The kunai in Uchiha Kai's hand slid effortlessly across the throat of the Jōnin before him. The force was precise—neither too light nor too heavy—ensuring a fatal outcome. Uchiha Kai was highly proficient in this technique.
After all, he had been on the battlefield for years. Even though his modern way of thinking made it difficult to fully accept, he had long since cultivated the detached mindset necessary for survival.
Through psychological conditioning and self-hypnosis, Uchiha Kai had trained himself to see killing as nothing more than leveling up in a game from his past life. It wasn't that he felt no burden, but it had been significantly dulled.
The world of shinobi was merciless: either you kill, or you are killed. Kai had forced himself to adapt.
The Iwa-nin Jōnin he had just slain was mediocre at best—or perhaps just not versatile enough. He had been on guard against a surprise attack, but Kai's speed was overwhelming.
However, Uchiha Kai took no pride in this. He was keenly aware of his own limitations. His learning speed wasn't exceptional—even with his Sharingan, he was only considered a standard "genius" within the clan.
Kai knew that, despite his own speed, someone like Namikaze Minato, even without using the Flying Thunder God Technique, was likely the fastest shinobi alive. And then there was Uchiha Shisui, a prodigy whose Body Flicker Technique would later become legendary.
Of course, Kai's own Mangekyō Sharingan played a crucial role in his combat efficiency.
Turning his attention to the battlefield, he spotted Imai Kenta. After evading for a while, Kenta suddenly accelerated, closing in on a Chūnin with astonishing speed—his movement like a streak of light. The Chūnin barely had time to react, raising a kunai in a last-ditch effort to block.
But Kenta's sword moved fluidly, slipping past the kunai as if alive, and slashed cleanly across the enemy's throat.
As the two figures passed each other, a crimson arc of blood painted the air.
It was a clean, decisive kill.
Meanwhile, Hyūga Aya was engaged in a fight of her own. Two blurred figures weaved through the forest at high speed.
With her Byakugan and Gentle Fist, she was more than capable of holding her own—even against a Jōnin, let alone a Chūnin.
As expected, after a brief exchange, she found an opening. In an instant, her palm struck forward.
The Chūnin coughed up blood, his body rocketing backward like a bullet until he crashed into a thick tree, breaking it on impact.
The battle was nearly over. One Jōnin and two Chūnin had been eliminated, and the only other Chūnin had already been taken out by Kai beforehand.
Only two Genin remained. They stood frozen, clutching their kunai in trembling hands, their eyes filled with terror.
Kai looked at them and was reminded of himself when he had first stepped onto the battlefield. A brief pang of pity surfaced, but he dismissed it. In this world, compassion was a liability.
"Clean up the battlefield. The scent of blood is too strong," he thought to himself. Outwardly, though, Uchiha Kai remained composed.
"Next time, be more decisive," he instructed.
"Yes, Captain," Imai Kenta responded with his usual harmless smile, as if he hadn't just slain a man seconds ago.
"Hmph," Aya scoffed, her cold gaze fixed on Kai. "Kai-kun's strength is beyond expectations. Even without using your Sharingan, your speed rivals a high-level Body Flicker user. You'll become quite the formidable shinobi."
Kai chuckled. "The Sharingan is a valuable tool. Even if you're not an Uchiha, you'd want one, wouldn't you?" His tone was teasing. "But more important than that… isn't freedom what really matters, Aya-kun?"
Uchiha Kai had no fear when it came to verbal spars. And for someone like Hyūga Aya, freedom was a particularly sore subject.
As expected, her expression darkened, and chakra flared around her fingers.
"Tch. What's the point in provoking me? If you truly wanted to fight