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Countless explosive tags detonated at once.
The blast thundered through the night, flames roaring skyward as Akira was swallowed whole.
A massive mushroom cloud rose into the air, and the shockwave flattened the surrounding buildings in an instant. Even the Root shinobi had to retreat several dozen meters to avoid getting caught in it.
Luckily, the civilians had already been cleared out earlier that night for the Uchiha purge.
If they hadn't been, that explosion would've turned half of Konoha's ordinary residents into casualties.
"D… did we get him?"
One of the Root shinobi stared at the thick smoke, his voice uncertain.
"Of course we did! No way anyone survives that! He's probably ash by now!"
"With a blast like that? A human body wouldn't stand a chance!"
"..."
—Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
Impatient to confirm the kill, one shinobi unleashed a gust of wind. The roaring gale swept through, tearing the smoke apart.
As the haze cleared, the first thing they saw was a massive crater.
Then they looked down into it.
And saw him.
Standing quietly at the bottom.
Eyes widened across the board. Behind their masks, the Root shinobi looked like they'd just seen a ghost.
"T-That's impossible…"
"He survived that?! Is he even human?!"
"Even a Tailed Beast wouldn't have defense like that!"
"..."
Dust drifted through the air.
Akira casually flicked his long hair back, shaking off the debris. He brushed off the shredded remains of his clothes like he'd just walked through a mild inconvenience.
The explosion hadn't done anything except ruin his outfit. Not even his hairstyle was messed up.
Guess I really need to get someone to make me a custom combat suit.Can't keep finishing fights in nothing but my underwear. Kind of kills the whole cool factor.
The reason his defense was this absurd wasn't just the two bottles of Super Soldier Serum.
He'd taken four.
The extra two? Sign-in rewards.
Before coming here, he couldn't resist using up the three sign-in chances he'd gotten from Itachi. Luck had been on his side—two serums out of three pulls.
The last reward?
A completely useless expired poison.
Honestly… when poison expires, does it get stronger, or does it just turn into spicy water?
"Use ninjutsu! Keep your distance! Attack together! I don't believe we can't break through that thick hide of his!"
A shinobi who looked like the Root captain barked orders from a rooftop, hands already flashing through seals.
—Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire!
He puffed his cheeks, about to unleash the jutsu—
Whoosh!!
Bang!!
A pebble, moving faster than the eye could track, shot straight through his forehead and blasted out the back of his skull.
His head exploded mid-cast. Blood sprayed everywhere as his headless body tumbled off the roof.
"You sure talk a lot."
Akira weighed a few small stones in his palm, expression flat.
Just finger-flicked pebbles.
And they hit harder than any kunai these shinobi could throw.
This wasn't a man.
It was a monster wearing human skin.
A chill crawled up their spines, from the soles of their feet to the tops of their skulls.
If not for the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal controlling them, they would've bolted on the spot. Survival instinct runs deeper than loyalty.
"Hmph."
Danzo's displeased snort cut through the tension.
These tools still weren't perfect. They still feared death.
Seems the training program needs to be… refined.
His cane slammed against the ground.
"Anyone who retreats even half a step dies!"
His lone eye burned with fury.
"Advance! All of you! I refuse to believe he has no weaknesses. If it takes your lives to find one, so be it!"
Whoosh!!
Before his words had even settled, a stone shot toward his head faster than a bullet.
It pierced straight through—
Bang!
But instead of blood, there was only a puff of white smoke.
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Cunning old dog. A shadow clone.
Otherwise that throw would've ended him for good.
—Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!—Lightning Release: Earth Flow!—Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!—Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!—Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
…
While Akira dealt with Danzo's clone, the surrounding Root shinobi completed their seals.
In the next instant, flames, lightning, mud projectiles, wind blades, and torrents of water rained down toward the crater.
"Che."
Akira clicked his tongue.
Arms crossed, he stood his ground.
Didn't dodge. Didn't flinch.
He wanted to see just how tough his body had become—where the upper limit really was.
And if things got dangerous? He could always swap out with Amenotejikara. No need to panic.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
The combined jutsu swallowed him in a blaze of destruction, lighting up the entire area. The shockwaves blasted debris in every direction.
"T-That has to be enough, right?"
"With that level of attack, even a Tailed Beast would be hurt!"
Necks craned forward. Eyes wide. They waited to see the arrogant monster reduced to pieces.
Too bad.
As the smoke dispersed once more, a figure stood tall at the bottom of the crater.
Akira exhaled lightly, blowing out a small flame still flickering on his shoulder.
Aside from slightly singed hair, he was completely unscathed.
Not bad.
He clenched his fist, deeply satisfied with his body's strength.
Unless it was some high-tier S-rank technique, ordinary elemental jutsu were basically meaningless against him now.
The only question left…
Could his body tank a Susanoo head-on?
Guess I'll have to find a chance to test that.
"..."
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