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Ino and Choji chased after Shikamaru, only to realize that he was running straight toward the direction of the towering tsunami.
"Hey! Shikamaru! Where are you going? It's dangerous over there!!!" Ino shouted anxiously, but Shikamaru showed no sign of stopping.
His eyes were locked onto Mujin as he gritted his teeth while running. "The ones who likely turned my dad into that state are those two vortexes! The Sand Village ninja were also hit by that technique, so it couldn't have been them. I've already asked the jonin—they've never heard of anyone from Orochimaru's side mastering a similar technique. Plus, I heard from Guy-sensei that Lee had an undetectable seal placed on him by one of those vortexes earlier. Only those two newcomers could've pulled off something like this! I need to get answers!"
"But it's too dangerous, Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru bit his lip before picking up speed again. "Sorry, but Dad still hasn't shown any signs of waking up. I don't know how much longer he can hold on—I can't wait anymore!"
"But, but…" Ino hesitated, her voice trembling.
"Ino." Choji stepped in front of her, his expression serious. "Let Shikamaru go. If he doesn't figure this out, his nerves will keep tightening until they snap, like a noodle stretched to its limit. Even the slightest shake could break it."
"But…" Ino slowly came to a stop, watching as Shikamaru's figure grew smaller in the distance. Her worry didn't lessen in the slightest. "But rushing into danger knowing full well it's dangerous… isn't that just stupid?"
"Sometimes, even when men know they're doing something foolish, they'll still charge ahead without hesitation," Choji said, his tone calm. "It's like when you're so full you can't eat another bite, but when you see sizzling meat on the grill, dripping with oil, you can't help but shove it into your mouth anyway."
"Even if you say that…" Ino looked at Choji with a complicated expression. "I still don't understand…"
...
BOOM!!!
The ground trembled violently as the massive tsunami slammed into the mountain wall, locking in a fierce stalemate!
Perfect timing!
Seeing this, Shikamaru immediately leaped onto the tallest nearby building and shouted toward Mujin and Karin, "Vortex! I have something to ask you!"
Mujin glanced back and recognized the speaker as Nara Shikaku's son—Nara Shikamaru.
"I've already spoken to the reconnaissance team. They found traces of sealing and barrier techniques left behind at the Hokage Tower. Witnesses reported seeing two figures being taken inside by Rock ninja. And…"
Mujin raised a hand to cut Shikamaru off, speaking in a calm voice. "That's enough. I think I know what you're getting at. The person who cast the technique inside the Hokage Tower was me. Your father is indeed dead—the technique obliterated his soul, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell."
Shikamaru opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak further.
All the intelligence he had gathered confirmed Mujin's words. Yet, despite knowing the truth, he had come here hoping for a different answer—for the faintest chance that his father might still…
Shikamaru bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. "After committing such atrocities—killing so many people—how can you act as though nothing happened?! Don't you have any humanity left in you?!"
At Shikamaru's words, Mujin's gaze turned icy cold. "Brat, what do you think a ninja is? A child's game of pretend? We are armed groups, mercenaries, bloodstained weapons! Killing! Betrayal! Death! Every day we wake up not knowing if it'll be our last, grateful simply to still be alive! That's what being a ninja means! You can live carefree days not because these things don't exist, but because others have already done them for you—in places you'll never see!"
"Do you want to ask how many people your father has killed? How many elderly parents waited in vain for their children? How many young children cried themselves to sleep waiting for parents who would never return? From the moment we become ninjas, we sprint headlong toward death! Our sole purpose is to slaughter each other! If you lack the resolve for that, then leave the battlefield right now."
Shikamaru clenched his jaw, then lifted his head. His sharp eyes burned with hatred. "Resolve, huh? Yeah, I've got plenty of that now! But tell me—have you ever thought about dying yourselves? Are you prepared to face vengeance—to be killed by me?!"
The black pupil on Mujin's forehead flickered slightly, and he gazed calmly at Shikamaru. "Do you think we walk onto the battlefield without understanding the risks? Since the day we decided to pursue revenge, we've accepted that every day might be our last. Each breath we take could be our final one. There's no rule in this world that says you can kill others but not die yourself. If we end up dying by your hands, it simply means you're stronger. That's all."
"However—" A strange smile tugged at the corners of Mujin's lips. "As a senior avenger, allow me to impart one last lesson: Until you possess sufficient strength or make thorough preparations, never reveal even a hint of hostility to your enemies. Your powerless declarations won't achieve anything except fleeting satisfaction. All they'll do is alert your enemy—and perhaps bring you closer to death."
Mujin turned to Karin and spoke evenly. "Crush him."
