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The Third Kazekage led the Suna forces in a fierce charge. Orochimaru had erected a tall earth wall as a barrier, but he didn''t expect it to hold for long. It was merely a delaying tactic.
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Retreating was the wisest course of action, but they had to choose the right moment. Otherwise, they''d be hunted down by Suna, and perhaps even Amegakure would join in for a share of the spoils.
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"I hear the Third Kazekage boasts absolute defense."
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Shin''s eyes were fixed on the Third Kazekage, who looked deceptively young. He was a genius, possessing the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
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It was likely a Kekkei Genkai he had developed himself. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had learned Magnet Release from him.
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"I don''t know about ''absolute defense,'' but his defense is certainly strong. Even Tsunade couldn''t break through his Iron Sand," Orochimaru said.
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He looked at Shin. "Shin-kun, do you have a way to break through his defenses?"
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"If even Tsunade can''t do it, what makes you think I can? I''m just a Chūnin."
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"Oh? Are you really only Chūnin, Shin-kun?" Orochimaru gave him a knowing look.
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"Who knows?"
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Shin watched the approaching Suna forces, drew his Kusanagi sword, and leaped over the earth wall.
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Orochimaru frowned.
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"Orochimaru-sama, he went down there. Should we bring him back?"
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A Jōnin asked Orochimaru.
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"Observe. Perhaps he''ll surprise us. I''m quite curious." Orochimaru waved a hand dismissively, his snake-like eyes gleaming with anticipation.
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"You''ll be my whetstone."
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Shin''s eyes also held a glint of excitement. He didn''t know exactly how strong he was, but the battlefield was the perfect testing ground.
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He wasn''t afraid of danger. His Mangekyō Sharingan abilities could protect him. With Yomotsu Hirasaka, he could escape any situation.
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Wielding his Kusanagi sword, Shin charged towards the Suna forces, a blur of motion against the backdrop of the battlefield.
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"He''s fast!"
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Orochimaru''s eyes widened. Even he would struggle to dodge at that speed.
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Clang!Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
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Shin''s sword clashed against the Third Kazekage''s Iron Sand, sending the Kazekage flying.
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If the Kazekage hadn''t sensed the danger and used his Magnet Release to defend at the last moment, he would be dead.
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"What?!"
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The Suna Shinobi stared in disbelief at the young boy who had just sent their Kazekage flying with a single blow.
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They couldn''t believe their eyes. This kid, who looked no older than twelve, had repelled their Kazekage?
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At the Konoha camp, Tsunade clenched her fists.
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"Damn it, he''s reckless! Orochimaru, why did you let him go? Why didn''t you stop him?!"
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She glared at Orochimaru. She had been treating some injured Shinobi and had arrived late. She hadn''t expected Shin to charge into the enemy ranks alone.
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"Tsunade, do you want to go down there too?" Orochimaru asked, seeing her agitation.
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"You''re still injured. Even if you go, you won''t be much help. If he dared to face them, he must have a plan. You''d just be a burden."
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Tsunade hesitated. He was right. She would be a liability in her current state.
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Shin had Space-Time Ninjutsu; he should be fine. She''d give him a good scolding when he got back.
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"Are you all stunned?"
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Shin looked at the Suna Shinobi, who were frozen in shock. He swung his sword, cutting down several of them.
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Their deaths snapped the others out of their daze. They glared at Shin with fury.
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Shin charged into the enemy ranks. They wouldn''t dare use large-scale Ninjutsu now.
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That was how the Third Raikage had been able to fight a thousand Shinobi for three days and three nights. They didn''t use powerful Jutsu for fear of harming their own comrades.
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With their own allies mixed in with the enemies, how could they use Ninjutsu?
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Shin reveled in the chaos. In terms of Taijutsu, perhaps only the Third Raikage could match him. And in Kenjutsu, he believed he was unmatched in the Shinobi world.
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"Flash Slash!"
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He combined the Body Flicker Jutsu with his swordsmanship, killing over a dozen Suna Shinobi in an instant, including a Jōnin.
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"Weak."
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Shin flicked the blood off his Kusanagi sword.
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He had already killed dozens. His sword danced through the enemy ranks like a reaper''s scythe.
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He kicked a Shinobi who tried to attack him from behind. The man flew through the air and landed with a sickening thud, his body twisted at an unnatural angle.
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"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
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The giant shuriken, formed from swirling Wind Chakra, shot towards the Suna forces. It exploded, the countless tiny needles tearing through flesh and bone.
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Shin had aimed for the densest part of the enemy formation. The Shinobi there were helpless against the Rasenshuriken.
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"MOVE!! SCATTER!!"
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The Third Kazekage yelled.
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He had a gash on his chest, courtesy of Shin''s sword. Even with his Iron Sand defense, he had still been injured.
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The Kusanagi sword was incredibly sharp, and Shin''s strength was monstrous. Thankfully, the Kazekage''s defense was strong, or he would have been gutted.
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"I''m almost tempted to copy his Magnet Release," Shin mused, seeing the Kazekage''s relatively minor injury.
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But he didn''t. He had learned that Uchiha Ryota had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He was saving his last Advanced Replication Card for that.
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His own Mangekyō Sharingan had reached its limit, but it still hadn''t evolved into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. He wanted to copy another Mangekyō Sharingan to help his own evolve.
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Compared to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Magnet Release was nothing. The choice was obvious.
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The Third Kazekage ordered his men to retreat, then faced Shin alone. He wasn''t trying to be a hero; he simply didn''t want his men to get caught in the crossfire.
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He glared at Shin with murderous intent. If he hadn''t reacted quickly, he would have been killed by Shin''s sword.