As a Ninja, I Only Want to Live off Women in the Nasuverse Chapter 25

Luvia wanted to defend herself, but under Higashino Kanade's judgmental gaze, she ultimately raised her hands in surrender and admitted miserably, "I was wrong. I was careless."

"...Forget it. I knew people from the Tohsaka Family couldn't be relied on. I'll forgive you this time." Higashino Kanade spread his hands helplessly.

"The Tohsaka Family?" Luvia froze, as though recalling something.

"The most urgent matter is getting out of this little black room. Look."

Higashino Kanade extended a hand, only for a pitch-black wall to block him. Worse still, the wall was slowly closing in, seemingly intending to crush them flat.

"This should be the Mage's Workshop's self-defense mechanism. We should currently be in a subspace formed by a barrier. If we want to get out, we'll have to force our way through the wall." Luvia quickly analyzed the situation.

"Force our way through? Step back."

A blue sphere rapidly formed in Higashino Kanade's hand. Once it expanded to the size of a basketball, he immediately slammed it into the black wall.

Big Ball Rasengan!

With a thunderous boom, the black wall seemed to be sucked into a vortex, twisting violently.

The Big Ball Rasengan was enormously destructive, but the black wall was constantly repaired by Mana flowing from the castle. By the time the Big Ball Rasengan was completely spent, it had only smashed a massive crater into the wall rather than piercing through it.

"This wall is seriously thick! Is the Rasengan still no good when it comes to penetration? Would Chidori work better at a time like this?"

Higashino Kanade panted from the massive Chakra expenditure, planning his next offensive in his mind.

PS: First update.

51. Rasengan Theory

As Second Uchiha's signature ninjutsu, Chidori's immense power needed no further explanation.

Both were A-rank ninjutsu, but unlike the Rasengan, Chidori possessed exceptional piercing power, whereas the Rasengan was more destructive. During the Chunin Exams, Sasuke had relied on Chidori's tremendous penetration to break through Gaara's Absolute Defense.

The biggest problem now was that Higashino Kanade, an utterly ordinary Jonin, did not know Chidori at all.

That was right! In his previous life, Higashino Kanade had learned a little of ninjutsu from all five basic natures just to survive, but the high-profile Chidori happened to be outside the scope of what he had studied.

First, Higashino Kanade's Chakra nature was only Fire. Even if he learned an advanced ninjutsu like Chidori, he would not be able to bring out its original power and might exhaust all his Chakra with a single use.

Second, a ninjutsu like Chidori required the Sharingan to unleash its true power. To some extent, Chidori had been developed specifically for the Uchiha clan. How could a mere civilian ninja like Higashino Kanade possibly have Uchiha blood?

That was why Higashino Kanade had not shamelessly gone to Kakashi to learn it in his previous life. Instead, he had made his way through the world with the Rasengan. If he had known he would die in the Fourth Shinobi World War and reincarnate into the Nasuverse, he would have stolen the Scroll of Sealing and learned everything in it no matter what.

"What a pity."

Higashino Kanade sighed softly, then sat cross-legged and began restoring his Chakra.

"Luvia, I need to recover for a bit. Please wait."

"Alright."

Even though the surrounding space was constantly being compressed, seeing how confident Higashino Kanade looked gave Luvia an intense sense of security. She was no longer quite as afraid of their perilous situation.

"Mr. Uchiha, when Lord El-Melloi II deduced the culprit earlier, you weren't surprised at all. Did you already know who the murderer was?" Luvia sat beside Higashino Kanade with her legs together.

"Mm. I had suspected them for some time."

As he recovered, Higashino Kanade began explaining, "They probably never realized it, but they had already exposed enormous flaws when facing me."

"The reason Orlok kept targeting me was probably because he suspected I was a spy sent by the Clock Tower, someone who would create a huge obstacle to his son's inheritance. That's why he kept trying to kick me out."

