"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A Sunagakure Jōnin unleashed a Wind Release technique, and a powerful gust instantly blew away the thick smoke.
Pakura clenched her fists, her brownish-yellow eyes fixed on the eagle soaring through the sky—swift as the wind, yet fierce as fire.
"A summoning beast?! Isn't Tsunade-sama's summoning beast supposed to be a slug?"
The Sunagakure Jōnin beside her shook his head and analyzed,
"I've never heard of anyone from Konoha having a hawk as their summoning beast, let alone one that can use Fire Release. A hawk that can quickly release explosive fire techniques like that..."
"Hmm... It's very similar to Moku Kairen's flames. Could this summoning beast belong to that brat?"
Hearing the Jōnin's words, the others from Sunagakure tensed immediately.
Though they called Kairen a "Genin brat," the thought of actually facing him weighed heavily in their hearts.
The graves of fallen Sunagakure shinobi were the most direct proof—nearly 300 of them had died by his hand.
Even the coffin of their frontline commander, Meimuda, had already been prepared—just waiting for someone to carry it to the grave.
"Hmph!"
Pakura gave a cold snort. She was a Bloodline Limit shinobi—the power of her Scorch Release had already been deeply experienced by Kirigakure.
No rumors, no superstition!
Whatever "Undying Ninja" nonsense they said, Pakura would personally turn him into vapor today.
"Summon the beasts! After him!"
"Summoning Technique!"
A Sunagakure shinobi bit his finger and formed hand seals. With a puff of white smoke, a massive gray hawk appeared in midair.
Pakura and several Sunagakure shinobi leapt onto its back and flew rapidly in the direction Kairen had gone.
"Skreee—!"
The piercing screech of the hawk exploded across the sky, loud enough that Kairen easily caught it.
Using his Byakugan, he spotted Pakura's group several kilometers behind.
He also gauged their chakra levels—four Jōnin and three Special Jōnin.
Among them, one Jōnin's chakra was particularly intense, burning with a fiery aura.
An elite Jōnin—an unusual one at that.
Kairen had seen her earlier when rescuing Tsunade-sama: two-tone hair tied into a bun, wearing a backless, provocative outfit.
That had to be Sunagakure's Scorch Release user—Pakura.
She was easy to recognize. That bright turquoise bun stood out, pinned with an ornamental stick shaped like a motorcycle handlebar—it practically screamed "easy to steer."
Kairen shook his head, forcing himself to stay focused.
Was Sunagakure really not afraid of him yet? Still sending people to die?
Or perhaps Pakura had angered Sunagakure's higher-ups, and they'd sent her to die on purpose.
Considering how she'd eventually be betrayed by her own village, there was a high chance this was already happening—she'd been gift-wrapped and sent right to him.
No matter the village, it seemed every one had its share of scheming bureaucrats.
Well, since Sunagakure had kindly sent people over to die, it wouldn't do for him to be impolite.
With a thought, a puff of smoke burst beside him, revealing another black-and-white hawk—his Shadow Clone.
The secret art 〖Hundred Transformations〗 activated on the clone as well.
Kairen flipped midair, startling Yūhi Kurenai and the others with screams. When they opened their eyes again, they were already atop another hawk.
Kairen rolled through the clouds and soared toward the Sunagakure pursuers, while ordering his clone,
"Find a hidden spot and drop them off safely."
"Got it, boss!"
The clone nodded and immediately flew toward a narrow alley in the city below.
Kairen's wings flapped fiercely, generating a violent gale like a streak of black lightning tearing across the sky.
In aerial combat—since when had Lightning Kairen ever feared anyone?
Seeing Kairen's approach, Pakura quickly formed hand seals. A blazing red sphere condensed in her palms like a miniature sun.
"Scorch Release: Super Steam Kill!"
Kairen's hawk eyes narrowed—he immediately recognized it as Pakura's Bloodline Limit.
A fusion of Wind and Fire chakra nature transformations, producing flames of extremely high temperature. Once it touched a target, it could instantly evaporate the water in their body.
Pakura roared, "Beast, die!"
Kairen tilted his hawk head.
Who was she calling "beast"? If he really went beast mode, she'd regret it.
Pakura's Scorch Release shot out in a flash. Given its speed, