Bab 139: Chapter 139: Unrivaled Below Kage-Level!
Kirigakure Base Camp.
The forty-something commander, Hozuki Shingetsu, stepped out of his tent after hearing the commotion from his subordinates outside.
He looked at the towering pillar of light piercing the clouds in the distance, frowning. "It seems the Sand shinobi have encountered a powerful enemy. At this level, who could it be?"
"Have the Sannin all come out?"
"Or is it the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Hozuki Shingetsu glanced in another direction.
Fortunately, there were no major disturbances over there, which meant no significant enemies had been encountered.
"It looks like Konoha is more wary of Sunagakure."
Hozuki Shingetsu mused to himself, "It's to be expected. The Third Hokage of Konoha isn't a fool. He wouldn't believe that our attack is focused on just this one front."
"They probably see this as a feint."
"All the better— the more they underestimate us, the weaker their forces will be."
...
On the Kirigakure front, deep in the thick forest.
Blue electric light flickered, thunderous booms erupted occasionally, and the air was filled with the sound of blood-curdling screams.
A large number of Kirigakure shinobi were pursuing Shūichi, but one by one, they were being easily countered and killed by him using his extraordinary speed and formidable swordsmanship.
Here, because it was a shadow clone, Shūichi employed a completely different strategy from his real body.
He only attacked once the Kirigakure forces had entered the forest, engaging in hit-and-run tactics, continuously wearing down their forces as he retreated through the dense trees.
Boom!
A torrent of water surged from behind, forcing Shūichi to land and turn. A massive wall rose up in front of him, blocking the incoming water flow.
With a quick series of hand signs, Shūichi spat out a high-speed water jet, instantly slicing two Kirigakure shinobi in half as they leapt over the wall.
Splash!
The bodies of the two shinobi turned into water and collapsed to the ground. From the swirling streams on either side, two more Kirigakure shinobi emerged, their hand signs already complete. Two large water dragons rose into the air and dove toward Shūichi.
Clap!
Shūichi brought his hands together, and the water vapor around him rapidly condensed, spinning at high speed. Two water dragons materialized, infused with the electricity coursing from his body.
Water Release + Lightning Release: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!
Boom!
The four water dragons collided, the water exploding in all directions, scattering electric sparks.
The two Kirigakure shinobi who had launched the attack immediately leaped backward, and the others standing in the trees hurled kunai wrapped in explosive tags.
Before they could detonate, their bodies were suddenly engulfed in searing white flames.
Fire Release – Firing Biscuit Jutsu.
However, this wasn't the first time Shūichi had used this technique, and the Kirigakure shinobi quickly doused the flames with Water Release.
But Shūichi had already transformed into a streak of lightning, easily dodging the incoming kunai.
Two of the shinobi in the trees were just about to retreat when their bodies suddenly froze, eyes widening as they watched Shūichi swiftly close in.
With wind chakra flowing rapidly through his palms, Shūichi swung his hands, and a fine line of blood erupted from the necks of the two Kirigakure shinobi.
Shūichi continued to flee, while the furious Kirigakure forces screamed and chased after him.
Wind Release, Fire Release, Lightning Release, Water Release, Earth Release, and even Genjutsu—Shūichi unleashed all the ninjutsu he had mastered, using them to their fullest potential in this battle.
His incredible speed, terrifying reaction time, rapid execution of jutsu, and versatile abilities left the Kirigakure shinobi helpless, despite their overwhelming numbers.
They simply couldn't pin him down.
And in this forest, Shūichi also had the advantage of the terrain.
Watching Shūichi fleeing ahead, the commander of the Kirigakure unit, Hozuki Metsuin, gritted his teeth in frustration.
He had fought Shūichi before, and if not for his Hydrification Technique, he would have been killed.
Even so, the Lightning Release attacks had countered him. If not for the help of his comrades, he would've been dead by now.
Now, he could only rely on the numerical advantage to continuously wear down Shūichi's chakra.
"When we catch this guy, I'll make sure he suffers the most excruciating water torture this world has ever known!"
Hozuki Metsuin sneered inwardly.
Just then, the light ahead brightened.
The forest was coming to an end!
Hozuki Metsuin's eyes gleamed, and he immediately shouted, "Increase speed! Surround him! Don't let him escape!"
Shūichi had already reached the edge of the forest.
He suddenly stopped, standing on a tree branch. Bringing his hands together, the water vapor around him began to rapidly condense, swirling with electricity.
In an instant, three massive water dragons, crackling with electricity, burst from the spinning vortex of water and surged toward the pursuing Kirigakure shinobi.
"Scatter!"
The shinobi in the lead didn't have time to form hand signs, and the lightning-infused water dragons, each over ten meters in diameter, weren't something a few explosive tags could deal with.
The shinobi in the front scattered in all directions, while those following quickly formed hand signs, spitting out streams of water that rapidly expanded and clashed with the three water dragons.
