Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 346: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

Land of Iron.

Snow blanketed the earth, piling heavily atop the endless pines, occasionally giving way with a deep, muffled thud as it tumbled down.

"This Eight-Tails Jinchuriki knows how to run."

Stepping on the snow with a deliberate crunch, Uchiha Sasuke wore a calm smile.

He made sure to be heard—after all, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, had already left the Land of Lightning and crossed into the border of the Land of Iron.

There would be no backup appearing here!

As expected, the sound of Sasuke's footsteps on the snow instantly caught the attention of Killer Bee, who was excitedly heading off to find his music inspiration. His pupils shrank.

"I didn't expect a little bug to be tailing me. I let my guard down."

The smile faded from Killer Bee's face, replaced by a heavy seriousness. He remembered how powerful Kisame from Akatsuki was—a power that perfectly countered him. In terms of chakra, ninjutsu, and taijutsu, Bee held the advantage, but Kisame's unique skills had been troublesome.

"Bakayaro, this is a real pain!"

Killer Bee turned around with a serious look. But when he saw the figure step forward from the snowy forest, his face filled with astonishment.

"Mister! You're not from Akatsuki!"

Dressed in his usual attire, Sasuke calmly approached, gazing indifferently at the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Akatsuki? Please. Let me introduce myself properly—Uchiha Sasuke, and the one who's going to capture you!"

"No, no. It's please let me capture the Lord Jinchūriki, Bakayaro Konoyaro!"

Killer Bee immediately recalled the information about Sasuke.

"Uchiha Sasuke. I heard you were undercover at Orochimaru's side for over three years, nearly killed him, then officially returned to Konoha. Is what you're doing now on behalf of Konoha, or is it your own..."

Killer Bee wasn't stupid; he was probing for information.

But Sasuke's expression remained calm. He glanced at Shirou's wood-style clone on a pine behind him, then took a deep breath.

"Enough talk. I'll capture you first!"

A gust of cold wind swept by, a flake of snow drifted past their line of sight, and in the next moment, they both moved!

"So fast!"

As Bee charged forward, Sasuke suddenly appeared right in front of him, causing his eyes to narrow.

A moment later, their ninja blades clashed like lightning.

Lightning Release: Armor of the Thunder God!

Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!

One was Shirou's improved version, more suited to the Uchiha's precise control; the other was Killer Bee's wild, berserker-style Lightning Armor.

Both jutsu were classified as A-rank and B-rank for difficulty, but the true strength depended on the user.

In their clash, Sasuke's Kusanagi sword flashed like thunder, momentarily suppressing Killer Bee and filling him with anger and surprise.

"Bee!"

With a loud shout, Killer Bee drew chakra blades from his back as he fought.

Kenjutsu: Seven Swords Dance!

Using seven blades wielded with every part of his body, his unpredictable, rapid swordplay was nearly impossible to defend or even see clearly.

"Dance! Dance like a butterfly! Eight-Tails, sting like a bee!"

Killer Bee shouted with excitement as his seven swords launched a rapid assault.

But what happened next shocked Bee even in the heat of battle.

"How... how is this possible? He predicted my attack!"

Sasuke's Mangekyo spun as he observed Bee's sword techniques.

"No wonder Shirou-sensei praised this as the trickiest sword style in the Hidden Cloud. But unfortunately, in front of these eyes, your moves mean nothing."

With the Mangekyo's dynamic visual prowess and his taijutsu skill, Sasuke could see through the Seven Swords Dance perfectly—and more importantly, his body could keep up.

"Damn it, ya fool!"

The two of them, like bolts of lightning in the snow, continued their fierce exchange. Sasuke's swordsmanship had already gained the upper hand.

Watching from afar, Shirou nodded with satisfaction.

"Sasuke's talent isn't bad. At least he remembered everything I taught him over the years, even this unorthodox sword style."

With thunderous swordplay, Sasuke's attacks grew ever wilder as he adapted to Bee's style.

