The front courtyard was already engulfed in flames, with several ninja monks lying motionless on the ground, their fates unknown.
Hiruko stood with his arms hanging loosely, his gaze sweeping the surroundings like a predatory beast, cold and menacing.
He had once been a ninja from the same era as the Legendary Sannin, filled with admiration for their brilliance, yet his own talent fell far short. Years of inferiority and resentment had ultimately pushed him into the abyss of forbidden techniques, where he stubbornly believed that only this path would allow him to surpass the Sannin.
Shinji had never heard any news about Hiruko in Konohagakure, nor had he ever seen this person before. Yet their first encounter was such a scene of madness and destruction.
The ninja monks of the Fire Temple and the Guardian Ninja arrived one after another upon hearing the commotion, and chaos instantly erupted.
"Enemy attack!"
"How did he get in?"
"Damn it!"
Asuma arrived alongside Chiriku and the others. It seemed he had been with the Guardian Ninja all along, and they appeared to get along well.
He returned to the edge of the group, lowering his voice as he looked at Shinji.
"What happened?"
"Not sure," Shinji shook his head gently. "Let's observe for now. Get into position and be careful."
Kurenai and Asuma exchanged glances, both gripping their weapons tightly, ready for battle.
A figure descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground, shattering the bluestone floor.
Tsunade shook her golden short hair, and when she saw who it was, her pupils contracted slightly, her tone suddenly turning serious.
"Hiruko? Is that you?"
"What are you doing here?"
She glanced at the unconscious ninja monks on the ground, and anger surged within her instantly. "Hiruko, do you realize what you're doing?"
There were fewer and fewer ninjas from her generation left, and this person had always quietly followed the three of them back in the day. After so many years, to see him again in such a crazed and bloodthirsty state...
Hiruko hadn't expected to encounter Tsunade here either. He let out a strange, cold chuckle, piercingly sharp in the night.
"Long time no see, Tsunade."
"As for why I'm here..."
He suddenly spread his arms wide, his figure charging forward violently.
"Of course, because I've defected!"
With a fierce swing of his arms, dozens of shuriken shot through the air. With another flick of his hands, two kunai were already in his grasp.
His speed was astonishingly fast, clearly aiming to strike first.
Tsunade punched the ground, causing the earth to crack and a thick stone wall to rise, effortlessly blocking all the shuriken.
"Why did you defect?!"
Her voice carried an unmistakable tone of frustration and disappointment.
Tsunade sidestepped and delivered a horizontal kick, precisely blocking Hiruko's attack. With a slight exertion of force, she pushed him back fiercely.
Hiruko performed several backflips to create distance, still sneering coldly.
"I was researching forbidden techniques and got discovered by that old fool Hiruzen Sarutobi."
He spread his arms wide again, arrogantly declaring to everyone:
"But it doesn't matter! I've already succeeded. I will surpass you Sannin, and I will dominate the entire ninja world!"
"Stop dreaming!"
Tsunade stomped her foot heavily, chakra violently swirling around her fist as she aimed a devastating punch straight at Hiruko's face.
Hiruko hastily dodged to the side.
No one was willing to take Tsunade's Monstrous Strength Fist head-on, except for that fool Jiraiya.
Everyone could only watch as each of Tsunade's punches sent crushed stone flying and left craters in the ground. Hiruko was completely unable to counterattack, only able to dodge in an awkward manner.
"As expected of Lady Tsunade!"
"Let's go support her!"
"Daring to commit murder in the Fire Temple, he has no idea what death means!"
"Damn it, you forced me into this!"
Hiruko barely dodged another punch, his gaze suddenly locking onto two still-living ninja monks. In a flash, he charged toward them.
He grabbed both by the necks, lifting them harshly. The two ninja monks instantly turned pale, suffering in agony.
"Ghost Absorption Technique!"
Shinji had already quietly activated his Sharingan.
He saw a sinister, chilling chakra surge from Hiruko's body. The bodies of the two ninja monks began to melt like ice and snow, gradually dissolving and being absorbed into his own form.
Hiruko's chakra instantly surged dramatically as he quickly formed a lotus seal.
"Welcoming Arrival: Thousand-Handed Kill!"
A solemn, illusory figure of a Thousand-Armed Kannon slowly rose behind him, countless golden chakra arms simultaneously stretching and spreading out.
In the next moment, a dense barrage of palm strikes rained down like a storm upon the advancing ninja monks.
The two in the front were instantly pulverized, their internal organs and blood splattering at Hiruko's feet, filling the air with a thick, metallic scent.
"How can this be?!"
"How does he know our Fire Temple's techniques?!"
In the blink of an eye, everyone who had charged forward was sent flying, severely injured and lying on the ground.
Shizune, watching from a distance, turned pale and cried out in alarm, "Oh no! Lady Tsunade, be careful!"
Tsunade had already charged forward, intending to knock Hiruko out with a single punch and bring him back to Konohagakure for judgment. But she hadn't expected the ninja monks to charge ahead even faster than her.
The next second, blinding blood entered her vision.
An uncontrollable fear washed over her like a tidal wave.
Tsunade trembled all over, her hands clutching herself tightly as she weakly knelt on the ground.
"An opening!"
Hiruko instantly seized the opportunity. He didn't understand why Tsunade had suddenly faltered, but for him, it was a tremendous advantage.
He delivered a fierce kick, sending Tsunade flying.
"Hehehehe!"
Hiruko threw his head back and laughed maniacally, his voice frenzied and arrogant.
"This is the power of the Ghost Absorption Technique!"
In the direction Tsunade was flying, Shinji's figure suddenly flashed, catching her securely in his arms.
At this moment, Tsunade was clearly in the grip of extreme fear. Her hands clutched his collar tightly, burying her face deep into his chest with a force that nearly tore the fabric.
Shinji had no time to dwell on the softness in his arms. With several swift leaps, he retreated with her back to their group.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune rushed over anxiously.
Shinji gently nudged the trembling Tsunade in his arms, and Shizune quickly took her over, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Shinji."
Kurenai looked surprised, lowering her voice, "What exactly happened to Lady Tsunade?"
Shizune glanced around, confirming they were all trustworthy people, before speaking softly:
"Because of some things in the past, Lady Tsunade has a deep fear of blood."
"This matter must be kept absolutely secret."
She specifically looked toward the others from the Fire Temple direction, her eyes conveying a solemn admonishment.
Kurenai was slightly taken aback but nodded gently.
Asuma stared at the still-laughing Hiruko, his brow furrowed. "With Lady Tsunade in this state, what should we do?"
After absorbing the two ninja monks, Hiruko's strength far surpassed everyone present. If Tsunade were in perfect condition, they might stand a chance, but now, with just the few of them, there was no hope of victory.
"I'll go."
Shinji spoke calmly, stepping forward.
"No!"
Kurenai grabbed his arm, her expression filled with anxiety and worry. "Are you going to face him alone? It's too dangerous!"
A warmth spread in Shinji's heart. He raised his hand and gently ruffled the top of her head. "Don't worry."
"I have a chance of winning."
He turned to look at Asuma, only to find the other staring conflictedly at his hand resting on Kurenai's head.
Shinji coughed lightly, withdrawing his hand. "Asuma, you and Kurenai, protect the client and the Fire Temple's ninja monks."
He then looked at Shizune and the Tsunade in her arms. "Shizune, please take care of them as well."
With that, Shinji slowly drew the short sword from his back and walked step by step toward Hiruko.
Hiruko soon noticed him, his gaze lifting to meet a pair of crimson, uncanny pupils.
His own pupils contracted sharply, then he let out a roar of extreme excitement:
"Uchiha?!"