The Ninja with a Sick Mind Is Here Again

Repairing the wall was not simply a matter of using Chakra to build; it required injecting Water and Earth Chakra in a specific ratio into a type of white, mixed clay.

Anything built solely with Chakra would dissipate once the user was heavily injured or lost consciousness, making it useless for defense. However, this white clay, when infused with the correct ratio of Water and Earth Chakra, not only possessed excellent malleability but also became rock-solid once it cooled.

The Senju ninja responsible for the repairs shared a bit of history:

"According to our seniors, there was once a small clan that had a penchant for this clay. They liked to eat it to gain energy, which allowed them to perform a type of explosive Ninjutsu."

"Unfortunately, the Uchiha Clan discovered them later. Not only did they steal all their clay, but they also intended to subjugate the entire clan."

"But just at that moment, we Senju and the Uchiha started fighting directly, which gave them a chance to escape..."

Hiugo became slightly interested: "Where did they run to?"

"Who knows? They shouldn't be in the Land of Fire anymore. If they were caught by the Uchiha Clan, they would surely be used to intimidate other weak clans again..."

The Senju ninja's voice grew quieter. His gaze shifted outward, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes as he said:

"These brain-dead ninjas are here again."

Hiugo also sensed six streams of Chakra carrying a hint of dry heat. Clans possessing a Kekkei Genkai all had certain characteristics in their Chakra; for instance, the Chakra of the Uchiha Clan was mostly cold, while that of the Senju Clan was mostly warm.

"The Kaguya Clan has come to attack?"

"No, they launched an attack just a few days ago. Among these people, there should be some who have newly awakened the Shikotsumyaku and intend to use the blood of their enemies to verify their own power."

"They really are sick."

During their brief exchange, dozens of finger bones came flying toward them. The Senju ninja responsible for the wall repairs hurriedly found a place to hide. After the wave of attacks passed, he was already prepared to counterattack with Ninjutsu.

In an instant, a torrent of water covered the entire area, but ordinary Water Release could hardly cause substantial damage to those who had awakened the Shikotsumyaku. Consequently, it eventually devolved into a duel between blades and bones.

The bone blades were as hard as steel; naturally, those who possessed the Shikotsumyaku had no need for ninja tools.

Hiugo moved through the crowd, occasionally tossing out a few Ninjutsu to provide assistance. At five years old, attacking recklessly was a bit of a stretch, so he naturally fought in the way best suited to him.

He suddenly noticed Senju Sajo fighting a Kaguya Jonin and realized he had already been wounded and was bleeding. He immediately spat out a bolt of lightning to provide support.

"Stay out of this! This is my fight with him!"

Senju Sajo did not appreciate Hiugo's help. He released his killing intent indiscriminately, leaving the latter feeling baffled.

Kaguya Tenyi's reaction was not slow. Although he was affected by Hiugo's Ninjutsu, his constitution allowed him to emerge almost unscathed:

"See that? This is the Kekkei Genkai of our Kaguya Clan. This level of attack isn't enough to kill me."

"Shut up! I will definitely kill you!"

Sajo said coldly, swinging his blade as he struck.

Kaguya Tenyi blocked the attack with his own bone blade and grinned hideously:

"That cut I gave you must hurt, right? They say you used to be a genius, but what does hard work in Taijutsu get you..."

"I said, shut up!"

Water Release: Water Blade

Sword Technique: Wave Turbulence

The blade in Sajo's hand was enveloped by a flow of water, forming a water blade. Furthermore, every swing of his sword carried the surging flow of waves.

Deflecting force, suppressing the enemy.

The smile on Kaguya Tenyi's face gradually faded as he felt the pressure emanating from the sword technique.

Hiugo observed silently. The Senju Clan held the advantage, so there was generally no need for him to intervene.

Interrupting one's cultivation was akin to killing one's parents. It was no wonder Kaguya Tenyi could provoke the usually peaceful Senju clansmen to such an extent; no ninja could accept such a thing.

