Consuming Chakra with Human Lives

As Uchiha Shisui withdrew, the formation of the Kirigakure Shinobi immediately became more orderly and unified. Without the need to divide their attention to defend against Uchiha Shisui's genjutsu and sudden dashes, they could focus all their attention on Hyuga Ritsu.

The next moment, The well-trained Kirigakure Shinobi split into two groups. The front group simultaneously threw shuriken, kunai, and poisoned senbon, which rained down on Hyuga Ritsu from all directions like a storm.

At the same time, The rear group quickly formed hand seals, gathered chakra, and prepared to unleash ninjutsu attacks.

In fact, Ninja battles do not begin with an exchange of ninjutsu and genjutsu upon first sight.

Taijutsu is the most commonly used combat method in ninja battles. The reason is simple: the vast majority of ninjas struggle with insufficient chakra throughout their lives.

For Chunin and Genin, releasing three to five low-level ninjutsu often depletes their chakra. If they cannot kill their opponents with these three to five low-level ninjutsu, they are doomed once their chakra is exhausted.

However, if they fight using taijutsu, they can battle for hours without issue.

Not to mention Chunin and Genin, even Jonin rarely expend chakra recklessly to use ninjutsu in battle. They use ninjutsu cautiously, and enemies that can be dealt with using taijutsu will never have their chakra wasted on ninjutsu.

But circumstances always dictate adaptation; battles have no fixed rules. Not easily using ninjutsu attacks is merely a customary practice, not an unshakeable decree.

At this very moment, The Kirigakure Shinobi held an overwhelming numerical advantage.

Even if their chakra was depleted, they would still have comrades protecting them. So why risk close-quarters combat with Hyuga Ritsu, who excelled at taijutsu? Annihilating him with ninjutsu was the proper course of action. Lord Suikazan Fuguki had not issued any orders for capture.

[Water Release: Water Shark Bomb]

[Water Release: Water Shark Bomb]

[Water Release: Water Shark Bomb]

The Kirigakure Shinobi unleashed the same C-rank Water Release Technique. Lifelike water sharks were spat out by the Kirigakure Shinobi, shooting towards Hyuga Ritsu like cannonballs.

"Just in time!"

Easily swatting away all the shuriken, kunai, and senbon, Hyuga Ritsu was unhurried. Prepared, he instantly adopted a stance, and chakra erupted from the acupoints throughout his body in an orderly fashion, propelling him to spin at high speed like a top.

A hemispherical barrier, composed entirely of rapidly spinning chakra, instantly took shape and expanded outwards at an extremely fast pace.

[Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven]

The absolute defense technique of the Hyuga Clan.

All the water sharks that collided with Revolving Heaven were smashed to pieces without exception, turning into masses of water that splashed onto the surrounding Kirigakure Shinobi. Moreover, the expansion speed of Revolving Heaven was astonishingly fast. Over ten Kirigakure Shinobi in the front ranks realized something was wrong and tried to retreat, but it was too late.

Only three Jonin, with their agile movements, used the Body Flicker Technique to withdraw in time. The remaining nine Chunin, unable to dodge, were directly hit by Revolving Heaven. All nine were disfigured, their flesh and blood mangled, flung outwards like nine lumps of rotten meat.

Defense and counterattack, This was the true essence of Revolving Heaven!

"Beautiful!"

Uchiha Shisui's peripheral vision caught sight of this scene, and he praised it sincerely. However, this inevitably angered Hozuki Mangetsu, who was currently fighting him.

Fighting him while also looking around—this was clearly underestimating him.

But the anger had barely ignited before it extinguished itself.

Sigh!

If he's underestimating me, so be it!

I can't defeat him anyway. Right now, I'm just barely holding him off. As long as I can keep Uchiha Shisui occupied, this contribution alone is enough to brag about.

On the other side, After using Revolving Heaven for a defensive counterattack and killing nine Kirigakure Shinobi, Hyuga Ritsu stood in the crater created by Revolving Heaven. He glanced at the Kirigakure Shinobi, whose formation was clearly in disarray, and then at Suikazan Fuguki, who still showed no intention of entering the fray.

"Are you planning to use lives to deplete my chakra? How truly cruel!"

Hyuga Ritsu chuckled lightly.

The next instant, A lightning-fast barrage of attacks followed.

[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]

If Suikazan Fuguki wanted to use his subordinates' lives to deplete his chakra, then so be it. He didn't mind exchanging his own chakra for the lives of these Kirigakure Shinobi.

Streams of pressure cannons, a mixture of chakra and air, shot towards the Kirigakure Shinobi, throwing the already disorganized shinobi into utter chaos.

After unleashing twelve consecutive palms, the chakra he had refined and transported to his arm meridians was depleted, forcing him to stop and re-refine and transport chakra.

And this round of consecutive attacks, Killed five Kirigakure Shinobi, injured three, and forced the remaining shinobi to flee in all directions. Their original formation was torn apart and scattered.

Hyuga Ritsu seized this opportunity, not allowing them to create distance to unleash ninjutsu attacks again. He shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow, rapidly darting into the midst of the Kirigakure Shinobi.

[Ten Finger Bullet]

Facing the Kirigakure Shinobi holding a sword and ready to fight, Hyuga Ritsu raised both hands, pointing the tips of his fingers at the Kirigakure Shinobi to his left and right, shooting out ten finger bones from his fingertips, five on each side.

Two screams echoed.

The two Kirigakure Shinobi, who hadn't expected this sudden attack, had their chests pierced by the impact-filled finger bones, instantly losing their lives.

The Kirigakure Shinobi in front seized this opportunity, thrusting the long sword in his hand fiercely towards Hyuga Ritsu's chest, but two rows of white bones emerged on Hyuga Ritsu's chest, blocking the sharp and deadly blade.

Immediately after, Hyuga Ritsu swung his palm and struck fiercely. White bones suddenly extended from his palm and directly pierced the left eye of the Kirigakure Shinobi in front of him. Accompanied by a short, intense howl, this Kirigakure Shinobi also fell silent instantly.

"Fall back! Fall back!"

The Jonin roared.

"Create distance and use ninjutsu."

"Don't get close and die!"

"Rally around the nearest Jonin."

Driven by the commands, the somewhat flustered Kirigakure Shinobi began to act according to orders, attempting to move towards the Jonin.

But Hyuga Ritsu pursued closely.

Chakra erupted from his feet, his movement speed suddenly surged, and the sharp white bones extending from his palms easily slit the throats of two Chunin, then shot directly towards the Jonin in front.

The Jonin on the opposite side reacted quickly, raising his long sword to block. But before the blade and bones collided, the bones suddenly retracted, and the long sword missed. Hyuga Ritsu then smoothly closed the distance to the Jonin.

He pushed his left palm straight towards the Jonin's chest. But this Jonin was no pushover and reacted quickly, decisively pulling back his left arm and holding it horizontally in front of his chest, prepared to sacrifice his left hand to grab the white bones emerging from Hyuga Ritsu's palm.

However--

No white bones emerged from Hyuga Ritsu's palm. Instead, a powerful lion's head, constructed from densely packed Chakra, coiled around it. This was--[Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist].

His left palm, entwined with a cyan lion's head, heavily struck the Jonin's left arm held horizontally in front of his chest. With a crack, the Jonin's left arm bone was broken, and the broken arm was pressed heavily against his chest. The clothing on the same spot on his back ripped open with a shredding sound.

The opponent spat out a mouthful of blood, dyeing Hyuga Ritsu's plain white clothes red. His body fell heavily backward, completely silent.