"Wind Release: Beast Wave Gale Palm!"
Morita Hideki truly lived up to being one of the top ten Jonin of Sunagakure. After a brief moment of shock at seeing Jizo's shield shattered, he quickly regained his composure.
His hands formed seals at high speed as chakra erupted forth, unleashing a powerful Wind Release technique!
Wind Release: Beast Wave Gale Palm!
A terrifying B-rank Wind Release jutsu!
A massive amount of Wind-attribute chakra gathered in Morita Hideki's right hand.
When the chakra reached its peak, his right arm snapped forward—
Roar!
A violent gale, shaped like the head of a ferocious beast, burst forth from his fist, roaring as it collided head-on with the incoming magma projectiles!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The clash between the raging wind and the magma triggered violent explosions!
Under the terrifying shockwaves of the collision, the mountain itself began to collapse!
Rumble! Crack! Crack!
Countless pitch-black fissures spread across the mountain, trees were uprooted by the gale, and then incinerated into ash by the magma.
Yet even this terrifying Beast Wave Gale Palm—
Could not stop Yoru's magma projectiles!
After holding out for a moment, the beast-shaped gale let out what seemed like a final wail before completely dissipating.
But—
It bought Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo precious time!
The two immediately unleashed their full speed and fled toward the distance!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless magma projectiles slammed into the mountainside they had just abandoned!
The terrifying explosive force within those magma blasts tore open massive cracks across the terrain. The shattered rocks thrown into the air were instantly assimilated into magma!
Streams of molten lava scattered in all directions like a deadly rain!
Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo stared at the apocalyptic scene before them, their faces filled with terror.
Morita Hideki was breathing heavily.
Beast Wave Gale Palm, as a B-rank Wind Release jutsu, was extremely powerful—but its chakra consumption was equally terrifying.
This was supposed to be a trump card technique—
Yet it couldn't even block a casual attack from Yoru!
A deep sense of defeat rose within him.
Yes—
That man standing in the distance, still wearing an expression of mild interest, calm and composed, as if he hadn't exerted any effort at all—
That had been nothing more than a casual strike!
Yet that casual strike had not only shattered Jizo's supposedly absolute defense—
But had also crushed his full-powered Beast Wave Gale Palm!
Morita Hideki no longer had any thoughts of defeating Yoru.
This wasn't a battle—
This was facing a monster!
Even escaping alive from such a being would be considered fortunate!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two splashes of magma shot toward Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo.
Ikeda Ryo's fingers twitched.
Clang! Clang!
Two puppets wielding ninja blades intercepted the magma and sliced it in half!
Zuo Hu! You Men!
These were the names of the two puppets!
As a puppet master, Ikeda Ryo naturally had his own creations.
These two puppets were his proudest works.
Zuo Hu wielded a left-handed blade, while You Men wielded a right-handed blade.
Each ninja blade had been forged using immense resources, capable of channeling his Wind-attribute chakra, granting them terrifying cutting power!
Working together—one on the left, one on the right—
They could unleash exponentially greater combat strength!
Although the magma splashes had been cut apart, Ikeda Ryo showed no trace of pride.
Those had merely been fragments—just a tiny portion of the magma's scattered debris!
Boom!
Another cloud of smoke burst forth.
A puppet resembling a winged ant appeared from within it—
Flying Ant!
Ikeda Ryo had gone all out.
This was his final puppet.
Naturally, it was also a treasured piece from the Sand Village's puppet arsenal—far superior to ordinary Flying Ant puppets.
Another puppet—the one that had helped Ikeda Ryo escape earlier—
Was a humanoid puppet named Black Crow!
Black Crow's unique construction allowed it to achieve incredible speed!
It was specifically designed to carry Ikeda Ryo to safety in times of danger.
Of course, it was also equipped with numerous hidden weapons, making it deadly in combat as well.
Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo had not considered fleeing immediately.
Because deep down, they could feel a terrifying presence locking onto them.
If they turned their backs and ran—
They would only meet a swift and miserable death!
This was a battlefield instinct honed through countless life-and-death struggles.
Since escape was impossible—
Then there was only one option left.
Fight to the death!
Neither Morita Hideki nor Ikeda Ryo were cowards.
A ruthless glint flashed in their eyes.
Even if they couldn't defeat Yoru—
They would tear off a piece of him!
If Yoru knew what they were thinking, he would probably laugh.
Bite magma?
Good luck with that.
Crackle!
Yoru raised his right hand.
Endless magma gathered within his palm, compressing continuously—
Until a blazing crimson light appeared!
"Magma—Crimson Heaven Sword!"
Shave!
In an instant, Yoru vanished—
And reappeared right in front of Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo!
"What?!"
Cold sweat instantly drenched their backs.
They couldn't even see his movement!
Slash!
Yoru's figure appeared before them, swinging the Crimson Heaven Sword—
Black Crow was split in two!
The terrifying explosive force from the blade erupted, blowing the puppet into countless fragments!
This troublesome tool—
Naturally had to be eliminated first.
Ikeda Ryo's eyes filled with hatred.
Black Crow had saved him countless times—
And now it had been destroyed just like that!
His fingers moved again.
Zuo Hu and You Men lunged at Yoru!
But—
Both Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo felt a growing sense of dread.
Because—
They did not hear the sound of blades piercing flesh.
Instead—
They saw the blades of both puppets strike directly into Yoru's vital points!
Gurgle… gurgle…
Terrifying magma surged out from the wounds!
Before their horrified eyes—
The molten lava engulfed Zuo Hu and You Men entirely!
Sizzle! Sizzle!
A piercing sound echoed.
Moments later—
Only molten residue remained.
Ikeda Ryo's eyes turned bloodshot!
To a puppet master—
Their creations were no different from their own flesh and blood!
Driven by rage, Ikeda Ryo lost all reason and charged straight at Yoru!
Slash!
The result of acting on impulse—
Was death.
Ikeda Ryo was cut down instantly by Yoru's Crimson Heaven Sword!
Morita Hideki stared at Yoru in despair.
Was this kind of power—
Even human?
Recalling Yoru's methods from moments ago, he could only give a bitter smile.
Yoru looked at him, a cruel smile curling on his lips.
Shave!
"Not good!"
Morita Hideki's expression changed drastically as his hands rapidly formed seals!
"Wind Release: Pressure Devastation!"
This was his full power!
A massive compressed tornado formed between heaven and earth!
The energy contained within it was enough to tear apart anything in its path!
"Armament Haki—Coating!"
Yoru remained expressionless.
His blade was enveloped in Armament Haki—
And he swung!
Slash!
Before Morita Hideki's shocked eyes—
Yoru's single strike cut through both the tornado—
And his head—
In one motion!
Sunagakure's super elite squad—
Completely annihilated!
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