroll.

In the center of the scroll, there was a large character '忍' prominently written!

Given the scroll's length, it likely contained no less than a hundred ninja tools...

What the hell!

How can this kid throw so much!?

"Enough!"

At that moment, Uchiha Shakunan, who had been silently watching from the side, suddenly spoke in a cold voice.

He appeared between the two, casually drawing his ninja knife from his back.

With a sweeping motion of the ninja knife, a crescent arc of light shone.

Crash, crash!

Without missing, all six fireballs, six shuriken, and three kunai were cut down and deflected by this single strike.

"Uchiha Seiichirou," Elder Uchiha Shakunan slowly sheathed his knife, his gaze cold enough to chill one’s heart.

"Go do your job."

Seiichirou trembled slightly under the elder's gaze, then fell silent.

He silently walked away a distance to set up warning traps.

There was just a slight hint of discontent on his face;

He was a chūnin, and he had just been caught off guard by Uchiha Ci's massive throwing of ninja tools.

As long as he was serious, Uchiha Ci, this genin, would definitely not be his opponent...

The conflict was quelled,

Uchiha Ci was now silently picking up the ninja tools on the ground, feeling heartbroken.

The elder's strike had directly damaged two of his high-quality kunai.

As for the poorly made shuriken, there was no need to mention it; they were directly split in two.

This was all money!

Money that was meant to be used against strong enemies was wasted on Uchiha Seiichirou, making him feel like he had lost out badly.

Uchiha Shakunan's gaze lingered for a moment on the three shuriken that Uchiha Ci had thrown initially, then he slowly withdrew his gaze.

With his eyesight, he could of course see that the three shuriken that had initially missed were wrapped with a thin thread.

If he hadn't stopped the fight just now,

Uchiha Seiichirou would have instantly moved to that position, and then Uchiha Ci would pull the thread...

If this kid were a bit more ruthless, Seiichirou would probably have been severed in two.

Uchiha Shakunan slightly furrowed his brows, looking at Uchiha Ci.

He suddenly had a strange feeling.

It was as if it was himself who had just attacked Uchiha Seiichirou...

This kid's shuriken technique seemed to... have something.

"You are Uchiha Ci, right?" Uchiha Shakunan suddenly asked.

"Uh, yes, that's me." Uchiha Ci was taken aback and nodded.

Uchiha Shakunan slightly narrowed his eyes, walked over to the campfire, sat down, and waved to Uchiha Ci.

"Come here."