Boom!
Water splashed everywhere, the electric currents spreading through the deluge. The Kirigakure shinobi quickly leaped to the trees to avoid the electrified water.
"This is the final wave… Let's go!"
Feeling his chakra almost depleted, Shūichi took a deep breath and shot forward like a bullet, gliding at high speed across the surface of the water.
Water Body Flicker!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
High-pressure water jets shot out, targeting the shinobi in the trees.
Blood sprayed, limbs fell, and screams echoed through the forest.
The Kirigakure shinobi in the trees began to counterattack as well, throwing ninja tools, detonating explosive tags, and launching ninjutsu, but all were swiftly evaded by Shūichi, who skillfully glided over the water using Water Release.
Moreover, the Water Severing Wave technique was slicing through the trees like a sickle cutting through wheat, causing them to collapse. The shinobi standing atop the trees were forced to drop down as their footing disappeared.
Zzzzzzzz!
The sound of a thousand birds chirping echoed as lightning surged through Shūichi's limbs. With Chidori Body Flicker, he brought his hands together. From the water beneath him, countless droplets began to rise, infused with lightning as they shot toward the surrounding Kirigakure shinobi.
Water Style: Heavens Convergence Lightning Strike!
This technique was an enhancement of the Water Release: Water–Heavens Convergence, incorporating Lightning Release to make the water droplets move faster and hit harder.
Although Shūichi had never specifically trained in the Heavens Convergence technique before, his mastery of chakra control and shape manipulation made it easy for him to use it effectively.
It was like a storm of torrential rain, pounding relentlessly. The sound of droplets piercing through the air echoed continuously.
Those Kirigakure shinobi who couldn't dodge in time fell to the ground convulsing from the electrical shock.
Those hit in vital areas died instantly, while others who weren't hit fatally still suffered paralysis, unable even to scream as they fell into the water.
In the blink of an eye, over a dozen Kirigakure shinobi were down.
At that moment, Hozuki Metsuin, who had dodged the Heavens Convergence Lightning Strike, noticed that the lightning around Shūichi's body had faded, and he was now standing still on the water. Immediately, he created a water clone, using the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Shūichi, raising his hand and pointing his index finger at the back of Shūichi's head.
Water Gun Technique!
A highly concentrated droplet of water formed at the tip of his finger, but Shūichi turned and smiled at that moment.
In the next instant, Shūichi exploded into a mass of intense lightning, shooting out in all directions.
Hozuki Metsuin's water clone was immediately pierced by the lightning, dispersing into a stream of water. The Kirigakure shinobi who had fallen into the water moments before convulsed once more, smoke rising from their bodies as the electrical current swept through them.
"Lightning Release Clone?"
"No way, he was just using Water Release techniques!"
"Could it be...a Shadow Clone?"
"Find his real body, quick!"
The Kirigakure shinobi shouted frantically.
The sensory ninja, wide-eyed and swallowing nervously, stammered, "That…that guy is the real body."
Hozuki Metsuin and the other shinobi froze.
One of the Kirigakure shinobi asked in disbelief, "So, we've been fighting a Shadow Clone this entire time?"
The sensory ninja's voice trembled as they replied, "I…I'm afraid so."
For a moment, silence fell over the group of dozens of Kirigakure shinobi, including Hozuki Metsuin.
Hozuki Metsuin glanced over the group, silently counting their numbers, and his heart sank.
Forty-one!
Forty-one dead or injured!
And the opponent was just a Shadow Clone!
This was…
Hozuki Metsuin found it hard to accept. His thirty-plus years as a shinobi told him that this was impossible.
It had to be that this Konoha brat had split off a Shadow Clone to distract them at some point, while the real body escaped, and they simply hadn't noticed.
Hozuki Metsuin took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration, and gave the order, "Start rescuing the injured, immediately!"
The Kirigakure shinobi scattered to search for their surviving comrades. After a moment of thought, Hozuki Metsuin spoke again, "Does anyone know who this guy is?"
One shinobi replied, "Metsuin-sama, this guy is most likely Konoha's prodigy, Shūichi Hoshita."
"The one who became a Chunin at six and a Jonin at eleven!"
Hozuki Metsuin frowned. "It's him?"
He had heard of Shūichi Hoshita before, but the person he just saw didn't seem like an eleven-year-old.
"It has to be Shūichi Hoshita. There's no one else around his age that fits!"
"He's even got a bounty from both Iwagakure and Sunagakure!"
Hozuki Metsuin nodded, shouting, "Then remember this name!"
"We'll make sure he pays. He'll answer for the lives of our fallen comrades!"
The Kirigakure shinobi responded in unison, rallying in anger.
Hozuki Metsuin then gave another order, "Mizuyun, head back to the main camp immediately and report everything to Lord Shingetsu!"