He had seen the Wave Turbulence sword technique back at the clan grounds. Its purpose was to be paired with the Water Blade Ninjutsu to increase its power. The difficulty lay in the time required to hone it—three years at the shortest, and up to ten years at the longest.

The ultimate goal was to integrate Water-attribute Chakra into the sword technique instinctively without hindering the use of Ninjutsu.

For ninjas like Hiugo and Tobirama who preferred control, this type of sword technique felt quite awkward, as many advanced Ninjutsu were simply about strengthening one's control.

Dance of the Seedling Fern

Dense, jagged bone spikes began to sprout from the ground. They were numerous, though generally only about 1.2 meters in height.

Kaguya Tenyi did not intend to kill his opponent with this move, but rather to disrupt his offensive rhythm.

But Sajo didn't care at all. He lightly stepped on the bone spikes, rushed forward, and pressed his opponent again amidst the flow of blood.

Kaguya Tenyi pulled out his own spine. Under the effects of the Shikotsumyaku, he would be fine, and his spine was his most handy weapon.

Dance of the Clematis: Vine

The spine segmented and transformed into a bone whip, lashing out at the blade in Sajo's hand. The waves resisted continuously, but in the end, they could not deflect it, and the blade was entangled by the bone.

Sajo's attack came to a sudden halt, and the bone spikes beneath his feet surged upward, piercing through his feet.

Flower

Kaguya Tenyi coughed up a mouthful of blood. His other hand was continuously covered by bone, forming a drill-like shape. Viewed from behind, it looked like a white bone flower, which he pressed down toward Sajo's face.

Water Release: Water Severing Wave

A stream of water appeared, slicing toward the bone whip. Kaguya Tenyi's face showed disdain; how could mere Water Release cut through his hardened bones?

Unless it was someone like Zuocheng who could reinforce a katana with Water Release, there was no hope.

But then, a look of horror appeared in his eyes; the bones he took such pride in were sliced clean through by this seemingly fragile stream of water.

Freed from the restraint of the bone whip, Zuocheng immediately swung his blade toward the neck of Kaguya Tenyi.

He chose not to defend but to attack at this very moment, for he knew clearly that as time passed, the gap between them would only widen due to the disparity in their cultivation.

As long as there was an opportunity, as long as there was a chance, he had to land a killing blow to have any hope of victory.

A flash of madness crossed Kaguya Tenyi's eyes; he likewise chose not to retreat, driving his massive drill straight toward Zuocheng's head.

Three seconds later, Zuocheng's corpse hit the ground, while Kaguya Tenyi deactivated his Shikotsumyaku and clutched his own neck tightly.

It was not that Zuocheng's blade was slow, but that at the final moment, Kaguya Tenyi had condensed a small piece of bone at his neck to block it; had it not been for that, it would have ended in mutual destruction.

Yet, in the end, Kaguya Tenyi had won, though it was a pyrrhic victory against a Special Jonin—it was no different from losing.

A tree branch shot out at high speed, striking the center of Kaguya Tenyi's nape and violently branching out.

The intense pain brought Kaguya Tenyi back to his senses, pulling him out of the state of mind between life and death as he remembered there was still another enemy, even if it was just a boy.

Hiugo respected Zuocheng's decision, which was why he only intervened at the very end, but as an enemy, he would not allow Kaguya Tenyi to return to his clan to heal and fight again.

Kaguya Tenyi struggled to raise a hand, but it soon fell back down, limp.

The branch was not only draining his bloodline but his Chakra as well; if he lost the former, he could still barely control his bones, but without Chakra, Shikotsumyaku could at most only sustain his life.

Hiugo was somewhat amazed by Kaguya Tenyi's vitality; had it been the previous Aburame Jonin who didn't use a bug substitute, this branch would have been enough to send him to the afterlife.

Yet Kaguya Tenyi was still barely clinging to life; although he was near death, he was truly far stronger than the average Jonin.

Hiugo swung his blade to sever his head, and upon touching the branch embedded in his neck, a sudden jolt of pain shot through his bones, coming and going in an instant...