56-60

Chapter 56: The Cost of Resurrection, the Gradual Transformation of Shinon  

Facing Shinji's sincere gaze, Mei Terumi felt her heart suddenly skip a beat.  

Her face flushed slightly as she instinctively looked up, meeting Shinji's gaze with her own clear emerald-green eyes.  

"I’ll definitely come," she replied earnestly.  

Shinji nodded, his gaze sharpening as he continued using his Sharingan to observe the dozens of enemies stationed on the section of the city wall below. He carefully memorized every enemy’s position.  

Soon, he frowned slightly—not because the enemy seemed formidable or difficult to deal with.  

Instead,  

He suddenly realized that his Sharingan had inexplicably become more powerful. He could now see farther and with greater clarity.  

The tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, granting him even more dynamic vision and a heightened perception akin to bullet time.  

Shinji couldn’t help but feel a sinking sensation in his heart. Something seemed off.  

He immediately decided to check his status panel to understand his current situation.  

However, at that moment,  

Shinon, who had been silently observing Shinji with his arms crossed, approached him. With a cold sneer, he asked,  

"You’ve noticed it, haven’t you?"  

"The heart beating in your chest—it not only granted you life but also became your shackle."  

Shinji glanced up, frowning coldly at Shinon before decisively opening his status panel.  

[Employee: Shinji]  

[Title: Heaven-Sent Warrior]  

[Talents: Steel Heart (SSS), Sharingan (Double Tomoe, A-), Combat Intuition (Proficient, S+).]  

[Special Equipment: Earth Grudge Heart (Earth): Grants the ability to use Earth Release: Earth Spear. All physical attributes are nullified, and only the chakra nature tied to this heart can be used. Additional chakra natures can be unlocked by train corresponding attributes.]  

[Skills: Uchiha-Style Wire Shuriken Jutsu (Mastery, S), Ultra Deadly Combat Barrier (Proficient, S), Fire Release Jutsu (Sealed), Wind Release: Vacuum Great Wave (Sealed), Water Release: Water Fang Blade (Sealed), Earth Release: Earth Spear (Beginner, B).]  

[Special Skills: Fire Release: Chakra Mode (Sealed), Forbidden Jutsu: Body Reanimation (Proficient, S), Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Threading (Beginner, A).]  

[Steel Heart Stacks: Expandable]  

[Insurance Status: Paid.]  

Seeing the information on the panel, Shinji frowned even deeper.  

From what he could tell, his resurrection was thanks to Shinon implanting Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge heart into him.  

The side effects, however, were evident.  

Due to the unique nature of the Earth Grudge technique, one heart can only accommodate a single chakra nature.  

This created a significant problem.  

Now, his arsenal of ninjutsu was severely limited. He could only use Earth Release: Earth Spear.  

Other techniques, such as Fire Release, Water Release, and Wind Release, were unusable—including his self-destructive powerhouse move, Fire Release: Chakra Mode.  

This transformation had turned him from a long-range offensive ninja into a close-range fighter limited to defensive earth-based techniques.  

Yet Shinji didn’t feel relieved at all. Instead, his mood grew heavier.  

Because  

He had become stronger! And tougher!  

After all, lost chakra natures could be regained through training.  

But the Earth Release: Earth Spear—  

This technique was nearly the pinnacle of conventional Earth Release jutsu, an advanced form of Earth Release: Hardening Technique.  

It could render the body as impenetrable as diamond, maximizing defense and physical attack power.  

Except for Lightning Release techniques, which counter Earth Release, there were virtually no conventional jutsu capable of breaking the Earth Spear.  

In other words, as long as he could sustain its absurd chakra cost, Shinji could essentially "bathe" in a barrage of enemy jutsu.  

Imagining such a terrifying scene, Shinji fell silent, unsure how to respond to Shinon's question.  

A shackle? What nonsense!  

All he knew was that he now possessed overwhelming power!  

Shinon, seeing Shinji utterly conflicted expression, raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained glee.  

He chuckled darkly, wearing a sinister expression meant to intimidate, and said,  

"How does it feel? Do you feel hollow inside?"  

"All the ninjutsu you’ve painstakingly train have turned to nothing."  

"All your efforts up to now have betrayed you."  

"Do you understand what reality is now?"  

Shinji: "..."  

He genuinely had no idea how to respond to Shinon’s questions.  

Was he supposed to say, Thank you so much!  

Not only did you clean out my trash bin, but you also thoughtfully gave me a +20 Dragon Slayer Sword?  

"Hmph," Shinon sneered, crossing his arms with an expression of condescending superiority. Leaning closer to Shinji's ear, he whispered coldly,  

"Do you think I resurrected you for nothing?"  

"I did it to make you sink, step by step, into this world of eternal suffering."  

