Hado #90: Black Coffin!

Hado #90: Black Coffin!

An unfathomable speed!

Unblockable fists!

Youth as fervent and scorching as flames!

The blazing heat unleashed by the surging Morning Peacock had forcibly and completely evaporated the lake Suikazan Fuguki had formed with Great Dam Whoosh.

"This!!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were utterly dumbfounded by the sight before them. Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki, who had yet to be injured, immediately leaped aside.

But the brothers Munashi Jinpachi and Jinin Akebino were not so fortunate.

Unable to dodge in time, the two were struck directly by Morning Peacock. Under that terrifying heat and assault, their bodies seemed to suffer some incomparably dreadful impact before exploding with a thunderous blast.

Countless trees behind them were destroyed along with them.

"What terrifying power. Is that guy a monster?!"

"Munashi Jinpachi and Jinin Akebino are gone too. At this rate... Wait, that guy is... Yuki Yoru?"

Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki exchanged grim words. Seeming to notice something, Suikazan Fuguki's expression suddenly became extremely strange as he stared directly at Yoru, who had been exposed before everyone.

"It's definitely that brat under Kushimaru Kuriarare. Why is he here?"

Raiga Kurosuki was equally puzzled, but then seemed to realize something and abruptly widened his eyes. "Wait, could that battle in the east just now have been this kid?!"

"Now that you mention it, it really was this kid's Chakra!"

Though saying so felt like boosting the enemy's morale while diminishing their own, even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had to acknowledge the excellence and strength of this ANBU Blade of the Bloody Mist before them.

There was no question that this youth was not inferior to them in the slightest. In fact, because of that peculiar technique, even the seven of them did not want to face him.

"Reinforcements, huh."

Aside from Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki, Might Duy, who had just unleashed Morning Peacock, naturally noticed Yoru as well.

His condition was not particularly good either. Keeping the Gate of View open for so long, coupled with the outburst of Morning Peacock, had placed an enormous burden on his body.

"I didn't expect Kirigakure's reinforcements to arrive so quickly... No, I have to finish them off, or Gai and the others will definitely be in danger!"

Might Duy drew a deep breath and clenched his teeth. "I have to let Gai live."

"He is my son, the continuation of my youth, my..."

"Hope!"

The blue flames surrounding Might Duy rose once more. In an instant, his figure charged toward Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki!

Clearly.

In Might Duy's eyes, compared to the suddenly appearing Kirigakure ANBU reinforcements ahead, the Ninja Swordsmen renowned throughout the Ninja World were far more worthy of attention.

"Damn it!"

Watching that blue beast charge at them, Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki's expressions changed drastically as they hurriedly raised their ninja swords to defend themselves.

Yoru, who had not been targeted, also let out a breath of relief.

[An S-rank target, "Might Duy," has been detected. A side quest has been triggered.]

Quest (1): Successfully recruit Might Duy. Reward: 50,000 Points.

Quest (2): Successfully defeat Might Duy. Reward: 20,000 Points.

Quest (3): Successfully kill Might Duy. Reward: 100,000 Points.

"How much?!"

One hundred thousand Points for killing him?!

The system's quest notification had already sounded. As expected of the Father of Youth—how could a mere Genin offer such an absurdly high Points reward?!

The appearance of this quest immediately dispelled Yoru's thoughts of retreating. Damn, that was one hundred thousand Points! How many Jonin would he have to painstakingly kill to scrape together that much?!

Yoru swallowed, his throat slightly dry.

But high rewards were one thing; facing a blue monster who had opened the seven gates placed enormous pressure even on Yoru.

Besides, since the other side had not considered him an enemy first, he might as well let their esteemed Ninja Swordsmen hold out for a while.

"Twin Swords: Hiramekarei, Kabutowari... and Exploding Blade Shibuki."

Scanning the area, Yoru quickly found two ninja swords that had fallen into the bushes. However, he only found Jinin Akebino's remains, not Munashi Jinpachi's body.

