The End of Lust

After friendly negotiations between the two, the murderer was ultimately identified as Kakuzu.

Well, as the leader of the Integration Movement, isn't attacking the Daimyo's army exactly what he's supposed to do?

That makes perfect sense.

As for how to transport the surviving civilians to Konoha, that was also quite simple.

Don't forget, there is another person in Konoha who is deeply trusted by Kazashiro, and is the first and only person who knows about the existence of the Integration Movement and provides convenience for the organization's operations.

That's right, Uchiha Obito.

Kazashiro only needs to write a letter to Kakuzu, and the rest will naturally be taken care of by him.

However, this operation will only be able to save a dozen or so people.

To save the entire Land of Rice, I'll need to make good use of my wisdom...

Soon, Kazashiro came up with a good idea.

For the sake of the common people of the Land of Rice, kill the daimyo of the Land of Rice.

Kazashiro is seriously considering whether this is feasible.

After all, in this country, there seems to be nothing that can be considered a threat.

After stretching his wrists, Kazashiro, with the idea of going to the Daimyo's Mansion to spy on the military equipment around Daming, left his hiding place.

Then he saw a signal flare soaring into the sky and exploding in the distance.

Because it was daytime, the sparks from the explosion were not very noticeable, but he still recognized it as a signal flare from Konoha.

Outside the Ōtsutsuki Ruins, Sarutobi Shin was crouching behind a boulder that could barely serve as cover. Beside him, Shimura Yoichi wildly imaginative mind, lay Fudō on the ground.

Outside the bunker, Aburame Shingen lay prone on the ground, the blood gushing from his wounds threatening to spread to his side.

Shimura Myo curled up, covering the wound on her arm with her hand, not daring to make a sound.

As the youngest Jonin in the team, she had used all her strength to launch the signal flare into the air; the battle that followed was no longer her concern.

An arrow pierced a hole in the boulder, the arrow that pierced it almost grazing Sarutobi Shin's cheek.

The unseen enemy is probing my location!

Realizing this, Sarutobi Shin gritted his teeth and looked at Shimura Myo, who had already lost the ability to fight. He knew that as the squad leader, he had to do something at this moment.

At the very least, we must preserve a young spark for the team.

With that in mind, Sarutobi Shin no longer hesitated. He summoned Shadow Clone, first letting the opponent jump out from behind cover, and then he followed closely behind. Together, they rushed towards another, smaller rock.

The Shadow Clone was struck by an arrow the instant it leaped out, turning into smoke and disappearing.

Sarutobi Shin's main body was shot through the left leg just a second before he could take cover in the new bunker.

"Damn, that's fast!"

Sarutobi Shin was somewhat desperate. Was this speed at which a bow could be drawn?

Unexpectedly, after fighting on the border for more than 20 years, I died in a rescue mission.

The four of them were a hastily assembled squad, their only commonality being that they all served in border troops near the Land of Rice.

Konoha and Iwagakure, two countries close to the Land of Rice, simultaneously received letters from Kumogakure requesting assistance. They were asked to travel to the newly discovered Ōtsutsuki Ruins in the Land of Rice to search for traces of a force of more than forty people.

After entering the Land of Rice, this unit lost contact with the Kumogakure.

Before setting off, the group complained about the higher-ups making a mountain out of a molehill, arguing that a mission of this caliber shouldn't warrant sending four Jonin together.

It now appears that the higher-ups were too conservative.

Even the Hokage would likely not be able to escape unscathed in such a sudden attack.

A kilometer away, Rastak drew his bowstring, preparing to deliver the final blow to Sarutobi Shin.

"How boring. These ninjas are just fragile toys that break at the slightest touch."

Laste's Byakugan revealed the scene behind the rock long ago; her recent adjustment of the shot was merely a ploy to add some suspense and leave the opponent with a glimmer of hope.

"The one you shot in me not long ago?"

Just as Raste was about to let go of her hand, Kazashiro's voice sounded behind her.

Impossible!

Only when the voice rang out did Raste see Kazashiro's figure behind her through her Byakugan.

In other words, the other party spotted her location almost instantly and appeared behind her.

This is such a terrifying speed, so fast that even Byakugan wouldn't be able to detect it.

The last person to surprise her this much was Obito, who possessed Kamui.

Surprised as she was, Raste twisted her upper body and shot the arrow in her hand at Kazashiro.

Kazashiro mobilized Natural Energy and suddenly threw a punch.

This punch shattered the arrow created by Yin-Yang Release, and also sliced off part of the flesh from Rast's waist.

"Hmm..."

Despite the pain, Raste drew two more arrows, nocked them on the bowstring as quickly as possible, and fired them.

Kazashiro stepped forward and, just as the opponent nocked the arrow, rushed to Laste's side. After dodging the arrow's attack by turning his head, he kicked the opponent out of the towering hiding place.

The force contained in that kick shattered Raste's pelvis.