"Recognize the cruelty of this world, and then, drop that ridiculous idea of yours." 

After saying this,  

Shinon fell silent for a moment.  

He patted Shinji on the shoulder and sneered,  

"The Shinobi world isn’t naive enough to be ruled by a fool like you."  

"The ninjas from the Bloody Mist aren’t worth your trust either."  

"Now, go home and drink your milk, kid."  

On the cliff, 

The cold morning wind brushed against their faces, bringing a few green leaves down with it.  

Shinji narrowed his eyes slightly and slapped away Shinon’s hand from his shoulder. 

Then he looked at him and asked coldly,  

"Why are you telling me all this?"  

Shinon frowned slightly, then replied indifferently, "Do you really need to ask?"  

"With nothing left to your name, what can you even do now?"  

"Keep pretending to be strong?"  

"Or keep clinging to that nonsensical ninja way of yours?"  

"Oh, don’t tell me you think I pity you?"  

Shinon let out a mocking laugh, followed by a cold smile.  

"Unfortunately for you, I don’t pity the dead."  

"When you stole the forbidden jutsu, Corporeal Rebirth, and used it, your fate was already sealed."  

"The reason this jutsu is called forbidden is because it consumes human life force."  

"After using it, your lifespan is reduced to only three to seven years."  

"I might as well tell you: the only way to avoid the cost of this jutsu is to find a substitute to bear it."  

Shinon smirked coldly, revealing the harsh truth.  

"And that substitute… is a tailed beast!"  

Shinji frowned at him. He had also suspected this cost for some time.  

Orochimaru’s Living Corpse Reincarnation technique was fundamentally based on this man’s Corporeal Rebirth.  

When Orochimaru used Living Corpse Reincarnation before attempting to take Sasuke’s body, he relied on an imperfect experimental host, Yūkimaru. After three years, Yūkimaru’s body began to reject him.  

The woman’s body Orochimaru inhabited before Yūkimaru also rejected him after roughly seven years, forcing him to abandon it.  

Using an unsuitable body causes wear and tear, and this wear is forcibly repaired through Corporeal Rebirth—until the technique ultimately fails and collapses.  

To solve this side effect, one can either seize the power of the tailed beasts like Shinon, 

Or pursue research like Orochimaru, constantly switching bodies to avoid the cost.  

Shinon narrowed his eyes, as though interrogating him.  

"Now, have you faced reality?"  

"After losing all your strength, that once-mighty power that could burn you into oblivion—"  

"Do you think you can become as strong as a Kage in just three years?"  

"Or do you think you can risk triggering a ninja war to defeat and seize the tailed beasts of all the major hidden villages?"  

Shinon’s questions pierced directly to the core of the conflict. 

He wasn’t just questioning Shinji—he was also questioning his past self.  

Back then, Shinon chose to run. He opted for an alternative path, studying the incomplete Zero-Tails.  

Through this process, he gradually realized the dangers of the Zero-Tail’s dark chakra, leading him to wander the ninja world in search of a solution—a quest that eventually brought him to the Land of Hot Water.  

And now, at this very moment, just like back then—  

He was curious to see, 

When faced with a situation that was the same, or perhaps even more desperate, 

What choice would Shinji, this arrogant brat, make?  

Would he choose to run, like Shinon had? Or would he face this hopeless reality head-on?  

Shinon’s smile grew increasingly twisted, his expression turning oddly delighted. 

Pointing to the 400-meter cliff below, he leaned close to Shinji’s ear and whispered,  

"So, what’s it going to be? Will you prove me wrong?"  

(End of Chapter) 

 *Chapter 57: The Invincible Leap! The Bold Man Arrives!*

As Shinon's true villainous persona gradually revealed itself, Shinji felt his heart sink.

No wonder he's the main antagonist—his malevolence knows no bounds!

Not only did he save my life, but he also forced the deadly Earth Release: Earth Spear technique into my hands.

On top of that, with his sly words, he explained the side effects and countermeasures for the forbidden technique Body Modification.

And now, he's pointing at a cliff, demanding I go down there to train and cut grass!

Does he not understand that the core of the Uchiha-style Wire Manipulation Shuriken Technique isn't about the shuriken itself but the wire manipulation?

Wires + Earth Release: Earth Spear + Two-Tomoe Sharingan + enhanced battle intuition + the secret art Earth Grudge Fear stitching unlimited ninja tools into my wires...

With all these buffs, I'll be wreaking havoc on the battlefield!

Damn it, I’m being forced to power up again!

Why does a young and innocent genin have to bear the unbearable thrill of life itself?

Shinji's face darkened.

At that moment, Terumi Mei, who had already rehearsed the route in her mind and was ready to go, noticed his expression and asked curiously:

"What's wrong, Shinji's? Is your chakra still not recovered?"