Under that Morning Peacock attack just now, the owner of Exploding Blade Shibuki had already become true spray, thoroughly blending into the surrounding environment.

"Hey, brat!"

Pipa Juzo, leaning against a tree stump, called out in a low voice, making Yoru raise his head slightly.

[An allied B-rank target, "Pipa Juzo," has been detected. A side quest has been triggered.]

Task (1): Rescue Pipa Juzo and bring him back to Kirigakure; Reward: 5000 Points!

Pipa Juzo's chest was slightly caved in, and his entire left arm hung limply at his side. It was clearly shattered beyond repair, leaving only his right arm still able to move.

Yet he did not ask Yoru for help. Instead, he directly tossed the battered Kubikiribōchō in his hand before Yoru.

"Take the ninja blades and retreat. Leave Samehada and the Lightning Blade in Konohagakure for now!"

"What?"

Yoru caught the shattered Kubikiribōchō. This blade could absorb the iron in an enemy's blood to repair itself; even though it had been broken beyond recognition, it could still recover.

But what surprised Yoru was that Pipa Juzo actually wanted him to take the ninja blades and retreat, rather than support or rescue them.

"No matter the circumstances, maximize the benefits. That is the creed of our Village Hidden in the Mist. My injuries will only drag you down. Against a monster of that caliber, your best choice is to bring these five ninja blades back."

Pipa Juzo said calmly, "Otherwise, Kirigakure may permanently lose the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"

For those raised in the Village Hidden in the Mist, their lives had never been the top priority.

Take Kisame Hoshigaki, for example.

Kisame Hoshigaki had once killed his comrades for the intelligence of the village he loved, and he had also given his life for Akatsuki's intelligence.

The Pipa Juzo before him had clearly inherited that same will!

"Though I really do want to turn around and leave, I'm still a member of Kirigakure, after all."

"What?"

Pipa Juzo frowned.

"If Kirigakure loses combat power like the Seven Ninja Swordsmen before the war has fully erupted, the loss would be far too great."

Yoru tossed the Kubikiribōchō in his hand back to Pipa Juzo.

He looked toward Might Duy, who was suppressing two Ninja Swordsmen but whose body was already visibly trembling, and assessed both sides' condition.

If he had enough time to unleash his ultimate... it might not be impossible to fight.

"I hope the two Ninja Swordsmen can hold on a little longer."

Yoru murmured, and an inexplicable chant suddenly flowed from his lips.

"Faintly revealed, a murky crest; unyielding and arrogant talent..."

"Ninja Art: Lightning Armor! Lightning Blade Art: Falling Lightning!"

"Suiton: Great Shark Bomb Technique!"

"Morning Peacock!!"

In the distance, another clash of ultimate techniques erupted. Suikazan Fuguki and Raiga Kurosuki were violently blasted away, their fates unknown, while Samehada and the Lightning Blade flew from their hands and fell to the ground.

But Might Duy was in no better condition.

After unleashing Morning Peacock twice in succession, his muscles had begun to tear apart continuously under the berserk Chakra. Yet as his own Chakra surged forth, those torn muscles were forcibly kneaded back together, continuing to support him.

The pain was unimaginable, like having his entire body constantly torn apart and then crushed back together!

Under such circumstances, Might Duy panted heavily. Even the blue flames around his body had begun to flicker.

Yet even so, when Might Duy turned his gaze toward Yoru, Pipa Juzo, sprawled on the ground, could only reveal a helpless bitter smile.

"Well, now Kirigakure won't just lose the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist completely. It'll also lose a rising star."

"Lord Pipa Juzo, everyone says you are a man filled with ambition and iron-blooded resolve. Yet this battle isn't over, and you've already lost all fighting spirit. That hardly seems like the attitude someone born in the Village Hidden in the Mist should have."

"And you should have heard of it."

Yoru took a deep breath. Meeting Might Duy's gaze, he raised his hand under Pipa Juzo's stunned stare and suddenly clenched it!

"I'm very strong!"

"Hado #90!"

"Black Coffin!"