Forbidden Secret Technique: Instant Hell Shadow Kill and One Thread Light Formation

"Then let me see just how strong your 'Shadow Warrior' really is!"

Mingxi subtly glanced towards where Kageka Maple had disappeared, muttered to herself, and immediately formed hand seals. Her undeveloped chest suddenly swelled up, like a balloon being inflated.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

As her chest slowly deflated, a scorching, massive fireball erupted from Mingxi's mouth, hurtling directly towards the Shadow Warrior!

Heatwave raging!

Blinding sight!

But facing Mingxi's Fire Release, the featureless Shadow Warrior tilted its head slightly, as if pondering, then transformed into a streak of black shadow, shooting into the sky. Under the cover of night, Mingxi momentarily lost track of it.

Suddenly, a clang rang out behind Mingxi, followed by two black katanas silently slashing towards her, instantly cutting her body into three pieces!

The 'Mingxi' that had been sliced apart exploded into a puff of white smoke. It turned out she had used the gap after performing the Great Fireball Technique to leave behind a shadow clone.

This habitual action unexpectedly allowed Mingxi to evade the Shadow Warrior's surprise, guaranteed-kill strike!

"Truly elusive!"

Mingxi's voice echoed from behind the Shadow Warrior, as a ball of flickering blue electricity danced in her palm.

"Lightning Release: Serpent Thunder!"

The blue electricity transformed into a winding, serpentine lightning bolt, rapidly striking towards the Shadow Warrior. It was so fast that it reached the Shadow Warrior's body almost instantly.

The Shadow Warrior also sensed the danger and tried to dodge, but was still struck by Mingxi's Lightning Release. Blue arcs of electricity crackled across its ink-black body. Its body seemed to suffer from the paralyzing effect of the lightning strike, rendering it unable to move for a moment.

Seeing this, Mingxi's lips curled into a slight smile. She coldly retrieved several kunai from the ninja tool pouch at her waist, and then shot them all towards the Shadow Warrior.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

But the next scene astonished Mingxi. When the kunai she fired hit the Shadow Warrior, it was as if they had struck the surface of water. They only left a slight ripple on its body before passing right through it, seemingly causing no damage at all!

"Is it immune to physical attacks?"

Mingxi, with her extraordinary combat awareness, quickly analyzed the reason. This made her somewhat relieved that she hadn't chosen to engage the Shadow Warrior in close combat earlier, or she would have suffered greatly!

"But… can you also be immune to this next move?"

Suddenly, Mingxi's right hand made a pulling motion. Between her fingers were thin, conductive metal threads that were difficult to see with the naked eye. The other ends of these threads were tied to the ends of the kunai she had just fired, and the Shadow Warrior's body had been pierced by these metal threads.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Net!"

Brilliant blue lightning erupted from Mingxi's fist, and under the guidance of the conductive metal threads, it spread out rapidly, enveloping the Shadow Warrior and subjecting it to a second lightning attack, causing the color of its ink-black body to fade significantly!

"Still not disappearing?"

Mingxi frowned slightly. After enduring the power of her two Lightning Release techniques, its body had only become slightly paler, and there seemed to be no sign of it being destroyed!

"I'd like to see how long you can last!"

Unwilling to admit defeat, Mingxi once again formed hand seals, and intense chakra gathered in her mouth.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

A beam of scorching, small dragon-shaped flames spewed from Mingxi's mouth, rushing towards the Shadow Warrior, whose body was temporarily unable to move, with astonishing heat.

Boom!

The Fire Dragon Bullet struck the Shadow Warrior, instantly igniting a raging fire that illuminated the surrounding dark environment. Because the Fire Dragon Bullet technique also had a secondary burning effect, Mingxi was now convinced that the Shadow Warrior would definitely be unable to withstand this Fire Release technique, and would be annihilated!

"Kageka Maple, come out now!"

"You've already lost!"

