章 91: Cleaning Up
The masked ninja's calm demeanor belied the gravity of the situation, knowing that this battle could be his final stand. However, when he embarked on this mission, he never expected to return alive.
But, his survival was never the objective of this mission. The only unfortunate demerit is the absence of a chance to file a final report for his lord. Nevertheless, he knew his lord would always be prepared for situations similar to this. The ones embarking on the mission would not be exclusive to his team.
However, this was no longer the thoughts on his mind because he had a battle to focus on.
As the masked ninja immersed himself in the preheat of the battle, thoughts of his lord and mission faded into insignificance, replaced by the unwavering determination to give his all until the very end, regardless of whether his valiant efforts would go unnoticed by those living in the light, basking in the glow of their efforts in the darkness.
As the Shino clones closed in on their target, shurikens were hurled in their direction, multiplying rapidly as they sliced through the air.
However, the enemy effortlessly countered with the same technique. But as the clones tugged on a seemingly insignificant thread, a portion of the shurikens veered back, launching a surprise assault from behind!
Unperturbed, the enemy pressed forward, sidestepping the most lethal projectiles while disregarding the rest, allowing the shurikens to carve deep gashes into his body.
In a swift motion, his mouth inflated, spewing forth a volley of small fireballs into the sky.
These fiery projectiles descended upon the Shino clones, who skillfully evaded, only to be astonished as the fireballs relentlessly pursued them. It was the Phoenix Sage Fire technique - a C-rank maneuver that enabled the wielder to manipulate their chakra and guide the trajectory of their fireballs!
With evasion futile, two clones abruptly halted, their hands rapidly forming seals. "Water Release: Gunshot technique!" they exclaimed in unison.
Their mouths opened, unleashing orb-shaped water projectiles that accurately intercepted the anticipated paths of the guided fireballs, extinguishing their flames and simultaneously dislodging the concealed shuriken within.
In a whirlwind of intense combat, the other two clones blurred into motion, their kunai cutting through the air with precision and speed, creating a deadly dance around the enemy.
Despite the enemy's valiant efforts to fend off their relentless assault, his back pressed against the ominous backdrop of menacing chakra threads that threatened to slice him apart.
The enemy's years of experience as a high-end ninja proved to be useful, but Shino's mastery of taijutsu was no mere facade.
With each calculated strike, honed through his training and the combat assistant's optimized moves through its real-time analysis of the enemy, he exploited every ounce of the enemy's weakness. Cracks in the enemy's mask betrayed the toll of his struggle, a testament to the relentless onslaught he faced.
Had the clones possessed greater agility and chakra reserves, the outcome of the battle might have already been decided. Alas, his clones were a nerf to the full extent of his abilities, but even so, the enemy's impending defeat seemed inevitable. The odds were stacked against him - outnumbered and outclassed.
However, Shino's strategic mindset was never inclined towards engaging in battles of sheer stamina.
It wasn't a matter of his clone's chakra being limited, though it played a role. Even if chakra was boundless, Shino held a reluctance to prolong conflicts unnecessarily.
He understood the inherent risks that came with prolonged battles - the increased probability of unwanted outside interference loomed over the battlefield.
Furthermore, Shino had another pressing event awaiting his presence, a reminder that time was a luxury he couldn't afford to squander in this confrontation.
Therefore, in a surprising turn, the two clones engaged in combat swiftly passed a kunai to the other two approaching clones who had just successfully deflected the volley of fireballs. Snatching the kunai with one hand, the newly arrived clones flickered backward, channeling chakra into the thin thread attached to the blade.
Shock washed over the enemy as he realized the imminent danger closing in on him, his gaze sweeping over the thin threads dancing through the air. The chakra threads converged with alarming speed, ensnaring him from all directions.
Despite his instinct to evade, the two clones before him blocked his escape route, their poised kunai threatening a fatal strike. Located within the chakra threads' entrapment, astonishingly, they seemed unfazed by the encroaching threads, as if their lives held no consequence.
A momentary confusion flickered through the enemy's mind as he witnessed the threads pass effortlessly through the bodies of the two Shino clones, yet no blood was drawn.
These were not mere shadow clones, it was another type of clone with an abnormal ability to let foreign objects pass through them! No wonder they had no intentions to dodge.
Although their strange resilience bewildered him, the enemy commander knew he didn't have time to be distracted by these intricate mysteries.
Squinting behind his mask, he understood that his only option was to face the imminent attack from the clones head-on, ignoring the fatal threat they may pose in exchange for a slim chance to escape. Determinedly, his reaction was quick as his hands swiftly formed seals, intending to employ ninjutsu as his means of escape.
However, his eyes widened in genuine shock as an unsettling realization dawned upon him. The chakra coursing through his body was abruptly disrupted, manipulated by unseen entities that had infiltrated his flesh.
Unbeknownst to him, a legion of insidious bugs had infested his body, remaining dormant until this critical moment when they revealed their true intentions.
In the Root repository, there were naturally methods to deal with these bugs within his body, but this required some time, and the delay brought by this interruption was fatal.
Fwip! In mere moments, the chakra line connecting the clones' kunai became taut, ensnaring the enemy and binding him tightly. The threads even wrapped around the enemy's face, causing his mask to crack and reveal his emotionless eyes, devoid of emotions as he questioned the clones, "What are you?"
But Shino had no intention of engaging in lengthy conversation. Before the enemy's words even faded, the four clones swiftly completed their seals with one hand, disappearing in a flicker of movement, exerting a strong force on the chakra line...