In just a few moments, under Bee's shocked gaze, blood was already flying from his face and body.

Not good! I'm being completely suppressed in both swordsmanship and taijutsu!

"Wheeee!"

With a wealth of battle experience, Killer Bee roared. His greatest strength was the Eight-Tails.

In an instant, the Tailed Beast Cloak appeared, healing his wounds at once.

"I was disillusioned by you, so you destroy. The real form of this Jinchuriki is a monster! Take a good look—Jinchuriki Transformation, Oh YEAH!"

With Killer Bee's strange rap, massive Tailed Beast chakra poured out, the terrifying red chakra beginning to take shape until, with a terrifying burst, he revealed his half-transformed form—just short of full Tailed Beast mode.

"Bee!"

The Eight-Tails inside reminded him to be careful of the Mangekyo. With a roar, Bee charged forward like a raging bomb.

But facing this monstrous assault, Sasuke only sneered contemptuously.

"A beast is always just a beast!"

The collision sent snow tumbling from the pines, and at the epicenter, Killer Bee stared in shock.

"How... how is it possible?! He actually blocked it!"

As the frosty haze dispersed, the armored, purple Susanoo appeared, shielding Sasuke.

Inside Susanoo, Sasuke's Mangekyo spun as he mocked the stunned Killer Bee:

"So this is the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's power? In the end, you're just a beast controlled by the Mangekyo."

His arrogant taunt deeply angered the Eight-Tails inside Bee, bringing back memories of being crushed by Sharingan and Wood Release—especially that damned Mangekyo Uchiha from before.

Watching from afar, Shirou shook his head with a wry smile.

"Looks like all that pressure finally got to him. After what happened with Itachi and the village, this is just Sasuke letting off steam."

As Shirou watched, the battle escalated again.

With a furious roar, Bee's form sprouted octopus tentacles and a giant bull's head.

Not to be outdone, Sasuke's Mangekyo spun rapidly, and his purple Susanoo rose, nearly matching the Eight-Tails' size even if not yet complete.

In the icy wilderness, two giant forms battled with thunderous roars.

Shirou, watching from afar, nodded quietly.

"Killer Bee of the Eight-Tails is strong, but not enough to interest me. Only Pain's Six Paths or Masked Obito could give me a real fight now."

Even with only half his power, he was still interested.

Besides, in this world, the Rinnegan is a prize he's already set his sights on.

"Bee!"

"As expected, a beast is always a beast—relying only on brute force."

Controlling Susanoo, Sasuke looked exhilarated—reveling in the sensation, especially since he didn't have to worry about accidentally killing his opponent.

The Uchiha clan—or perhaps all humans—must carry some violent gene.

"Damn you! I'll make you disappear!"

The Eight-Tails roared, gathering a terrifying energy in its mouth. A Tailed Beast Bomb formed and was launched at Sasuke's Susanoo.

"If that's how it is, then I won't hold back!"

With a shout, Sasuke's Mangekyo spun as the Tailed Beast Bomb came crashing in.

In an instant, brilliant light swept the land. Distant villagers stared in shock at the forest.

Thunder? In a snowstorm?

As the explosion subsided, Susanoo stood cracked but unbroken, while Sasuke yelled in excitement:

"Not enough!"

With the Mangekyo spinning, chakra and ocular power poured out, and Susanoo's cracks visibly began to mend.

But the Eight-Tails opposite cried out in agony.

"Ah! Ah...!"

Dojutsu: Amaterasu!

Black flames burned across the Eight-Tails, making it scream in pain.

When the Tailed Beast Bomb had fired, Sasuke had simultaneously released Amaterasu—black, unquenchable flames that devoured everything.

"Bee! Watch out, this is the Mangekyo Sharingan's inextinguishable Amaterasu! Get in close for melee..."

The Eight-Tails frantically reminded him. Killer Bee, worthy of being a perfect Jinchuriki, got along perfectly with his Tailed Beast.

