"What's... what's that thing on you?"
Tobirama Senju was just about to exchange some real-time intelligence with Yūshin, but he couldn't help asking about the chakra visibly overflowing from around Yūshin's body.
"Nine-Tails chakra cloak. I fleeced chakra from the Nine-Tails, but accidentally took too much, so I have to let some overflow... Didn't expect this stuff to have pretty decent defensive power," Yūshin said.
Ninja of this era generally didn't interact with Tailed Beasts, let alone understand Tailed Beast chakra cloaks... This concept would only become widespread among certain ninja after the major ninja villages began small-scale production of jinchūriki.
"You can actually utilize Nine-Tails chakra..." Tobirama Senju immediately recalled Yūshin's ability to absorb chakra—after all, he'd been a victim several times. So he could only change his question: "You can ignore the corrosive nature of Tailed Beast chakra?"
"Is Tailed Beast chakra very strong? This intensity of chakra should be commonplace for you, right?" For questions he couldn't answer, Yūshin decisively chose to deflect.
This question made Tobirama pause. What do you mean "commonplace for me"? This is Tailed Beast chakra—this intensity of chakra... Hmm? Well, you know what, you really know what.
If Hashirama Senju didn't restrain himself and erupted with one hundred percent chakra intensity in battle, might his chakra intensity surpass the Nine-Tails... Tobirama was a very strong sensory ninja—he could instantly compare such strengths and weaknesses.
But he was a low-key person after all, so he wouldn't show off his brother here.
"Have you made any special progress during this time? Let me say upfront—I've been busy with external relations, so my strength is just what it was before." Yūshin was telling the truth—during this period he'd been constantly running business outside and basically had no energy for training or increasing his strength.
"Me? The ninjutsu development process hasn't been going too smoothly. The difficulty is a bit higher than I imagined."
Yūshin knew what ninjutsu Tobirama was developing. Logically, the development process for this level of ninjutsu being fraught with difficulties was normal, but somehow he always felt the "not going too smoothly" from the other party was equivalent to "I didn't do well on this test" from an honor student.
"Then let's just fight hard."
No fancy moves—besides fighting hard, there didn't seem to be any other options. Whether it was two-on-one or one-on-one combat, Yūshin's side had nothing to fear.
Hagoromo Shū on the other side let Yūshin and his companion chat because after coming outdoors, he had fallen into hesitation again... Should he next reclaim the secret technique scroll, or return to his command post to direct his clan's ninja in resisting the Senju Clan?
Logically, there was nothing to hesitate about—after all, if things were lost it didn't matter, but if people died there might be no way to recover at all.
However, facing the clan's inherited artifacts, this clan leader actually showed some indecision.
After thinking it over, Hagoromo Shū felt only children made choices—old stubborn people should want everything.
"Don't hesitate. Resolve them quickly and reclaim the secret technique scroll." The clan leader, who had hesitated for quite a while, instructed his two subordinates behind him.
At this moment, Yūshin finished forming a seal and suddenly pressed his hand on Tobirama's shoulder:
"Let me give you a buff—this way you can be even faster."
Because it was stained with Nine-Tails chakra, Tobirama felt Yūshin's hand was like one that had been digging through manure. But just as he was wondering if refusing the other party would be too impolite, the manure hand had already landed on him.
Nine-Tails chakra instantly caused corrosion to Tobirama's skin. The needle-sharp stinging pain made him furrow his brow, but Yūshin's palm withdrew immediately upon contact, and the stinging sensation was fleeting.
Immediately after, Tobirama felt his body become incredibly light.
Yūshin had no time to explain anything. At this moment, the three enemies' figures suddenly disappeared from their original positions. The next moment, three palms pressed almost simultaneously on the large scroll behind Yūshin's back.
Give it back...
This was what the Hagoromo ninja meant.
However, how could Yūshin possibly let go of something that had fallen into his hands? Hadn't they seen him endure the increased burden just to carry this thing close to his body?
Almost simultaneously, he took a deep breath, then exerted himself to expel it, as if trying to squeeze out every bit of air from his lungs.
So with a crisp "pop," a large cloud of smoke was smashed onto the ground, then swept indiscriminately toward the surrounding space.
Yes, acid mist had limited lethality outdoors, but what if enemies took a couple of breaths in this mist? Was there any more enclosed "indoor space" than a person's chest cavity and internal organs?
"Retreat! There's something wrong with the mist!"
Ninja were naturally all very cautious. When seeing this biochemical gas-like substance, they instinctively held their breath. But one guy insisted on speaking out warnings inappropriately, so his facial features were affected, instantly suffering corrosion.
Since you all can use Swift Release, why not "teleport" away first before talking nonsense?
