Evil Ghost in the Rain

Guy caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, his pupils constricting.

The secret medicine of the Akimichi Clan.

Tricolor Pill!

Green: Spinach Pill.

Effect: Unleashes potential in a short time, increasing strength by over three times.

Side effect: Intense pain throughout the body and weakness after the effect wears off.

Yellow: Curry Pill.

Effect: Significantly strengthens blood, energy, and chakra, taking strength to the next level.

Side effect: Total exhaustion and severe depletion of vitality after the effect wears off.

Red: Chili Pill.

Effect: Strength skyrockets 100 times! Chakra manifests as wings!

Side effect: Body overload, almost certain death!

Choza's fingers lingered on the three pills for a moment.

Then, he picked up the green Spinach Pill.

Without hesitation, he shoved it straight into his mouth.

He chewed twice.

Swallowed.

"Ugh—"

Choza let out a muffled groan.

His body suddenly swelled another size.

Muscles bulged, and veins stood out.

He looked like a moving mountain.

He looked at Iwami Shigezo opposite him and grinned.

"Come on."

Iwami Shigezo's eyes sharpened.

"The secret medicine of the Akimichi Clan..."

He gritted his teeth.

"Do you think you can beat me just by taking a pill?"

He quickly formed hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

The ground cracked violently, and a dozen sharp stone spears erupted from beneath, aiming straight for Choza.

Choza did not retreat; he advanced.

With a slap of his massive palm, the stone spears snapped in two.

But Iwami Shigezo wasn't looking for a hit.

He was looking to stall.

"You lot!"

He roared at the remaining two Chunin.

"Go kill that brat!"

The two Chunin exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

They turned and lunged toward Guy, accompanied by nine Genin.

This time, there was no contempt.

No sinister grins.

Only focus.

"Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

One Chunin slammed his hands onto the ground, and a wall of earth rose before Guy, blocking his line of sight.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

The other Chunin's arm was covered in a layer of rock; he gripped a Kunai and charged from the side.

The nine Genin scattered as well.

Some formed seals, some drew Kunai, and others circled to the rear.

Their coordination was flawless.

The formation was strict.

This was a true battlefield.

It was not a duel.

It was a pincer attack.

Guy stood there, watching them charge toward him.

Green steam continued to rise from his body.

The third gate of the Eight Inner Gates was open.

But that alone was not enough.

The enemy had two Chunin and nine Genin.

They knew how to coordinate.

They would not be like the last one, foolishly rushing in to throw their lives away.

He needed to change his tactics.

Guy's gaze swept over the nine Genin.

Their positioning was loose, they lacked experience, and their reactions were a beat slower than the two Chunin.

Although they were numerous.

They were the easiest to kill.

"It is better to sever one finger than to injure all ten."

The thought suddenly surfaced in Guy's mind.

Before, he had caught the Chunin off guard to achieve the greatest effect.

Now that the enemy was on guard, he needed to break them one by one!

He gripped his broadsword tightly.

"Ebisu! Genma!"

"Here!"

"Cover me!"

The moment the words left his lips, Guy had already charged out.

He did not rush toward the two Chunin.

He rushed toward the nine Genin.

The green figure left a blurred trail in the curtain of rain.

His speed was too fast.

So fast that before those Genin could react, he had already plunged into the crowd.

"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"

Whoosh—

A horizontal kick swept out.

A Genin screamed as he was sent flying.

"Precept-Breaking Blade, Third Form!"

A flash of steel.

A second Genin collapsed, clutching his throat.

Blood splattered into the rain, instantly washed away.

The two Chunin realized what was happening and roared as they gave chase.

But Guy was too fast.

He did not engage them at all.

He simply wove through the crowd.

Kick.

Slash.

Kick.

Slash.

One blade per person.

One kick per person.

The green steam carved trails through the curtain of rain.

At the end of every trail, another Genin fell.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A fireball erupted from the side, striking a genin who had attempted to ambush Guy.

The man burst into flames, screaming as he rolled on the ground.

Ebisu panted, his hands still trembling.

Yet, his eyes were filled with excitement and thrill.

"I... I hit him! I, the great me, actually hit him!"

On the other side, Genma flicked five senbon from his hand simultaneously.

It wasn't an attack.

It was to cut off their path.

The three genin attempting to retreat were forced to a halt, colliding right into the charging Guy.

A flash of a blade cut through the air.

Two more fell.

The last one was sent flying by a kick from Guy.

"That's five."

Guy's voice drifted through the rain.

As calm as if he were simply counting.

Iwami Shigezo's face turned ashen.

He hadn't expected that brat's speed to be this fast.

Fast enough that his men couldn't even react in time.

He wanted to charge over.

But at this moment, he was blocked by Choza instead.

Having consumed a Spinach Pill, Choza stood like a mountain.

"Your opponent is me."

Choza's voice was low.

"Don't even think about getting past."

Iwami Shigezo gritted his teeth.

"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!"

His right arm was encased in rock, transforming into a massive fist that slammed fiercely toward Choza.

Choza did not dodge.

He took it head-on.

"Bang!"

Both men retreated a step.

Iwami Shigezo's eyes narrowed.

Such strength!

The Akimichi Clan, once they've taken their pills, are truly troublesome.

But it didn't matter.

He had the numbers.

No matter how fast that brat was, he couldn't kill them all...

"Seven."

The thought had barely surfaced in Iwami Shigezo's mind.

Guy's voice rang out once more.

Iwami Shigezo turned his head to look.

Within the curtain of rain, that green figure was just sheathing his blade.

At his feet, two more lay fallen.

Of the nine genin, in just this short span of time, only two remained.

Those two stood there.

Their legs were shaking.

Their hands were shaking, too.

They could barely hold onto their Kunai.

"Monster..."

One of them muttered aloud.

"He's a monster..."

Guy lifted his head, looking at them.

Rainwater mixed with blood streamed down his face.

Those eyes were still terrifyingly bright.

He grinned.

"Two more to go."

He looked exactly like a demon in the rain.

"AHHHHHHH!"

The two Iwagakure genin suffered a complete mental breakdown.

They dropped their Kunai and turned to flee.

"What are you running for!"

A chunin roared, but he couldn't stop them.

Guy didn't pursue.

The duration of the Eight Inner Gates was limited.

It was best not to waste his strength on two genin.

His figure flashed, blocking the path of the two chunin.

The heavy blade in his hand, now notched and dulled, pointed toward them from afar.

"Now—"

"It's your turn."

The two Iwagakure chunin, who had just been full of rage, froze in unison.

A thought that betrayed their convictions suddenly appeared in their minds.

Should we run?

Yet, in that very moment of hesitation.

They had already missed the best.

Time to escape.