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Lightning strikes in less than a thousandth of a second.
Very few shinobi in the world of Naruto possess the ability to harness such devastating speed. Among them are Sasuke, with his mastery of Kirin, and the formidable kunoichi standing before Sarutobi Ryo—Ringo Ameyuri.
Sarutobi Ryo's gaze was cold, his tone unwavering. A chilling aura radiated from him, a testament to his resolve. When he declared an intention, it was not merely words; it was an oath. As long as he drew breath, he would see it through.
Ringo Ameyuri hesitated for a fraction of a second, momentarily taken aback by his sheer determination. "This kid... he's serious. He truly means what he says."
Before she could dwell on that thought, a series of swift, light footsteps echoed nearby.
"Tch! Retreat!" she barked.
With a swift kick, she sent Baiyun Yeshan tumbling away.
Yamanaka Hui lunged to catch him but deliberately missed by the narrowest margin, allowing Baiyun Yeshan to crash face-first into the dirt.
"Oops~! My arm is injured... I forgot..." she feigned regret, her voice laced with amusement.
Baiyun Yeshan groaned in response.
The arrival of reinforcements led by Utatane Koharu forced the Kirigakure shinobi into retreat. As they disappeared into the thick foliage, Ringo Ameyuri cast one final glance at Sarutobi Ryo, her silhouette lingering in his eyes like an imprint on his soul.
With a smirk, she called out, "Sarutobi Ryo... I'll remember you."
He held her gaze until she vanished into the shadows.
At that moment, a familiar system notification rang in his mind.
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[The Will of Fire System Activated!]
[New Weapon of the Will of Fire: Ringo Ameyuri!]
[Side Quest: Instill the Will of Fire in Ringo Ameyuri]
[Reward: Potential Access to Ice Release Kekkei Genkai]
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Sarutobi Ryo's heart skipped a beat. "Ice Release?!"
Ringo Ameyuri had demonstrated a truly terrifying speed and technique. Even a single display of such power was enough to leave an indelible mark on all who witnessed it.
Even Yamanaka Hui, normally composed and analytical, was momentarily shaken.
Against the raw power of lightning, no human could hope to evade an attack in time.
Ringo Ameyuri casually lowered her arms, her twin blades crackling with residual energy at her sides. Baiyun Yeshan lay motionless, his fate uncertain.
The seven bloodthirsty Kirigakure shinobi standing behind her grinned wickedly, their fear of their captain evident. With a single exchange, Ringo Ameyuri had cemented her dominance.
No matter how fast a person was, they could never outrun lightning.
Unless they anticipated her move before she even lifted her blade.
Yet something intrigued Ringo Ameyuri. "You're not afraid?"
She studied Sarutobi Ryo's expressionless face. Was he truly fearless, or was he paralyzed by shock?
To the untrained eye, her technique seemed godlike—a kunoichi summoning lightning at will.
But to Sarutobi Ryo, well-versed in physics, the phenomenon was not only understandable but explainable.
"Using the Lightning Swords as conductors, you channel chakra into the sky through controlled pulses, creating an ionized air path that forms a plasma conduit. This guides the natural electrical discharge downward, allowing for a precision lightning strike. In short, the swords serve as pulse generators."
He spoke as if reciting a textbook passage, utterly unfazed.
What others viewed as a supernatural ability was nothing more than applied science, a phenomenon often replicated in advanced laboratories.
His words peeled back the veil of mystery surrounding the legendary Thunder Blades: Kiba, the prized weapons of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Ringo Ameyuri smirk faltered for a fleeting moment.
Then she chuckled. "Interesting..."
The boy wasn't as ignorant as she had assumed.
No—his knowledge was unsettlingly vast.
Most shinobi relied on instinct and practice, their understanding of chakra no deeper than that of a beast harnessing its natural abilities.
Yet this boy? He dissected their techniques like a scholar.
A dangerous intellect.
Murderous intent flickered in her eyes.
Of course, to their dumbfounded onlookers, Sarutobi Ryo's words might as well have been spoken in an alien tongue. The gap between them extended beyond raw power—it was a divide of intellect, knowledge, and insight.
"Move in." Ringo Ameyuri's command was quiet, yet absolute.
Her subordinates lunged.
"Protect Baiyun Yeshan!" Sarutobi Ryo barked, weaving hand signs at blistering speed.
As shuriken, kunai, and a flurry of deadly projectiles tore through the air, he slammed his hands against the ground.
"Earth Release: Earthen Wall!"
The earth trembled, a stone slab erupting from the ground to shield them. The enemy's barrage struck the barrier, followed immediately by an explosive tag, reducing the defense to rubble.
Yamanaka Hui clicked her tongue. "Master, this guy is dead weight. Can't we just leave him?"
Her tone was playful, almost teasing.
But Sarutobi Ryo's answer was unwavering.
"No."
Before another word could be spoken, Ruri had already engaged the enemy, weaving through blades with the fluid grace of a Hyūga prodigy, her Gentle Fist technique illuminating the battlefield.
Ringo Ameyuri misread the act entirely. She sneered. "Another privileged brat sending subordinates to their deaths."
Her tone dripped with scorn. "You noble types will never understand suffering. You throw away lives while you sit back and enjoy the spoils."
The Bloody Mist was a land of hierarchy—strict, ruthless, and unyielding. Unlike Konoha, where bonds mattered, Kirigakure thrived on division and cruelty.
Sarutobi Ryo frowned, rushing forward to assist Ruri.
Yes, this was a cruel world.
And no, he was not a saint.
But even so—
There were principles he refused to abandon.
A clash of steel, a blur of motion—the battle raged on.
Then, abruptly—
"Stop!"
Ringo Ameyuri's voice cut through the chaos.
She stood poised, Kiba pressed against Baiyun Yeshan's throat.
"Drop your weapons, or he dies."
The tactic of taking hostages worked well against villages like Konoha, where morality still held meaning. Against a Konoha shinobi, such a ploy was almost always effective.
In the past, Hatake Sakumo faced a similar dilemma.
Uchiha Obito, too, made his choice.
They all prioritized their comrades.
But Sarutobi Ryo?
He smiled coldly. "You can kill him."
Ringo Ameyuri blinked in surprise.
"But know this—"
His voice carried a weight that made the air itself feel heavy.
"I will kill your entire clan. I will raze Kirigakure to the ground. I will erase every trace of your existence from the world."
A chill ran down Ringo Ameyuri's spine.
The temperature seemed to drop.
Sarutobi Ryo wasn't bluffing.
He was promising.