A massive shockwave mixed with countless shattered blue-white electric arcs spread wildly in all directions like an out-of-control hurricane!
Dust and snow blasted into the sky, instantly obscuring the entire area.
And within the chaotic storm of dust that blocked all vision…
"Roar!"
A white-furred humanoid giant ape over two meters tall, its muscles knotted like forged steel, burst out from the dust storm like a falling meteor!
It crashed down from above the smoke with terrifying force, landing precisely in the center of the several hundred Kumogakure elites!
At the instant of impact, a visible ring-shaped shockwave exploded outward from the point of landing. The ground trembled violently, and several Kumogakure ninja who failed to dodge were sent flying back while spitting out blood!
At the same time…
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amid continuous sounds of air being torn apart, more than a dozen figures identical to Shinichi rushed out from the lingering smoke and lightning!
At the front, Shinichi raised his leg high like a battle axe and, like another human meteor, stomped down toward the Kumogakure's formation with a force no less than Enma.
Behind him followed two Shadow Clones, one wielding the Blade of the Thunder Spirit, its golden lightning blade crackling with destructive brilliance, and the other holding the Flowing Cloud Sword upside down, its blade blood-red and radiating intense heat and sharp intent!
They turned into two streaks of sword light, one gold, one crimson, flanking left and right as they followed close behind!
As Shinichi's devastating stomp, infused with his immense power and chakra, struck the ground, the earth caved in violently. The explosive force and gale burst outward once more from the impact point, further shattering the already chaotic Kumogakure's formation caused by Enma's strike!
The moment he landed, without any need for eye contact or words, Enma in the distance understood his intent. Its massive body suddenly tensed and launched forward like a reverse-fired cannonball toward Shinichi's position!
It spun rapidly midair, its form changing at high speed. With a flash of light, it transformed from the fierce white-furred giant ape back into a pitch-black, dark-gold-tipped Adamantine Nyoi!
The staff traced a precise arc through the air and landed perfectly into Shinichi's outstretched right hand!
Almost at the exact moment his fingers grasped the staff firmly, Shinichi used the momentum of his landing and the torque of his waist to spin and sweep backward!
Driven by his will, the Adamantine Nyoi suddenly expanded as if alive!
From about two meters in length, it extended to over twenty meters in an instant!
The thick black staff, accompanied by a piercing howl that tore through the air, swept horizontally like the tail of a colossal dragon capable of wiping out armies. With unstoppable force, it lashed toward more than a dozen Kumogakure elite ninja who were trying to regroup and prepare a counterattack behind him!
Those ninjas' expressions changed drastically. Some raised their blades to block, others attempted to retreat with Teleportation Jutsu, but the speed and power of the staff's sweep were far too terrifying!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of dull, heavy impacts and the sound of bones shattering exploded in rapid succession!
Eight Kumogakure ninja struck head-on by the massive twenty-meter staff had their weapons shattered instantly. Their bodies were hit like they had been struck by a full-speed train, blood mixed with fragments of internal organs spewing from their mouths as they were flung far away like broken sacks, landing lifeless!
Those on the sides who were grazed by the edge of the staff's force were also sent flying with broken bones, screaming as they rolled across the ground, completely losing their combat ability!
With a single strike, more than a dozen Kumogakure elites were either killed or severely injured by that brutal, unreasonable blow!
At the same time, the two Shadow Clones behind Shinichi, wielding the Blade of the Thunder Spirit and the Flowing Cloud Sword, had already followed like shadows, turning into two deadly streaks of gold and red light. They cut into the group of Kumogakure ninja who had just been swept away!
The sword lights exploded like thunder or surged like flames, executing precise and efficient, merciless finishing strikes!
"It's Shinichi Higashino! Kill him!"
A furious and shocked roar erupted from within the Village Hidden in the Cloud ranks.
Commander Diga instantly recognized this Konoha prodigy, who had recently been marked as a top-priority target for elimination in the village's intelligence reports.
At the moment the order was issued, the remaining Kumogakure elite ninjas demonstrated extremely high military discipline. Despite the sudden attack, they reorganized their defensive and counterattack formation in a very short time!
Chakra surged, and the harsh hiss of electricity filled the air. One dangerous Lightning Style Ninjutsu after another rapidly took shape in their hands, lightning spheres, spears, and nets ready to strike, all locked firmly onto the staff-wielding youth, determined to kill him on the spot!
However, Shinichi moved faster than their techniques could be released!
Countless tiny lightning arcs burst around his body as his speed surged dramatically in an instant. He became a blurred streak of lightning, tearing through the air as he charged first toward a nearby Kumogakure squad that was hurriedly forming hand seals!
The Adamantine Nyoi in his hands spun, transforming into a roaring storm!
Layers of staff shadows overlapped, and the wind pressure they generated howled like wailing ghosts, as if summoning a monstrous tidal wave out of thin air. In the most direct and brutal physical manner, it swept toward that squad!
Crack!
The weapons of the leading ninja shattered instantly, their bones crushed as they were blown away like ants, scattering through the air.
The ninja behind them were smashed by their own comrades, bones breaking with explosive cracking sounds, mixed with muffled groans and screams of pain.
Even the relatively stable rear formation was thrown into chaos by this chain collision!
At this moment, the Lightning Style attacks previously organized by Commander Diga from a slightly farther position finally roared through the air, like dense blue lightning spears striking from all directions toward Shinichi!
At the same time, another twenty particularly fierce Kumogakure elites, clearly specialists in Taijutsu and swordsmanship, skilled in close combat, under the personal leadership of deputy commander Gaia, rushed toward Shinichi from multiple directions on the flank and rear like a pack of sharks that had smelled blood!
Shinichi's expression did not change. He swung the Adamantine Nyoi again, forming an impenetrable barrier that smashed apart and deflected a large number of incoming Lightning Style Ninjutsu, scattering them into sparks!
Immediately after, his figure flickered like a ghost as he retreated and shifted sideways in rapid succession, narrowly avoiding the remaining tricky lightning attacks by a hair's breadth.
Just as he had dodged the last lightning spear and his movement paused slightly, two Kumogakure ninja from behind had already closed in and swung their blades!
Without even turning his head, Shinichi used the momentum to execute a masterful backward thrust with his staff!
"Extend!"
The front end of the Adamantine Nyoi suddenly expanded with the wind, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave. Carrying terrifying, spiraling penetration force, it pierced through the chests of the two attacking Kumogakure elites with two soft popping sounds!
The staff burst through their bodies, spraying a large amount of blood. Their eyes dimmed instantly as they hung limply on the staff.
But just as Shinichi completed this swift counterattack, in the brief instant before the staff had fully retracted…