Rescue Operation, IX
"Hey kid, you dodged fast! Why aren't you as energetic as before? Weren't you so smug? My shoulder hurts!"
Araki laughed out loud, a sinister laugh that was particularly eerie in the dark night, like the cry of a vengeful ghost, as if to snatch souls and claim lives. His long sword slashed down continuously, one strike after another, while arcs of lightning as thick as a little finger twisted wildly, dancing like silver snakes.
"Dry!"
Katsuki clenched his teeth and swiftly swung his short sword to intercept Araki's attacks. Every strike from Araki was aimed at his vital points, and Kanzuki had to be extremely vigilant to barely withstand Araki's attacks.
Even so, the number of small wounds on his body was gradually increasing. Araki was a genuine Jonin, and his strength was undeniable. Especially now that Araki was serious, just smelling the faint stench of burning flesh in the air, he was probably using every ounce of his strength.
It's understandable, after all, he was stabbed by Katsuki, leaving such a large, gruesome wound on his shoulder. The tearing pain constantly assaulted his nerves, reminding him of the great loss he had suffered. It wasn't just the physical pain; the shame and anger in his heart also filled him with the urge to kill and destroy the evidence.
I was stabbed by a little guy, well, a kid who looks only twelve? Thirteen? Or maybe fourteen.
This is an absolute Cloud Ninja. If this kind of news were to spread, Araki's reputation would be ruined, and he would probably never be able to hold his head up again.
So he's going to kill this little guy and all three brats here... Tsk, it just so happens that his two good-for-nothing henchmen are being beaten back by the other two brats. Judging by their appearance, they won't be out for long. So, he can wait until his two henchmen are dead before dealing with these brats.
A ruthless glint flashed in Araki's eyes. He was different from Kurokawa, that stubborn, useless piece of trash... If he died, he died.
Katsuki withstood Araki's relentless attacks, wounds appeared on her body, only to heal in an instant. Injury, healing, and the cycle repeated endlessly, like a long and unending torture.
Fortunately, the night was dark, the blood had dried and congealed on the skin, and the flickering lightning provided limited brightness, so Araki did not notice the changes in Katsuki's body. Otherwise, he would have risked his life to kill Katsuki immediately.
"I hate you barbarians who rolled down from the mountains. You bunch of scum should go back up in the mountains and gnaw on rocks."
Otoha cursed the Cloud Ninja he was fighting, his eyes bloodshot, the black Tomoe moving nimbly, his katana flashing like the wind, pressing closer and closer to the Cloud Ninja opposite him.
His strength had already reached the threshold of Chunin level before, and after awakening his Sharingan, his strength soared to a new level. Now he is definitely at the Chunin level, and with the enhancement of the Sharingan, he is an elite among Chunin.
This is the Kekkei Genkai that inspires envy and jealousy.
Compared to ordinary ninjas, their advantages are simply too great. Unless one is a peerless genius like Minato, it is virtually impossible to compete with Kekkei Genkai clan. Every improvement in the strength of Kekkei Genkai user is a qualitative leap.
Otherwise, the Land of Lightning wouldn't have gone to such lengths to scheme against the Kekkei Genkai of various countries, and the Land of Water would reject bloodline users for the same reason. Although cultivating Kekkei Genkai is quite difficult, once awakened or advanced, the strength of a bloodline user will leap to a new level, surpassing the normal pattern of becoming stronger. That would be enough to make most ordinary people feel depressed and have a heart attack!
Jealousy is humanity's original sin, a source of destruction or possessiveness.
The attitudes of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water towards Bloodline Limiters are manifestations of two forms of jealousy: one desperately plots to seize various Kekkei Genkai, while the other raises its sword against its own Kekkei Genkai clan.
"Minato, get ready for something big."
Otoha shouted loudly, unafraid that the Cloud Ninja might be on guard. He and Minato currently held the advantage and were completely dominating the enemy.
"They've arrived."
Minato took a deep breath. Even he couldn't help but feel a sense of astonishment. Otoha's strength increase was like that of someone on drugs, which made him realize why Kekkei Genkai were the most powerful 'Ninjutsu' in the Shinobi World. It was practically cheating.
Before this, when Otoha hadn't awakened his Sharingan, his strength, while decent, was still a step below his. But now that he had, wow, he looked like a peak elite Chunin, even surpassing him...
With light and agile steps, he forced the Cloud Ninja to retreat step by step, the sharp blades creating slits of varying depths on the Cloud Ninja's longsword.
"Get over here."
The Kunai thrust out, and although the Cloud Ninja hurriedly raised his long sword to Kunai, he lost his balance in the rush and staggered back several steps. Before he knew it, he was next to another Cloud Ninja.
Then Minato backed away and stood with Otoha.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough"
This wasn't the first time the two had worked together. A huge, orange-red fireball shot out, followed by a howling gale that more than doubled the seven-meter-diameter fireball to an eighteen-meter-diameter one. Perhaps this thing was no longer just a fireball; it was a torrent of orange-red flames.
The fiery current covered such a vast area that towering trees collapsed amidst the scorching flames. The fiery current was not only terrifyingly hot; driven by strong winds, it swept across everything in its path with immense force.
"Ah!"
"Lord Araki, save..."
Lightning crackled beneath their feet as the two Cloud Ninja screamed for help. Faced with this exaggerated torrent of flames, they were like little sparrows caught in a storm, unable to return to their nests, swallowed up by the fiery current. Their cries for help abruptly ceased, and in an instant, two vibrant lives vanished from the world.
The only things they left behind were two molten, shapeless lumps of metal.
"Let's go help Katsuki."
After scanning the area with his Sharingan and confirming the deaths of the two men, Otoha touched the ground with his toes, twisted his body, and headed towards the place where Katsuki and Araki had fought. However, as soon as his feet left the ground, a black shadow swept past him and he was thrown away.
"Damn it, Minato, wait for me!" Muttering to himself, Otoha chased after Minato's figure.
Araki was closely monitoring the battle between Minato and Otoha.
Once his two Cloud Ninja dead, Araki revealed a sinister smile. He slashed out with his sword, and thick arcs of lightning leaped wildly across its blade, forcing Katsuki to take two steps back.
"Lightning Release: Electric Snake"