Shinji shook his head. "No, my condition couldn’t be better!"

The forbidden Body Modification technique, which continuously drains life force to enhance physical activity, had already restored him to peak condition.

He turned to Terumi Mei and said, "Let’s begin."

"You—" Mei wanted to ask more but couldn’t find the right words. Her expression turned serious, and she reminded him gravely:

"Remember, our real goal is to infiltrate the Jashin cult headquarters and retrieve Hidan. There’s no need to get entangled in fights. All we need is to create a distraction and open a breach in the wall so I can sneak in."

"Don’t overdo it!"

She recalled Shinji’s reckless behavior in the past. Although the outcomes were acceptable, his methods were far too dangerous—like playing with fire.

"Relax! Isn’t it just about drawing attention?" Shinji patted his chest with a grin.

"No one knows how to be a distraction better than me!"

"Wait a second..." Before Mei could process his words, both of them froze.

Just as she was about to ask if he misunderstood something, Shinji turned his back, raised a thumbs-up, and flashed a dazzling, radiant smile.

─=≡Σヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

Then, without hesitation, he leaped off the 400-meter cliff!

Mei's pupils constricted as she screamed in panic:

"You idiot! You jumped in the wrong direction!"

(╯°□°）╯︵

*At the castle walls*

Dozens of ronin dressed in ragged wide-sleeved samurai robes stood in four squads, armed with katana, patrolling under the command of a low-ranking Jonin from the Land of Hot Water.

Nearby, four more Jashin cult squads were expanding their search around the rubble of a collapsed mountainside.

Lacking the advanced detection techniques of major ninja villages, they relied on a simpler method: dogs.

Each squad had two dogs, most of them Akitas, with a few valuable Tosa fighting dogs in the mix.

One of these Tosa dogs was held by Hideki, the Chunin squad leader responsible for this mission.

In his hand was a warped and melted kunai, the only clue they had found near the castle walls—a trace left from the intense battle at dawn.

Squatting down, Hideki held the kunai to the Tosa dog's nose. He patted the dog's head and coldly asked, "Good dog, tell me where the owner of this kunai is."

Hideki’s eyes gleamed with a sickly fanaticism. If he could locate this intruder, the leader of the cult might even reward him with one of their forbidden techniques.

And in the ninja world—especially in a small nation—a forbidden technique was a treasure most rogue ninja could only dream of obtaining.

For someone like Hideki, who had spent his life as a bandit, mercenary, and ronin, joining the Jashin cult was his last shot at power. Despite his efforts, he was still only a Chunin.

But this could be his big break.

The Tosa sniffed the kunai, its pitch-black nose twitching.

Suddenly, the dog stiffened, its fur bristling as it stood on its hind legs. It growled low and deep, like an engine revving up, ready to erupt.

The dog’s reaction sent a chill down Hideki’s spine. Something was wrong.

This behavior meant it had found the target!

But...

Hideki glanced around, his eyes darting nervously.

Left? Nothing.

Right? Nothing.

Below? Impossible.

Then—

He snapped his gaze upward.

In the sky, a black shadow hurtled downward from the 400-meter cliff, riding a powerful gale.

The figure streaked through the air, trailing a crimson line behind it!

"EVERYONE, ALERT!"

Hideki’s pupils shrank as he unsheathed his ninja sword, pointing it skyward with a roar:

"The enemy is in the sky!"

The fierce wind tugged at the roots of his hair as Shinji abruptly opened his eyes.

A pair of crimson Sharingan flared to life, with two tomoe spinning rapidly within his pupils.

In an instant, he locked onto the exact positions of thirty-six enemies stationed on the wall below.

Their stances, levels of vigilance, chakra reserves, weapons, and possible reactions—

Every detail was reflected in those eyes.

In just a moment, he had formulated a battle plan.

Behind him, Mei Terumi’s startled exclamation rang in his ears,

But it didn’t matter!

Because Shinji had no intention of fully agreeing with her plan.

If the objective was merely to stall, evade, and lead the enemy in circles along the route Mei had suggested,

Then even a lowly Genin, who could only walk on water and trees, could accomplish it—so long as they ran fast enough.

But that wasn’t enough!

Shinji’s goal was to storm the headquarters of the Cult of Jashin and engage its leader in a life-and-death duel where everything was on the line!

Rescuing his little brother Hidan, who was worth a mere 500 ryo, was only a secondary objective.

To fight with all his might, even to the death—

That was his true goal!

And the rabble before him weren’t worthy of evasion!

Shinji’s lips curled into a smirk as his gaze locked onto a single Cult of Jashin member who had noticed him first.

He reached into his ninja tool pouch, pulling out his last kunai and hurling it with force. It lodged deeply into the wall.

