Dragon Might · Golden Eyes!

Chapter 22: Dragon Might · Golden Eyes!

It was already deep into the night.

There was no moon or stars in the sky, only pitch-black darkness. The sole sources of light were Ichiraku Ramen and the slightly dim streetlamp in front of it.

Under these conditions.

Seven or eight masked ninja stood there in utter silence, creating an eerie, hair-raising atmosphere.

Sasuke, meanwhile, was shaken to the core.

"Anbu?" he carefully spat out the name.

After becoming a ninja, one was informed of some basic information, including Konoha's Anbu, a special assassination and tactical force that took orders directly from the Hokage.

They had no names and no known identities, only code names, and always appeared behind masks.

Most importantly—

That man, the man Sasuke hated with all his heart, had once been a member of the Anbu as well.

But why had the Anbu appeared here?

Sasuke looked toward Shen Mo.

This mysterious merchant was probably the reason.

"What's wrong, my guests?"

Shen Mo still wore a smile. Hikari, nestled in his arms, opened her mouth slightly to reveal sharp tiger teeth, but her adorable appearance held not the slightest hint of intimidation.

"Come with us." The first Anbu ninja to appear stepped forward slightly. The voice beneath his mask had clearly been specially altered.

Sasuke's expression changed slightly.

They really are here for this mysterious merchant.

No!

If this man is taken away, then he—

"Reason?" Shen Mo's expression did not change in the slightest.

"There is no reason," the Anbu ninja replied, taking another step forward.

Shen Mo noticed that his mask was different from the others'. It was not shaped like an animal but bore far more intricate patterns.

The "Root" within the Anbu?

That was interesting.

Shen Mo had actually known for a long time that these people had been following him from the shadows. The moment he stepped out of Tsunade's house, he had activated a very simple mini-map function. It cost little and was quite practical.

Tsunade knew as well.

The invitation just now had actually been asking whether Shen Mo needed protection.

The answer went without saying.

"I'm only a merchant."

Shen Mo continued smiling as he slowly stood up, as though he had not noticed the atmosphere at all. In an unhurried tone, he said:

"In my eyes, everyone falls into one of two categories: guests and unwelcome guests. I wonder which kind you are?"

"Enough nonsense!"

The ninja who had spoken seemed to have lost patience, and his figure vanished in an instant.

Sasuke's pupils suddenly contracted.

Where is he!?

He had barely turned his head before his body went completely rigid.

That ninja had already arrived behind Shen Mo.

So fast!

Sasuke clenched his fists tightly. He could not see the other man's speed at all. Was this the strength of an Anbu ninja?

Clang—!

A crisp impact suddenly rang out.

The ninja's hand blade slammed into a thin, pale-golden barrier.

A talisman from a xianxia world—the Adamantine Talisman.

"What is that?"

A low cry came from the side.

But it lasted only an instant.

The other Anbu ninja all appeared around Shen Mo, weapons in hand, watching him warily.

No one paid any attention to Sasuke.

They did not even look at him.

Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly as though he had been stabbed.

That nightmare of a day.

He had been ignored by that man in exactly the same way, as if he was so weak that killing him was not even worth the effort!

Power!

Deep longing filled Sasuke's eyes.

Shen Mo glanced at Sasuke, and the smile on his face seemed to deepen.

In the eyes of the Anbu ninja, that posture meant he was completely unafraid because he had something to rely on.

"There is no record of you at the village entrance registration office." The Anbu ninja whose attack had failed retreated several steps. His hoarse voice seemed to be explaining the situation to the others. "You sneaked into Konoha. Any resistance will be treated as espionage. You will be killed on the spot!"

The moment he finished speaking, the gazes of the other Anbu ninja all sharpened.

The order they had received was actually to bring Shen Mo before the Hokage. However, the one speaking was the captain of this operation.

Killed on the spot?

Shen Mo said nothing. Looking at the people surrounding him, he suddenly felt a little regretful.

He should have exchanged for Professor X's Mutant Ability. If he had, he might have been able to learn what these people were thinking.

But it did not matter.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Why does every world have such ignorant unwelcome guests?" Shen Mo sighed faintly, speaking as though to himself. "Paying a price is the only way to gain something. That is the truth of this world. Yet these unwelcome guests want to change their fate without spending anything. They really are..."

"Attack—!"

Before Shen Mo could finish, all the ninja attacked at once after a low shout.

The captain from Root took a deep breath.

Chakra surged wildly throughout his body, and his hands formed seals so quickly that afterimages appeared.

Earth Style: Sand Binding Burial!

Countless grains of sand drilled out of the ground and coiled toward Shen Mo like spirit serpents. Although it was a ninjutsu commonly used by the ninja of Sunagakure, it was still exceptionally swift and agile when performed by this Root ninja.

At the same time.

The other ninja unleashed their own methods.

Kunai, Wind Style, long blades, and all kinds of attacks completely sealed off every avenue of escape Shen Mo had.

Even Sasuke, who was not the target, could feel the overwhelming pressure.

Nowhere to hide, nowhere to evade!

This was the coordinated combat of Anbu ninja!

Yet Shen Mo did not dodge at all.

He seemed not to have reacted in time.

He allowed the sand to completely envelop him, forming a small mound. If they squeezed it at this moment, they could crush and kill—

Despair had already appeared in Sasuke's eyes.

At last, he had encountered an opportunity that might allow him to become stronger!

Then—

A low voice suddenly drifted into everyone's ears.

"Truly ignorant!"

In an instant.

The sand and earth surrounding Shen Mo exploded apart.

Shen Mo remained inside, still protected by the pale-golden barrier. Not even the corner of his clothes had been damaged.

Then he took one heavy step forward.

Boom—!

A roar like a volcanic eruption suddenly resounded. Yet it did not explode beside their ears. It detonated in the depths of everyone's hearts, leaving their minds instantly blank. It was as if everything in the world had vanished. Within that expanse of white consciousness, only one thing remained.

A pair of Golden Eyes overlooking the world, filled with boundless majesty!

Dragon Might from a certain fantasy world!

Everyone, including Sasuke.

Their bodies began trembling uncontrollably.

They could not stand.

They could not look directly at him.

By the time they came to their senses, they had already collapsed onto the ground, their heads bowed deeply. It was as if the being standing before them was no longer human, but another kind of indescribable colossal creature resembling a prehistoric beast!

They did not know what it was.

But they could not resist the fear that came from the difference in their very levels of life!

It was as though every cell in their bodies were crying out in anguish!

I stayed up late to make up your updates. Aren't you going to hand over your votes in gratitude?