Mingxi slowly walked towards the place where Kageka Maple had disappeared earlier. In her scarlet eyes, two tomoe slowly spun. If what Kageka Maple had said earlier was true, then she must still be hiding somewhere in this 'shadow space'. As long as she searched slowly, she would eventually be able to find Kageka Maple's hiding place!

"Mingxi, I haven't lost yet!"

Kageka Maple's voice echoed from all directions. Immediately afterwards, the scorching light in the distance suddenly dimmed, and the surrounding environment once again plunged into the dark night.

"Shadow Warrior: Dual Blade Style: Shadow Slash!"

As Kageka Maple's voice rang out again, a black humanoid figure suddenly attacked from afar. It leaped into the air, like a figure embedded in the moon in the night sky, wielding two black shadow katanas, carrying the soft moonlight, and slashing down rapidly towards Mingxi!

"How is this possible?"

This was Mingxi's first reaction, but she had no time to think, because she knew that if she failed to block the Shadow Warrior's Shadow Slash, she might really die!

"Substitution Technique!"

Just as the Shadow Warrior's shadow katana was about to fall, Mingxi used the Substitution Technique at the last possible moment. A log replaced Mingxi's body, allowing her to narrowly escape the Shadow Warrior's Shadow Slash. The log was cut into several pieces and fell randomly to the ground.

Having used the Substitution Technique to hide, Mingxi swallowed hard when she saw this scene. If she had really failed to cast the technique due to nervousness just now, then it wouldn't have been a log lying on the ground, but her corpse!

"This guy…"

Thinking of this, Mingxi gritted her teeth. Did that Kageka Maple really want to kill her?

"And why is that Shadow Warrior still existing after suffering my Lightning Release and Fire Release attacks?"

Mingxi's mind was in chaos for a moment. The existence of that Shadow Warrior was too bizarre. Could it be that it was not only immune to physical attacks, but also immune to ninjutsu? But its previous reactions clearly showed that her ninjutsu had an effect on it! It couldn't possibly be that her ninjutsu was too weak, could it…

"Mingxi, you probably have a lot of questions. How about you admit defeat, and I'll tell you the Shadow Warrior's information, okay?"

Kageka Maple's voice rang out again, and the ubiquitous voice made Mingxi feel somewhat irritated.

"Any ninjutsu has weaknesses. I don't believe that Shadow Warrior has no weaknesses…"

Akari ignored Kageka Maple, instead calming herself down and thinking seriously.

"I didn't expect that besides that 'monster' from the Hyuga Clan, there would actually be someone of the same age who could push Akari to this extent!"

"Don't even mention Akari. Even if you personally stepped in, you probably wouldn't fare much better than Akari!"

"That's true. After all, the Shadow Release ability that Kageka Maple awakened is too bizarre. If a normal Chunin doesn't understand its characteristics, they would probably be easily taken care of!"

"Yes, not only does it have the super-strong stealth ninjutsu, Shadow Trick, but it also has the Shadow Warrior that automatically attacks enemies…"

"And that Shadow Warrior not only has physical and dual immunity to most ninjutsu, but also has special sneak attack abilities and fierce taijutsu. It itself is simply made for killing…"

Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji, who were secretly following and protecting Akari, whispered and chatted, their faces filled with apprehension towards the six-year-old Kageka Maple. If they weren't watching from an outsider's perspective, they might not have been able to see the characteristics of the Shadow Warrior and the unique super-strong stealth ability of Kageka Maple's Shadow Trick.

"What should we do if Akari is really in mortal danger next?"

Eiichi asked Shinji. The former's true strength wasn't high, and he wasn't confident that he could rescue Akari in time, so he could only ask Shinji, a clansman with Jonin strength.

"We don't need to do anything, because someone won't let Akari get hurt…"

After hearing Eiichi's words, Shinji's face showed an extremely calm expression, which puzzled the latter.

"Shinji-san, what do you mean?"

Eiichi asked with a puzzled look.

