Confrontation

Tejima Shinichi, already nearing Ishikawa Village, abruptly stopped.

On the open ground several hundred meters ahead, near the village entrance, a dozen or so corpses lay scattered in every direction. They were the bandits—the target of this mission.

The stench of blood was nauseatingly thick.

Under the moonlight, the corpses had died gruesome deaths, nearly all killed in a single blow. Their wounds were clean and precise, clearly not something ordinary villagers—or internal conflict—could have caused.

Tejima Shinichi's pupils constricted.

In the blink of an eye, his hands were already forming seals.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!

Four Shadow Clones appeared instantly, standing back-to-back with the original as they vigilantly scanned the dead darkness around them.

"Come out!"

Tejima Shinichi's icy voice echoed through the Night Sky.

In response, five figures silently emerged from the woods and behind the rocks.

Their matching animal masks and standard ninja uniforms completely sealed off every route of escape.

Tejima Shinichi's gaze swept across the five of them.

Well-trained, tightly coordinated, and purposeful.

And... judging by the look of things, there were at least four Chunin and one Jonin...!

"Who are you?" Tejima Shinichi asked coldly again, trying to gather information. "Why are you in the Land of Fire?"

The five Masked Ninjas remained silent.

After a brief, deathly stillness, the Tanuki Mask Ninja standing at the front, apparently their Chief, finally spoke.

"Tejima Shinichi."

He called him by name directly.

"Your talent should not be wasted beneath meaningless light."

The words brought instant realization to Tejima Shinichi.

"Root...!" Tejima Shinichi's eyes turned icy in an instant, and he gave a disdainful snort. "Shimura Danzō sent you, didn't he?!"

The conflict in the Hokage's Office... that old dog truly bore a grudge. He had actually resorted to such despicable tactics!

The Tanuki Mask Ninja neither admitted nor denied it, merely continuing in that emotionless voice.

"Darkness is the soil that nurtures power. Give up resisting and come with us to where you belong."

"Where I belong?" Tejima Shinichi curled his lips in mockery. "To be branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal like you, becoming a tool that can never see the light of day!?"

His words seemed to touch a nerve in some of the Root ninjas. Their eyes flickered slightly, but they remained silent.

Without waiting for an answer, Tejima Shinichi continued coldly.

"I really don't understand. Why does that old dog Shimura Danzō keep biting down on me? Does he think I'm young and easy to control, or does he see that my parents are just ordinary ninjas without any backing and think he can knead me however he wants?"

As he spoke, his disdainful gaze continued sweeping over the five Masked Ninjas before him.

"The Hokage slapped him down right to his face, but he doesn't dare trouble the Hokage. So he can only use such lowly tactics against a Genin who just graduated? He's really gotten more pathetic with age!"

The merciless rebuke made the Tanuki Mask Ninja's gaze turn completely cold.

"Insulting Lord Danzo adds another charge to your crimes." He slowly raised a hand, and a trace of killing intent finally entered his voice. "It seems you have no intention of surrendering... Move! Capture the target. If he resists fiercely... you may cripple him as necessary!"

At the Tanuki Mask Jonin's command, the four Root Chunin instantly became four afterimages, lunging at Tejima Shinichi from different directions!

Kunai tore through the air, aimed straight for his vital points.

Four Chunin, with one Jonin holding the line.

Tejima Shinichi's expression darkened.

"You think that highly of me... Then come on!"

With that, his four Shadow Clones fearlessly rushed forward, each engaging a Root Chunin. In an instant, they were locked in battle.

The clanging of metal and the sounds of fists and feet colliding rang out in rapid succession.

Meanwhile, Tejima Shinichi's original body had already finished forming his seals!

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!"

His massive Chakra poured forth without restraint. A gigantic earth dragon, far larger than normal, roared into existence and charged straight toward the melee where the four Chunin were fighting!

"What?! That scale?!"

A Root Chunin battling a Shadow Clone turned pale in horror. He wanted to evade, but the clone had him firmly pinned down.

At that moment, the Root Jonin holding the line formed seals with both hands.

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

A thick, sturdy earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the Earth Dragon Bullet Technique's path!

The next moment, the massive earth dragon slammed fiercely into the wall!

Rumble—!!!

A deafening roar resounded through the Night Sky, like thunder exploding from the ground!

Dust and smoke surged into the sky from the impact point, while shattered rocks and dirt scattered in every direction like torrential rain!

The crash even reached nearby Ishikawa Village, and scattered lights flickered on in several homes.

Under the moonlight, as the dust gradually dispersed, the risen Earth Wall had been completely shattered.

The four Chunin behind it had been forced back by the Airwave and looked somewhat disheveled, but all remained unharmed.

The Tanuki Mask Jonin lowered his hands from the seals. For the first time, gravity appeared in his gaze beneath the mask.

"As expected... you're a monster." He slowly drew the short sword from his back. "Your Chakra reserves truly are astonishing."

He finally stopped underestimating Tejima Shinichi and personally stepped forward.

"But battles between ninjas are not decided by Chakra alone. Next, I'll show you the true gap between a Jonin and a Genin."

Tejima Shinichi felt the pressure emanating from his opponent, yet a defiant curve appeared on his face as he met the man's gaze without retreating.

"Chakra reserves? Heh... you're right. A ninja battle really isn't decided by Chakra reserves alone."

Tejima Shinichi raised his hands again. The ocean-like Chakra within him, like a giant beast awakened from slumber, surged even more violently. Astonishing energy fluctuations faintly radiated from his entire body.

"But I'd rather let you see for yourself what happens when this 'insignificant' amount of Chakra erupts completely!"

Before his words had even faded, he formed seals once more!

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Under Tejima Shinichi's immense Chakra, the power of this A-rank ninjutsu soared dramatically!

A towering flood poured from Tejima Shinichi's mouth, crashing down like a tsunami and sealing off every possible route of evasion for his enemies!

Faced with this devastating attack that nearly covered the entire area, the Tanuki Mask Jonin's pupils constricted sharply. He could no longer maintain his earlier composure.