The battlefield was the ultimate test of a person.
Combat strength, neural reflexes, muscle memory, jutsu combinations, and most importantly, the brutal examination of one's character.
Countless members of the new generation who should have bloomed in the colors of youth had died in despair with their minds completely blank because their character had not measured up.
Nuclear Release: Impurity Absorption Technique!
A massive amount of nuclear radiation exploded outward, swiftly spreading and covering the area in a way ordinary people could not perceive.
"One, four, six... ten in total, though there may be others lying in ambush farther away."
Genitsu opened his eyes and spoke in a low voice.
There were ten enemies? The anxious ones immediately calmed down.
"Huh, kid, you can sense them too?" Umino Kawamiya looked delighted.
"Yeah, I guess you could call it a sensory ability..."
As the nuclear radiation spread, it intensely stimulated the cells of living organisms in its path. He only needed to sense where the radiation had been absorbed to know where lifeforms were.
Then, based on the outline of the absorption, he could determine whether it was a person, an animal, or a plant.
The only problem was that his sensory ninjutsu... caused cancer.
At that moment, the enemy launched their attack.
"Hmph, a Konoha team?"
"We're lucky. These people are carrying a large number of scrolls. They must be a supply unit..."
"Then kill them quickly and weaken Konoha's strength."
Voices rang out alongside an unknown number of figures radiating dense malice.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!
Ten figures immediately used ninjutsu, intending to heavily cripple the team in one strike.
A vast number of rocks came crashing down.
"Rock ninja..."
Genitsu swiftly scanned the area and discovered that Aburame Shibi had vanished at some point. Perhaps he had gone to snipe the enemy jonin.
"Scatter!" Umino Kawamiya, at the front, roared as he immediately formed hand seals and prepared to use Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall to block the attack.
At that moment.
Nuclear Release: Vibration Wave!
Crash!
An astonishing shockwave suddenly erupted, nearly peeling up an entire layer of the ground with irresistible force. The countless incoming rocks shattered before they could even strike.
"Guy, charge into their ranks."
"Kazue, you're with me. We'll clear out the extra trash."
Genitsu immediately issued his orders.
Might Guy instantly opened the Gate of Healing and howled as he charged at the Rock ninja.
Kazue also activated her Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
Genitsu continued forming hand seals, silently unleashing even greater radiation that continuously assailed the enemy.
The enemy simply could not detect it yet.
"Tch, it was blocked? What kind of jutsu was that... And we've hooked a big fish. That brat actually has a Two-Tomoe Sharingan..."
The leading Rock ninja was startled at first, then greed appeared on his face.
If they could kill an Uchiha brat, it would definitely be a major accomplishment.
Even though a child like this should, logically speaking, be protected by a powerful jonin, the thought of earning credit for strangling a Konoha genius in the cradle...
They would do it!
"Focus your strength and kill that Uchiha brat!"
The Rock ninja charged forward at once and collided with the Konoha ninja.
"Uncle, watch yourself. Don't get yourself killed by accident."
Genitsu casually said this to Umino Kawamiya before immediately rushing out. Kazue charged out as well, excitement on her face.
The two sides began fighting.
Konoha and the Rock ninja were old foes. They had clashed on and off many times in the Land of Rain.
Might Guy opened the second gate, the Gate of Healing. With overwhelming speed, he violently smashed through every obstacle and kicked an unprepared Rock ninja flying. Considering Guy's strength, that Rock ninja was basically crippled.
"What is with this brat too?! Is that ninjutsu or taijutsu?"
"He's another Konoha genius. Kill him!"
The other Rock ninja were also greatly startled. Two hurriedly turned around and began fending off Might Guy.
Yet even more Rock ninja charged at Kazue with bloodshot eyes.
As long as they could kill this Uchiha genius, any number of deaths would be worth it! A Two-Tomoe brat around ten years old... Just thinking about it was terrifying!
Four Rock ninja desperately held back Umino Kawamiya and the others. They even disregarded their Chakra consumption and repeatedly erected multiple Earth Style: Earth-Style Walls, continuously dividing the battlefield and desperately creating opportunities to kill Kazue.
"Having a goal is a good thing, but if reason gets swallowed by that goal, then in the end, you're just moving yourselves... That gets people killed."
Genitsu chuckled softly.
Kazue formed hand seals. Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
A huge mass of flames burst forth, but the Rock ninja charging forward without regard for their lives used Petrification Jutsu and forcibly endured it with their bodies.
The fireball was breached. Three Rock ninja stared cruelly at Kazue's face, now within arm's reach.
"Watch out!!" Umino Kawamiya roared.
The next moment, Genitsu unleashed another Vibration Wave that swept the area clean and violently sent the three Rock ninja flying.
Struck by that overwhelmingly powerful shockwave at such close range, they were blasted more than fifty meters away.
"Aihara! Riyo! Damn it, you bastards, what kind of jutsu is this..."
The last survivor coughed up mouthfuls of blood. Feeling the severe damage to his internal organs, he let out a desperate roar.
That was the final sound this Rock ninja left in the world.
"You survived at this distance? Was it because your Petrification Jutsu covered the front of your body? Such a fine chunin, yet you're about to die. What a pity."
Genitsu shook his head.
Kazue had already drawn a kunai. With one slash, she cut the man's throat.
He died.
The remaining Rock ninja's expressions changed drastically. They had never expected things to turn out this way.
"How did this happen? The Aihara Squad was wiped out in an instant..."
"What is wrong with that guy's Chakra? He keeps using such powerful Wind Style ninjutsu!"
"We misjudged him. This brat is a Konoha genius too... Does this never end?!"
The Rock ninja began coughing up blood as they fought—not from anger, but because they had suddenly begun vomiting blood for real.
The Rock ninja were horrified, their mouths bitter. Their eyes reddened, and without bothering to figure out why, they immediately chose to retreat.
Not a single Konoha ninja had died, while more than half of their side had already been lost. Furthermore, the Rock side's jonin had yet to appear, making the surviving Rock ninja even more uneasy.
But of course, the Konoha forces would not allow them to escape.
Kazue became even more active. Activating her Two-Tomoe Sharingan, she cast genjutsu after genjutsu and controlled three Rock ninja in succession. Under the concentrated attacks of Umino Kawamiya and the others, those three unfortunate men also died.
The Rock ninja blocking Guy failed to escape as well and were killed one after another.
"One got away... But this is fantastic, a complete victory!!" Umino Kawamiya was thrilled. Not one of their people had died, while they had killed nine enemies.
The performance of the three newcomers who had just joined the team had utterly shattered Umino Kawamiya and the others' understanding.
They were extremely satisfied with such results.
But Genitsu was still forming hand seals.
"I won't let him get away, or our information will be exposed..."
Genitsu was planning to activate all of the radiation and cripple that man's body. In theory, there should still have been time.
But his movements suddenly paused.
"Ah, looks like there's no need. Teacher Shibi finally stopped standing around and watching."
In Genitsu's perception, a huge swarm of insects suddenly burst through the ground and devoured the fleeing Rock ninja completely.
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