The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

"And the one behind, is he from the Kato Clan?"

These were two clans known for their secret techniques.

The Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu and the Kato Clan's Spirit Transformation Technique.

While these weren't exactly high-damage ninjutsu, they were top-tier when it came to support.

Such a combination reminded Chiba of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"Is this an imitation of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation?"

"Looking at it this way, the ninja I took out first must have been the power-type, meant to replace the Akimichi Clan!"

The next moment, the two opponents began weaving hand signs.

However, every move they made was already within Chiba's foresight.

"As control-type ninjas!"

"Taijutsu is your greatest weakness!"

"Dealing with the two of you is much easier than the last one."

"You... are already surrounded by me!"

The moment he finished speaking, Chiba gripped his blade and took a step forward.

Just then, the person in front finished their hand signs, and the shadow beneath their feet began to writhe, moving toward Chiba as if it had a life of its own.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

"Useless!"

Chiba walked forward slowly, blade in hand.

The instant the shadow drew near, Chiba dodged in advance, as if he had already foreseen it.

The opponent continued to manipulate the shadow, trying to ensnare Chiba.

But.

Chiba's speed was clearly not fast; he looked as if he were merely taking a stroll.

The Shadow Bind Jutsu simply could not catch Chiba's shadow.

In a panic, the opponent split their shadow, attempting to capture Chiba with the widest possible range.

Yet, Chiba continued to dance within the shadows.

No matter how the opponent expanded the reach of the capture, they were always just a hair's breadth away—always just that little bit short.

Seeing this scene.

Even as a Root ninja, he began to tremble.

"What terrifying sensory ability!"

"Even though he can't see, he perfectly avoided every one of my attacks!"

"Sorry!"

"This is different from the perception you understand!"

"I am merely... seeing your future!"

"The future of your... death!"

Chiba used a short-step technique, dodging all the shadows to close the distance in an instant.

And the moment he drew near.

That was the end of the line.

To Chiba, the opponent's taijutsu was simply unwatchable.

At this moment.

As a comrade, the Kato Clan ninja in the back watched it all with indifference.

He knew his partner was going to be killed.

Chiba's swordsmanship was top-tier; if a Nara Clan ninja were closed in on, they likely wouldn't even have the strength to fight back.

However, he had no intention of saving his comrade.

The mission was everything.

If he could use the Spirit Transformation Technique to possess Chiba's body the moment his comrade died.

The mission would be considered a success.

For that, sacrificing one or two comrades was nothing.

He focused all his attention, waiting only to find the split second when Chiba struck down his partner.

And then—

He saw it.

The moment Chiba swung his blade to slit his companion's throat.

Accompanied by a surge of blood, he struck instantly.

"Now is the time, Spirit Transformation Technique!"

The Spirit Transformation Technique is a secret art of the Kato clan.

It is a ninjutsu that allows one to transform into a living soul, traversing distances to kill enemies, and can even control the target's body or enter their mental world.

Furthermore, it is one of the few soul-based techniques in the world of Hokage.

Precisely because it is an ethereal soul.

Facing this move, one can only evade.

Any attempt to block it with physical means is a path to death.

And the moment his companion was slain by Chiba, this Kato clan ninja was certain that Chiba could not possibly dodge.

The instant his own soul left his body and flew toward Chiba, he knew.

He had succeeded.

"Mission... accomplished!"

However, just as his soul was about to enter Chiba's body.

He only saw Chiba turn around in a flash, raising his blade to slash at him.

Useless.

At this moment, I am a soul.

Physical means cannot cause me harm.

"Sorry, what I'm cutting... is your soul!"

Squelch.

The soul of the Kato clan member was sliced in half at the waist directly under Chiba's Zanpakuto.

The pain of a soul being torn apart caused the physical body of that Root ninja to spasm uncontrollably.

Chiba held his Zanpakuto and gave it a light flick.

He sheathed the blade.

Following that, he walked slowly to the side of the Kato clan ninja, raised his cane, and poked the twisted body lightly.

It collapsed with a crash.

The soul had been slain; his physical body was already dead.

Chiba kicked away his mask.

What he saw was an extremely distorted face.

The features were unremarkable.

Yet, the tearing of his soul had caused the muscles on his face to spasm.

Root ninjas are indeed cruel and troublesome.

Although these two were not particularly strong, their combined secret arts were enough to give even a Jonin a headache.

One has to admit, Danzo truly knows how to recruit talent in Konoha.

He also knows how to utilize them, achieving an effect where one plus one is greater than two.

Unfortunately, his blade is specifically for slaying souls.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the special mission]

[Reward: Connection with Zanpakuto, first template progress %, second template progress 0.2%]

Bathed in the system's baptism.

Chiba could clearly feel that he had grown stronger once again.

And this strength came almost entirely from the Fujitora Issho template.

Although the Aizen template had also increased, compared to Fujitora Issho, it was negligible.

It would likely remain this way until the Aizen template reached 5% and unlocked its template ability.

Just then.

Clap, clap, clap—

From the side, the sound of clapping suddenly rang out.

Without him noticing, a figure had appeared behind Chiba.

With his right eye bandaged, he looked at Chiba, his eyes filled with admiration.

At the same time, he subconsciously glanced at Chiba's blade.

Was there something wrong with the sword, or the person wielding it?

His subordinate had just utilized the Spirit Transformation Technique, yet it had been neutralized by Chiba.

Even Shimura Danzō could not fathom how Chiba had managed to pull that off.

However, if he could obtain Chiba, the sword would naturally be his as well.

The person was what mattered, not the blade!

"Impressive, truly impressive."

"A mere student at the Ninja Academy, yet at only five years old, you have managed to wipe out an elite squad of my Root!"

Although this elite squad was composed of individuals at the level of chūnin.

Root chūnin, however, were vastly different from ordinary ones.

When they coordinated with one another, even a jōnin would likely be no match for them.

"Just as Shisui said, your swordsmanship is destined to reign supreme in the ninja world."

Chiba knew who he was.

That was Shimura Danzō, the leader of Root and the source of Konoha's darkness.

And Danzō's seemingly guileless praise was actually laced with ulterior motives.

Just as Shisui said.

If Chiba were not a transmigrator, he would certainly believe that Shisui had leaked his intelligence to Danzō.

This would inevitably create a rift between himself and Shisui.