Dragon Slayer Mage Flame Dragon Sen Arrives

"A, the target refuses to cooperate. Let's just make a move." A Root member behind him stepped forward and spoke to Tenzō.

[Ding! Temporary mission activated: Root Pursuit Battle. Mission objective: defeat the Root squad sent to assassinate the host. Mission reward: Heaven-Defying Gambling Luck.]

Tenzō nodded and no longer hesitated. Everyone said Uchiha Sen was incredibly powerful, and Lord Danzo had mentioned it without reservation. The man before them supposedly could use Wood Release ninjutsu, but that was simply impossible. Countless test subjects had died unable to withstand that power. Tenzō believed that no one in the ninja world understood Wood Release better than he did.

"Move! Wood Release: Great Forest Jutsu!"

Tenzō formed hand seals with both hands, then thrust them forward. Bowl-thick branches shot from his palms and rushed toward the three of them. At the same time, the three Root ninjas behind him scattered, attacking Uchiha Sen from the left, right, and above.

"This is bad!"

Zabuza Momochi immediately drew the Kubikiribōchō and charged at Tenzō, while shouting to Yuki Haku:

"Haku! Stay by Lord Sen's side and protect him!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Shuriken and kunai shot toward Uchiha Sen one after another. Yet Sen, the target of the attack, merely picked his nose and stood there blankly, still wearing that unruly expression.

Did we get him?

That easily?

The Root members had not expected to complete the mission so effortlessly. Just as the shuriken were about to pierce Uchiha Sen's body, a cool voice rang out.

"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome!"

Haku immediately raised an ice wall, blocking every attack.

"It's an Ice Release Kekkei Genkai! Use Fire Release!"

On the other side, Zabuza swung his great blade and severed every encroaching branch, rapidly pressing forward and forcing Tenzō to retreat again and again.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

"Fire Release: Head Mincer!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The three Root ninjas simultaneously unleashed Fire Release attacks against the ice wall. Haku continuously maintained it with chakra, but two fists could not fend off four hands. As the thick wall of ice rapidly melted away, Haku said nervously:

"Lord Sen, I can't hold on much longer. Please leave quickly!"

But when Haku turned his head, he saw Uchiha Sen wearing an expression of utter disbelief, as though he were saying, Leave? Are you trying to make me laugh?

Uchiha Sen raised his chin and arrogantly declared:

"I, Natsu, am an A-rank Dragon Slayer Mage. How could I possibly flee in the face of battle? They're just four little punks. Haku, grill some meat on the side and watch me deal with them. Oh, and this battle may consume a thousand years of my cultivation, so I'll need soy-braised beef and chilled sweet melon from Konoha Xiaokai Fruit Shop to restore my vitality. Don't get it wrong."

Are your recovery supplies really that specific...?

The three Root ninjas were speechless.

Haku nodded seriously, then gave up maintaining the ice wall. Instead, he took a scroll from his clothes and set up a barbecue grill by the River. Haku naturally obeyed whatever Uchiha Sen said.

"You're looking down on us?"

"You're pretty brave, aren't you?"

"Everyone, be careful. The boss said this guy's strength is anything but ordinary."

The three Root ninjas increased their chakra output, and a towering sea of flames came surging toward him.

Facing the rolling heatwave, Sen wore an expression of pure enjoyment.

"Hahaha, flames! My favorite food~"

Uchiha Sen tilted his head back and opened his mouth, preparing to swallow all the flames like Natsu.

[...What the hell is in your head?! There are no Dragon Slayer Mages in this world! Can't you act normal for once?!]

[Ding! The optimal escape route has been arranged for the host. Please move quickly according to the red arrow.]

"You're the abnormal one, you damn idiot!"

After cursing angrily, he completely ignored the system prompt and simply held his head high, fearlessly watching the flames rush toward him.

The three Root members exchanged glances from the corners of their eyes. What did that mean? Was he cursing the three of them?

This cannot be tolerated!

They all increased their chakra output. What had originally been C-rank ninjutsu was forcibly pushed to the power of B-rank ninjutsu.

"Clang!"

The Kubikiribōchō collided fiercely with a kunai. Perhaps sensing the blazing heat behind him, Zabuza Momochi looked back. Good grief, what was Lord Sen doing? Why was he standing there with his mouth wide open? And where was Haku?

Looking past Uchiha Sen, Zabuza saw Haku grilling meat by the River...

No way? Wasn't Haku supposed to guard Lord Sen's side?

Forget it, why am I worrying about that...?

After thinking it through, Zabuza began focusing on the Root jonin before him. Although the other man was also a Wood Release ninja, compared to Lord Sen from before, the difference was like heaven and earth. Those people from the Hidden Leaf Village had actually sent only one Root jonin and three chunin for this mission. Who were they looking down on?

Shimura Danzō was gambling. According to the investigation, Sen's strength had periods of weakness. Sometimes he would injure himself by tripping and falling; other times, he seemed absurdly powerful.

[Hole-Hole Monster! Headquarters orders Hole-Hole Monster to move according to the red arrow!]

"Hmph! I'm not some Hole-Hole Monster. I'm Flame Dragon Natsu!"

[Damn it! I'm really at a loss with you! Forget it... it's already too late...]

[Ding! Beyond-Limit Experience activated. Character: Flame Dragon Natsu. Experience duration: 120 seconds. Countdown begins: 01:59.]

Without a sound, Uchiha Sen became the world's only Dragon Slayer Mage. As though he had sensed something, Sen suddenly felt genuine hunger in his stomach when he looked at the flames before him.

"I'll take a breath~"

The towering sea of flames flowed into Uchiha Sen's body through his mouth. On the other side of the flames, the three Root ninjas had their vision blocked by the firelight and believed they had successfully hit Sen. One of them said:

"It seems we hit the target. Should we stop for now and check?"

"No, burn him a little longer. Wasn't that guy acting pretty arrogant just now?"

"Fine, full output! The captain's side doesn't seem too intense yet. I agree, let's burn him a while longer! Eating barbecue, huh? I'll turn him into barbecue!"

The three of them fully circulated the chakra in their bodies, maintaining the continuous stream of flames.

Haku, who was mixing sauce by the River, noticed the scene and froze completely.

Oh my god... Lord Sen actually swallowed the flames into his stomach... just like he said... isn't this the special ability of the Dragon Slayer Mage Lord Sen talked about...?

The three Root ninjas also noticed Haku's expression and said smugly:

"Haha, look at that guy by the River. He's completely dumbfounded. Maybe that arrogant bastard has already been roasted to a crisp by us, hahaha!"

"This is what happens when you oppose Root!"

"I feel like something's wrong. The flames are gradually getting weaker!"

That was right. Even though the three of them were continuously maintaining the technique, Sen's devouring speed was even faster. The sea of flames was visibly shrinking.

Boom!

A pillar of fire shot into the sky, and a powerful blast swept away the sea of flames. Uchiha Sen, wrapped in fire, looked coldly at the three of them.

"I, Dragon Slayer Mage Flame Dragon Sen, have arrived!"