The kunai, tied to the end of a reinforced Earth Grudge Fear thread, pulled taut as it dropped along the wall’s edge.

Gripping the thread tightly with both hands, Shinji braced his feet against the wall, halting most of his descent. Then, with a swift movement, he leapt high into the air.

Twisting mid-air, he executed a ferocious spinning kick that struck a mid-ranking cultist wielding a ninja sword square in the face.

The taijutsu technique, borrowed from Kakuzu, proved its devastating power.

The kick sent the enemy flying, sword and all, leaving only the lifeless weapon to clatter helplessly to the ground.

Shinji casually snatched the falling sword mid-air.

With a flourish, he spun the blade into a dazzling arc, then held it up for a closer look.

He raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise before flicking the blade with his finger.

Ding!  

The resonant ring of the sword echoed, and Shinji’s eyes lit up with a gleam of excitement as a sly grin spread across his face.

“Oh?”

“This is actually a fine blade. Not bad—guess it’s mine now.”

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 58: The Battle on the City Wall, The Swift-Step Samurai!*

Terumi Mei's battle plan sounded intricate—requiring rapid movements between five locations and a coordinated effort from two individuals to successfully rendezvous at the designated meeting point.

However, Shinji summarized it into two key points:

1. Draw as much of the enemy's forces as possible.

2. Meet at the fork near the underground cave of the Jashin cult headquarters five minutes later.

With this in mind, Shinji's task became straightforward:

Set the battlefield on this city wall and confront all the enemies head-on.

Hold out for five minutes!

The first wave of enemies included thirty-six combatants: twenty-four wandering samurai, ten Genin, two Chunin, and eight dogs.

And that wasn’t all.

Once the Chunin squad guarding the cave entrance noticed the situation, they would swiftly move to provide reinforcements. At that point, Shinji would have to face an additional three to sixteen elite Chunin from the Jashin cult.

In the worst-case scenario, even more enemies could emerge from the underground cave.

Moreover, this had to be a battle where chakra was preserved as much as possible, and no blood could be shed.

Taking a deep breath, Shinji looked at the enemies in front of him.

He swung his sword in a circle, reversed his grip on the hilt, and assumed the stance of the Cloud Flow Sword Technique. Positioning the blade against his arm, he bent his knees and focused, syncing his breathing.

His scarlet Sharingan eyes reflected a sense of intense determination.

To be honest, Shinji wasn’t skilled in swordsmanship—or close combat, for that matter.

If he were, Kakuzu wouldn’t have nearly beaten him to death in a single flurry of taijutsu.

In his previous battle with Kakuzu, Shinji had used up all his shuriken. The kunai he had just thrown was the last ninja tool in his possession.

Now, his ninja tool pouch held only two explosive tags.

At this moment, his only reliance was the sword in his hand.

So, he decided to trust the sword!

On the other side, Hideki, who had been sent flying by Shinji kick, slammed into the base of the city wall with a loud thud.

Supported by subordinate Genin, Hideki struggled to his feet, his head ringing and vision spinning with golden flashes. It took him a while to regain his senses.

Leaning against the wall, Hideki steadied himself and looked up at the young man before him.

The opponent was dressed in a hooded black robe, clearly a size too small, with bandages wrapped around his exposed chest. His scarlet Sharingan eyes glowed coldly as he held a reversed ninja sword, poised and ready for action.

Noticing the two-tomoe Sharingan in Shinji eyes, Hideki smirked.

"So, this is the formidable opponent we’re up against? Turns out it’s just a wet-behind-the-ears brat."

The young Genin supporting Hideki twitched his lips slightly at the remark but couldn’t help pointing at Shinji glowing red eyes. Speaking in a low voice, he said:

"Captain, that’s the Sharingan! This kid is probably from Hell Valley."

"I know," Hideki sneered. "A Uchiha, huh?"

Glaring coldly at Shinji, Hideki chuckled maliciously. "Do you see that? He’s all alone!"

"And we? We have thirty-six people here!"

"Seiji, what are you afraid of?"

"Have you forgotten the Bishop’s promise?"

"The opportunity is right in front of us. If we take down this kid before the stewards guarding the cave arrive, then—"

Hearing this, the young Genin’s breath caught in his throat. His gaze toward Shinji suddenly burned with ferocity.

It didn’t seem like they were looking at a person—it was more like they were gazing at a mountain of gold!

Seeing the expressions on his subordinates' faces, Hideki couldn’t help but chuckle.

However, he didn’t let his guard down. As a rogue ninja and a defector who had survived into middle age, Hideki might not have been the strongest, but his cunning was sharper than anyone could imagine. To have lasted so long in the chaotic Land of Hot Water, he had to be more resourceful than most.

