Lightning Release: Kirin!

Heaven Curse Seal: State One: The user gains immense power when the seal is activated, but the longer it remains active, the greater the damage to the user's own body.

In State One, black markings cover the entire body, enhancing both speed and strength.

"But since I've used this move, it means your lives have entered a countdown."

"Heaven Curse Seal: State Two!"

Bai Lin's low shout rang out like a thunderclap. The black curse seal markings instantly went berserk, spreading wildly along his limbs and bones until they completely covered his body.

The original scarlet markings transformed into a deep, ink-like color, protruding from his skin like scales. A pair of hand-like "wings" sprouted from his back, and a cross-shaped pattern appeared in the center of his face. His chakra surged rapidly, radiating a suffocating, evil aura.

I wonder how big the gap is between my current strength and the Kage level. If I were to fight Tsunade again, I likely wouldn't lose. Bai Lin felt the power flowing through his body, filling him with growing confidence.

"Time to unleash a big move to wrap up this battle!"

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

"What... what kind of monster is this!" Inoue's mood, previously buoyed by the prospect of impending victory, plummeted to rock bottom, causing him to forget to flee for a moment.

Bai Lin's roar shook the camp. The chakra from his State Two curse seal poured frantically into the clouds. The previously silent night sky was instantly shrouded in dark clouds, and blue lightning rolled and roared within them like an ancient divine beast awakening.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan locked firmly onto the remaining four Amegakure jonin.

"Not good! Everyone, defend together!"

"As long as we withstand this attack, the opponent will be at the end of his rope."

One jonin's expression changed drastically; he could sense the terrifying energy contained within the clouds, far exceeding that of a standard Lightning Release ninjutsu.

"Water Style: Water Stream Wall!" x4

Earth Release is not suitable for defending against Lightning Release ninjutsu. Under the elemental constraints of the Ninja World, lightning beats earth. While water does not inherently counter lightning, basic physics still apply—it can conduct electricity.

Even at this moment, the four Amegakure jonin did not forget the standard experience of elemental counters.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a blue bolt of lightning as thick as a water barrel crashed down from the clouds. Like a Kirin extending its claws, it smashed straight toward the center of the camp with world-destroying momentum.

The moment the lightning struck the ground, countless tiny lightning snakes splashed in all directions. The entire camp was instantly submerged in blue light. The ground shattered into a massive crater, and debris and soil were blasted into the air by the lightning, forming a sky-filling cloud of dust.

The system notification... didn't sound?

The system did not provide the prompt he wanted, meaning this Lightning Release: Kirin had not yielded the result he desired.

"I can't go on. The rest is up to you!"

"Damn it... I still underestimated the strength of jonin!"

With his chakra completely exhausted, Bai Lin could only flap his wings powerlessly, wanting to get away from this place.

After flapping twice, he realized that since chakra is the power formed by the combination of spiritual and physical energy, the exhaustion of chakra meant his spirit was also drained—a problem that even a Military Ration Pill could not solve.

The black, scale-like curse seal markings began to fade rapidly, and the "wings" on his back dissipated into specks of black light.

An intense wave of exhaustion washed over him like a tide, and Bai Lin's body began to fall uncontrollably.

"That brat is out of chakra!" Inoue's ecstatic voice came from the dust. "Chase him! Don't let him get away!"

Four disheveled figures rushed out from behind the Water Stream Wall; they were the four Amegakure jonin.

Although they were all scorched by the lightning, their clothes charred and blood at the corners of their mouths, their eyes were fierce as they lunged toward the direction where Bai Lin was falling.

The previous Kirin had nearly exhausted their chakra for defense, but seeing Bai Lin's helpless state, everyone was blinded by bloodlust.

This brat had killed dozens of their comrades; this was the perfect moment for revenge!

Just then, two familiar figures rushed over like arrows released from a bow—it was Uchiha Mikoto and Nawaki, who had returned after following the sound of the explosion!

"Lin!" Uchiha Mikoto's voice was filled with anxiety. She saw Bai Lin falling from the sky and the four approaching jonin. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in her eyes rotated rapidly, appearing as if they were about to merge into one.

She leaped into mid-air and caught the falling Bai Lin firmly in her arms.

"Mikoto..." Bai Lin's consciousness was blurred. Leaning against her shoulder, he could only barely feel her familiar scent. "I told you, you can safely leave my back to me!"

"Lin, rest well. I will make those who hurt you pay the price!"

A tear of sorrow fell from Uchiha Mikoto's eyes. Unfortunately, her Sharingan stopped rotating, signifying a failed evolution.

Before she could finish speaking, the four Amegakure jonin had already lunged to within close range.

Inoue's eyes were filled with bloodthirsty, savage laughter as he performed hand seals: "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"Don't you dare hurt him!" Nawaki's roar came from the side. He leaped to block them, his hands forming seals at an extreme speed: "Water Style: Water Wall!"

A thick wall of water rose instantly, forcefully blocking the impact of the Water Dragon Bullet.

Even though Nawaki was at his peak, Inoue was a jonin after all; a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

The water wall trembled violently under the bombardment, nearly shattering.

"You think a brat like you can stop us?" One jonin sneered, backhanding several Shuriken toward Nawaki.

Mikoto held Bai Lin, her eyes cold to the extreme.

Her Three-Tomoe Sharingan captured the trajectory of the Shuriken, easily blocking the attack for Nawaki.

"Nawaki, take Lin! Get him out of here first, leave the rest to me!"

"Right!" Nawaki replied.

After a few days of adjustment, Nawaki was no longer that boisterous, energetic boy; he now possessed the basic discipline of a ninja.

"Damn it, the Sharingan again!"

"Inoue, retreat! We don't have a single drop of chakra left!"

"Fine, split up!"

Seeing the same Sharingan in Uchiha Mikoto's eyes as they had seen in Bai Lin, Inoue and his companions were struck with fear, terrified that she might be another genius of Bai Lin's caliber.

Moreover, their own condition was dire; with their chakra exhausted, it was difficult to mount any effective counterattack.

"Hmph! Trying to run? Too late!"

"How dare you hurt my Lin!"

"I will make you pay the price!"

Dead Amegakure ninja: What? Didn't he attack us without saying a word? We were just defending ourselves!

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

One day later.

Inside a hidden cave in the Land of Fire.

Bai Lin woke up from his coma to see Uchiha Mikoto boiling water, the firelight reflecting off her gentle and tender face.

Nawaki stood at the cave entrance, clutching a Kunai and pacing back and forth vigilantly, his eyes scanning the jungle with a sharpness that left no trace of his former carelessness.

Watching this scene, a defiant yet warm smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he spoke softly, "Having teammates really is great. At the very least, I can unleash my power without having to constantly watch my back for hidden arrows."

Bai Lin did not disturb the peaceful moment, instead summoning the system in his mind to check his gains.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing Genin, obtained 50,000 Ryo.] x8
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing Chunin, obtained 200,000 Ryo.] x7
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing Jonin, obtained 500,000 Ryo.] x4

"Is my base strength only enough to face eight Genin, seven Chunin, and four Jonin at once?"

"That's not bad. Although I can't compare to Minato, who learned the Flying Thunder God and kills Jonin like dogs, in a one-on-one fight, I have the strength to slay most elite Jonin."

"With 3.8 million Ryo collected, I'll soon have enough for a Kage-level ten-pull. Keep working hard!"