Undercurrents Stirring

In the northern part of the Forest of Death, near North One Entrance.

The dense trees blocked out the sunlight, plunging the entire forest into gloom. The silence among the trees was shattered by a series of shrill screams.

"Don't! Please, don't kill me!"

"We're willing to submit! We'll follow you! Please spare us!"

"Ah!! We've already surrendered. Wh-why are you still killing us?"

In a clearing among the trees, crackling lightning coiled around Raiga Kurosuki's body. Blue lightning pierced the darkness, and in its glow, his twisted face looked even more deranged.

Before him stood three badly wounded Yugakure Ninja. He had utterly crushed them, leaving them without even the strength to resist.

The three had originally intended to keep a low profile, pass through this area, and reach the Central Tower in search of an opportunity to complete the exam. They had never intended to provoke anyone. But before the already-unhinged Raiga Kurosuki, their restraint and retreating were utterly meaningless.

"Heh heh. Surrender?"

Raiga Kurosuki let out a mocking laugh, his voice filled with twisted savagery.

"Kirigakure has no use for worthless trash who surrenders!"

Before he finished speaking, the Ninja Blade in his hand burst with lightning and swept toward the three of them. Roaring bolts of lightning swallowed them in an instant.

All three bodies stiffened at once, then collapsed limply to the ground, utterly lifeless.

Three kills with one strike!

Blood soaked through the fallen leaves and quickly pooled into a shallow dark-red puddle on the ground.

Raiga Kurosuki sheathed his Ninja Blade, but the Lightning Release Chakra in his body continued to rage. His chest heaved violently. The savagery and humiliation suppressed in his eyes had not faded with the killings. Instead, they had grown even more intense.

That scene on the streets of