"Kujaku Myōhō: Dragon Snake!"
From behind Takuno, the violent, materialized Chakra instantly coalesced into a giant python, a meter thick and over ten meters long, roaring.
Its eyes were particularly prominent, glowing as it glared at the Snow Ninja.
"Mon… monster!"
The Snow Ninja were instantly terrified and wanted to retreat.
"Don't be afraid, he's alone! Throw your Ninja Tools at him and kill him!" the squad leader nearby shouted.
However, if his legs weren't trembling, his words might have been more convincing.
Nevertheless, his shouts had an effect. Dozens of Snow Ninja each pulled out their Kunai or shuriken and threw them at Takuno.
Facing hundreds of weapons, Takuno paid them no mind, and the giant python around him rushed forward.
None of the weapons, whether shuriken or Kunai, could break the giant python's defense. It completely ignored them and quickly slithered towards the distant Snow Ninja.
"No, no!"
The Snow Ninja could no longer convince themselves. They watched the giant python lunging at them, their eyes splitting with terror, and turned to flee.
However, their legs could not possibly match the python's speed. In an instant, the giant python was before them, opening its gaping maw.
At that moment, several shuriken shot towards Takuno from the side of the giant python.
Takuno glanced over, not stopping the giant python. Several shuriken appeared in his hand and were thrown, colliding with the other shuriken in mid-air and scattering onto the ground.
Now, with his improvements, the Kujaku Myōhō could move, and he could even use some simple Ninjutsu while employing it.
But it was limited to simple Ninjutsu.
Such a massive, materialized Chakra was very difficult to control. Normally, manipulating such Chakra would make it impossible to focus on anything else.
Takuno being able to move and use simple Ninjutsu already proved that his Chakra control and mental strength were indeed very powerful.
Meanwhile, the area where the Snow Ninja had been was now covered in blood.
Takuno had no intention of showing mercy. He had only invited the Snow Ninja Trio, never these minor Snow Ninja.
He understood their intention to have them scout ahead, but he didn't need to go along with them.
Since they came, they had to pay a price!
"You three, aren't you coming out yet?" Takuno asked. At this point, he had also dispelled the Kujaku Myōhō; only a tenth of the distant Snow Ninja remained.
They looked at Takuno in horror, then disregarded the Snow Ninja Trio's orders, turning and fleeing directly. Such Ninja would likely never return to the village, as they were deserting in battle.
Takuno looked at those people, a Kunai appearing in his hand, which he threw towards them.
The Snow Ninja Trio had already emerged. They saw his actions but had no intention of stopping him. Those Ninja who deserted in battle deserved to die.
However, why did he only throw one Kunai? No matter what, this Kunai could only kill one Ninja, right?
Just then, Takuno formed hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, that single thrown Kunai transformed into hundreds of Kunai, shooting with streams of Chakra towards the fleeing Snow Ninja.
Facing Kunai thrown with such monstrous strength, and at this magnitude, not a single fleeing Snow Ninja could dodge!
Takuno withdrew his gaze and turned towards the Snow Ninja Trio.
The reason he wanted to kill them all was that those Snow Ninja might escape to Kazahana Sōsetsu. It would be bad if Kazahana Sōsetsu requested help from other great nations.
He looked at the Snow Ninja Trio and said, "I only invited you three, not them."
"This… was indeed our oversight, but we weren't sure if there were any ambushes here, so we had no other choice. We hope you can understand," Roga Nadare said, his tone very polite.
He could clearly sense the opponent's strength, so he dared not maintain his usual arrogance.
As for the dead Ninja, was he the kind of person who cared about their lives?
Takuno nodded in understanding, letting the matter drop. The bodies of the dozens of Snow Ninja were quickly buried by the snow, unnoticed.
"May I ask what brings you to Hidden Snow Village?" Roga Nadare inquired.
"I'm here to cooperate with Kazahana Dotō on some matters," Takuno stated directly.
"I see. Then you could have simply written it in a letter," Roga Nadare paused, then said.
"Perhaps the method of cooperation I desire is not what you imagine," Takuno said, twirling a Kunai in his hand.
"How is it different?" Roga Nadare felt a bad premonition.
"I need you to completely submit to me, to carry out my orders without question."
Immediately, the Snow Ninja Trio's expressions darkened. This was not cooperation; this was an attempt to annex them!
"This is not cooperation," Roga Nadare's voice changed, and his movements showed an inclination to attack.
"I say it is cooperation," Takuno said, looking at the three. A smile seemed to curl on his fox mask as he added, "So, to achieve this goal, I needed to invite you out and beat you into submission!"
Then, Takuno erupted, charging rapidly towards the three.
"So fast!"
The Snow Ninja Trio were shocked by Takuno's speed. In the instant they wanted to retreat, Takuno had already arrived before them. His target was… Roga Nadare!
Roga Nadare gritted his teeth. At this moment, he couldn't make an effective counterattack and could only barely raise his arms to block.
Takuno looked at Roga Nadare in the center and kicked him in the arm.
"Bang!"
It was the sound of air being torn. The moment Roga Nadare made contact with Takuno, he was directly sent flying backward at an extremely high speed by the immense force of the kick.
"Captain!"
Fuyukuma Mizore, standing nearby, widened his eyes. Using his tall stature, he swung his fist towards Takuno.
However, after kicking Roga Nadare, Takuno's body did not land on the ground. Instead, he twisted at a strange angle and kicked Fuyukuma Mizore again, colliding with his fist.