"As for Jirobou Seigen Shitou, I didn't suspect him at first. Not until he drunkenly dragged me out for drinks last night, claiming it was a talk between fellow countrymen. Thinking about it now, he must have been pretending at the time, looking for a chance to get rid of me."

"I see. But there is still something I don't understand. If Gryphon wanted his son to inherit the estate, why invite us here at all? Wouldn't there have been far less trouble if we hadn't come?" Luvia frowned slightly, her face full of confusion.

"Waver and I discussed that question too. The answer should be that the Department of Law and Politics wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate all of you."

"The Department of Law and Politics?" Luvia was even more confused.

"Do you think the Clock Tower didn't know that Gryphon had killed so many Magi over the years?"

"This involves a deal between the Department of Law and Politics and Gryphon. Every year, the department would introduce Magi they wanted eliminated to Gryphon. Gryphon would kill those Magi, and the department would cover up the facts afterward. That was why Gryphon could remain at large despite the deaths of hundreds of Magi."

"This time, Gryphon used the invitations to summon all of you here as the final transaction between himself and the Department of Law and Politics. The things Gryphon left behind would kill you, while the department would support Gryphon's resurrected child and clear his identity."

"But wasn't the person sent by the Department of Law and Politics also killed? If they had a deal, why kill Ms. Adashino?" Luvia found it hard to believe.

"Do you really think Ms. Adashino, who came from the Department of Law and Politics, is dead?"

Higashino Kanade revealed a teasing smile, and Luvia froze on the spot.

"You mean Ms. Adashino isn't dead?"

"That's right! You might not believe it, but as a ninja, I observe people down to the finest details. The real Ms. Adashino's bust was at least a C cup, while the corpse's bust was a B cup. Although Ms. Adashino dressed rather conservatively, she still couldn't escape my professional insight."

Higashino Kanade smiled confidently, only to hear the sound of fists clenching.

"In certain respects, you really are quite the talent." Luvia gave Higashino Kanade a smile that did not reach her eyes, a faintly sinister aura leaking from her body.

"Ahem, ahem. So there is only one truth! Ms. Adashino faked her death. The woman who died was merely a prepared substitute or homunculus, intended to clear the Department of Law and Politics of suspicion!" Higashino Kanade hurriedly changed the subject.

"So the demonic beast gouged out the corpse's Mage Crest and eyes to lead us into believing that Ms. Adashino was truly dead." Recalling the details, Luvia could not help feeling a lingering fear. She had actually been toyed with by Adashino Riri. The Department of Law and Politics truly was a terrifying organization.

Higashino Kanade stood up. "I've recovered more or less. Step back a little."

The idle conversation ended there, and Luvia retreated to a safer spot.

Shadow Clone Technique!

With a hand seal from Higashino Kanade, someone identical to him appeared at his side.

The two Higashino Kanades simultaneously began forming Rasengans. Before long, two Big Ball Rasengans took shape.

There was a truth in the Naruto world: if one Rasengan could not solve a problem, make two; if two Rasengans still could not solve it, make even more Rasengans.

As for why he did not make a larger one, that was because Higashino Kanade was not a freak like Naruto. His Chakra reserves were not even one percent of Naruto's. Even at his peak, he could not form a Massive Rasengan.

Big Ball Rasengan!!!

A deafening boom rang out! The two Higashino Kanades attacked at once, and the entire subspace shook violently as though it had been struck by an eight-magnitude earthquake. Under the Rasengans' overwhelming assault, the thick and sturdy black wall held for less than three seconds before being blasted apart.

The next instant, the scenery around them distorted. Higashino Kanade and Luvia returned to the hall that had suffered the explosion.

The hall was now a complete mess, littered with shattered stone and burning furniture. Waver was sitting on the ground treating himself. Orlok's corpse lay on the floor. Fliyou, through some unknown means, sat there completely unscathed, while Grea and Roxanne were nowhere to be seen.

"Waver, what happened?" Higashino Kanade asked weakly.