The young shinobi named Mizuyun promptly acknowledged the order and set off.
...
At the Sunagakure main camp, upon hearing the report from the subordinate who had returned from investigating, Chiyo abruptly stood up. The other Sunagakure Jonin in the tent were equally shocked.
"All... all of them are dead?"
The Sunagakure shinobi who delivered the report had a pale face. "There were no survivors on the battlefield. All the bodies were severely mutilated, likely from a terrifying Fire Release attack."
"We did a rough count. Aside from the infiltration team, even Lord Feilian... they all perished."
"And judging from the battle traces, it's highly likely that only Shūichi Hoshita was responsible."
"And... he hasn't even left the area."
Chiyo clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.
A hundred elite shinobi had been completely wiped out, and very likely by just one person. This was...
Chiyo took a deep breath to calm herself and ordered, "Break camp immediately!"
"The entire army will move!"
The Jonin around her were startled. "Lady Chiyo, this..."
Chiyo raised her hand to stop them from speaking and said in a low voice, "Our intentions are already clear."
"And frankly, it's no surprise. Konoha has long been prepared for this."
"The issue now is, how many more troops will it take for us to cross the Land of Rivers and gather intelligence on Konoha's border defenses?"
"There is only one way forward: advance our entire army toward Konoha's border, narrowing Konoha's defensive depth."
"Even if we're engaging in an intelligence war, we need to reduce our losses."
"It's clear that Konoha intends to turn the Land of Rivers into a layered battlefield to weaken us."
The other Sunagakure shinobi fell silent. Then one of them asked, "That guy, Shūichi Hoshita—Lady Chiyo, are you not confident you can take him down with your puppet army?"
Chiyo shot a cold glance at the speaker. "Even I cannot face an elite force of over a hundred shinobi and come out unscathed. Not even with the puppet army."
"And do you think my puppet army could defeat the Third Kazekage?"
The Sunagakure shinobi were stunned. They hadn't expected Chiyo to compare Shūichi to the Third Kazekage, viewing him as someone on the same level.
Chiyo then spoke sternly, "You must understand—this is Konoha's youngest Jonin, the youngest in the entire shinobi world, and he has already surpassed the abilities of a typical shinobi."
"Even Konoha's White Fang didn't have this level of power!"
After saying this, Chiyo ordered, "Inform the Kirigakure forces of our decision. I suspect their losses won't be small either."
"We've all underestimated Konoha!"
...
Deep in the forest, Shūichi Hoshita, who had been resting, received feedback from his Shadow Clone's memories.
"With the support of the Yin Seal, I suppose I've already transcended the limits of an ordinary shinobi."
"Without the chakra from the Yin Seal, I wouldn't have been able to use the Blaze Release and Fire Release Chakra Mode. I wouldn't have been able to fully unleash my abilities."
"So ultimately, everything comes down to chakra and physical constitution..."
"But even without the Yin Seal's chakra, my ability to cast jutsu without hand signs and my overall skill set still put me at the level of an elite Jonin—across all fields."
Shūichi assessed himself quietly. "In other words..."
"I'm invincible below Kage level, and at Kage level, I can at least trade one for one?"
Shūichi couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.
If he were compared to someone like Uchiha Itachi of the same age who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he wouldn't be lacking in any way.
Even Itachi's Susanoo wouldn't pose much of a threat to him. Amaterasu would be troublesome, but the most dangerous thing was still Tsukuyomi.
And he hadn't even gone all out earlier.
He hadn't used the Bijju Sealing Mark, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Flame-Wind Rasenshuriken, or Lava Release: Rasenshuriken.
"Not enough!"
"It's still not enough..."
Shūichi reined in his brief moment of satisfaction.
If he didn't set his sights on surpassing the Sage of Six Paths, or subduing Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with a flip of his hand, then it wouldn't be enough.
His goal was the stars, the sea, and a grand future!
And there was also Uchiha Madara, who liked to dance around on the battlefield—still hooked up to life support somewhere, wasn't he?
Considering that Madara had managed to manipulate Kirigakure to implant the Three-Tails in Rin Nohara, along with a curse seal, it meant he was still capable of action.
"Is he sustaining himself by wearing White Zetsu as a biological suit?"
Shūichi's thoughts drifted far.
At this point, Uchiha Madara was likely the only individual in the shinobi world that truly concerned him.
Nagato's Rinnegan was powerful, but he was still too young at this stage.
Thinking about these formidable figures only fueled Shūichi's motivation.
His current achievements were truly insignificant in comparison.
One day, when he could single-handedly take on the Allied Shinobi Forces like Madara, he'd consider that just barely good enough.
And when he could capture tailed beasts as pets, that's when he could start showing off.
...
Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Shūichi created a Shadow Clone and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to head toward Pakura and the others.
The war was far from over!
(End of Chapter)
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