"Didn't you notice that chilling, cold aura in the distance? Like a snake…"

As Shinji spoke, his ink-black pupils turned scarlet at some point, and three tomoe slowly rotated within them, his gaze passing through layers of leaves and darkness, falling towards a certain place in the distance.

"Snake?"

Eiichi looked at Shinji and muttered a sentence, seemingly thinking of something, and immediately fell silent.

On a large tree branch not far from where Akari and Kageka Maple were fighting, a young man was lurking and hiding. He had long black hair and a pair of golden vertical pupils. His purple eyeshadow extending to the wings of his nose, coupled with his pale skin, gave people an eerie and cold feeling. This person was one of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal disciples—Orochimaru.

"That Jiraiya, clearly this was a mission given to him by Sarutobi-sensei, but he actually handed this mess over to me in order to prepare a birthday gift for Tsunade. It's really infuriating!"

"Tsunade's birthday is still several days away…"

Orochimaru tried his best to calm his mood. He also had other things to do today. If he wasn't so busy, he wouldn't mind helping Jiraiya, but that guy didn't have the attitude of 'asking for help' at all, as if helping him was a matter of course, which made Orochimaru very unhappy!

"Forget it, I must find a chance to make that Jiraiya pay the price in the future!"

Thinking this way, Orochimaru continued to pay attention to Kageka Maple and Uchiha Akari. Facing Kageka Maple's awakened Shadow Release and Uchiha Akari's Sharingan, Orochimaru was more interested in both, which was one of the reasons why he was willing to take over the mission from Jiraiya…

"A Kekkei Genkai that has never appeared in the Shinobi World—Shadow Release. Its ability is really too bizarre…"

Orochimaru's ninjutsu talent goes without saying, and his vision is not something that ordinary Jonin can compare to. For him to say such a thing is enough to show that Kageka Maple's Kekkei Genkai is extraordinary!

"I really want to study it properly…"

Licking his lips slightly, a hint of scientific desire flickered in the depths of Orochimaru's eyes.

"But Uchiha's Sharingan looks a bit unremarkable…"

Afterwards, Orochimaru muttered to himself again, but shook his head with a smile. In fact, he couldn't be so arbitrary. After all, he was facing the non-human Shadow Warrior, and Akari's Sharingan couldn't bring her enough advantage.

Compared to the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai Eye Technique, Byakugan, the Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai Eye Technique, Sharingan, is undoubtedly more inclined towards offense, and its insight will naturally be slightly inferior. This also leads to Akari being somewhat stretched when facing Kageka Maple's strange Shadow Release, and she fell into a disadvantage for a while…

"Sarutobi-sensei's original intention was to protect Kageka Maple's safety, but now it seems that the person who needs to be protected is not Kageka Maple, but Uchiha Akari…"

Thinking this way, Orochimaru had already secretly prepared to intervene. He was just as Uchiha Shinji had said, whether it was Kageka Maple or Uchiha Akari, as long as either of them was in mortal danger, he would have to take action to save them, because this was his duty as a Hokage…

After pondering for a long time, Akari finally came up with a way to deal with the Shadow Warrior. She formed hand seals, and immediately created a Lightning Release clone. Her main body then used the Substitution Technique to transform into a kunai, which was held in the hands of her Lightning Release clone.

"I'll rely on this move!"

Among the ninjutsu that Akari had learned, she could only think of one ninjutsu that might be able to restrain the Shadow Warrior. Although there was a certain possibility of failure, she could only bite the bullet and do it. After all, losing to Hyuga Yuzuru of the Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha's prestigious clans, was already the limit of her tolerance. If she couldn't even defeat Kageka Maple, a civilian ninja, then she couldn't accept this result!

Lightning Release clone Akari jumped directly from the hidden tree trunk to the ground, completely exposing her tracks.

"Akari-san, are you going to admit defeat?"

Kageka Maple's voice sounded again, making it impossible to identify her location.

"Admit defeat? How is that possible!"

