The group maintained a steady pace, encountering no unusual circumstances along the way.
At their current speed, they would reach Konoha Village in approximately three hours.
Torifū was quietly anticipating the upcoming rewards, though based on the system's prompts, they would most likely be just Peace Points.
After all, the probability of obtaining mysterious items was extremely low. Torifū didn't consider himself particularly lucky, so he didn't harbor any extravagant hopes—he simply wished for a good amount of Peace Points.
Just as the group was passing a large river, Torifū suddenly felt a familiar sensation—exactly like the one he had experienced during the sparring match with Naori on the Hokage rock.
Torifū immediately understood what was happening but didn't show anything on his face.
He continued walking with the group for a while, then suddenly clutched his stomach and squatted down.
"Torifū, what's wrong?" Naori immediately noticed his condition and asked anxiously.
"I'm fine, I just have a stomachache and need to use the restroom. You guys go on ahead," Torifū said, looking embarrassed while clutching his stomach. Hiruzen and the others had no reason to linger either.
After telling Torifū to catch up as soon as possible, they continued onward but slightly reduced their pace.
Once the main group had moved a good distance away, Torifū stood upright, his demeanor returning to normal as he said coldly, "Come out. Stop hiding."
The surroundings were silent. Only a few birds flapped their wings and flew off—nothing else moved.
"Enough pretending. You were the one who attacked me on the mountaintop last time, weren't you? Uchiha Setsuna!"
The moment those words left his mouth, a massive, blazing fireball suddenly burst forth from the forest to Torifū's right. There was no mistaking it—this was the Uchiha clan's signature jutsu:
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!"
Torifū spat out a large stream of water, forming a powerful shockwave that collided with the oncoming fireball. The hissing sound of water turning to steam filled the air.
Thick steam quickly spread through the forest. Within it, a figure slowly emerged.
"You had a chance to live, but you can only blame your arrogance now, you foolish brat."
A pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes with three tomoe glowed ominously, cutting through the steam and locking onto Torifū.
But Torifū wasn't fazed. In fact, he mocked him.
"You think you've figured me out? It's just the three-tomoe Sharingan. Do you think you're Uchiha Madara or something?"
Setsuna burst out laughing. "Hahaha, just the three-tomoe Sharingan? Uchiha Madara? A six-year-old is actually looking down on me!"
Then, with a twisted expression, he added, "Then I'll let you experience the true power of the Sharingan!"
"Tch, tch, tch… I'm afraid you won't get the chance."
Before Setsuna could explode in anger, Torifū swiftly formed a series of hand seals, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Cloud Release: Cloud Mist Technique.
A cloud of mist sprayed from Torifū's mouth, merging instantly with the lingering steam and quickly transforming it into a denser, cloud-like substance.
Uchiha Setsuna was shocked—his Sharingan could no longer see through it! The mist had turned white like clouds, rendering his visual prowess useless.
"What kind of ninjutsu is this?! Damn it!" Setsuna roared.
No answer came.
He had wanted to use the steam as a smokescreen for an ambush. Instead, it had become a trap that turned against him!
Even his pride and joy—the Sharingan—had lost its effectiveness.
In truth, this was all due to Uchiha Setsuna's arrogance. He hadn't done any proper reconnaissance on Torifū, likely because he didn't think a six-year-old child was worth taking seriously.
Now, he was starting to regret that.
But the arrow was already nocked—he had no choice but to shoot.
"Even without the Sharingan, I can still kill you!"
"Then you can try."
As soon as Torifū spoke, Setsuna hurled three shuriken toward the sound. But all he heard was the metallic clinking of blades striking rock.
"Cunning little rat. Using the echoes to throw me off!"
After failing to land a hit and being continuously taunted, even a calm man would lose his temper—let alone a proud Uchiha.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
A giant fan of flame spewed forth from Setsuna's mouth. The intense heat did burn away some of the fog, but new clouds quickly flowed in from the surroundings and filled the gaps.
He'd spent a massive amount of chakra for nothing. Setsuna was starting to panic. A voice in his mind whispered obsessively: Kill him… kill him!
"Are you just going to keep hiding in this thick fog?! Like a turtle with its head in its shell?!"
Torifū chuckled softly. "This is a cloud, not fog. It's a unique Kekkei Genkai of the Kumotsuru Clan. What, didn't you do any homework before trying to kill me?"
Setsuna froze like he'd been struck by lightning.
What did he just say? Kekkei Genkai?
A Kekkei Genkai more advanced than the Sharingan?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible! It had to be a trick—an attempt to mess with his mind. Yes, that was it. He's cunning, that kid!
Setsuna began desperately talking himself into calm. Surprisingly, it worked—his mood stabilized.
At that moment, a small silhouette emerged from the mist. It was Torifū.
"What happened? Weren't you going to kill me? Why are you so weak?"
This time, Setsuna ignored his taunts and slashed at him with his katana.
But Torifū took only one step back and cleanly dodged the strike.
"Impossible!" Setsuna exclaimed. Few in the Uchiha clan could evade his blade—but this child dodged it with a single step!
Torifū seemed to want Setsuna to understand why.
"In this cloud mist, your body functions are gradually slowing down. Inhaling it causes your body to freeze from the inside out."
"In other words… the moment you stepped into this cloud, you started to die slowly."
But Setsuna didn't appreciate the explanation at all. He refused to believe a mere cloud could kill him!
He slashed at Torifū frantically, all skill abandoned—just raw desperation. He howled like a madman.
"Impossible! I'm an Uchiha genius! How could I die at your hands?! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A colossal fireball burst forth—so large it consumed nearly half of Setsuna's chakra. It was more than twice its normal size!
Torifū reached into the air. The cloud gas gathered and formed a thick wall-like shield in front of him.
The Great Fireball collided with it, spraying sparks in every direction and burning away the surrounding mist.
For a moment, visibility improved.
"Hehehe! Your cloud is gone! Now your death is at hand!"
Setsuna's eyes gleamed with savage joy. He raised his sword and charged again.
"Not really."
With those three words, two crystal vines suddenly burst from beneath Setsuna's feet and wrapped around him, tightly restraining him.
Crystal Release: Crystal Blade.
A brilliant crystal blade extended from Torifū's right arm. He slashed with deadly precision.
Blood sprayed as Uchiha Setsuna's right arm was severed at the shoulder and fell to the grass.
This cut was revenge—for last time.
The heart-ripping pain made Setsuna scream.
But Torifū didn't stop.
"Don't worry… your younger brother won't be around much longer either. He'll be joining you soon."
Cloud Release: Cloud Transformation Technique!
Cloud mist enveloped Torifū's left hand, and with one powerful motion, he slammed it straight into Setsuna's chest.