As the massive firework bloomed in the sky, both Aokumo and Uchiha Shisui instinctively looked up, their attention momentarily diverted. Seizing the opportunity, Yuki Nohana channeled all his chakra, his speed suddenly surging as he bolted toward the coastline.
"Hmm?"
Seeing this reaction, Aokumo immediately understood the meaning of the firework but had no intention of pursuing.
It was clear to him: the firework signaled retreat. His original purpose was merely to test the perfected Shun Sword Technique and gather some chakra along the way. Encountering Nohana had been a coincidence.
Now that his first objective was complete—his clash with Nohana, though brief, was enough to assess his technique's effectiveness—there was no need to stubbornly chase him down.
At this moment, the second objective became the priority.
The enemy's retreat signal meant plenty of opportunities to intercept and collect chakra.
With that thought, Aokumo quickly made a decision. Forming hand seals, he performed Wind Release: Wings of the Wind, ascending into the sky.
Before leaving, he turned to Uchiha Shisui and said, "Shisui, I'll leave him to you. I'll check other areas."
Without waiting for Shisui's reply, he flapped his chakra-forged wings and vanished.
Watching Aokumo's graceful retreat, Shisui's eyes revealed a hint of envy.
But this envy was fleeting—there were pressing matters to address.
Focusing on Nohana's escape route, Shisui sprang forward, determined to intercept him.
Although Nohana had no intention of rejoining the fight, Shisui aimed to eliminate him if possible, reducing the enemy's future strength and sparing his allies further casualties.
Elsewhere
Unbothered by Shisui and Nohana's potential confrontation, Aokumo soared through the night sky. Activating his Three Tomoe Sharingan, he scanned the ground below, observing the movements of the Hidden Mist shinobi under the faint light.
He quickly noticed a change in their behavior.
The moment the firework ignited, the Mist ninja below grew visibly anxious. One after another, they attempted to disengage from combat, either fleeing alone or regrouping to head toward the sea.
This confirmed Aokumo's guess: the Mist forces were retreating.
With this conclusion, Aokumo focused his attention, methodically selecting his next targets.
The battlefield below, while expansive, had its limitations.
In combat, the shinobi could maneuver across several kilometers. However, when fleeing at full speed, most would leave the area within minutes.
This left him with precious little time to act.
Moreover, the scattered escape routes reduced the chances for opportunistic strikes to just one or two instances.
To maximize his harvest, Aokumo needed to pick his targets carefully.
Key criteria:
Avoid Jōnin teams: Even the weakest Jōnin could pose a significant threat when cornered. Pursuing them was a waste of time.Ignore Genin unless in large groups: Their chakra reserves were too minimal to be worth the effort, and after hours of combat, few Genin had survived.Avoid lone Chūnin: These were either specialists with disruptive abilities or unlucky survivors. Neither was efficient to pursue.
The ideal targets? Small squads of Chūnin. These groups offered the highest return with manageable risks.
With his priorities set, Aokumo wasted no time scanning for appropriate targets.
Nightfall
Like a phantom, Aokumo glided silently above the fleeing shinobi.
It didn't take long for his Sharingan to identify a suitable target: a trio of Mist Chūnin moving swiftly through the forest.
Wasting no time, he dove toward them.
On the ground
Rocksaki Seiichi was running alongside two teammates, moving as fast as their chakra reserves allowed.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them.
Instinctively, Seiichi glanced upward.
And what he saw made his heart race—a pair of crimson eyes, glowing with malice.
"This is—?!"
Fear gripped Seiichi as realization dawned, and he opened his mouth to warn his companions.
But before the words could leave his lips, his consciousness was yanked into an illusory realm.
His body froze mid-stride and collapsed to the ground.
"Seiichi?"
The other two Mist Chūnin stopped abruptly, turning to check on their fallen comrade.
Before they could discern what had happened, another figure entered their view—none other than Aokumo.
Recognizing the newcomer, their expressions shifted to alarm. Without hesitation, they prepared to abandon Seiichi and flee.
However, it was too late. The instant their eyes met Aokumo's, he unleashed Sharingan: Illusion, ensnaring one of them.
The remaining Mist Chūnin tried to escape, but Aokumo was already moving.
Dispelling Wind Release: Wings of the Wind, he landed softly on the ground. Drawing his long sword, he activated Shun Sword Technique and appeared instantly behind his target.
Swoosh!
The blade slashed forward, aiming for the back of the fleeing ninja's neck.
Sensing the danger, the Chūnin dove forward, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Tumbling to the side, he repositioned to face Aokumo.
"If escape isn't an option, I'll have to fight to the death!" thought Harada Isamu.
But as he searched for Aokumo's figure, he saw nothing.
"Where did he go?"
A surge of unease swept through Isamu as he frantically scanned his surroundings.
Suddenly, the sound of slicing air reached his ears.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a flash of steel and tried to evade—but it was too late.
Slash!
Aokumo's blade cleaved through his left arm, severing it cleanly.
Simultaneously, a deep gash tore into his side, exposing bone. Blood poured from the wounds as Isamu fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
Without a hint of emotion, Aokumo cast Demonic Illusion: Shackles Bind, immobilizing his target.
In mere seconds, Aokumo had subdued all three Mist Chūnin.
Stealth, precision, and overwhelming skill—each played a role. While his ambush had been decisive, it was clear the Shun Sword Technique was indispensable.
Against skilled Jōnin, the technique might have its limits.
But for Chūnin and below?
It was unstoppable.
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