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Feeling slightly distressed, Uchiha Kiyo took out his remaining funds and handed them over. In return, he received two scrolls, which he immediately began inspecting without hesitation.
The middle-aged deacon showed no sign of annoyance; after all, verifying the authenticity of a purchase after spending such a sum was only natural.
Upon careful examination, Uchiha Kiyo confirmed that both scrolls contained the latest versions of their respective ninjutsu. Techniques evolved over time, with minor adjustments increasing their overall efficiency and refining their execution. Though the power boost was usually marginal, each revision contributed to a more polished form of the technique.
Since the transaction was genuine, Uchiha Kiyo saw no reason to linger. Declining the deacon's invitation to stay, he turned and left the black market without delay.
Inside the Black Market
"Sir, should we really let him go just like that? Shouldn't we have someone tail him? He had a considerable amount of wealth on him; perhaps he acquired something of great value."
One of the staff members, who had assisted Uchiha Kiyo, cautiously inquired.
"No need," the deacon responded with a knowing smirk. "From his behavior, it was obvious that he spent nearly everything he had. What would we even gain by sending someone? Retrieve the scrolls we just sold him? Hardly worth the effort."
Besides, as a reputable faction in the black market, they prided themselves on professionalism when dealing with distinguished customers.
"You did well this time. Consider this your reward."
However, there was one thing the deacon chose not to mention.
While they themselves wouldn't bother robbing Uchiha Kiyo, it didn't mean others wouldn't. The black market was teeming with individuals who preyed on the vulnerable. The moment Uchiha Kiyo was escorted to the VIP trading room, numerous eyes had already locked onto him.
For those rogue shinobi lurking in the shadows, his purchase signified immense value. No matter what he had bought, it was worth a fortune. If it was an item, it could be resold. If it was knowledge, it could be learned. To them, information was a rare and valuable commodity.
While some were genuinely there to browse the market, many were simply observing potential targets. They assessed who engaged in large transactions, gauged their strength, and determined if they could be ambushed afterward.
Uchiha Kiyo, unfortunately, had drawn the worst kind of attention. His seemingly naive approach made him an irresistible target—he had displayed wealth, was unfamiliar with the environment, and was, in their eyes, merely a Chunin.
So, as he exited, more than half of the onlookers quietly followed.
Outside the Black Market
Initially, Uchiha Kiyo remained oblivious. But as he distanced himself, he began noticing an unusually persistent presence trailing behind him. His combat experience, honed during the war, made him keenly aware of such things.
Observing the scattered formation of his pursuers, he quickly deduced they weren't sent by the black market.
"So it's them... Those rogue shinobi wandering around without making purchases."
Recognizing their identity, Uchiha Kiyo smirked coldly. He wasn't alarmed—if anything, he welcomed the opportunity.
"Perfect. I just spent everything I had and was feeling the sting. But with this many people… If each one of them carries a few hundred thousand ryo, I could easily make back over ten million."
"This way, I won't even have to sell my gold dust ahead of schedule."
With that thought, he deliberately led his pursuers to a remote area.
The Ambush
The moment he deemed the setting ideal, Uchiha Kiyo formed a hand seal. Without warning, he unleashed a powerful jutsu.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A raging inferno erupted from his mouth, sweeping across the battlefield like a tidal wave. The sky turned crimson as the flames engulfed everything within a 200-meter radius.
To ensure the integrity of the loot, Uchiha Kiyo didn't maximize the heat output but instead infused the flames with his unique burning properties, enhancing their ability to consume targets efficiently.
A single large-scale attack.
In an instant, nearly fifty enemy shinobi were incinerated, their bodies reduced to charred remains.
Shock and Desperation
The remaining pursuers recoiled in horror.
"Impossible! Wasn't he supposed to be a mere Chunin?!"
The sheer scale and intensity of his technique rivaled high-ranking jutsu performed by elite Jōnin. Some began reconsidering their chances.
Yet, a handful remained undeterred. These weren't mere stragglers; they were members of organized rogue shinobi groups, each capable of handling multiple elite opponents at once. Three separate groups had converged, each possessing combat capabilities equal to at least three Special Jōnin.
Together, their combined power could challenge even full-fledged Jōnin.
Unfortunately for them, their calculations were flawed.
Uchiha Kiyo was no ordinary shinobi.
He wasn't a Jōnin.
He wasn't even an elite Jōnin.
He was a shadow-level warrior.
And the battle was far from over.
Escalating the Fight
With only three hand seals, Uchiha Kiyo prepared his next jutsu.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A massive, serpent-like inferno surged forward, twisting and coiling through the air before slamming into his foes.
Simultaneously, he wove another technique.
"Earth Release: Weapon Creation Jutsu!"
Thousands of razor-sharp projectiles materialized mid-air before raining down upon his adversaries.
The combined assault proved overwhelming.
Most of his enemies perished within seconds, either incinerated by fire or impaled by earthen spears. The remaining Special Jōnin attempted to flee, but Uchiha Kiyo had anticipated their retreat.
Using a substitution technique hidden within the shrapnel storm, he intercepted them before they could escape.
One swift movement.
A flicker of Sharingan-red in the darkness.
Their lives ended before they could even react.
Aftermath
Standing amidst the battlefield of corpses, Uchiha Kiyo nodded in satisfaction.
Gathering all their ninja pouches and valuables, he pocketed every piece of loot.
"Some of these guys were quite wealthy. No doubt they've plundered others before. Consider this retribution."
He didn't waste time counting his newfound riches. Instead, he stored everything within a space scroll and tucked it securely into his pouch.
Returning to the Black Market
Now came the most crucial step.
Placing an isolation barrier around himself, Uchiha Kiyo prepared for the next phase. Unlike ordinary cloaking techniques, this barrier completely nullified any chakra leakage.
"Earth Release: Underground Movement Jutsu."
He traveled undetected beneath the surface, re-entering the black market from its underground pathways.
Navigating according to his mental map, he soon emerged near the ninjutsu storage area.
Activating his Sharingan, he carefully analyzed his surroundings.
Once certain of the security layout, he stepped forward.
The two guards stationed at the entrance—both Special Jōnin—made no move to stop him.
They couldn't.
Under the illusion of his Sharingan, they failed to perceive his presence at all.
"Tsk, tsk… Two Special Jōnin. They'd last a while in a fight."
Rather than engage them directly, Uchiha Kiyo trapped them in a genjutsu that completely erased his existence from their perception.
While his shadow clones infiltrated the storage area to copy valuable scrolls, Uchiha Kiyo remained in position, maintaining the illusion.
"I'm definitely not just doing this to avoid extra work."
For three hours, his clones methodically copied the most advanced techniques.
Once at his limit, he dispelled the genjutsu, retreated into the underground tunnels, and escaped unnoticed.
Repeating the process multiple times, Uchiha Kiyo successfully duplicated every high-level ninjutsu in the black market's archives.
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