I Don't Like This Kind of Thing...

In the darkness, a massive explosion rang out on the outskirts of Green Peak Town, instantly waking countless people from their sleep.

"Ugh, who's making all that noise in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Don't people need to rest?"

"The ground's shaking. Could it be an earthquake?"

For a moment, countless residents of Green Peak Town who had been jolted awake switched on their lights again, got dressed, and poured out of their homes onto the streets to see what had happened.

"Cough, cough, cough."

At the very center of the explosion, amid the billowing smoke, Jun Tianlin was tightly shielded by the broken bones around him. He covered his mouth with his right hand and coughed softly a few times. Thin streaks of blood were clearly visible between his fingers.

"I never expected a mere Chunin to know such a powerful forbidden technique. What a surprise. Since when did forbidden techniques become so commonplace that even a Chunin could learn one?

"When faced with certain death and attacked by an enemy, knowing there's no way out, do you use a suicidal move to try to take someone down with you?

"Heh, you certainly had a good plan. It's just a shame you still couldn't drag me down with you, Yamamoto."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jun Tianlin coughed heavily again and couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood. It seemed that although he had managed to kill Yamamoto Ichiki, he had ended up badly wounded himself.

Beneath the night sky, Jun Tianlin heard the hubbub rising from Green Peak Town, not far behind him. Frowning, he murmured,

"Looks like this place isn't safe anymore. That bastard Yamamoto's self-detonation before he died woke all the sleeping civilians in town. If I stay here, who knows what kind of danger might crop up? I'd better leave first.

"But before I go, I still need to collect the spoils from this battle!"

With a grave expression, Jun Tianlin made the battered bones that had shielded him from the explosion fall away from his body. Then he sprang lightly to his feet beside a blood-covered head.

The head belonged to none other than Yamamoto Ichiki, who had used Lightning Explosion!

Yamamoto Ichiki's body had long since been blown to pieces by the suicidal Lightning Explosion. But the tremendous force of the blast had sent his head flying far away at the moment of the explosion, leaving it intact on the other side.

Orochimaru's test required more than just killing the ten powerful rogue ninja listed on the scroll. He also had to bring back their heads as proof.

So even though all that remained of Yamamoto was his head, Jun Tianlin wasn't about to leave this trophy behind!

"Sealing!"

Jun Tianlin pulled the sealing scroll Orochimaru had given him from his chest and quickly sealed Yamamoto Ichiki's head inside.

After putting the sealing scroll back in his chest, he glanced at Green Peak Town, now bright with lights behind him. With a cold laugh, he strode off, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness.

"Even though I'd taken this battle seriously enough, that guy's fighting power was terrifying. If I hadn't reacted in time and used Shikotsumyaku to protect myself, I really might have been dragged down with Yamamoto.

"I've learned my lesson. Luckily, I made it through this time. Even though I'm covered in wounds, with the Kaguya Clan's powerful bodies and recovery, I'll be back on my feet after a few days' rest.

"But I won't underestimate the next nine targets for a second. I don't like getting caught off guard. And I don't want the targets I'm using as stepping stones to get the last laugh and take me down before they die!

"This kind of thing... I don't like it!"