Immediately, he issued orders to his subordinates:

"Gather the bandits and divide them into three groups. Launch a staggered assault. Assign two ninja squads to guard the area behind the city walls where this guy might retreat. If he gets close, use ninjutsu to block him. Meanwhile, I’ll lead two squads to confront him head-on."

"Remember, the ninja squads are to surround but not attack. Let those bandits fight him to the death."

"Their purpose is now."

"Once there’s an opening, I’ll give the signal, and the front and rear ninja squads will move in simultaneously. Injure him severely—ideally, capture him alive!"

After speaking, Hideki coldly turned to the young genin and asked,

"Masato, did you understand?"

The young genin swiftly pulled out a kunai, his expression hardening as he nodded sharply. He immediately gestured for the leaders of the bandit group and the ninja squads to gather. Quickly, he relayed the battle plan.

Hideki then led one squad himself, ordering seven or eight bandits to charge straight at Shinji.

A rogue bandit has developed murderous intent toward you.  

A wandering samurai believes ninjas are nothing special and wants to take your head with a powerful downward slash.  

...  

The mid-level ninja team leader from the Cult of Jashin, Hideki, harbors malicious intent toward you.  

Shinji had barely steadied himself when a stream of text floated before his eyes.

Immediately, a squad of bandits came rushing at him with blades drawn. Among them, two wielded chakra-infused katanas.

This group of bandits was a mixed bag. Some were mere thieves who had just taken up robbery, while others were former samurai who had lost their lords and turned to plunder. A few even had rudimentary skills in infusing weapons with chakra.

But overall, they weren’t strong.

Shinji narrowed his eyes, looking past the bandits to the Cult of Jashin's mid-level ninja, whom he had just kicked aside moments earlier. The man had quickly rallied his forces and launched an organized attack, surprising Shinji with his rapid response.

It didn’t take long for Shinji to understand.

This wasn’t a game. This was the ninja world. His enemies were human and wouldn’t stand idly by, waiting to be cut down.

With that realization, Shinji didn’t retreat in the slightest.

Instead, he charged straight toward the wave of bandits.

Reversing his grip on his sword, he executed a downward slash—Cloud Style: Inner Slash—aimed at a burly middle-aged bandit.

As the bandit instinctively raised his weapon to block, Shinji spun his body to slip past him, cutting down another bandit behind him who had no line of sight. Without pausing, Shinji thrust his blade backward, then parried an incoming katana without even glancing.

Clang! Sparks flew!

A bandit behind Shinji seized the moment when his sword was locked in a block and lunged at his back with a chakra-infused ninja blade.

But Shinji leapt into the air, forcing his opponent’s katana downward with sheer strength. Using the bandit’s chest, shoulder, and head as stepping stones, Shinji flipped midair and landed a whip kick on the attacking bandit’s head. His ninja sword followed in a smooth arc, slashing down onto another bandit.

The two bandits capable of using chakra-infused weapons were down.

Shinji frowned. Something about how easily this was going felt off.

The two sides weren’t even on the same level. In just a brief exchange, four of the eight charging bandits had fallen.

Would they really send their own men to die for nothing?

“Damn it! All of you, charge with me!”

A thunderous shout suddenly broke out.

The one-eyed leader of the samurai team, dressed in layered green armor, frowned deeply. He had no choice but to abandon Hideki’s carefully planned strategy.

Staggered assaults?

If this continued, his men would all be cut down by Shinji singlehandedly!

With a roar, the leader charged ahead, leading his men in a reckless assault.

Raising his katana, he unleashed a fierce surge of chakra. Stepping forward with incredible force, he shattered the cobblestones beneath his feet. In an instant, he closed the distance with a speed almost equal to the Body Flicker Technique, slashing at Shinji in a reverse downward strike.

A wave of pure chakra energy burst from his blade, slashing diagonally toward Shinji.

Shinji’s eyes narrowed as he instantly recognized the technique.

It was none other than the two sword techniques used by Mifune, the leader of the Land of Iron, in the original story:

Flash Step!  

Sword Technique: Void Slash!  

Meanwhile, Hideki, who had been watching intently, couldn’t suppress a grin.

His plan to send the bandits to their deaths was precisely to force this rebellious samurai leader into action.

Let him fight the kid, and while they’re locked in combat, his four ninja squads—twelve ninjas in total—would ambush.

Caught in such a dire situation, Hideki couldn’t imagine how this young Uchiha would turn things around.

Seeing the timing was perfect, Hideki’s face twisted into a sinister grin. He waved his hand at his men.

"Move in!"

(End of chapter)  

Chapter 59: Explosive Counterattack, Black Tiger Steals the Heart!