Akari's eyes flashed with scarlet light, her face full of arrogance. The pride and dignity of the Uchiha would not allow her to lose to a civilian ninja!

"Since Akari-san, you are unwilling to admit defeat, then please be careful next, because I also have some difficulty grasping the next move…"

Kageka Maple spoke, her sweet voice also containing an extremely serious tone, as if she wasn't joking.

"Is that so? Then be prepared to kill me!"

Akari, on the surface, spoke coldly, but in reality, her hands in her sleeves were quietly preparing something.

"Shadow Release: Shadow Warrior: Forbidden Secret Technique: Instant Hell Shadow Kill!"

After hearing Akari's words, Kageka Maple immediately remotely controlled the Shadow Warrior to launch its strongest move.

The Shadow Warrior, not far in front of Akari, squatted down slightly, then stomped the ground with force, its body turning into a series of afterimages and began to rush around Akari. Then, at a certain moment, all the Shadow Warriors suddenly stopped. They each held a black katana, and then, with a speed as fast as teleportation, they were about to stab Akari!

Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji, who were hiding and observing in the dark, saw this and their faces suddenly showed panic. Without any reaction, they appeared at the same time and hurriedly tried to stop the Shadow Warrior's Instant Hell Shadow Kill…

At the same time, Orochimaru's pupils also shrank. If Uchiha Akari died under his nose, it would be difficult for him to explain to Sarutobi-sensei. Moreover, Uchiha Akari was one of the few geniuses in the Uchiha Clan of this generation, and she was highly anticipated by the Uchiha elders.

So, Orochimaru also immediately used the Body Flicker Technique at full power, trying to stop the Shadow Warrior before its attack arrived!

Whether it was Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji, or Orochimaru, they all underestimated the Shadow Warrior's attack speed. The Shadow Warrior had already completed its Forbidden Secret Technique: Instant Hell Shadow Kill when they appeared!

Countless black katanas were held by real and fake Shadow Warriors, piercing through Akari's body in a shocking manner!

"Is this the Shadow Warrior's strongest move?"

Akari's body appeared unscathed at this time, but all the chakra in her body was taken out by the Shadow Warrior, and her body's various organs also suffered varying degrees of damage. If this were truly her real body, she would probably be dead!

"Akari!"

Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji shouted hoarsely after seeing this scene. Their two pairs of scarlet eyes flickered with eerie light, and waves of cold chakra emanated from their bodies. Violent, angry emotions were blatantly revealed on their faces. If anything really happened to Akari, they would make Kageka Maple pay with her life!

Even with Orochimaru, the Hokage's disciple, present, they couldn't be stopped!

"This is troublesome!"

When Orochimaru saw Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji in this state, he felt a headache and trouble, and also some self-blame. After all, he never expected that even with his elite Jonin strength, he couldn't save Akari…

"I'd better notify Teacher Hiruzen quickly…"

Thinking this, Orochimaru immediately quietly performed the Summoning Technique, sending a communication snake to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But at this moment, Akari's body, which had been pierced by the Shadow Warrior, suddenly exploded, turning into a mass of non-physical blue electricity, and then spread out arbitrarily.

"Lightning Clone?"

Uchiha Eiichi, Uchiha Shinji, Orochimaru, and Kageka Maple, who was hiding in the 'shadow space,' all exclaimed in shock. They never thought that Akari, who had already used the Shadow Clone Technique once and several other ninjutsu, would still have extra chakra to create a Lightning Clone.

"One Thread Light Formation!"

The instant Akari's Lightning Clone exploded, a kunai suddenly shot out from her body, then landed near the Shadow Warrior's feet, and instantly completed the Transformation Technique and One Thread Light Formation!

Akari, who returned to her original form from the kunai state, directly used the One Thread Light Formation to imprison the Shadow Warrior's movements, preventing it from moving a single step!

"Success!"