Hagoromo Shū and the other person were experienced, immediately withdrawing from the mist's range. Only the one who spoke lingered for an extra moment.
Then he began dry coughing—eyes stinging, nose running, throat dry, even some tinnitus... Like reaching middle age and waking up with everything feeling uncomfortable.
In that moment of distraction, the battlefield's life and death balance shifted in this instant. Tobirama Senju's figure appeared behind him, then without any hesitation stabbed through the enemy's heart.
At this time Tobirama's expression was very unpleasant. If he hadn't reacted quickly just now, he would definitely have been hit by Yūshin's indiscriminate attack. But at this moment he could only curse inwardly about prioritizing money over life... He could see why Yūshin had been somewhat reactive just now.
You steal someone else's things, they want to snatch them back, and you're the most agitated one?
Fortunately, due to Yūshin's Light-Weight Rock Technique, Tobirama's movements were exceptionally light at this time, and using the Body Flicker Technique felt like flying.
But Yūshin also had things to say—the reason he did this was because he completely trusted Tobirama's body flicker speed... Can't do it? If he couldn't do it, wouldn't that be Tobirama's own full responsibility?
Yūshin hid in the acid mist, so this time it was finally Tobirama's turn to be surrounded.
Based on personal psychology, Yūshin's desire for revenge at this time was no longer so intense. He didn't have that kind of thinking that he must personally resolve the Hagoromo clan leader... Simply put, when he brought the Nine-Tails here and the Senju and other ninja clans entered the scene, his revenge was already complete.
Because he felt the Hagoromo Clan could no longer possibly continue existing. Everyone had finally gathered together and all taken action—if they still allowed this ninja clan to continue existing at this point, wouldn't that be making trouble for themselves?
Was the "I attack you, you retaliate against me" game very fun?
Although killing the clan leader could serve as a symbol of annihilating a ninja clan, for Yūshin, letting this clan leader live wasn't a big problem either, because surviving would allow this clan leader to spend his remaining life "carrying rice up several floors."
Of course, Yūshin could think this way, but Tobirama Senju and other Senju Clan ninja definitely wouldn't think so. Because tonight the Senju Clan's hatred was very stable—if any higher-level ninja among the enemies survived, they would inevitably seek revenge against the Senju Clan.
Although this operation was all orchestrated by Yūshin, when it actually manifested on the battlefield, he and his Fireflies organization had virtually zero presence.
The reason this clan leader was pursuing and killing him, though there was the factor of him bringing the Nine-Tails, was mainly because Yūshin was a thief.
Tobirama Senju alone dealing with two ninja whose absolute speed exceeded his own looked somewhat stretched thin, but seeing this person's extremely calm eyes, you knew he didn't think he would fall into a death trap.
Though he looked unchanged, his strength had actually been steadily rising during this time... As they say, different people have different fates. Yūshin and Tobirama were about the same age—he felt that after reaching this age his potential was quite limited, while Tobirama's situation was exactly the opposite.
Tobirama Senju was approaching his peak. After entering this age bracket, his various basic stats as a ninja were rapidly increasing... No helping it—as an excellent Senju ninja, he would automatically gain "skill points" as he aged.
When Yūshin leisurely walked out of the acid mist, Tobirama Senju was changing positions. The next moment, he and a Hagoromo ninja appeared front and back at the same location, then with a swift blade motion beheaded the opponent.
"Swift Release... Do you think I've been fighting Swift Release ninja for how long now? Anyone would gain growth—see through your tricks, right?"
Seeing the confused expression on the opponent's face before death, Tobirama kindly explained.
Though Swift Release ninja were fast, they couldn't escape his sensing. Combined with his constant observation of the opponent's movement habits, using two types of prediction together, he waited like a hunter for prey, then struck decisively—the enemy's life was thus forfeit.
"Swift Release should really be paired with a Sharingan."
Though Swift Release ninja didn't strictly need Sharingan, if they could have the Sharingan's insight... We should invite Izuna Uchiha here to give an important speech.
Tobirama casually glanced at Yūshin, then discovered that while he was fighting hard, that guy looked like he was here for sightseeing.
What happened to the agreed "hard fighting"? Where's your hard part?
At this time, a team of over ten black-clothed, masked ninja with basically no identifying marks and unknown origins passed by Yūshin. Yūshin saw the red scarves tied on these people's left arms and immediately helpfully gave directions.
"Over there, there's good stuff over there."
It was still during the time period for looting and plundering the Hagoromo Clan—not yet time for mutual fighting. So the leading ninja nodded to Yūshin and led the team toward the direction Yūshin pointed.
They had superior numbers but didn't attack, mainly because the few people here all looked rather formidable.