*[Ding!]*

*[You successfully counterattacked a ronin, gaining a random skill from your opponent: Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner).]*

*[You successfully counterattacked a ronin, gaining a random skill from your opponent: The Delicious Cooking Methods of Wild Herbs and Tree Bark (Mastery).]*

*[You successfully counterattacked a samurai, gaining a random skill from your opponent: Swordsmanship - Chakra Infusion (Beginner).]*

*[You successfully counterattacked a samurai, gaining a random skill from your opponent: Swordsmanship - Circular Slash (Beginner).]*

*[Your Steel of the Heart skill has increased in level.]*

*[The rogue samurai Daikyo from the Land of Iron harbors a murderous intent toward you.]*

*[A low-ranking cultist from the Evil God faction has set their sights on you.]*

*[A low-ranking cultist from the Evil God faction plans to sever your throat with Wind Release: Wind Blade.]*

The notifications of four ronin and samurai being cut down in rapid succession, along with new warnings of impending threats, flashed incessantly before Shinji's eyes. But he paid them no mind.

At this moment—

A crescent-shaped arc of blade light slashed toward him at an angle, carving through the stone tiles of the city wall. It carried such sharpness that it seemed capable of slicing even the wind, heading straight for Shinji.

A cold, hair-raising sense of danger prickled at the back of his neck.

Even in this era dominated by shinobi, there was no shortage of samurai with formidable combat strength.

Take Mifune, the leader of the Land of Iron's samurai, for instance—he had reached Kage-level power purely through swordsmanship.

Although the samurai before him was far inferior to Mifune, perhaps at best a Chunin-level threat, the immediate danger was far from negligible.

With his scarlet Sharingan spinning, Shinji took in every detail of the scene around him.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely. Through the lens of his dojutsu, he could analyze the expressions of everyone present frame by frame.

Behind the lead samurai trailed over ten ronin wielding swords. Unlike the ragtag band of incompetent ronin commanded by the cultist captain Hideki, these attackers operated with much more precision under the leadership of the Land of Iron samurai.

They approached from different positions and angles, spacing themselves into two rows.

From the front and rear, they targeted Shinji's vital points—his throat, eyes, joints, heart, calves, and inner thighs—each aiming to strike a lethal blow.

The first row launched their attacks and immediately rolled away, clearing space for the second row to follow up with heavy slashes.

Their swords swung in wide arcs, intending to hack Shinji into pieces.

And it didn’t stop there.

Behind the ronin, twelve cultist shinobi from the Evil God faction began forming hand seals simultaneously. Judging by their aggressive formation, they had no regard for the samurai's lives—they intended to obliterate both Shinji and their supposed allies in one fell swoop!

Witnessing such a dire situation, Shinji showed no fear.

He stood firm like an ancient pine tree, unmoving amidst the storm of attacks.

In a calculated motion, he sheathed his ninja blade back into his tool pouch, his fingers deftly retrieving the last two explosive tags. One in each hand.

Then—

Like Sasuke using Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi, Shinji spread his arms wide!

In an instant—

Sword energy from Void Slash, seventeen advancing ronin, and a barrage of Fireball Jutsu, Wind Blade, Earth Pillar Spear, and Rock Cannon ninjutsu descended simultaneously like relentless machine-gun fire.

Shinji suddenly raised his head. A sly grin spread across his face, his gaze fierce as he bellowed:

"Kai!"

At that sound, the explosive tags in his palms ignited with a crackling hiss.

The approaching ronin froze in terror.

"Is that... an explosive tag?!"

"Move! He's trying to take us all down with him!"

"Easier said than done! Where the hell are we supposed to go? The ninjutsu's got us boxed in!"

"Shit! This lunatic's completely insane!"

Who uses explosive tags like that?! Attaching them to your hands and setting them off? Aren’t you afraid of blowing yourself to pieces?

In that moment—

The advancing ronin stared in abject horror, unable to attack, retreat, or even speak coherently.

The next second, the explosive tags fully ignited, and the storm of ninjutsu fell like an apocalyptic downpour!

Boom!  

A dazzling firestorm erupted, obliterating everything in its radius.

The city walls shattered as debris and flames swirled into the air. Thick plumes of white smoke rose like a boiling tide.

The sound of clashing metal echoed faintly within the chaos.

The seventeen ronin were engulfed instantly, their anguished screams soon filling the battlefield.

Standing at a distance, the samurai leader—who had instinctively used Body Flicker to escape—gulped nervously, his throat dry.

Never before had he witnessed a ninja with such audacious resolve.

Without saying a word, he launched a self-destructive attack, as if someone was chasing him, forbidding him from dying.

This level of determination would even make samurai, who would commit seppuku at the slightest offense, feel ashamed.

The samurai leader felt a wave of dread wash over him.

Suddenly, he turned around and glared coldly at the Evil God Cult’s squad leader, Hideki, who stood not far away. Just as he was about to berate him for his lack of principles—

A voice of surprise suddenly came from the smoke behind him:

“Huh?”

