Slaying a High Ninja!

Hearing Miki Ichiro disparage his ramen like that, Teuchi's expression shifted, and he became absolutely furious.

"You scoundrel! I don't care if you look down on me, but you absolutely cannot insult my ramen! This is my life's work, something I've poured all my passion into! I won't let you slander it like this!"

Teuchi's voice was booming, immediately drawing a crowd of onlookers.

When the onlookers learned that Miki Ichiro had openly insulted Ichiraku Ramen, they were filled with righteous indignation.

"Kid, you've got some nerve! You weren't even born when Teuchi started making ramen!"

"What's wrong with making ramen? How does it concern you? Who do you think you are? Just because you're a ninja, you think you're something special?"

"Let's go! We'll all go to the Hokage and demand justice! We'll tell her this guy is insulting us commoners and let the Hokage decide!"

When Miki Ichiro heard that they were actually going to the Hokage, his face turned deathly pale, draining of what little color it had left.

It was common knowledge that the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was compassionate toward her people and deeply concerned for the commoners.

If this matter were to reach Tsunade, Miki Ichiro would certainly face severe punishment!

"Th-that... it was just a slip of the tongue... I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that... actually, I quite like ramen..."

Facing the pressure from the crowd, Miki Ichiro had no choice but to apologize humbly to quell the public anger.

Only then did the crowd gradually disperse.

"Slurp—"

Takizawa Dan finished his ramen and placed the money on the table.

"Teuchi, I have business to attend to, so I'll be going."

Afterward, he looked at the humiliated Miki Ichiro. "Let's go. Let's find somewhere empty to settle this."

Miki Ichiro nodded grimly and followed behind Takizawa Dan.

A moment later, the two found a secluded, empty lot and stood face to face.

"Let's get straight to the point. Did you come here because of Hyuga Niuda?" Takizawa Dan asked slowly.

Miki Ichiro was taken aback. Is this kid really that sharp?

Even if he hadn't guessed it, Miki Ichiro would have told him anyway. He nodded, his gaze cold as he looked at Takizawa Dan. "That's right. I was Hyuga Niuda's squad instructor, and he was my most prized student. Now that you've crippled him and had him expelled from the Hyuga clan, I'm here to take revenge for him today!"

"Heh, the one who crippled Hyuga Niuda and expelled him from the Hyuga clan was Hyuga Neji. Why aren't you going to take revenge on him?" Takizawa Dan sneered.

Miki Ichiro's words caught in his throat.

Hyuga Neji was one of the most famous geniuses of Konoha Village's new generation, and he was a junior. Unless he wanted to throw away his reputation, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on him in front of everyone. And even if he didn't care about his reputation, the Hyuga clan stood behind the boy—how could he possibly afford to provoke them?

"Sigh, it's clear you're just a coward." Seeing this, Takizawa Dan couldn't help but shake his head. "I think your claim of avenging Hyuga Niuda is a lie, and your real grievance is that I ruined your plans to climb the ladder through the Hyuga clan, isn't it?"

"Heh, kid, it seems you aren't stupid at all!" Miki Ichiro laughed loudly. "I really underestimated you before; you aren't entirely a piece of trash!"

"But it would have been better if you had just stayed a piece of trash. You had to go and ruin my path! Since that's the case, you'll have to pay with your life! Anyway, for trash like you, it wouldn't matter if a hundred or a thousand of you died!"

As he spoke, a heaven-shaking killing intent erupted from Miki Ichiro's body!

Takizawa Dan's heart sank. He wasn't joking; he really intended to kill him!

"Wind Style: Kamaitachi Jutsu!"

Without hesitation, Takizawa Dan formed hand seals rapidly and unleashed his ninjutsu immediately!

Every squad instructor was at least a Jonin. Facing such a formidable enemy, Takizawa Dan dared not let him get close!

Perhaps Takizawa Dan could defeat Hyuga Niuda and those two mediocre assassins by relying on surprise, strong taijutsu, and ninjutsu.

But against a true Jonin, his odds of winning in a one-on-one fight were less than ten percent!

Following his shout, countless wind blades swept across the area and surged toward Miki Ichiro all at once!

"What!? You can actually use ninjutsu?"

Miki Ichiro's pupils constricted, appearing extremely surprised by his discovery.

But soon, he sneered. "Heh, I've heard that some black-market merchants sell one-time-use scrolls that can release ninjutsu. You've certainly put in the effort to prepare."

"It's a pity that you're facing a true Jonin of Konoha Village!"

"Do you really think you can take my life with such a petty technique!?"

Miki Ichiro scoffed. As the wind blades were about to strike him, his entire body suddenly became elusive, appearing almost illusory.

"Wind Style: Floating Catkin Jutsu!"

Swish!!!

A wind blade slashed through, but it only grazed the man's afterimage.

Amidst the sky full of wind blades, Miki Ichiro moved as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, skillfully dodging every attack and closing in on Takizawa Dan step by step!

Seeing this, Takizawa Dan couldn't help but sigh. A Jonin's strength was truly immense. If he didn't have a backup plan, he feared he would be finished today!

He retreated rapidly while pressing his fingers together.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—

In an instant, dozens of shadow clones were conjured, standing in a dense, packed row!

"Clone Jutsu? Heh, that sort of thing might be fine for scouting, but trying to use it in combat? Truly foolish!"

Miki Ichiro sneered incessantly.

The corners of Takizawa Dan's mouth curled up; the opponent would soon find out exactly who was the fool!

"Wind Style: Kamaitachi Jutsu!!!"

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish—

Dozens of clones unleashed the same jutsu at the exact same moment!

Suddenly, the number of wind blades in the space multiplied dozens of times over, filling the air!

"What!!!?"

Miki Ichiro's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!

Weren't a ninja's clones supposed to have zero combat capability and dissipate at the slightest touch?

Why could they cast ninjutsu?! This went beyond all common sense!

But he had no energy left to ponder that question, for the wind blades in this space were simply too numerous! Even relying on his evasive techniques, he could only dodge a fraction of them!

Miki Ichiro struggled desperately, dodging left and right, but he was utterly helpless.

Clang!

Finally, two minutes later, having exhausted all his shuriken and kunai and trapped in a corner with nowhere left to run, Miki Ichiro let out a desperate roar as a sharp wind blade sliced directly across his neck!

Instantly, blood splattered everywhere, and his head was severed from his body!!!

Thud!

The headless corpse collapsed to the ground.

Dispelling his clones, Takizawa Dan looked at the result of his battle, stunned.

He could not believe that one day, he had actually personally killed a Jonin from Konoha Village!

Although the opponent was among the weakest of Konoha's Jonin...

He was still a genuine Jonin, after all!