The Hunt

Meanwhile, a tragic "cat and mouse" game is unfolding in the Konoha Forest.

Numerous broken, thick trees, huge craters everywhere, and the horrified expressions on the faces of many dying Cloud Village ninjas—the heavy stench of blood has completely enveloped this "Forest of Death."

This place has become Bloody Mist Village...

Eiji's blue eyes swept across the dark forest like a ghost. Apart from Valui, Jonin, and a few Chunin who were still putting up a stubborn resistance, the remaining Cloud Village ninjas all fled in all directions like lambs to the slaughter!

These Cloud Village ninjas initially believed they had victory in their grasp, so they launched a collective attack on Eiji.

To their surprise, whether it was Kunai, Shuriken, or various Lightning Release Ninjutsu, these attacks would pause briefly not far from Eiji before either being deflected or falling to the ground.

At first, a few Kumogakure stubbornly continued to attack Eiji at close range. However, just as Eiji's hand revealed a pale blue light, which he used to crush the heads of those people, the situation changed.

The entire Forest's style has completely changed.

In the dark Forest, a Kumogakure held Kunai in his hand, his expression filled with fear, his breathing rapid, and every hair on his body seemed to be warning him!

Where, where...!?

Explosions and screams of their comrades echoed from the depths of the forest, sometimes near, sometimes far. Even the disciplined Cloud Village ninjas couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat under such pressure!

Getting closer...

The sound is getting closer...

He's getting closer!

The Cloud Village ninja's Adam's apple bobbed, his mouth was half-open, and he felt his throat was incredibly dry!

The crisp sound of his shoes crunching on leaves and twigs tightened his nerves, and then the dark depths of a pair of Azure eyes slowly drew closer—

"No, don't come any closer..."

Approaching, with pure white hair and an arrogant expression, it was Ryuuzaki Eiji!

He smiled!

"Don't come any closer...!" The Cloud Village ninja took a half step back, his legs going weak, and roared with all his might, "I told you not to come near me!!!"

A thick wooden stake flew straight at me, gradually growing larger in my pupils!

Boom--!

More bad news came from the Forest.

In just half an hour, more than thirty Ninja had died at his hands, including five Chunin and one Jonin.

Why would I be beaten so badly by a child that I ran away with my head in my hands?

Why can't I attack this brat, but he can attack me?

What kind of supernatural Ninjutsu is that?

Is this what they meant before he left—that it was just a "simple" task?

Isn't the definition of "simple" a bit strange!?

"Hey, weren't you just being arrogant? Why are you running away?"

At this moment, Eiji was using the Kumogakure troops who were running for their lives. His leisurely appearance was just like a predator toying with its prey.

"Damn it! I'll fight you to the death!!!"

A Cloud Village ninja being chased drew his sword, turned around, and gritted his teeth as he faced Eiji. He could no longer bear the oppressive feeling!

He launched a deadly charge towards Eiji.

"Whoa, it's attacking me now? Instead of running away, it's actively approaching me?"

Eiji simply stared at the other person with his azure eyes, and then the two charged at each other.

As Eiji charged forward, he pressed his left hand against the scabbard of the Kusanagi Sword and gripped the hilt with his right.

Swish--

Sword drawn!

Eiji appeared instantly behind the Kumogakure Guardian.

He leaned slightly forward, raising his right arm, which held the sword, high in the air, assuming a posture of drawing and slashing.

Not a single drop of blood stained the blade of his sword.

Eiji stood up, twirling his sword before sheathing it.

"Fierce Bull Azure Dragon Slash"

The Cloud Kumogakure initially thought he was doomed when he saw Eiji's body vanish instantly, but after a few seconds, he realized he was unharmed and opened his tightly closed eyes.

He turned around and sneered, "Nothing happened! Tch, I thought you were some powerful swordsman, just a braggart!"

Just as he was about to launch another attack, Eiji spoke up.

"You are dead."

With his back to the Kumogakure, Eiji spoke calmly.

"What?"

At this moment, the Cloud Village ninja noticed a golden glow around his waist and abdomen!

His pupils dilated violently, and after letting out a wail, his body was split in two diagonally.

The Upper Body fell to the ground, while the Lower Body remained standing.

Looking at the dead enemy before him, a voice echoed in his mind saying, "Fusion Rate increased by 0.3%." "As expected of Chunin, the Experience Points given are plentiful."

◇

"Rasengan--!"

"Ugh!"

Kushina, wielding Rasengan, thrust it into the chest Chunin the Kumogakure, shoving the Rasengan directly into his abdomen!

The intense rotation of the Rasengan caused his entire body to spin around it like Rasengan!

The powerful impact sent him spinning backward, crashing through the wall behind him with a deafening roar, his body burying him in the rubble!

The cement walls and concrete pavement beside me were riddled with dents, as if they had been bombarded, and the dents were surrounded by a dense network of radial cracks.

"Damn it... what an exaggerated brat..."

Lying amidst the ruins, the burly Kumogakure spoke with a tone full of resentment and disbelief.

In the previous battle, this girl not only used a large number of physical Shadow Clone, but also used that terrifying Ninjutsu called "Rasengan" countless times!

As a result, numerous radial cracks have been left on the surrounding walls and roads.

Damn, are all kids these days this amazing?

Recalling the terrifying explosion in the Forest, he still felt a chill run down his spine; thinking about it this way, he realized he was relatively lucky...

Forget it, it's none of my business anymore, my consciousness can't hold on any longer.

The Kumogakure Village squad leader suddenly lost consciousness.

Kushina breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the last enemy defeated.

"Great, we won! Thanks everyone for your hard work!"

Kushina wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with her hand, then smiled brightly at her clones and spoke.

"Then you'd better do your best here, Main Body! Whether it's cultivation or romance, you have to Full Power!"

"I'm rooting for you! Go for it and take down Eiji in one fell swoop!"

"Don't forget our motto: we can't let Eiji steal the spotlight all by himself!"

Hearing her clones cheering her on, Kushina smiled and gave them a thumbs up.

"Hmm! I'd rather die than always hide behind a man. My motto is... a woman who fights with Full Power is a good woman!"

Bang bang bang--!

As her clones vanished one by one into smoke, Kushina let out a long sigh of relief. Then, as the tension suddenly disappeared, she collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted.

She gasped for breath, looking at the mess around her.

One against three is definitely tiring, but Eiji is taking on a hundred...

Although Kushina had great confidence in Eiji, the enemy this time was simply too dangerous.

We need to find Tsunade as soon as possible.

Oh, right! What are Grandma and Brother Nawaki doing at this time?