“Your sword... looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

Hearing this voice, the samurai leader was startled. Instinctively, he turned his head to look.

From the smoke emerged a glowing blue circle,

and a brilliant blue light slashed downward—a ninja blade slicing through the air. It struck down four ronin in one fell swoop,

piercing through the smoke!

A young man, draped in a tattered black cloak, dashed forward from the clearing smoke. Wielding a blackened hand that looked as though it were wrapped in deep, oily ink, he leaped high into the air.

With a powerful strike, he thrust his hand straight through the chest of the samurai leader in a move resembling a fierce tiger clawing at its prey.

Then, with a gentle squeeze—

*Bang!*

Shinji flung his arm, throwing the lifeless samurai leader to the ground.

Amidst the leader’s hateful, unwilling gaze, he snatched the sheathed katana from his hand and hung it on his own waist.

This scene left the Evil God Cult members utterly dumbfounded.

In such a dire situation, surrounded by both ninja techniques and swordsmanship,

this kid not only emerged unscathed but also had the audacity and ability to defeat the samurai leader?!

Facing the stunned gazes of the twelve Evil God Cult ninja present,

Shinji said nothing. He simply raised his head, his piercing eyes locking onto the ninja across from him—

to be precise, onto the ninja tools pouches strapped to their waists.

*Earth Style: Earth Spear.*

This technique granted him incredible defensive power, allowing him to withstand even close-range explosive tags.

From the very start, this group of people—facing Shinji, who could practically bathe in a barrage of ninja techniques—

were no longer a threat.

Shinji had jumped into this fray for a single purpose: to sustain himself through battle and restock his depleted ninja tool pouch.

Whether it was the *Uchiha Style: Wire-Manipulated Shuriken*,

Shinji’s distinctive wire-based taijutsu,

or the brand-new wire-sword techniques he envisioned in his mind—

they all required a tangible stockpile of ninja tools to support his boundless creativity.

Glancing at the approaching squads of elite Evil God Cult members, Shinji licked his lips.

Placing both hands on the two weapons at his waist—a ninja blade on one side and the katana on the other—he wrapped a pitch-black thread of Earth Grudge Fear silk around their hilts.

Then, with a sharp pull—

“Hmm~”

“Time’s short, and the mission’s critical, so let’s wrap this up quickly!”

The gleam of blades lit the air. The sword spun deftly in his hands—ninja blade in a standard grip, katana in reverse. Shinji twisted his body and leaped into the air,

his mesmerizing scarlet eyes opening wide.

Spinning mid-air, he hurled the reverse-gripped katana with immense force!

*Swish!*

*Chapter 60: Sharingan Windmill · Triple Blade Technique!*

A long blade tore through the air, slicing it open!

In a flash, it shot toward Hidetsu, the leader of the Jashinist squad standing precariously near the edge of the city wall, above the cliffside.

The attack completely caught him off guard. When he saw Shinji leap into the air, he assumed the latter intended to showcase dual-wielding swordsmanship, closing the distance and jumping into the midst of their ranks.

Using close combat to create chaos would force the Jashinist squad members into a position where friendly fire became a concern, preventing them from unleashing large-scale ninjutsu attacks.

Though Shinji's skill in swordsmanship and taijutsu didn’t appear exceptional, it was more than enough to deal with the rogue ninja and wanderers of the Land of Hot Water.

But why throw the sword?

Wouldn’t that mean losing a weapon for no reason?

In that brief moment, Hidetsu’s mind raced with questions, but it was already too late—the blade was upon him.

Watching the cold, razor-sharp edge gleaming menacingly as it hurtled toward him, Hidetsu's eyes widened. In a desperate move, he yanked his subordinate Masato, who had just arrived at his side, by the back of his collar and flung him forward. Simultaneously, Hidetsu executed a tactical backbend, his body arching downward in a split stance.

*Thud!*

*Crunch!*

The katana pierced Masato’s body as if cutting through paper, continuing its momentum to embed itself deep into the cliff face.

“Captain, you… I…” Masato coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering Hidetsu’s face. His eyes were filled with disbelief, as if he had countless questions left unanswered.

But he would never voice them, as his eyes slowly closed forever.

Cross-eyed from staring at the blade mere inches from his forehead, Hidetsu breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, he had a loyal subordinate to serve as a shield.

Now, with Shinji down one weapon, Hidetsu planned to order his squad to rain ninjutsu down upon the enemy. Surely, the strange earth-hardening technique used earlier wouldn’t last long in the ensuing chaos.

But—

*Snap!*

Hidetsu’s thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a black thread on the sword hilt suddenly go taut!

In the next instant—

A spinning blue light erupted from the blade, cutting through the air like a wildly whirling windmill. In the blink of an eye, it crossed dozens of meters, its destructive force akin to a runaway truck smashing through obstacles.