If she weren't Artificial Human created from Ōtsutsuki cells, she would probably have been split in two long ago, becoming Rastra.

The shattered bones began to heal automatically. Although Lust didn't understand why this kid had become so fierce in the past year, her instincts told her that the kid in front of her was dangerous.

"Immortal Technique: White Rage Technique!"

Seeing that Raste was about to draw her bow and shoot an arrow, Kazashiro used the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave.

The white light and vibrations made it impossible for Raste to maintain her posture, and she could only let the technique shake her body.

Kazashiro, relying on his control over Natural Energy, ignored the effects of the White Rage Technique and quickly approached Last, who was performing a freefall.

"You wretched brat!"

Lass, whose expression was always calm, could no longer control her emotions. Instinctively, she planted her longbow into the rock wall beside her to control her descent speed.

"Immortal Technique: Inorganic Reincarnation!"

Kazashiro formed hand seals in the air, manipulating the rock wall where Rast was perched to transform into sharp spikes, which pierced towards the opponent.

Just as the White Rage Technique dissipated, Rast had no time to react before being blasted away by the solid rock and falling downwards once more.

Seeing this, Laste stopped defending herself. Blood was flowing from her mouth, nose and eyes, and all she wanted to do at this moment was kill Kazashiro.

Five beads in a row.

Five arrows were shot at the same spot, each aimed directly at Kazashiro's face.

Even if this brat is incredibly powerful, he can't possibly dodge five consecutive attacks.

Luster gave a bitter smile; in the end, she had still secured victory in this contest.

A flash of light appeared.

Before Lest could see what was happening, everything went dark.

In a mere instant, Kazashiro unleashed eight slashes.

Imbued with Wind Release Chakra and Natural Energy, White Fang not only severed the incoming arrows but also blinded Rast's Byakugan.

Blood flowed from her eyes, and feeling the warm touch on her face, along with the belated, intense pain in her eyes, Last belatedly realized that her eyes had been ruined.

Why? I should be faster than him.

But why was the result so unexpected?

Raste couldn't understand how the guy whose legs she had once shot off could defeat her with such swift and decisive methods.

Having witnessed Slos's death firsthand, she had some expectation that Kazashiro would be able to kill her.

According to her plan, the two sides would go through a series of fierce battles no less intense than those fought by Slos, and she would be forced to admit defeat when she had no other options.

However, the reality was completely different from what was expected.

Spacetime rift, yes, she still has a spacetime rift she can use--

Rasto mobilized his Chakra and forcefully swung his right hand.

The spacetime rift did not open.

Her arm flew off.

So that's how it is. Is it over already?

Lass opened her mouth, and her head detached from her neck, finally landing in Kazashiro's hand.

"Immortal Technique: Inorganic Reincarnation"

The earth rises, stops at a certain height, and allows the Kazashiro to land steadily on it.

As for Rust's headless body, it continued to fall, finally landing with a loud thud, firmly embedded in the ground.

"It's over, you despicable villain who only knows how to stab people in the back."

Lifting Rast's hair, Kazashiro took one last look at the guy who had once embarrassed him, and disdainfully put him into the sealing scroll.

Well, there are two survivors left in Konoha. Let's make contact with them.

Sarutobi Shin and Shimura Myo were unaware of what was happening outside.

The oppressive atmosphere emanating from Raste was too intense, and the battle was taking place a kilometer away from them, so they didn't dare to peek out until the battle was over, only wondering why the archer hadn't delivered the final blow.

Because they were too tense, they didn't hear the sound of Kazashiro changing the terrain when he used his Senjutsu.

Shimura Myo was hesitating whether to risk her life to gather information for Sarutobi Shin when a figure suddenly appeared before her, causing her to instinctively swing her intact arm to attack the other party.

"Calm down, I'm not the enemy."

Kazashiro easily blocked Shimura Myo's attack and began to heal her.

"You, you are the Fifth Generation?"

Upon seeing Kazashiro's appearance, Shimura Myo was taken aback for a moment, then immediately tried to push him away. "No, you must leave! It's dangerous here!"

Her voice drew the attention of Sarutobi Shin, who also noticed Kazashiro's arrival. In a moment of panic, ignoring his severe leg injury, he shouted as he crawled out, "Be careful, Fifth Generation!"

"Alright, alright, don't be nervous, the enemy has been eliminated."

While Kazashiro found their behavior amusing, he also felt a touch of emotion.

They all made this choice to protect their own safety.

"Eliminated?"

Sarutobi Shin found it hard to believe.

How long had the arrows stopped before the Fifth Generation annihilated the enemy, instead of simply routing them?

Shimura Myo's mouth dropped open.

She Kazashiro were students in the same class, but the gap between them was as wide as if they were separated by hundreds of years.

"Alright, take a break. You're called Sarutobi Shin, right? Tell me what happened in detail."

After healing their wounds, Kazashiro began to ask what had happened in Konoha during this time.