Once the Flame Bullet lit up the mine, the Urami brothers were stunned to discover that the ones who had wiped out their entire force were actually just two half-grown children.
Given the intensity of Kirigakure's current infighting, it was normal for twelve-year-olds to take to the battlefield, but... none of them were this strong!
Weren't children from other ninja villages supposed to be weaker, lacking combat experience and having never seen a real war?
Seeing Akaseki summon Three Platforms Messenger · Tanuki Treasure, Urami Kiriota's heart sank even further...
But Akaseki ignored his questions entirely. The Three Platforms Messenger swung his scythe, and several blades formed out of thin air, hurtling toward the four Hidden Mist ninja present.
"Aah!"
All four cried out.
Partly because they had been startled, and partly because... getting hit really did hurt.
Yet a moment later, they realized that, at the very least, no blood or flesh had gone flying. Neither the special Water Style chakra sticking them in place nor the stone pillars formed from Earth Style chakra had been cut apart.
The only change was...
"With just one strike..." Kiriota's expression froze.
He could already feel that the slash had taken away his chakra!
He was a full-fledged Chunin, and his chakra reserves had barely been depleted, yet a single strike had stripped them clean.
This time, there was no doubt that it was a genuine Sealing Technique targeting their chakra.
Without a Sealing Technique, they would never have considered taking prisoners in the first place.
"You..." Kiriota's face darkened.
"Is Kirigakure trying to declare war on Konoha? You entered the Land of Whirlpools without permission and ambushed our Jonin squad!" Akaseki demanded.
"Konoha interfered in the Land of Waves first! Besides... the Land of Whirlpools is out at sea too..." Kiriota