Lone Battle Against Many Foes

"Yes!"

The rogue ninja immediately answered, all eyes locking onto Ye Liangnai. Their vicious gazes made one's scalp tingle.

"Attack!"

The moment the captain gave the order, the twelve rogue ninja charged at Ye Liangnai like starving wolves.

Meanwhile, the captain and Youta once again rushed toward Tenshin and the others, brimming with confidence and ferocity.

Seeing this, Tenshin sent Ao Liu Yi to support Ye Liangnai while leading the rest against the captain.

On Ye Liangnai's side—

"Clang!"

Ye Liangnai raised his blade to block the fierce strike before him, but he could not help thinking, What tremendous strength!

The man said, "Surrender, brat. You don't seriously think the fourteen of you still stand a chance, do you?"

Just as he spoke, another icy voice came from behind Ye Liangnai. "Brat, hand over your life!"

Attacked from both sides—another all-too-familiar situation.

Though Ye Liangnai seemed to be in grave danger, there was not the slightest hint of panic on his face.

He looked up at the burly man before him and grinned. "No chance? Isn't that a little too soon to say?"

"Clang!"

With that, he suddenly exerted force and knocked the man back.

Then, twisting his body and stomping heavily, he shot forward like a streak of light, brushing past the man behind him.

"First one," Ye Liangnai said.

"???"

The rogue ninja were utterly baffled, having no idea what Ye Liangnai meant.

The rogue ninja who had been knocked back thought Ye Liangnai was merely putting on an act.

But just as he prepared to charge at Ye Liangnai again—

"Pfft!!"

The rogue ninja who had brushed past Ye Liangnai suddenly spurted blood from his neck before his body fell into the sea.

"As far as I'm concerned, you lot..." Ye Liangnai bared his white teeth in a smile. "...are nothing more than a flock of lambs!"

"Damn brat, don't get cocky!"

The bald rogue ninja who had been knocked away roared in fury and immediately leaped forward.

Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!

No one had even seen how Ye Liangnai formed his Hand Seals!

Lightning instantly erupted across the sea beneath his feet, and a sheet of fierce electricity spread beneath everyone's feet at nearly the speed of light.

"Jump!"

The bald man and the other rogue ninja immediately sprang into the air to evade it.

Then, the bald man began forming Hand Seals at once. The others did the same, or produced hidden weapons, preparing to attack.

But Ye Liangnai spoke again. "Too slow, everyone! Lightning Release: Thunder Ball!"

Lightning burst forth from Ye Liangnai's body once more, then condensed into a barrage of meatball-sized thunder balls that shot outward.

Those who had just leaped into the air instantly became perfect targets.

The bald rogue ninja charging forward was no exception.

How... can this be possible!

The moment he was struck, he thought in shock.

He had formed Hand Seals before Ye Liangnai, yet Ye Liangnai had still overtaken him.

How could anyone form Hand Seals that quickly?!

"Slash!"

A wave of cold light swept across, and several more corpses appeared on the sea.

"Gasp! You've got to be kidding!"

"Those were rogue ninja at the level of B-rank missing-nin!"

"How is this guy so strong?!"

The rogue ninja surrounding Ao Liu Yi could not help but reveal looks of horror at the sight.

B-rank missing-nin were all Chunin or Special Jonin-level fighters.

Yet just now, in fewer than five exchanges, eight of them had died in an instant.

Did it really have to be this terrifying?!

Wouldn't his Chakra run out?!

With that much stamina, was he even human? He was a monster!

"I heard you all wanted to kill me, so I suppose I won't hold back either!"

Ye Liangnai looked at the remaining rogue ninja and flashed them a very "friendly" grin.

As long as no one interfered with Ye Liangnai!

Whether Special Jonin or Chunin, they were all nothing more than instant kills to him.

Unless a Jonin appeared, he was absolutely invincible.

"I'm coming!"

The moment he spoke, a Special Jonin-level rogue ninja collapsed onto the sea, a long, narrow wound splitting his chest.

"Scatter!"

At that sight, the remaining rogue ninja felt their hair stand on end and their scalps go numb. Without a second thought, they scattered in every direction.

But Ye Liangnai smiled again at this. "Will scattering give you a way out? How naive!"

He slapped a palm against the water and shouted, "Binding Flow Karma Curse!"

Black patterns rapidly spread across the water's surface, winding around the bodies of rogue ninja who had no time to react.

Of course, two or three of them reacted quickly enough to retreat in time.

But—

Flash!

Ye Liangnai's cold voice and blade became merciless instruments of death.

"Damn it, move!"

The rogue ninja bound by the curse markings went pale as ice before Ye Liangnai, the god of death standing right before them. Terror was written all over their faces.

They were frantic and desperate, trying to break free from the restraints of the Binding Flow Karma Curse!

If they did not break free, they would certainly die! But they did not want to die!

"Next, it's your turn!"

Ye Liangnai turned around again, wearing that "friendly" smile.

"No, don't!"

Their pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints. Cold sweat streamed down their faces, and their expressions were filled with utter resistance.

Death had never been this close to them before!

The feeling was driving them to collapse.

"Please, I don't want to..."

"Slash!"

Their pleas were cut short by several sprays of blood.

Several more corpses floated upon the sea.

"Come to think of it, I really have someone to thank for forcing me this far away."

"You've placed me completely beyond your pirate ships' attack range, leaving them no choice but to stand by and watch!"

At this moment, Ye Liangnai rested his blade on his shoulder and began talking trash with the wind at his back.

"Damn it!!"

The pirates immediately grew furious upon hearing this, but Ye Liangnai was not finished.

"What a careless move, sir!! Did you think you could relax your guard just because you had the upper hand?"

"No, no, no. The moment you let down your guard, you had already lost!"

"Don't think Kumogakure became one of the Five Great Ninja Villages by being all show and no substance!"

"What you thought was flawless planning was actually riddled with holes and utterly pathetic."

"You don't really think that getting a few ships and a handful of underlings means you can rule the seas, do you?"

"This ocean is not as simple as you imagine, you frog at the bottom of a well!"

"Damn brat!!"

In the distance, the captain's usually calm face finally darkened upon hearing those words.

Wasn't the "sir" in Ye Liangnai's words referring to him?!

"Hahaha, well said, Jinghong! I'm starting to see you in a new light!"

Tenshin chimed in at that moment. He and the others were drenched and disheveled, with quite a few wounds on their bodies.

Clearly, the Sea Monk had made them suffer greatly.