“What is that?!”

“What the hell?!”

“How is it so fast?!”

The Jashinist underlings were dumbfounded.

In midair, Shinji, pulled by the taut thread, adjusted his position, spinning to hurl another blade like a human windmill.

With a second aerial rotation, he closed the distance.

However, the momentum wasn’t enough to execute a perfect downward slash, akin to the spinning attacks of the legendary Ackerman soldiers.

So, he opted to throw his sword again, using the inertia.

To Shinji, the ninja sword was nothing more than a larger kunai.

*Whoosh!*

The sword hurtled through the air, piercing Hidetsu’s lower back as he arched in horror.

“Arghhhh!”

Amidst screams, Shinji landed gracefully, stomping on Hidetsu’s chest as he retrieved the sword and sheathed it at his waist.

Without sparing him a glance, he kicked Hidetsu onto his stomach, rifling through his utility pouch in one swift motion.

“Hm~”

Weighing the contents in his hand, Shinji’s face lit up with a pleased smile.

As expected of someone who looked like the leader—inside were 17 shuriken, 3 kunai, and about 7-8 senbon needles.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Shinji with tools and Shinji without tools were two completely different creatures.

What followed would be an onslaught of tentacle-like attacks!

Securing the pouch at his waist, Shinji activated his Sharingan, quickly locking onto the positions of the remaining ninja.

Both hands drew four shuriken each, which he flung outward.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The eight shuriken sliced through the air in seemingly chaotic arcs, each carrying hidden, deadly intent.

And that was just the beginning.

In a mere three seconds,

17 shuriken, 3 kunai, and 7 senbon needles flew like a swarm of bees, their black threads snaking through the air, creating a terrifying web of danger.

But it didn’t end there.

Shinji grabbed a rock from the cliffside, shattering it with a slap, and sent the fragments hurtling through the air.

Rocks, pebbles, Hidetsu’s scabbard, shoes, even the metal plate from a forehead protector—

In another quick snatch, Shinji looted Masato’s utility pouch, finding only 6 shuriken inside.

He frowned but couldn’t spare time to criticize how broke the man had been.

“In any case—!”

He shouted loudly:

“Behold my Shuriken: All-Out Throwing Technique!”

As his shout echoed, the tattered black-robed kid, under the stunned gazes of the Evil God Cult’s ninjas, killed one of their operatives with a single shot.

In less than five seconds,

he struck down their squad leader with another shot.

Damn it, why is he using swords like projectiles?!

They couldn’t afford to dwell on the absurdity of the situation.

Another five seconds passed.

When the cult ninjas looked up in terror,

a dense, overwhelming barrage of projectiles filled their vision.

Shadows leaped high; the sun dimmed in an instant.

“What the hell?! What’s going on with this kid?!”

The Evil God Cult ninjas froze, their breaths hitching as shock and fear flashed in their eyes.

Their hearts were gripped by an indescribable sense of dread.

How could one kid unleash more projectiles than ten men combined?

Already struggling to keep up with Shinji’s speed,

their disarray worsened as they lost their leader.

Chaos broke out immediately.

“Find cover! Quick, take cover!”

“Damn it, his firepower is insane!”

“Get behind the battlements! It’s a blind spot—his shuriken can’t hit us there!”

“If you can’t find cover, hit the ground!”

“Wait! I’m already behind the battlements! Why are these shuriken still curving around?!”

“Ahhhh!”

The battlefield descended into complete disarray.

When the barrage finally stopped,

only six ninjas remained standing.

But before they could even feel relieved for surviving the onslaught,

Shinji grinned menacingly,

clenching three strings between his teeth.

With a sharp tactical lean,

he yanked the strings with all ten fingers.

“Sharingan Windmill: Triple Blade!”

The countless thrown tools embedded across the field suddenly sprang to life,

their ends connected by thin black strings.

The strings snapped taut and pulled violently.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!  

The tools recoiled, revealing the hidden trap beneath the chaotic setup.

The six remaining ninjas were all bound tightly to the battlements.

The strings stretched tighter and tighter—

until Boom!  

The protruding battlements crumbled, massive stone blocks collapsing from the high walls.

A cloud of dust erupted as rubble crashed down,

drawing the attention of everyone in the castle.

“Huff.” Shinji massaged his aching forehead and exhaled heavily.

“This much commotion should be enough to draw them out.”

It was his first time controlling so many strings simultaneously.

But the results seemed pretty satisfying.

The same technique, which the original young Sasuke used only to restrain targets,

had transformed into a deadly weapon in his hands.

Shinji turned, his gaze sharp,

fixing on the area below the walls.

There, twelve elite Evil God Cult ninjas were rushing toward him.

“Now then, the chase begins.”

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