Chapter 5: The White Blade Asura

"Send a team to retrieve him immediately! Inform him he’s already passed with full marks—stop him from killing any more!"

A high-ranking official barked orders to the ANBU.

Kirigakure’s graduation exam was brutal, but losing all but one examinee would be catastrophic.

"Damn it! He’s heading straight for Ringo Ameyuri, Hōzuki Suigetsu, and Shima Kokoro!"

An alarmed chunin slammed his fist on the table.

"If those four collide… it won’t end well."

Why?

Ameyuri’s trio had already slaughtered 35 candidates.

Yoru? 13 kills.

All of them were bloodthirsty. If they clashed—

The worst-case scenario? Mutual annihilation.

An unacceptable loss.

"Spare me! I don’t wanna die!"

"Big bro, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have targeted you!"

Pleas for mercy echoed as Yoru advanced, his blade gleaming.

"Begging after losing? Too late."

He wasn’t cruel—just pragmatic.

Spare them now, and they’d stab him in the back later.

"A demon… he’s a demon!"

"Everyone! Avoid the White Blade Asura!"

The title spread like wildfire.

"Oho? The ‘White Blade Asura’? Sounds fun."

Ameyuri licked her lips, electrified.

"Hell yeah," Suigetsu and Kokoro grinned.

Kokoro—a fighter who’d earned Ameyuri’s respect—cracked his knuckles.

Three chunin-level killers.

Even a special jonin would struggle against them.

"Well, well. Didn’t expect you three to come to me."

Yoru wiped sweat from his brow, having just notched his 30th kill.

The trio fanned out, eyes alight with bloodlust.

"Show us what you’ve got, Asura!"

"Fight like you mean to kill us!"

"To think you were hiding this much power!"

They charged—

"Genjutsu: Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

Yoru’s hands flashed. A single glare.

"What the—?!"

Their bodies locked up.

Panic surged as they burned chakra to break free—

But Yoru didn’t wait.

The more powerful the target, the greater the strain.

He wouldn’t gamble on endurance.

"[Hawk Flash]!"

A streak of silver.

Blood sprayed as all three collapsed, clutching their slashed chests.

An inch deeper, and their throats would’ve been severed.

"Tch."

Yoru exhaled, masking his fatigue.

Controlling three peers at once drained him.

"I considered killing you," he mused, "but talent like yours is rare."

"Remember this humiliation. Grow stronger. Next time, I won’t hold back."

Ameyuri exploded.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"

She lunged—

"ENOUGH."

An ANBU materialized, sword drawn.

"All four of you have passed. Further fighting is punishable by death."

Ameyuri seethed but backed down.

"This isn’t over," she spat at Yoru.

He ignored her, eyeing the ANBU.

"Why the intervention?"

"You’re coming with us."

Yoru’s grip tightened on his blade. "Reason?"

"Your sudden power spike is… suspicious. We need to verify your identity."

A pause.

"Lady Mei’s fate also hinges on this."

Code for: "I’m on your side."

Yoru sheathed his sword. "Lead the way."

Kirigakure’s verification method?

Biometric gene testing.

He had nothing to fear.

"Sir, we’ve brought Yoru."

The ANBU presented him before the village elders.

Among them stood Kanta Sen—Mei’s political rival—grinning like a hyena.

"Ugh. That look’s disgusting."

Yoru suppressed a shudder before meeting Mei’s gaze.

Despite being guarded by two ANBU, she radiated calm—even giving him a proud nod.

"Confess now," a lackey snarled, "and your death will be swift. Impersonation is treason!"

Yoru scoffed. "I’m Yoru. Test me if you doubt it."

"But if I’m clean? You’ll owe me an apology."

Kanta’s crony sneered. "Brave words for a fraud!"

He signaled two Intelligence Division nin—men with faces like torturers.

"Now we’ll see the truth."

Kanta smirked at Mei. "Really, Mei? Such a sloppy cheat?"

"Pathetic," the lackey echoed.

Murmurs swirled:

"Is this a miracle… or a coup?"

Mei yawned. "Kanta, stop embarrassing yourself. Wait for the results before barking."

"Unless you enjoy looking like a clown?"

Kanta’s eye twitched. "That’s NOT Yoru!"

He’d stake his reputation on it.