Chapitre 46: Chapter 46: Desperate Explosion
Due to his previous life experiences, Yuto understood one principle clearly.
Many times, the things written on paper do not reflect the true intentions of the leader. The emotions conveyed through the leader's tone and expression are the critical information a subordinate should pay close attention to.
"No matter their purpose, stop them from approaching the Land of Fire." The mission brief gave broad completion conditions: just stop them. Making Kirigakure retreat, deceive, intimidate, or negotiate... as long as these guys do not approach the Land of Fire, the mission is considered complete.
However, when Yuto asked, "To what extent can I go?" he distinctly saw Hiruzen's indifferent gaze, his tone as calm as iron frozen in winter.
"Kill those ants from the Land of Water, twist off their heads, drain their blood, and bring their heads back to see me."
This is what the Third Hokage truly wanted to say.
As for why he didn't say it directly and used the more moderate term "stop" in the mission brief, it was likely due to the special nature of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Although they share a title, the combat power among them varies greatly. Some, without their famous swords, are only at the special Jonin level, while some, like "Kisame Hoshigaki," are formidable even without their swords.
Without knowing the enemy's combat power, no killing orders were given rashly. After all, this was an assessment for promotion to Jonin. Sacrificing potential elites' lives would be too wasteful, something Hiruzen would not do.
As a scheming spy, Yuto was adept at reading people's minds and quickly understood Hiruzen's intentions.
So he spent considerable effort searching for clues, and with the Byakugan's unique scouting and farsight abilities, he confirmed the location where Kirigakure's team was crossing, in the Land of Waves.
In the far-reaching vision of the Byakugan, he saw the Blast Sword: Shibuki.
Jinpachi Munashi... a master, but only just a master.
Killable.
Boom!
The explosion's force was irresistible; Yuto didn't dare to take it head-on and rapidly retreated.
Using the force of the explosion, he flew over thirty meters, his feet landing heavily on the lake surface, raising huge waves that eventually fell as fine rain.
Yuto's clothes were soaked, the veins around his eyes bulging.
"Hmph..." He tore off the scorched sleeve, his expression void of emotion.
"Brat!" A thunderous roar came from the side, faster than the sound was a large sword covered with explosive tags.
Yuto suddenly fell back, dodging the sword.
To Jinpachi's surprise, the arrogant and hateful Konoha shinobi did not take this chance to distance himself but instead threw his hands back, slamming them onto the lake surface, propelling himself closer.
Jinpachi felt a chill; when it came to close-quarters combat, Yuto was an undeniable expert, thanks to his clan's heritage.
However, someone who swings a large sword day and night naturally has strategies to deal with close combat. He leaped back with even greater speed, like a startled wildcat, and quickly widened the distance.
Yuto didn't pursue; instead, he stood straight, lifting his leg until the sole faced the sky.
In the next moment, the leg came down heavily like a battle axe from the sky, chakra almost condensed into a point.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
The lake water within a hundred-meter radius was pushed away, lifted into the air, with the resulting waves crashing onto the shore, breaking trees and destroying roads.
The soft mud at the lake's bottom was exposed.
Jinpachi, unprepared, lost his foothold and could only fall freely without any support.
Conversely, Yuto used the recoil from the Heavenly Foot of Pain to attack again.
Dodging the large sword, he punched Jinpachi in the abdomen. Due to the Heavenly Foot of Pain, Yuto's chakra was slightly sluggish, and in haste, he only used his most familiar Gentle Fist.
But that was enough.
The chakra surged into the enemy's body, almost instantly destroying Jinpachi's stomach.
Blood, mixed with visceral fragments, spurted from Jinpachi's mouth, staining Yuto's chest.
'Victory!' Yuto's heart moved, and he aimed to kill, fingers poised to sever the enemy's throat.
However, at that moment, a sudden force hit his left side.
Jinpachi had detonated the tags wrapped around his sword.
The self-damaging tactic had an unexpected effect, blasting both of them across the lake to the rain forest on the shore.
Yuto's blood churned, but half a year's rigorous training had made him much stronger. His control over his body and chakra far surpassed the past.
Swallowing the metallic taste, he adjusted his posture, landing in a water puddle in the rain forest without injury.
"Something's wrong, the water is too heavy..." Yuto's movement slowed. In the Byakugan's view, a dense mass of water was creeping up his legs.
Water Prison Technique!
The Kirigakure shinobi accompanying Jinpachi finally joined the battle at this moment.
As expected of elite Chunin, their timing was impeccable. They intervened just as Yuto landed, the moment he had the least control over his body. If it were an ordinary Jonin, being caught by the Water Prison Technique would instantly turn the tables, making them a lamb to the slaughter.
Unfortunately, their opponent was Yuto.
"Revolving Heaven!"
The branch family youth shook his hands, first dispersing the heavy water clinging to his legs. Then, his body spun rapidly, chakra gushing from his tenketsu, forming an impenetrable spherical shield.
Boom...
The four Kirigakure Chunin, including the one using the Water Prison Technique, were all flung away, thrown far into the distance.
Yuto stopped spinning, his face pale.
Using both the Heavenly Foot of Pain and Revolving Heaven in quick succession had greatly drained his chakra, causing his muscles and chakra pathways to ache.
This highlighted his current combat weakness: specializing in close combat with little to no mid- to long-range ninjutsu. Facing a sword expert like Jinpachi, he had to rely on his body, which was highly dangerous.
"Luckily, I already shattered your stomach..." the branch family youth thought, focusing on the nearby Jinpachi.
The sight of his enemy made Yuto's heart skip a beat.
At this moment, Jinpachi knelt, holding his sword, neither fleeing nor begging for mercy. Instead, like a desperate beast, he screamed at Yuto: "Die, kid! We'll die together!"
He intended to detonate the explosive tags on his sword completely!
The diameter thirty centimeters, length one meter explosion scroll on the sword… even excluding the mechanisms and transfer cloth with explosive tags, it held at least twenty thousand tags!
At this distance… with my speed, it's impossible to kill him before the scroll explodes, Yuto concluded.
"Don't be impulsive, let's talk..." Yuto's figure blurred as he madly dashed backward, trying to provoke the enemy with words to buy time.
"Hahahaha! Die! Just die!"
Jinpachi screamed and roared.
A mushroom cloud full of destructive energy rose at the island's edge.
(End of Chapter)
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