He could even give directions? So not only did Tobirama find Yūshin increasingly disagreeable, even Hagoromo Shū found Yūshin more and more disagreeable.
Tobirama moved to the other side to harvest enemies. Just at this moment, Hagoromo Shū without warning attacked Yūshin again.
But the reason Yūshin displayed a relaxed appearance with no fighting spirit was to fish for enemies.
Chase Swift Release ninja like Tobirama? That difficulty was too high. The correct approach was to stay put and wait for the opponent to actively come find him.
Yūshin's sensing range was only thirty meters. The enemy entered this range in a flash—even so, under normal circumstances he would have difficulty catching the opponent. But now Yūshin wasn't quite normal.
The next moment, the Nine-Tails chakra cloak on his body spread into a fan shape, lunging toward the direction of the enemy's attack. After sensing something, the chakra cloak transformed into a giant hand, immediately grasping Hagoromo Shū in its palm.
With so much chakra to squander, it was practically a guaranteed catch.
Nine-Tails chakra was good stuff, but unfortunately it was one-time use—once used up, there was no way to replenish it.
Caught in an instant, Hagoromo Shū's reaction was remarkably fast. A brilliant blue "light sword" like Chidori Sharp Spear extended from his palm, instantly stabbing toward Yūshin's chest.
Yūshin only had time to slightly dodge sideways, but his shoulder was still instantly pierced.
Needless to say, as the Hagoromo clan leader, Hagoromo Shū naturally understood both Swift Release and Storm Release.
Energy swords were unblockable. The next moment, Hagoromo Shū flipped his wrist, swinging the light sword horizontally and pulling his forearm, about to sever Yūshin's head along with his shoulder.
But Yūshin already had an invisible sword in hand. He swung his right arm from top to bottom, and the chakra jet extending from his palm instantly cut the light sword in two.
Energy sword? Who doesn't know how to do that?
When the Storm Release light sword broke with a sound, the contemptuous smile on Hagoromo Shū's face instantly froze. He didn't even know what the opponent had actually done.
Just as he widened his eyes, opened his mouth, and breathed rapidly through his nose, a large cloud of white mist instantly struck his face.
Vision blurred and can't see clearly? Ultra-concentrated sulfuric acid to the eyes!
Wails like ghosts and wolves pierced the night sky. Many Hagoromo ninja could recognize this as their clan leader's voice, so these screams made their hearts tremble and involuntarily produced some bad associations.
But facing acid mist, the more he howled the more miserable it became, the more miserable the more he howled—heavy breathing achieved a positive feedback loop.
Facing the strong acid attack, Hagoromo Shū's eyes were instantly destroyed. Then he gulped a big mouthful through his mouth and nose, and his chest cavity also became scalding.
Seeing the enemy lose vision while his body was restricted by Yūshin's chakra cloak, what a good opportunity for a finishing blow? Tobirama instinctively moved forward to steal the kill.
However, just at this moment, Yūshin suddenly released the restraints on the opponent.
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly losing his sight, Hagoromo Shū couldn't care about enemies anymore. At this time he began struggling to escape.
Yūshin looked at the direction this person was fleeing—clearly panicked and choosing his path randomly, yet the direction he fled was actually quite appropriate.
He reached out to stop Tobirama, who was trying to pursue, then said:
"Swift as wind and thunder, fast as flowing light—tonight it becomes history."
"Why not quickly resolve the opponent?"
Tobirama was somewhat puzzled, so Yūshin shook his head and continued:
"Ninja of this era—their lives are so cheap they always die like wild dogs."
"So?"
"The clan leader is also a ninja, so the clan leader should also die like a wild dog."
Tobirama seemed to understand something, but he always felt that here Yūshin wasn't just cursing the Hagoromo clan leader alone.
Hagoromo Shū fled in panic and soon crashed into the embrace of that looting gang from earlier.
"What's this thing?"
"Screaming way too miserably, right?"
"Help him out, everyone, good Samaritans."
Kunai, shuriken, long and short blades all greeted the old blind man. This group quickly finished their good deed.
"That guy just now was pretty nice—pointed us toward a clear path. Move fast, we need to change locations for plundering... Too many competitors tonight."
"Understood, let's have another big harvest."
They only cared about looting and didn't even know who they had just killed.
Can only say Yūshin's words were very reasonable. If Hagoromo Shū had died at Tobirama's hands, perhaps someone would have written about this extensively in Konoha's history. But now?
Hagoromo Shū died with nothing left, and after death there was only peace. He didn't even need to worry about being dragged out for posthumous criticism when people read history in the future...
Can only say the good deed just now had Yūshin's share of contribution.
The dead deserve respect.
Respect, understanding, blessing.
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