"Cough, cough. After you disappeared, Jirobou Seigen Shitou grabbed Roxanne and escaped. The demonic beast wanted to kill us all, but Grea drove it back. They should all be outside now." Waver coughed up blood, his face deathly pale. The explosion had clearly injured him badly.

"Good. I'll go help my senior sister. Luvia, take care of Waver."

Enduring the pain, Higashino Kanade pulled out another tub of Häagen-Dazs and wolfed it down. Before his Chakra had fully recovered, he rushed outside.

Higashino Kanade was not worried about Grea's safety. Grea was the protagonist, after all—how could she possibly die to a mere demonic beast? He was afraid that if he arrived too late, Grea would have already claimed the kill, causing his mission to fail outright.

PS: Second update.

52. Battling the Demonic Beast!

Higashino Kanade tracked the traces of battle all the way until he found a large hole in the roof.

"Did the demonic beast escape onto the roof?"

Anxious about his mission, Higashino Kanade did not think too much before jumping up.

On the roof, the demonic beast was carefully licking its wounds. The variously sized injuries had all been inflicted by Grea.

What shocked Higashino Kanade, however, was that the forepaw he had shattered earlier with a Rasengan had now completely regenerated without a trace of damage.

Not only that, through his Sharingan's perception, he could tell that the demonic beast now contained more Mana than when it had fought Heine the previous night. Its presence was sharper as well, as though it had been enhanced.

"The demonic beast is here, but where's Grea?"

Higashino Kanade's expression darkened. On the open castle rooftop, only the demonic beast was in sight. Grea, in whom he had placed such high hopes, was nowhere to be found.

The demonic beast sensed Higashino Kanade's arrival and stopped licking its wounds. It bared its terrifying fangs and made low, threatening growls, seemingly confronting him.

"Grea, you've totally screwed me over." Higashino Kanade wailed inwardly.

At this point, running was no longer possible. With its astonishing speed, the demonic beast could easily catch two-legged Higashino Kanade. Only by fighting did he have even a sliver of hope of survival.

Sharingan, activate!

Lightning Release Chakra Mode, activate!

His scarlet eyes radiated an eerie glow in the black night, while arcs of blue lightning danced over Higashino Kanade's body.

Higashino Kanade activated his strongest state right from the start. He did not dare underestimate a demonic beast that had killed Heine in the slightest.

As though sensing the surge in Higashino Kanade's aura, the demonic beast let out a roar and charged straight at him. Its incredible speed turned it into a black phantom, closing half the distance in only a few breaths.

Higashino Kanade rapidly formed hand seals. After taking a deep breath, he spat out a fireball as large as a washbasin. At the same time, one hand darted into his ninja tool pouch, and he hurled several shuriken at high speed.

Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!

The sharp shuriken pierced through the fireball, stirring up blazing flames. Like fireworks, they drew streaks of fire across the night sky as they shot toward the demonic beast.

The demonic beast cried out in pain. Sharp shuriken pierced its skin, and flames ignited its wiry fur.

Clusters of flame blazed across the demonic beast's enormous body, yet it did not slow down. Even Heine's spear, comparable to a lower-ranked Servant's Noble Phantasm, had failed to harm it. Higashino Kanade's attack could only damage its outermost layer of fur.

Higashino Kanade's hand seals did not stop. Immediately afterward, he expelled the head of a massive fire dragon.

Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!

Faced with the enormous and intensely scorching mass of flame, the demonic beast seemed to recall the pain of the previous strike. It leaped aside on all fours to evade, but the distance was already too short, and half its body was still caught in the explosion.

With a thunderous blast, a massive hole was blown into the entire roof. The shockwave from the explosion made Higashino Kanade's Red Cloud Robe snap wildly in the wind.

Higashino Kanade stared intently at the raging flames with his Sharingan, his expression not relaxing for even a moment.

The next second, a huge wolf's head burst from the flames. Its gaping maw opened wide, ready to bite off Higashino Kanade's head.