Akari's face lit up with joy when she saw the Shadow Warrior's reaction. She didn't expect that the basic sealing ninjutsu she had learned when she was bored could actually imprison the Shadow Warrior's body.

"Kageka Maple, you lost!"

At this moment, Akari, who had imprisoned the Shadow Warrior's body, shouted to the surroundings, venting her emotions as a victor. She didn't expect that she would have such a difficult fight against Kageka Maple.

Seeing Akari's appearance, Uchiha Eiichi and Uchiha Shinji exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of helplessness on each other's faces. They were supposed to be elites of the Uchiha Clan, but they didn't see through Akari's Lightning Clone.

Orochimaru suddenly covered his face with his hand, hiding the embarrassment on his face. He, an elite Jonin, was also tricked by this little girl. If Jiraiya, that idiot, found out, wouldn't he be ridiculed like crazy?

Kageka Maple, who was hiding in the 'shadow space,' tried to control the Shadow Warrior to break free from the One Thread Light Formation's imprisonment, but the Shadow Warrior, after expending a large amount of chakra to use Instant Hell Shadow Kill, had no ability to break free. Therefore, Kageka Maple could only helplessly emerge from the 'shadow space.'

"Your position…"

Akari looked at the suddenly appearing Kageka Maple in astonishment, and was momentarily speechless, but her face was instantly filled with anger.

"You actually tricked me!"

An angry voice came from Akari's mouth, and her pair of scarlet eyes actually contained tears for the first time. She had never been tricked like this before, and the most important thing was that she actually believed it!

"A ninja's information can't really be told to the enemy so easily, right?"

"Akari, don't you think that's the way it is?"

Kageka Maple looked at Uchiha Akari, and a fake smile suddenly appeared on her sweet face, making the latter grit her teeth even more. She couldn't wait to directly beat the hateful, annoying face in front of her into a pig's head!

"Hmph!"

Akari snorted coldly, then punched the Shadow Warrior's head next to her. The terrifying force instantly shattered the Shadow Warrior's head, turning it into the original 'black substance' that flowed on the ground like a liquid. Then, under Kageka Maple's control, the 'black substance' flowing on the ground and the Shadow Warrior's remains were all taken back into her body. The little chakra remaining in the Shadow Warrior's remains also returned to Kageka Maple's body…

"Akari is indeed a genius of the Uchiha Clan. I lost this time. I hope to have the opportunity to fight Akari again next time…"

Kageka Maple spoke to Akari with a fake smile, and that tone made the latter a little furious. This guy was as annoying as Hyuga Yuzuru now!

"Alright Akari, we should go back."

Uchiha Shinji suddenly came to Akari's side and spoke to her.

Seeing this, Akari glared at Kageka Maple angrily, then nodded and left with Uchiha Shinji. As for Uchiha Eiichi, he politely gestured to Orochimaru before immediately following.

"Kageka Maple, is it? You really have an enviable Kekkei Genkai!"

Orochimaru's gaze left the backs of the departing Uchiha trio, then fell on Kageka Maple, and said to her in a hoarse voice, a hint of probing light flashing in his golden snake eyes.

"Lord Orochimaru."

As a disciple of the Hokage, Kageka Maple had heard of Orochimaru, so she immediately spoke politely to Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru, is there something you need here?"

Kageka Maple asked, feeling a sense of unease from Orochimaru's gaze.

"Originally there was something, but now it's gone."

Orochimaru said.

"Lord Orochimaru, then… I'll leave first?"

Kageka Maple couldn't bear Orochimaru's snake-like gaze, so she immediately said this.

"...Okay."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Hearing this, Kageka Maple left quickly, which made Orochimaru frown slightly. Did he look that scary?

After a long while.

A figure flashed quickly from a distance, it was the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. As soon as he arrived in the Forest of Death, he saw Orochimaru standing in the open space and hurriedly asked, "How was the matter handled?"

Orochimaru glanced at his teacher, then said indifferently, "Uh... fine."

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