In that instant, the enemy's eyes bulged as the threads, strangling his body from all directions, sliced into his body and tore him apart.
Rip! The sound of ripping flesh filled the air, mingling with the splattering of blood that danced through the air and adorned the entangled chakra threads, bearing witness to the dismemberment of their captive.
Shino's cold voice resonated from multiple directions, its chilling tone piercing through the aftermath. "Body Flicker Style: Execution Technique."
The Shino clones rose from their kneeling positions, releasing the chakra line and turning to face the grotesque remains, their faces stoic, devoid of any fluctuation over the fact of being the executor of this gruesome death.
A faint distortion in space revealed a camouflaged Shino stepping out from within the chakra threads blockading the forest path. The five clones nodded in unison, a silent understanding passing between them.
One clone approached the bloody remnants, carefully collecting the scattered remains and sealing them within a scroll, while the others dispersed into swarms of bugs, freely escaping into the nearby forest as Karina redirected their computational power towards the main battlefield, where the remaining squads of ninjas clashed with the zergs and insect clones.
As Shino packed up the corpse, he noticed the scattered explosive tags strewn amidst the gruesome aftermath.
"As expected of an elite death-warrior trained by Root, even on the brink of death, he understood the art of dragging his opponents to death with him using talk no jutsu. Fortunately, I refrained from indulging in unnecessary conversation."
Yet, even if the explosion had occurred, Shino knew he had taken precautions to maintain a safe distance.
His self-created execution technique had been optimized for both efficiency and safety, a testament to his meticulous planning and calculated approach to combat.
He knew he would encounter enemies who have lovely death thralls in the future, and he didn't want to sacrifice a clone if he didn't need to. After all, he can never have enough accumulated. It's always best to have more.
Amidst the chaos of the main battlefield, the Shino clones relentlessly eliminated the remaining enemy ninjas, leaving none alive. It was an arduous and grueling battle, as these opponents were no ordinary fighters. They were trained elites, disciplined killing machines who fought back with organized tactics, refusing to go down without a fight, and they didn't hold any thoughts of surrender.
Shino couldn't help but marvel at the intensity of the conflict unfolding before him. It felt like a miniature war, each clash filled with calculated moves and strategic maneuvers.
It was truly a lamentable waste to be sacrificed in these underhanded schemes, driven by the ambitions of Danzo.
"If only Danzo had deployed these formidable ninjas to defend Konoha, the village would have faced far fewer troubles and sacrifices." Shino's head shook with a mix of disappointment and a hint of resignation, "Not that I care… but it would be nice if he stopped making trouble for me. Biomass is everywhere, but it's not easy to get with so many eyes staring at my zergs."
Nevertheless, amidst the sacrifices made, Shino found solace in the fact that the fallen were mere bugs and zergs. Their lifeless bodies would be recycled as biomass, ensuring that their loss served a greater purpose. It was an acceptable price to pay for victory.
As Shino observed the live feed from his hidden base, his gaze soon turned to Karina, his hardworking companion, and asked in a serious tone, "Have all the loose ends been taken care of?"
Karina, equally focused and composed, nodded and replied, "Yes, most of them have been dealt with efficiently. However, there is one slippery individual who managed to escape our grasp."
Shino's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned in closer, his voice laced with intrigue, "Tell me more about this elusive mouse that slipped away."
Karina's eyes narrowed slightly as she bowed her head, diligently continuing her report.
[I discovered a Root ninja wearing a distinct monkey mask and white cloak. He was not part of the assaulting party but was rather observing the chaos from a distance.]
Observing the blurry image Karina displayed, Shino's eyebrows raised in interest, his analytical mind already piecing together the puzzle. "Why haven't you eliminated him?" he inquired, wanting to understand the reason behind this unexpected development.
Karina's response was swift.
[A tentative attack had been made, leading to the target's retreat. Our army had been deployed to chase him, but he possesses exceptional skills in evasion and detection. It seems he can detect the bugs I sent to monitor him, and he has been employing various tactics to avoid my radar. Judging from his abilities during the brief confrontations, he is no ordinary foe and is estimated to possess the strength of at least a jonin. We will need to deploy our ninjutsu insect clones to have a chance of incapacitating the target.]
Shino nodded, his mind already calculating the next move as he commanded, his voice firm and resolute. "Since he is here, there's no need to return. Karina, keep track of him and ensure that he doesn't slip away. We'll clean him up after we finish here."
Knowing the importance of this task, Karina acknowledged his orders with determined nods.
[Our network of zergs throughout the Land of Fire have been mobilized. I will continue to monitor him closely and make sure he remains within our grasp.]
As Karina continued her cleanup duties, Shino's gaze returned to the screen, his mind already strategizing how to confront this hidden ninja wearing the monkey mask, while his body throbbed with anticipation, fully aware that the true show will soon begin.
On the other side, as Shino sensed the zergs transporting the fallen bodies into the hidden biosphere below, his attention turned to his remaining four clones. Though he remained silent, his thoughts conveyed a message to Karina, "I'll be eagerly anticipating your performance."
The other four clones nodded in understanding, and with a swirl of smoke, they transformed into masked ninjas clad in the distinct attire of Root. In a display of their prowess, their bodies flickered away, disappearing into the flames that consumed the village.
Shino's senses extended throughout the ravaged village, detecting the approaching presence of Hinata, Choji, and Ino, coming to offer their support like third-rate characters who only show up to the scene after everything was settled.
He could also sense the climax of the final battle unfolding in the distance.
All the key actors had converged, and it was time to bring this show to its long-awaited conclusion.
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