Naruto: My Clones Can Evolve

It was early morning, just outside Charcoal Shinobi Village.

The flickering firelight illuminated Jinmu's grim face. Seated around him were a dozen high-ranking Jonin from Charcoal Shinobi Village.

These were the village's elites, yet every one of them had a sinister expression.

Jinmu spoke slowly, his voice cold and calculating.

"That brat Genzuki left the village a few hours ago, sneaking off like a thief."

"He'll be back soon. For us, this is the perfect chance to kill him! Is everyone ready?"

The Charcoal ninja pulled out freshly sharpened kunai and shuriken, covering their faces with masks, signaling their readiness.

"Jinmu-sama, we're at our best!"

"That brat Genzuki may be strong, but in the end, he's just a kid."

Jinmu nodded.

"According to intelligence, he's proficient in Water Release, the Eight Gates, and possibly some powerful Earth Release techniques."

"So, we can't give him any chance to use his jutsu. We must take him out with a single strike!"

The Charcoal ninja smirked in response.

"Don't worry, Jinmu-sama… We've perfected our Transparent Escape Technique!"

"Once we use it, no matter how strong he is, he won't be able to see us. Especially in the dead of night!"

"When he passes by, we'll already be lying in wait. One slash to his throat, and he's done for! Besides, we've also set up countless spiked Earth Release traps along the road!"

Hearing this, Jinmu's face twisted into a malicious grin.

"Blame that little brat for joining our village and causing so much trouble for the Daimyo!"

"But the worst part is that Lady Yuri actually seems to like him!"

The surrounding ninja nodded in agreement.

"Jinmu-sama, that woman Yuri will be yours eventually!"

"Once we kill Genzuki, she'll have no one left to rely on. After that… well, she'll have no choice but to do whatever you want."

Jinmu and his men burst into laughter.

Suddenly, a Charcoal ninja rushed over from the distance.

"Jinmu-sama! He's coming!"

Jinmu's face darkened. He quickly extinguished the campfire.

"Everyone, prepare! Activate Transparent Escape!"

In an instant, dozens of Charcoal ninja vanished into thin air, their bodies blending perfectly with the darkness.

This was the Transparent Escape Technique—a near-flawless invisibility jutsu.

"Move to the designated ambush spot!" Jinmu ordered.

In the middle of the road, dozens of Charcoal ninja lay in wait on both sides, weapons ready.

Their kunai were coated with deadly poison, and beneath their feet were concealed spike traps.

"Genzuki, I'll make sure there's not even a scrap of you left!" Jinmu hissed.

At the end of the road, Genzuki approached slowly on horseback. His horse was moving at a leisurely pace, tired from the long journey.

Suddenly, the air shifted ever so slightly.

In the next instant, countless poisoned kunai shot out from the darkness.

"Genzuki, die!"

The kunai tore through Genzuki's body, turning him into a pincushion within seconds.

"We got him!"

Jinmu and his men released their Transparent Escape, preparing to approach and decapitate Genzuki.

But as they rushed toward him, one of the ninja suddenly clutched his throat, blood spurting out as he collapsed to the ground.

"Gah!"

Jinmu froze and shouted, "What's going on?!"

"Boss… That's not Genzuki!" one of the ninja stammered.

The "Genzuki" on horseback had somehow turned into a white-haired boy holding a sword.

"You've got guts to attack me, Suigetsu Hozuki," the boy sneered.

Already in his Hydrification state, Suigetsu had taken no damage from the kunai.

With a cold smile, he swung his sword in a wide arc.

Slash!

A spray of blood filled the air, and several Charcoal ninja collapsed in an instant.

"Damn it! The Hozuki Clan's legendary technique!"

"You idiots! How did you mess this up?!" Jinmu roared, backing away.

He knew he had lost the best opportunity to kill Genzuki.

Just as he turned to retreat, a cold voice echoed in his ear.

"Jinmu… were you looking for me?"

The voice seemed to come from the ground itself. Everyone instinctively glanced down.

Suddenly, several Charcoal ninja were dragged into the earth, their screams cut short.

One by one, they were swallowed by the ground, leaving only silence behind.

In the end, only Suigetsu remained, casually yawning, and Jinmu, whose face was twisted in terror.

"Genzuki! If you're a man, come out and face me head-on!" Jinmu shouted desperately.

Hahahaha…

Genzuki burst into laughter as he emerged from the ground.

"You sure took your time, big bro," Suigetsu chuckled.

Genzuki smiled, turning to face Jinmu.

"So, Jinmu-san, how was my Earth Submersion Jutsu?"

Jinmu gritted his teeth, glaring at Genzuki.

"You… you're colluding with a rogue ninja from Kirigakure and killing my men. What are you up to?"

Genzuki chuckled at Jinmu's pathetic attempt to twist the truth.

"Jinmu, drop the act. I heard everything you and your so-called elite ninja said while I was hiding underground."

"I had Suigetsu take my place to see how you'd react."

Jinmu's face contorted with rage. "How… how did you figure it all out?"

Genzuki smiled.

"When I left the village, I felt someone watching me."

"Jinmu, no one else would do something like that but you."

"You even dared to insult Lady Yuri. A maggot like you isn't even worthy of looking at her!"

Hearing Genzuki insult him, Jinmu snapped and pointed at him. "You little brat! I'll kill you!"

Jinmu pressed a hidden trigger on his wrist, firing a poisoned needle straight at Genzuki's face.

"Hahaha! In the end, you're just a kid! My experience far surpasses yours. That poison is incurable—just sit there and die!"

But Genzuki's face remained calm and unscathed. His skin had turned into flowing water.

Jinmu's eyes widened in terror. "W-Water… Hydrification Technique? Are you from the Hozuki Clan too?"

Genzuki's expression grew colder.

"I was planning to let you live until tomorrow, but it seems you're not even worth that."

He stepped forward, while Jinmu stumbled back.

"Genzuki, don't kill me! Someone else is behind all this! Don't you want to know who?"

"Please! How will you explain this to Yuri if you kill me?" Jinmu begged desperately, trembling.

But Genzuki ignored his pleas, grabbing Jinmu by the neck and lifting him into the air.

Without a word, Genzuki formed hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Spear!"

Sharp stone spikes formed in mid-air, piercing Jinmu's vital organs.

Splurt! Blood sprayed everywhere as the spikes ripped Jinmu's body apart, leaving nothing but mangled remains.

Even Suigetsu, watching from the side, was horrified by the brutal sight. He silently thanked himself for not continuing to fight Genzuki.

Otherwise, he would've met a similarly gruesome end.

After everything was done, Genzuki returned to his usual calm demeanor.

Suigetsu, however, still looked puzzled.

"Boss, he was one of your village's ninja, right? How are you planning to explain this?"

"Now that they're all dead, it's just your word against nothing. Won't people be suspicious?"

Genzuki smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I've got it all under control."