~ Support & Read 38 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!
❁❁❁❁
Konan looked coldly at Mangetsu Hōzuki.
Since Shin had ordered his death, she would carry it out. Konan was typically cold towards outsiders, only showing her gentle side to Shin.
“Die.”
Countless pieces of paper converged, forming a massive shuriken in Konan’s hand.
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, she instantly appeared behind Mangetsu Hōzuki, the paper shuriken slashing through him. It could cut through steel, let alone a human body.
However, Mangetsu wasn’t afraid of such attacks. As a member of the Hōzuki Clan, he possessed their secret technique: the Hydrification Technique.
This jutsu allowed him to liquefy his body at will, rendering physical attacks ineffective, much like a Logia Devil Fruit user’s elemental transformation in One Piece.
But it had weaknesses.
Lightning Release was its bane; it could turn the user into a jelly-like sculpture. Fire Release, if strong enough, could evaporate the water.
————
Mangetsu used the technique to narrowly escape death. Konan was momentarily surprised.
“Everyone, attack! Don’t tell me the combined strength of Kirigakure can’t defeat Shin Uzumaki! His power is just a rumor! Attack together!”
One of the Kiri elders rallied the ninja, urging them to attack Shin collectively.
“Still refusing to see the truth even when faced with death.”
Shin observed them. If they had simply accepted his terms earlier, they might have survived.
“<Susanoo!>”
While Susanoo wasn’t Shin’s strongest technique, it was one of the most intimidating.
Only Tengai Shinsei and Wood Release Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands surpassed its visual impact.
Other techniques, like the Truth-Seeking Orbs, were powerful but appeared unassuming, lacking deterrent effect against those unaware of their true power.
The Hundred-meter-tall Black Susanoo materialized—Its mere presence, its overwhelming pressure, froze the Kiri ninja in their tracks.
For the older Kiri ninja, this wasn’t their first time seeing Susanoo. The memory of its terrifying—World-destroying power instantly resurfaced.
Fear gripped them before the battle even began. Seeing Susanoo, some wanted to drop their weapons and surrender.
“Such a terrifying thing… a single stomp could probably cause mountains to crumble and the earth to split—No wonder Shin Uzumaki became the strongest in the Shinobi world.”
Hizashi Hyūga’s eyes filled with envy. He yearned for such power, though he knew it was unattainable for him.
Konan glanced at Shin’s Susanoo, then refocused on Mangetsu Hōzuki. She had to finish him off; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to face herself.
“<Fire Release: Great Flame Rasengan!>”
A ball of fire radiating terrifying heat formed in Konan’s hand. The air around it scorched instantly.
Mangetsu’s eyes filled with fear. Normally, he wouldn’t fear Fire Release—water counters fire.
But now, he wouldn’t dare claim water countered fire. Sweat dripped down his face; his Hydrification Technique left him severely dehydrated.
Mangetsu tried to flee, but Konan had already marked him with a Flying Thunder God formula. Escape was impossible.
Teleporting behind Mangetsu, Konan slammed the orange fireball down. Mangetsu was instantly vaporized, leaving only the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei clattering to the ground.
Konan glanced at Hiramekarei but ignored it. She had no interest in the ninja sword.
Firstly, it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing. Konan disliked strangely shaped weapons. Like most women, appearance mattered to her. This sword lacked visual appeal, so she didn’t like it.
————
As Konan finished off Mangetsu Hōzuki, Shin controlled his Susanoo and swung its sword.
The Perfect Body Susanoo could easily cleave mountains. The Kirigakure elders and other high-ranking officials were all killed in that single slash.
More than half of the Kiri ninja who had rushed over perished. The very terrain of Kirigakure was altered by Shin’s attack, a long canyon carved into the land.
Hundreds of Kiri ninja had arrived, yet more than half were lost in a single strike. Shin had intentionally spared the survivors.
If he had gotten serious, he could have sliced the entire village in half, resulting in far greater casualties.
The surviving ninja knelt on the ground, their eyes vacant, devoid of light.
Though this single strike hadn’t killed them, it had shattered their courage.
————
“See? I told you it was simple. What else do you want to do?”
Shin deactivated Susanoo and addressed Hiashi Hyūga.
Now was Hiashi’s time to step up and subdue the remaining ninja.
Honestly, if Shin’s goal had been simply to deal with Kirigakure, rather than helping Hiashi take control, a single Super Shinra Tensei would have sufficed to level the entire village.
“Is it… over just like that?”
Hiashi finally snapped back to reality. This was the first time he had witnessed Shin’s True power firsthand.
And what he saw might only be the tip of the iceberg. Yet even this glimpse filled Hiashi with utter dread.
“Now you just need to subdue them, then figure out how to handle the rest of the Kirigakure ninja.”
These were the elites of Kirigakure. If Hiashi could subdue them, the rest would likely follow.
Hiashi nodded and approached the remaining Kiri ninja, attempting to win their allegiance. He had expected it to be difficult, but it turned out surprisingly easy.
Perhaps terrified by Shin, they readily submitted to Hiashi.
“Handle the rest yourself. If you run into trouble you can’t handle, come find me. I’ll be staying in the village for a while.”
Shin informed Hiashi, then took Konan’s hand and left.
Now was the test of Hiashi’s ability. If he couldn’t manage this, even with Shin’s help, it would be pointless.
Kirigakure’s top fighters were mostly eliminated. With the surrender of these remaining ninja, Hiashi now had the foundation to control the village.
Shin paid no further attention, taking Konan to find an inn to rest.
In the midst of Kirigakure’s chaos, perhaps only Shin and Konan could remain so calm.
The inn they found was deserted; even the owner had fled.
“Konan, it’s just the two of us tonight. Rest well,” Shin said with a smile, looking at the blushing Konan.
Konan looked at Shin’s slightly wicked smile and lowered her head, feeling a flutter of nervousness.
Though they were practically a married couple by now, Konan still felt shy at moments like these.
Shin, however, found Konan’s shyness quite charming.
❁❁❁❁
~ 38 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)