Kido's Might (Seeking Collection! Seeking Recommendations!)

The battle began in an instant.

The leader of the Root squad, wearing an ape mask, suddenly stepped forward alone, intent on capturing Sosuke.

He slammed his foot hard against the ground!

Dust sprayed everywhere!

"Bang!"

In the next moment, he had already appeared before Sosuke, his fierce offensive pouring down like a torrential storm!

However, to his surprise, Sosuke was able to parry the onslaught with ease despite the ferocity of the attacks.

Amidst the flurry of fists, a faint smile played on Sosuke's lips as he shifted his body fluidly, countering with every move.

Nearby, the other three Root members stared in disbelief!

"How... how is this possible!? This brat... is actually fighting the Ape to a standstill!!"

Under their shocked gazes, the two traded blows, exchanging strikes with their bare hands!

"Squelch!"

The ape-masked leader's palm strike cut through the air like a blade, slashing fiercely toward Sosuke!

But Sosuke seemed to possess foresight!

With a calm expression, he dodged the heavy, powerful strike with effortless grace.

Their movements were dazzling, making it nearly impossible to distinguish their punches and kicks; only their silhouettes remained visible.

"Clack."

A shockwave rippled across the ground!

After their fists and arms collided once more, both leaped backward, maintaining a distance.

They stood their ground, staring intently at one another!

At this moment, Sosuke was breathing slightly heavily; it was clear that the battle against the ape-masked Root leader was taxing for him.

After all, his body had yet to mature; he was merely an eight-year-old child.

Even so, an excited smile remained on his lips.

Stronger than a Chunin, possessing the strength of an elite Chunin? What a fine opponent for a test.

The ape-masked leader across from him had no idea what Sosuke was thinking; if he knew that Sosuke was merely using him as a tool to gauge his own strength, he would have been even more shocked!

Even so, he was already looking at Sosuke with astonishment.

To be my equal in taijutsu! He is truly worthy of being the candidate Danzo-sama has set his sights on!

"Brat!? Worthy of being the candidate Danzo-sama has set his sights on!? Heh, but do you really think this excellent taijutsu is the source of your arrogance!? Then, today I shall teach you how a ninja should perform! Relying solely on taijutsu is far from enough!!"

The ape-masked leader looked at Sosuke, his expression behind the mask one of profound surprise. Though he was loath to believe it, he was truly evenly matched in taijutsu with this eight-year-old boy!

With that, he shouted aloud.

Although Sosuke's taijutsu was formidable, the intelligence report had said nothing of his proficiency or talent in ninjutsu—this was the brat's weakness!

Thinking this, the ape-masked leader did not hesitate. Standing where he was, he moved his hands in a blur, completing the hand seals in an instant!

"Earth Style: Earth Prison Dome!"

Beneath Sosuke's feet, the soil seemed to come to life, suddenly coiling around his ankles!

The earth on the ground rose high, forming a massive cage several yards tall that descended to trap Sosuke!

Seeing Sosuke almost completely covered by the Earth Prison, the ape-masked leader seemed to relax, his body loosening as he spoke.

"As expected, just a brat with decent taijutsu. But for your age, you are certainly worthy of the name genius. Come along quietly! Danzo-sama is still waiting."

The other three Root members approached as well.

"It's impressive enough that this brat could fight you to a draw in taijutsu, Ape."

"Let's go. The mission is complete; try not to be discovered by the villagers."

"Right, let's move. It would be troublesome if we attracted the attention of the Anbu."

Just then!

A cold laugh echoed from within the massive earthen cage several yards away.

"Isn't it a bit too early to say the mission is complete!?"

Sosuke's slightly cold voice suddenly rang out, causing all four members of the Root to tremble!

What!!? This brat didn't lose consciousness!!?

In the pitch-black darkness, Sosuke kept his head lowered, his hand slightly raised. Tiny sparks of blue light flickered at his fingertips, reflecting off his lenses in a blue haze that made his true intentions impossible to read.

Suddenly, a smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he whispered softly.

"Hado #4: White Lightning!"

The blue light at his fingertip suddenly became brilliant and dazzling!

"Puchi!"

A streak of lightning suddenly burst forth from the cage formed of mud, swift to the extreme!

Carrying a blinding radiance, it left a straight blue trail in the air!

As the pupils of the Ape-masked leader constricted, it pierced through his shoulder blade without a moment's hesitation!

Faced with such a sudden attack, the Ape-masked leader had no time to dodge and could only watch helplessly as the dazzling bolt of lightning tore through his body!

"Watch out!"

"Get out of the way, Ape!"

It was only when blood gushed out that the voices of the other three finally arrived.

As they hurriedly tried to stop the bleeding for the Ape-masked leader, the group was struck with immense shock!

What on earth was that!? Was it a ninjutsu!!? A ninjutsu with such power!! Could it be that the brat did this!

They stared fixedly at the mud cage in the distance, their eyes filled with disbelief and guarded caution.

"Crackle," "Crackle."

Under the power of the lightning, the mud cage maintained by chakra crumbled to pieces.

Amidst the swirling smoke, the figure of Sosuke was revealed.

The boy stood straight and tall, wearing a snow-white, wide-fitting Shinigami Robe. His right index finger was pointed gently forward, held level in the same posture as before.

"My apologies, it seems... I missed."

At this moment, Sosuke looked at the four of them with a light chuckle, his expression appearing completely harmless.

Hearing Sosuke's words, the other three, excluding the Ape-masked leader, looked at him with grave seriousness.

The powerful ninjutsu from just a moment ago had proven that Sosuke was definitely no ordinary ninja boy!

The three members of Root did not hesitate any longer!

Wishing to capture Sosuke as quickly as possible, they all moved in to attack together.

One stood his ground, staring intently at Sosuke while his hands moved rapidly through hand seals!

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"

A moment later, he shouted aloud.

As his voice fell, Sosuke, having been caught in the genjutsu, suddenly stood motionless, his eyes dull as if he were ready to be slaughtered.

At this moment, the other two Root ninjas had already reached him!

One of them delivered a fierce roundhouse kick toward Sosuke!

Meanwhile, the other ran while weaving hand seals.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld Technique!"

This was a combination tactic frequently used by the three members of Root!

Just as the roundhouse kick was about to strike Sosuke, his previously dull expression suddenly shifted, and he murmured coldly.

"Is this... genjutsu?"

Even as he spoke to himself, his hands were far from idle. His arm moved with lightning speed, quickly blocking in front of his right side.

"Hado #8: Repulse!"

A chakra shield suddenly appeared on the outer side of his arm. The Root ninja's heavy, powerful kick struck it as if hitting a wall, causing Sosuke almost no damage at all.

"What!!?" This situation left the Root ninja greatly astonished!

Sosuke ignored him, however. He kept his head lowered, his lenses flashing with a cold light as he continued to whisper.

"Kido #4: Crawling Rope!"

"Hado #4: White Lightning!"

"Kido #9: Strike!"

The Root ninja who had cast the Earth Style ninjutsu was struck by the lightning bolt emitted from Sosuke's fingertip before he could even react!

The ninja who had kicked at Sosuke was swiftly bound by Kido: Strike, as a chakra rope coiled around him, rendering him unable to move!

"Ah! What is this?"

The one in the distance who had cast the genjutsu was also bound by Kido: Crawling Rope, unable to resist!

In the blink of an eye, all four elite chunin had been defeated by Sosuke!!

Having released so many Kido in succession, even after so many days of training, Sosuke had nearly exhausted the meager chakra in his body, and his forehead was covered in beads of sweat.

He looked weakly at the Root members he had defeated, yet a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The power of Kido... it was truly excellent.