The wolf's head snapped down, but bit nothing but air. A streak of lightning slid behind it, and the firelight revealed Higashino Kanade's figure.

The demonic beast was fast, but Higashino Kanade's Lightning Release Chakra Mode was not slow either. With the Sharingan, Higashino Kanade could clearly see the demonic beast's movements, and his body could respond in time.

In Higashino Kanade's sight, half the demonic beast's body had already been charred black. The stench of burning fur mingled with the scent of roasted flesh, yet the beast remained vigorous and showed no serious injury, because Higashino Kanade's chain of attacks had not broken its defense at all.

"So tough. If only I had more Chakra." Higashino Kanade panted heavily. At only twelve years old, his stamina had always been his weakness, and he had expended a great deal.

For ninjutsu, its power was determined to some extent by the amount of Chakra released. The more Chakra infused into it, the greater its power. That was why, with the same Wood Release, Hashirama Senju could create a forest while Yamato could make a three-bedroom apartment.

Higashino Kanade's current Chakra reserves were only slightly greater than a Chunin's. He could not afford to spend them freely, which was precisely why he was having such a difficult fight.

Looking at the enormous demonic beast, Higashino Kanade hesitated over whether to use the move Naruto had used against Gaara: attach Explosive Tags to a Kunai and attack its most vulnerable chrysanthemum.

But after only a moment of hesitation, he drove that thought from his mind. This demonic beast was highly mobile, and it would be difficult for Higashino Kanade to get close enough to its chrysanthemum. After all, not everyone was a stubborn fool like Shukaku, who relied on Absolute Defense and could not even be bothered to move.

The demonic beast gave Higashino Kanade no time to think and lunged again. Higashino Kanade threw out several Kunai carrying Explosive Tags as he fought and retreated.

The tremendous commotion caused by Higashino Kanade's battle with the demonic beast had long since attracted Waver and the others' attention. Luvia supported Waver as they left the "shaky" castle and joined the remaining group in the castle's forecourt to watch the battle.

"What kind of fighting style is this? I've been a mercenary for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen anything like it."

Fliyou's mouth hung wide open in shock as he stared unblinkingly at the unprecedented battle above, letting out exclamations of amazement from time to time.

"I never expected that Uchiha to be so strong. At such a young age, he can actually contend with the demonic beast that defeated Heine. Why have I never heard of him?" Fliyou stroked his chin, looking puzzled. He did not believe Higashino Kanade's lie about coming from some backwater little village called Konoha.

"Why is there no reaction at all from the fire element in the air during such an intense battle? So what he's using really isn't magecraft?" Waver lit a cigar, watching the battle while pondering the reason.

Waver possessed a thirst for knowledge far beyond that of ordinary Magi. He was extremely willing to learn new knowledge, which was why he could become one of the Clock Tower's foremost lecturers despite his second-rate magecraft.

At the moment, Waver was immensely curious about the source of Higashino Kanade's abilities. Did they come from supernatural powers bestowed by Mystic Eyes, or was he using some unknown power?

Higashino Kanade had no mind to care what he had become in other people's eyes. Right now, he only wanted to hold on until Grea came to save him.

Although Lightning Release Chakra Mode granted him astonishing reaction speed and strength, allowing him to evade the demonic beast's attacks again and again, it was also rapidly consuming his Chakra.

As time passed, Higashino Kanade's already limited Chakra reserves became increasingly precarious.

"I can't keep hoping for Grea to save me. I have to end this quickly."

Making up his mind, Higashino Kanade pulled three Smoke Bombs from his ninja tool pouch and smashed them directly onto the ground.

Thick black smoke instantly filled half the rooftop. The demonic beast also temporarily lost sight of Higashino Kanade in the smoke, and its four eyes had to close from the choking fumes.

PS: Third update. I can't manage a fourth update, so I'll rest for a while.

PS: The Thousand Years of Death scene has been revised. Please don't blame the protagonist anymore. I got scared by all the earlier complaints about Thousand Years of Death too. Sorry, being cute here.