Whoosh
A figure darted out from the dust cloud, but upon leaving the haze, it blended seamlessly into the surroundings, vanishing without a trace.
"Hm?"
Shinji let out a soft sound of surprise.
His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan had reached the peak of its pupil power, on the verge of awakening the Rinnegan. Yet, even so, he found he couldn't clearly track the enemy's movements, sparking a trace of curiosity in his heart.
"Here they come!"
Chino warned the group.
Ryuzetsu asked, "Where?"
Naruto scanned the area. "Yeah, I don't see anyone!"
Sasuke's expression darkened. He realized his own Sharingan was failing, unable to catch the enemy's form.
Ranmaru, emerging from the dust, observed Shinji while searching for an opening to strike.
Noticing Ryuzetsu and Chino subtly guarding Shinji's flanks, he thought, "Looks like I need to deal with those two Hidden Grass shinobi first!"
With that, he activated "Swift Release" and "Steel Release," charging straight at Chino, who stood slightly to the side.
Instantly, Shinji's nerves were jolted by his "killing intent perception," alerting him that the mysterious enemy was attacking again.
Swish
With a piercing whistle through the air, Ranmaru closed in on Chino.
"You're the first!"
Muttering to himself, Ranmaru's arm, reinforced by "Steel Release," thrust toward Chino's heart!
Just as he thought he was about to succeed, Chino's "Ketsuryugan" sensed a violent blood reaction in front of her. Though her vision was blank, she reacted instantly, leaping backward while slashing forward with her blood blade!
This was the instinct honed from her rigorous taijutsu training!
Clang
A sound like metal clashing rang out!
Chino's blood blade struck midair but couldn't descend further, as if it had hit something—or nothing at all!
At that moment, Ryuzetsu, in perfect sync with Chino, activated the "Twelve Palaces" and threw a punch at the space beneath Chino's blood blade.
Boom
With a muffled thud, Ryuzetsu's punch struck the mysterious enemy.
Unlike Shinji's earlier hasty strike, Ryuzetsu's attack had been carefully prepared, carrying even greater force. It sent the mysterious enemy flying once more!
Boom boom boom
Tumbling backward, Ranmaru's body carved a deep trench in the ground, stretching dozens of meters before he finally stopped.
Cough cough
Trapped at the bottom of the trench, Ranmaru coughed violently.
Even with his "Steel Release" hardening his body like iron, taking Ryuzetsu's punch was no small feat!
Climbing out of the trench, he muttered, "How is this possible!?"
He could grudgingly accept failing against Uchiha Shinji, who had killed Kurosuki Raiga and defeated Hiruko. But to fail against two Hidden Grass shinobi? That was baffling.
Scanning the battlefield, he noticed that Orochimaru, disguised as Shinji Kozu, along with the First and Second Hokages, had halted their attacks, seemingly disrupted by his appearance.
"Forget those guys. Killing Uchiha Shinji comes first!"
He quickly refocused.
He didn't know or care about the imposter Shinji Kozu, the First Hokage, or the Second Hokage.
His sole focus was killing Shinji.
With his resolve set, Ranmaru activated "Swift Release" again, his figure flickering as he silently appeared behind Shinji's group.
Since the two Hidden Grass shinobi at the front were troublesome, he decided to target the rear. If he could find a gap and break their formation, he could take them out one by one, saving Shinji for last.
With that thought, he lunged forward without hesitation, his body like a sharp sword under the enhancement of "Swift Release" and "Steel Release," aiming straight for Karin at the back.
"So fast!"
Karin thought to herself.
Her vision was empty, but her "Mind's Eye of the Kagura" kept her locked onto the mysterious enemy's position.
Though this lock had a slight delay, making proactive attacks difficult, it was more than enough for passive defense.
So, as Ranmaru's right hand was about to pierce her body, Karin sidestepped at the last moment, perfectly timed, and grabbed his outstretched arm.
Haku, who had already locked eyes with Karin, understood instantly and began forming hand signs. He pressed a hand onto Ranmaru, who was caught by Karin. "Ice Release: Ice Prison Jutsu!"
Instantly, with Haku's palm as the center, frost spread rapidly, covering Ranmaru's entire body in the blink of an eye.
As Haku and Karin leapt to either side, the frost enveloping Ranmaru exploded, solidifying into a massive ice crystal that completely encased him.
"Akatsuki!?"
The group gasped in unison.
As Ranmaru was sealed by Haku's "Ice Prison Jutsu," his form finally became visible, revealing his appearance and the unmistakable red-cloud cloak of Akatsuki within the frozen crystal.
Sakura exclaimed, "Why is someone from Akatsuki here?"
"Damn it, is Akatsuki attacking the village again?"
Naruto was furious.
The last Akatsuki attack had left the village with heavy casualties, a tragedy still vivid in his memory.
Shinji, observing the frozen Ranmaru, thought, "Could he be the Ranmaru who always followed Kurosuki Raiga?"
Undoubtedly, after undergoing the Bloodline Fusion Ritual, Ranmaru's appearance and physique had changed significantly. If not for those distinctive "Hogan" eyes, Shinji might not have recognized him.
As the group studied Ranmaru, his palms suddenly glowed with a dark purple light.
Then, Haku's "Ice Prison Jutsu" began to crumble from within. In just a few breaths, the massive ice crystal melted completely, freeing Ranmaru.
Haku frowned slightly. "Dark Release!"
His "Ice Prison Jutsu" wasn't an ordinary technique; it was essentially an upgraded version of the "Water Prison Jutsu." Once trapped, escape was nearly impossible without external help.
Only "Dark Release," capable of absorbing ninjutsu, could so easily dismantle the "Ice Prison Jutsu" from within, allowing the trapped shinobi to escape effortlessly.
Freed, Ranmaru glared at Shinji and roared, "Uchiha Shinji, today I'll kill you to avenge Kurosuki Raiga!"
The group tensed, shocked that this powerful, sudden enemy had declared Shinji as his target.
Shinji smirked. "Your're courting death!"