Koshikawa had no way to dodge and could only watch helplessly as Moku Kairen's kick struck his chest.
"Crack..."
The sound of bones breaking echoed as Koshikawa's internal organs shifted out of place from the blow.
He was sent flying over a hundred meters, crashing into a tree so hard that the trunk snapped before he finally came to a stop.
"Cough, cough..."
Koshikawa struggled to climb to his feet, blood pouring endlessly from his mouth. He looked weakly at Moku Kairen, who was slowly walking toward him, ninja blade in hand.
At the twilight of his life, Koshikawa did not beg for mercy. Instead, a cold smile crept across his lips.
"Moku Kairen, you're the one the higher-ups of the village have been searching for. My hawk will report your intel back to the village!"
"So what?" Kairen approached him.
"The Fourth Kazekage, Chiyo-sama, the Scorch Release user Pakura, and countless other elites of Sunagakure—they will all find a way to capture you, study your Undying Smoke Release kekkei genkai, and torment you endlessly!"
Kairen lifted his blade, the steel glimmering silver under the moonlight.
A single slash—blood sprayed, staining his white robes crimson.
"I am the undying shinobi. There is nothing in this world that can kill me!"
In an instant, a figure appeared beside him. Kairen turned his head—it was Yūhi Shinku.
Shinku's gaze toward Kairen was complicated.
"Everyone underestimated you. Your strength has already reached the level of a Jōnin."
Kairen wiped the blood from his blade, his aura carrying a faint hint of Itachi's cold detachment.
"A mediocre man's eyes will only linger on what is near. How could they possibly behold the beauty beyond their vision?"
Yūhi Shinku cut off Koshikawa's head.
"He was an intelligence shinobi of Sunagakure. The information in his head is important. This achievement is yours—I will submit the war credit for you."
Kairen twirled his blade in a flourish before sheathing it smoothly at his waist. His faint, cold aura spread.
"Then I'll leave the credit to you. I am an eagle soaring the skies, too proud to squabble over scraps with rats in the mud."
With that, Kairen turned and slowly walked toward the small hill where he made his dwelling.
Yūhi Shinku watched the boy's bare back and exposed shoulders.
"This child… why does he give me the sudden urge to strike him?"
...
At the Sunagakure frontline, a massive black eagle with singed feathers landed at the command post.
Meimuda immediately stepped out of his office and retrieved a scroll from the eagle's beak. This was the intel Koshikawa had managed to jot down in the midst of battle.
Meimuda's face was dark. The Jōnin most skilled in infiltration and ambush had just died. Would the intel he risked his life to send back even be worth it?
Meimuda opened the scroll and read carefully.
"Undying shinobi… Smoke Transformation kekkei genkai."
A gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes.
As frontline commander, he had already learned from the higher-ups after the last failed pursuit of Kairen that the boy possessed extraordinary abilities.
A body that would never die. Wounds healed completely upon instant resurrection. Now, with this update, his power was named the Undying Smoke Release—its value surpassing even Wood Release.
Koshikawa's sacrifice was not meaningless. At the very least, it revealed the whereabouts of the Undying Smoke Release user.
Without hesitation, Meimuda mounted the black eagle and flew toward Sunagakure's main camp. He had to report this to the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
...
At the Konoha frontline, Zone A, Line 8, Kairen sat cross-legged on a rock, his consciousness already immersed in the Infinite Resurrection System's space.
He had gained 1400 experience points—it was time to upgrade his Chūnin template.
He spent 400 points to raise three of the Ninja Eight Attributes—[Seal], [Gen], and [Int]—to 10 points each.
He then used all remaining experience to improve Chakra Control, Chakra Nature Transformation, and Ninja Basic Skills.
Finally, he upgraded his mastery of ninjutsu to the level of performing single-handed seals.
The system's voice resounded as always:
"Host's Chūnin attributes maxed. Template upgrade successful!"
Kairen saw his Chūnin template replaced with the Special Jōnin template, a rank-based progression.
The interface was filled with new ninjutsu—after all, some people wouldn't want to spam Water Release here.
[Special Jōnin Moku Kairen]
[Ninja Eight Attributes]: Nin 1, Tai 1, Gen 1, Int 1, Str 1, Spd 1, Sta 1, Seal 1.
[Chakra Four Attributes]:
Chakra Capacity: Special Jōnin level.
Chakra Properties: Fire, Yin.
Chakra Control: 80% proficiency.
Chakra Nature Transformation: 80% proficiency.
[Kekkei Genkai]: Byakugan (Basic).
[Ninja Basic Skills]: Theory 2, Stealth 2, Tracking 2, Assassination 2, Traps 2, Poisoning 2.
[Forbidden Jutsu]: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu (100% proficiency), Eight Inner Gates—Gate of Opening, Rest, Life (50% proficiency)...
[Ninjutsu]: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire (50% single-hand seals), Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning (50% single-hand seals), Fire Release: Dragon Fire (50% single-hand seals), Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire (50% single-hand seals), Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson (50% single-hand seals), Rasengan (seal-less)...
[Taijutsu]: Head Catch Shuriken (100% proficiency), Leaf Gale (40%), Leaf Whirlwind (50%), Leaf Great Whirlwind (50%), Front Lotus (40%), Reverse Lotus (50%)...
[Genjutsu]: Smoke Transformation Genjutsu (100%), Iris Genjutsu (80%), Killing Intent Genjutsu (60%)...
[Evaluation]: (σ≧︎▽︎≦︎)σ.
Kairen activated his Byakugan, sensing his body. His normal chakra flow had doubled compared to before.
His chakra pathways had widened, meaning his output was faster as well.
Most importantly, he felt he had grown taller—though still not even 1.6 meters, leaving him a short stump.
Clenching his fists, he felt immense power surging inside him, ready to dance, ready to soar above the heavens at any moment.
"Kairen!" A clear voice rang out from afar.
He looked into the distance. A girl in red-and-white clothes darted among the rocky outcrops, like a lively fawn in the forest.
Kairen rose to his feet and smiled.
"Kurenai!"
Behind Yūhi Kurenai followed Yūhi Shinku. Yesterday's events had shaken him badly—he dared not let his daughter out of his sight even for half a step.
But Kurenai had stubbornly insisted on seeing Kairen again. This time, Shinku relented, bringing her along to Kairen's station.
Kurenai quickly reached him, tightly clutching his hand.
"Was last night a dream? I clearly dreamed that you had died! Then why are you still alive and well?"
Kairen lied casually.
"At that time, you were under that Sunagakure shinobi's genjutsu, which made you believe I had died."
"I see… I was so scared last night!" Kurenai rubbed her chest, still shaken by the memory.
Kairen scolded gently.
"Why did you run out of your defensive line last night? If I hadn't noticed in time, you would've been captured by the Sunagakure shinobi."
Kurenai lowered her head, unwilling to answer that question.