Bee quickly tried to entangle Susanoo in close combat.

But seeing this, Sasuke only smirked.

The Eight-Tails had calculated carefully—Amaterasu burns everything, friend or foe. Getting in close would burn Susanoo too.

But as the Eight-Tails charged, Sasuke's Mangekyo spun.

Dojutsu: Blaze Release—Kagutsuchi!

In Bee's shocked eyes, a shield of black Amaterasu flames appeared before Susanoo.

At the same time, Susanoo's other arm raised a spear of black flame.

"Move, Bee!"

The Eight-Tails inside cried out. Bee dodged, but a tentacle was severed by the Amaterasu spear, crashing into the forest.

"His Mangekyo can manipulate Amaterasu's form!"

Before Bee could recover, the Eight-Tails warned again.

"Danger! Bee!"

Boom!

A huge arrow of black flame shot past, slicing off another tentacle and exploding a crater in the ground.

As the smoke cleared, an arrow still burning with Amaterasu was visible.

From afar, Sasuke's Susanoo drew a giant bow and started firing.

Each arrow was wreathed in black flame, guided by Kagutsuchi, making them even deadlier.

"Keep dodging!"

In the devastated forest, the Eight-Tails barely dodged the rapid arrows, losing tentacles one after another.

Killer Bee was utterly frustrated; he'd never faced such a tough opponent.

First, Kisame from Akatsuki had perfectly countered him—he'd barely escaped by faking his death. Now came Mangekyo-wielding Sasuke, who also countered him!

In close, Sasuke had Kagutsuchi to defend and Susanoo's armor; at range, he had those devastating arrows.

When did being a Jinchuriki become so useless, getting beat down again and again?

Watching from afar, Shirou shook his head.

"The outcome's decided. As expected, Tailed Beasts are naturally suppressed by the Mangekyo. If only they could master a wider range of jutsu, they might be tougher."

"It's time to summon my main body. I can't wait to devour the Eight-Tails."

Shirou's wood-style clone closed his eyes, preparing his backup plan.

...In another ninja world...

Time flowed differently between the two ninja worlds—only a day had passed in one, while three months had gone by in the other.

Those who arrived in this world had gone from shock to numbness, gradually accepting this powerful Konoha.

Here, the Will of Fire was strong and real—not just an empty slogan.

The mightiest Konoha Village threatened the whole ninja world with its military power.

Meanwhile, everyone integrated into this world, training and learning constantly.

Inside the castle's hot springs.

"As expected of the special hot spring prepared by Sister Kushina. This is top tier, exclusive to the castle!"

The confident, bold Hyuga Hinata soaked in the warmth, letting out a sigh.

Across from her, the shy Hinata from the other world blushed, unable to show herself.

But the curse seal visible on her neck showed her wounds had healed.

Clearly, after evolving in this world, the curse seal now had Wood Release healing power, letting Hinata stand tall again.

"Hey, you're way too shy! You're the other-world me? Damn it! When you have to go back, I'll tell Lord Shirou you must let me come with you—otherwise, you'll get bullied!"

The bold Hinata glared and stood up, speaking with authority.

"Y-yes, th-thank you..."

Shy Hinata bowed her head, but suddenly, the bold Hinata swam over, making her squeal and blush even harder.

"That won't do! Being too shy is embarrassing for me. And that curse seal—Lord Shirou put it on you himself! Such a good opportunity, and you wasted it by putting it on your neck?"

As bold Hinata lectured, the shy Hinata hesitated and asked:

"Th-then... where should the curse seal go, so it won't be wasted?"

At her question, bold Hinata's face broke into a mischievous smile, giving the shy Hinata a bad feeling.

As the bold Hinata rose from the water, her long, straight legs appeared before the other's widened, dazed white eyes.

On the same clean spot as herself, the same curse seal pattern as on her neck was visible.

But the position—!

Just above the private part!

"Now, call me Big Sister!"

"B-Big Sister..."

Shy Hinata's soft voiced whispered.