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The battlefield was engulfed in chaos. Dust and debris filled the air as powerful winds howled through the space, carrying with them the scent of blood and rain. The clash between life and death painted a grim picture on this stormy night.
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Despair
"Plup~~"
As his vision dimmed and faded to gray, the third-in-command could only weakly clutch at his throat in a futile attempt to stop the gushing blood. He collapsed onto the muddy ground, where the rain mingled with crimson puddles, creating an eerie mix of scents that drove snakes and frogs from their hiding places into the surrounding wilderness.
"THIRD BROTHER!!"
The leader's eyes widened in anguish as he let out a heart-wrenching roar. But it was too late—the fallen warrior showed no signs of life, his vitality slowly ebbing away like water seeping into the earth.
"Boy… I'll KILL YOU!!!"
Another close comrade had fallen, and rage consumed the leader like a raging bull. Clutching his ninjato tightly, he charged forward with a thunderous bellow, vowing revenge against Ronin.
"Cough, cough!! Damn brat... You've got some strength behind those attacks."
Ronin held his side, where a deep eight-centimeter gash bled profusely. Though it looked gruesome, it was merely a flesh wound—thanks to the kunai that had deflected most of the blade's force. However, the sheer power behind the strike reverberated through his body, shaking his internal organs.
Despite appearances, the external injury paled compared to the internal damage inflicted by the shockwave. Still, Ronin gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain as the twin tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.
"Not good!!"
Seeing the ominous glow in Ronin's eyes, the enraged leader froze for a split second before retreating hastily. But instead of pursuing him, Ronin smirked devilishly and shifted his focus toward another target—the tall, lanky special jonin nearby.
Among all ninja arts, genjutsu was notoriously difficult to master. Even with his Sharingan, Ronin's grasp of illusions remained limited. As Tsunade herself admitted, she wasn't the best teacher when it came to advanced techniques. Among the Sannin, Orochimaru excelled in teaching such skills. Without proper guidance or support from the Uchiha clan, Ronin's repertoire of genjutsu was sparse at best.
Unless his Sharingan evolved further—to three tomoe or even the Mangekyō—he couldn't rely solely on illusionary tactics to defeat his foes.
"Brat!! Don't underestimate me!!"
Believing Ronin intended to cast a genjutsu, the lanky special jonin sneered confidently. To him, Ronin's blood-soaked form suggested desperation rather than skill—a foolish attempt to take on multiple elite opponents alone.
"Windmill Shuriken!!"
Dozens of kunai shot toward the lanky jonin like a swarm of angry bees. Rather than pressing forward, Ronin quickly retreated, knowing the leader had recovered and would soon join the fray if he stayed put. A fatal pincer attack awaited any hesitation.
What neither opponent noticed, however, was the faint silver glint hidden among the flying projectiles.
"Hmph! Pathetic tricks! Looks like you know your limits."
Withdrawing swiftly to avoid being surrounded, Ronin watched as the lanky jonin effortlessly batted away the incoming kunai with his short blade. The metallic clangs echoed through the air as most of the weapons were knocked aside. Two stray kunai, slightly off-target, went unnoticed entirely.
"Die!!"
Just as the two overlooked kunai passed by the lanky jonin, a puff of smoke erupted, revealing Ronin behind him. With both hands gripping a nearly invisible steel wire, Ronin yanked hard, tightening the loop around the jonin's neck. The razor-sharp filament sliced cleanly through flesh and tendon, severing the man's windpipe in an instant.
"Three down," Ronin muttered coldly, his eyes gleaming with icy resolve as the body crumpled to the ground.
Fear Takes Hold
The remaining two enemies froze under Ronin's piercing gaze. Beyond the murderous intent, they saw something far more unsettling: a primal thirst for bloodshed and unbridled savagery. How could such emotions exist in someone so young?
Though their abilities matched those of the fallen trio, witnessing Ronin cut down one skilled fighter after another filled them with dread. Each casualty chipped away at their confidence, leaving only fear in its wake.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!"
Enraged by the loss of yet another comrade, the leader unleashed a ferocious jutsu. A massive serpentine dragon made of water surged upward, locking onto Ronin with predatory precision. The oppressive aura radiating from the beast sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Ronin's expression hardened as he retreated rapidly. Dropping the steel wire, he scooped up a few droplets of water from the ground.
"Huff~~"
The wound on his side throbbed painfully, but Ronin pushed the sensation aside. Focusing intently, he gathered chakra within himself, shaping it into a crescent-shaped blade of pure wind energy. The shimmering arc pulsed with lethal intensity, promising instant dismemberment to anyone caught in its path.
"Here goes nothing!! Wind Release: Great Cutting!!"
Despite having considerable chakra reserves, the prolonged battle had taken its toll. Combined with his injuries, Ronin was nearing his limit.
A Desperate Defense
"RONIN, WATCH OUT!!"
From the shadows, Shimura Ei and Harusame Yu shouted warnings as they noticed one of the enemy shinobi attempting to ambush Ronin from behind. Acting quickly, they hurled several kunai to intercept the attacker.
"Damn brat!!"
Frustrated by the interruption, the would-be assassin cursed under his breath. Forced to dodge the incoming projectiles, he abandoned his sneak attack. Even for a seasoned special jonin, a single misstep could mean death—and those kunai posed a significant threat.
"We stopped him."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Shimura Ei relaxed momentarily—only to realize the enemy had now turned his attention toward them. His face darkened with concern.
Meanwhile, Ronin continued his relentless assault. Most of the rogue ninjas still sleeping soundly had already fallen victim to his swift strikes, along with three special jonin. Despite facing similar adversaries, Ronin's superior tactical acumen and combat prowess allowed him to dominate the battlefield.
"Hummm~~"
A low, ear-splitting hum emanated from Ronin's hands as he unleashed the full might of his technique. The concentrated chakra formed a colossal crescent moon, glowing with an ominous brilliance that promised devastation.
"Go!!"
With a final push, Ronin launched the devastating wind blade toward his foes.