Kill

The dust and smoke on the ground slowly began to clear.

The scene behind the Earth Barrier came into view!

Shimura Kazumi and the Bandit Ninja Group arrived almost at the same time!

When they saw the two dead ninjas and Sosuke standing there, they were utterly shocked.

Although they had a general idea of Sosuke's strength, seeing him emerge completely unharmed from a coordinated ninjutsu ambush and even kill the two ninjas on the other side left Shimura Kazumi in disbelief!

But Shimura Kazumi had no time to stay astonished. After surveying the scene, she spoke first.

"Aizen, come over here. I can handle the rest of these guys."

She was worried that Sosuke might have lost his ability to fight after killing the two ninjas, so she hurriedly called him over to stand behind her. After all, in her eyes, Sosuke had become her uncle's student, and keeping him safe was her top priority.

After hearing her, Sosuke looked up at her, then slowly walked over to her.

Shimura Kazumi's purple hair fell across her shoulders. Her beautiful eyes were fixed intently on the group of ninjas, guarding against a sudden attack.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Bandit Ninja Group looked furious!

He hadn't expected the two subordinates he'd risked exposing himself to save to be killed anyway!

The other ninjas exchanged glances. It was obvious that these two Konoha ninjas were extremely powerful, nothing like some insignificant nobodies.

There was a good chance their whole group would die here today.

The thought made their expressions turn grim.

The ninja leader spoke up.

He shouted in a deep, booming voice.

"You're Konoha ninjas, aren't you? Why did you attack us? We haven't offended anyone in Konoha Village."

He was still trying to play dumb and bluff his way out of this.

Hearing him, Shimura Kazumi replied coldly.

"What, people of the Land of Sand, still pretending? Your presence has already seriously violated Konoha's borders. Will you surrender, or resist to the bitter end?"

Sure enough, when Shimura Kazumi called out their identity, their expressions grew even more unsightly.

There was no way to settle this peacefully now. From the looks of these two Konoha shinobi, they had no intention of letting them go.

The leader's expression darkened. He signaled to several of his men with his eyes.

The battle was about to begin.

Across from them, Shimura Kazumi quietly asked Sosuke,

"How are you, Aizen? Can you keep fighting in your current condition?"

Sosuke smiled at her, a hint of coldness in his eyes as he watched the Bandit Ninja Group, poised to attack.

The earlier fight had tired him somewhat, but he wasn't fatigued enough for it to affect his combat ability. Shimura Kazumi had clearly underestimated his strength.

Since there was no point in negotiating, fighting was the only way to resolve the situation.

In an instant!

The Bandit Ninja Group sprang into action!

They were all only ordinary Chunin, but if they worked well together, the ninjutsu they unleashed would still be difficult to deal with.

Several of the bandit ninjas charged toward Sosuke, Shimura Kazumi, and the others!

Their goal was to buy enough time for the ninja leader and the others in the rear to prepare their ninjutsu.

Shimura Kazumi charged to meet them, engaging them with sharp, decisive movements, though her cool gaze kept drifting toward the area behind them.

Just as expected!

Behind them, the bandit ninja leader and several others stood in place, rapidly forming Hand Seals!

"Earth Release: Rockslide!" "Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!" "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Several techniques combined!

The ground beneath Sosuke, Shimura Kazumi, and the others quickly turned into a swamp, making it almost impossible to move!

And that wasn't all. A raging blast of wind swept toward them, while enormous rocks rained down from overhead!

Getting hit by one would leave them seriously injured!

At that moment, Shimura Kazumi showed off her superb Taijutsu. She easily kicked away the two ninjas she was fighting, then formed several Hand Seals in an instant!

"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique."

Right after, a whirlwind seemed to gather around her hands!

"Wind Release: Beast Wave Palm!"

With a forceful swing of her arm, a huge blade of air slashed through the air!

It not only blew the enormous falling rocks off course, but also sent the two ninjas beside her spinning through the air!

The bandit leader and the others, who had been standing behind them and casting their techniques, were horrified. Under the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, their vision was completely black, and they couldn't see the blade of air hurtling toward them!

A chorus of anguished cries rang out. The violent shock wave of the cutting wind struck them, breaking at least several of their ribs. Blood poured from their wounds.

The fight on Sosuke's side was much simpler.

After receiving the knowledge Kyoka Suigetsu had taught him, Sosuke had already undergone a complete transformation!

Against the huge rocks falling from the sky and the two Chunin in front of him,

this situation was obviously no threat to him.

Sosuke wore a faint smile. He lightly rested a hand on Kyoka Suigetsu and tapped his foot against the ground.

He used Senka once more!

He easily dodged the falling rocks and appeared behind one of the ninjas!

Senka was a type of Flash Step that involved a spinning movement. It allowed him to move at high speed behind an enemy and launch a surprise attack!

As Sosuke reappeared, he gently thrust Kyoka Suigetsu forward!

"Hatomaru! Behind you!"

Before the panicked shout could finish, the ninja named Hatomaru felt a sharp pain in his chest!

The snowy tip of the blade emerged from his chest!

"Well... your sins have stained you from head to toe... Go atone for the people you've killed..."

As Sosuke whispered softly, Hatomaru slowly fell to the ground, lifeless.

The other ninja stared at Sosuke in panic. He hadn't expected this masked Konoha ninja to kill his comrade so easily!

His face was full of disbelief!

He turned and desperately tried to run!

Charging at an opponent like this would only get him killed!

But he hadn't run more than a few steps when—

"Hadō #4: White Lightning!"

At a whisper from behind him, a streak of brilliant blue lightning pierced straight through his heart!

He looked down in terror at the blood spilling from his chest, his eyes filled with panic. His body slowly weakened, and he fell to his knees. Blood bubbled from his mouth as he tried to form some words, but none came.

In his final moments, he wondered if none of this would have happened if he hadn't been a ninja... No one answered his question.