Chapter 128: Rain Ninja Slaughter Tour (II)
Hearing Mitsuyama Otoko's command, the ten Rain Ninja behind him shouted their battle cries and charged forward in unison.
Seeing the proactive attitude of his subordinates, Mitsuyama Otoko allowed a flicker of satisfaction to cross his eyes.
In his mind, this must be some clueless rogue ninja attempting to flee into Amegakure to escape disaster. He considered himself lucky to have intercepted the person. Against ten Rain Ninja, all of Chūnin rank, the intruder would surely be captured easily. After dealing with this, he planned to investigate the strange situation with the eastern patrol. Reporting both incidents might even earn him praise and rewards from Lord Hanzō of the Salamander.
Mitsuyama Otoko was lost in his daydream when, in the very next moment, his eyes—which were vigilantly following the battle—widened in sheer horror. His pupils contracted into two tiny pinpricks. He froze on the spot.
Orochimaru watched the ten charging Rain Ninja Chūnin. A cold, disdainful sneer played on his lips. His palpable, astonishing killing intent coalesced behind him, forming a colossal black python that roared silently into the sky, its intimidating presence coiled around him.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
A mass of pure, condensed chakra air burst from Orochimaru's mouth. It swelled instantly, rolling into a fierce, turbulent gust of wind three meters in front of him.
Now a firmly established Jōnin, Orochimaru displayed even more refined skill in this highly versatile Wind Release Ninjutsu.
Hidden within the surging, violent wind currents were numerous sharp wind blades, like sickles or thin swords.
Any one of these terrifying blades could slice a normal adult in half instantly. Under Orochimaru's expert chakra control, they converged, concealed within the windstorm, unleashing a low, muted howl and striking the ten Rain Ninja with the momentum of a crashing wave.
They were ninja from a small country, after all. When the ten Rain Ninja, originally high in morale and surging with killing intent, saw the overwhelming Wind Release jutsu barreling toward them, the morale of at least half the group instantly vanished. Three of the disheartened ones turned and fled for their lives.
But even a Chūnin cannot outrun the force of a sweeping wind current.
The storm of wind, riddled with sharp blades, instantly engulfed them.
Pft, pft, pft!
After three dull, sickening sounds, the green grass was marked with intersecting, elongated blade cuts and three utterly gruesome corpses covered in gashes.
The remaining Rain Ninja, though a few were quick-witted and experienced enough to dodge in time, still sustained wounds of varying severity.
Close-Quarters Dominance
The chakra sustaining the Ninjutsu was expended, and the impressively powerful windstorm dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, as if it had never been there.
However, the three shocking corpses on the ground and the fact that most of the ten Rain Ninja Chūnin had been incapacitated in just two or three breaths caused both Mitsuyama Otoko and the surviving Rain Ninja to involuntarily gasp. A wave of bone-deep cold washed over them, and cold sweat poured down their bodies.
While the Rain Ninja were reeling from the powerful shock of Orochimaru's Wind Release, Orochimaru, keenly grasping the opening, sprinted forward with his palpable killing aura, tearing through the remaining Rain Ninja with a series of quick, shuffling steps.
His figure, like a swift, elusive ghost, came to an abrupt halt in front of one of the wounded Rain Ninja.
During the abrupt stop, the immense kinetic force generated was masterfully controlled by Orochimaru. It transferred from his feet to his waist, then from his waist through his shoulder, concentrating entirely into his right fist, which he prepared to launch.
Orochimaru's pale, slender arm was not bulky, but it was exceptionally well-toned and muscular, with sharp definition.
As he powerfully focused his strength and delivered the forceful punch, the moon-white sleeve clung tightly to his forearm due to the sheer wind pressure.
His entire right fist shot out like a cannonball, heading straight for the wounded Rain Ninja.
Though injured, the Rain Ninja, his senses sharpened by the intense pain, was acutely aware of the incoming blow. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, adopting the most appropriate defensive posture.
However, he had drastically underestimated the force of Orochimaru's attack.
Chakra-Enhanced Strength: Adamantine Fist!
The pure chakra, concentrated with immense power, generated a force far greater than a simple combination.
Crack, crack, crack. The clear, sickening sound of fracturing bone rang out. The Rain Ninja's arms were instantly broken by Orochimaru's punch. The ninja began to scream, but the sound was abruptly cut off.
The relentless right fist, its momentum unbroken, slammed into the Rain Ninja's chest. The fierce impact instantly shattered the ninja's heart, killing him instantly.
Having killed another opponent, Orochimaru crossed his feet and spun once to bleed off the momentum and rotational energy, simultaneously taking in the status of the remaining enemies.
Standing amidst the surviving Rain Ninja, Orochimaru inhaled deeply, breathing in the air mixed with the scent of grass and faint blood. He smiled wickedly, drew two sharp kunai from his tool pouch, and, moving like a sheet of thin paper skimming the ground, darted forward, evading two Water Release Ninjutsu, and charged toward his next target.
Mitsuyama Otoko watched the center of the fight from a distance. Figures darted around in the cluster of Rain Ninja, but every so often, a crimson spray of blood erupted, each one signifying that the terrifying, moon-white figure had killed another person.
Gazing at the intruder's horrific power, even Mitsuyama Otoko, a Jōnin, felt his body trembling. His lips stuttered, unable to form a coherent word. He quickly scanned his surroundings and suddenly spotted a similarly stunned Rain Ninja Genin nearby.
Mitsuyama Otoko rushed to the Genin, roaring loudly, as if releasing his inner terror: "Damn it, what are you standing around for?! Go! Hurry and notify Lord Hanzō of the Salamander! Someone, someone is attacking the village!"
Snapping out of his terror by Mitsuyama Otoko's roar, the Genin managed to suppress his fear. Without looking back, he dashed toward the center of the village, toward the intricate, five-story stilt house.
Seeing that the Genin had gone to raise the alarm, Mitsuyama Otoko breathed a slight sigh of relief, though he continued to gasp for breath, as if that single shout had expended all his strength.
He turned back to look at the terrifying figure in the moon-white kimono at the center of the battle, whose entire being emanated a ghostly, astonishing killing intent.
Reflected in Mitsuyama Otoko's grave, fearful eyes was the form of Orochimaru. He sensed the immense killing aura that felt like plunging into an endless purgatory just by touching it. His heart turned to ash as he whispered faintly: "So... so terrifying. Such terrifying killing intent. Such terrifying power!"
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore the Finished Work in advance!