Without hesitation, Karin manipulated the tsunami, directing it to surge toward Shikamaru!
In an instant, the shadow of the colossal wave loomed over him!
Shikamaru's pupils contracted sharply, and his mind went momentarily blank. Only when facing death does a person truly come to understand themselves.
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Yes, Shikamaru felt fear. This child of the Leaf Village, nurtured in love and bonds, had never truly grasped the cruelty inherent in being a ninja.
True enemies wouldn't laugh and pull you up after a thrilling battle, saying, "Let's fight again next time!"
No! Absolutely not!
Such things didn't exist!
True enemies would use every underhanded trick in the book, exploiting every weakness they could find—all to ensure your complete annihilation.
In battles where life and death were the stakes, there were no second chances!
None whatsoever!
At this moment, Shikamaru paid the price for his immaturity. If he survived this ordeal, perhaps he'd grow rapidly stronger. But for now…
The massive tsunami, like a ravenous beast, opened its maw and swallowed Shikamaru whole…
But then—
A thunderous roar erupted suddenly!
"Eight Gates Release Technique! Fifth Gate—Limit Gate! Open!"
Maito Guy shot forward like a streak of lightning, arriving in front of Mujin and Karin in the blink of an eye!
"Hidden Leaf! Dynamic Gale Force Kick!!!"
Guy's spinning kick tore through the air with a deafening crack, breaking the sound barrier!
Mujin's Eye of Id instantly flared, and at the last possible moment, both he and Karin plunged into the raging waters below!
Then—
BOOOOM!!!!
The entire wavefront shattered under Guy's devastating kick!
Simultaneously—
WHOOSH!
A razor-sharp wind blade sliced through the thick torrent. Asuma darted in like a gale, grabbing Shikamaru just before the tsunami crashed down fully and escaping sideways at incredible speed!
Mujin knew that with Maito Guy now opposing them, their mission was effectively over.
Still, he sighed. In his original plan, Guy should've clashed with Uchiha Itachi using the Eight Gates, resulting in mutual destruction.
But for some reason, he hadn't done that. Logically speaking, that hot-blooded fool shouldn't have held back upon seeing his comrades injured.
Karin received the retreat signal and quickly formed a hand seal. The water surged violently, propelling them like cannonballs out of the tsunami.
With a splash, they burst out of the water and sped away from the village. Before leaving, Karin redirected the tsunami once more, slamming it toward Shikamaru and Asuma!
At the same time, Mujin shouted, "Maito Guy! Choose! Will you chase us, or protect your comrades?!"
Guy clenched his teeth and immediately positioned himself in front of Asuma. "Sixth Gate—View Gate! Open!"
With a tremendous explosion of energy, the violent gust forced Asuma to shield his face. Guy took a deep breath, his fists moving like lightning as he unleashed a barrage of punches!
"No need to choose! A true man never abandons his comrades!"
"Crimson Peacock!!!"
A deluge of fiery punches covered the waves!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!!
Explosions rang out continuously as fireballs consumed the colossal tsunami, evaporating it entirely until nothing remained.
The crisis was finally over.
Shikamaru exhaled deeply, his pounding heart gradually returning to normal.
Ino, Choji, Kakashi, Guy, and many jonin who had served under Shikaku surrounded him, asking anxiously about his condition.
Though Yamanaka Asuma's father had passed away years ago, she still benefited somewhat from his legacy.
But Shikamaru was different. Just days ago, his father had been the squad leader of all jonin in the Hidden Leaf. The Nara clan remained prosperous, and the resources at his disposal were vast enough for him to accomplish almost anything he desired.
Looking at the concerned faces around him, warmth welled up in Shikamaru's chest.
Yes, he wasn't alone.
Even if his strength might be lacking, he still had his comrades by his side. Those two vortexes weren't invincible foes!
In an instant, plans began forming in his mind.
Dad, I'll definitely avenge you!
Coming back to reality, Shikamaru gave everyone a sheepish smile. "Sorry, everyone, for worrying you. Next time, I won't be so reckless."
Yes, yes.
Next time, next time.
No one noticed the black runic chain quietly wrapping around his heart within his body… and then…
It crushed it.
"SHIKAMARU!!!"
"Shikamaru?! Shikamaru!!"
Eh? The last thing Shikamaru saw in his bewildered eyes…
Was the anxious faces of everyone around him.
Then, he closed his eyes.
Forever.
...…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"
Mujin and Karin, powered by the Eight Gates, raced through the jungle at incredible speeds!
"This is what it means to be a ninja! This is what it means to be a ninja!!! Never knowing when, where, or how you'll die! THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NINJA!!!!!!"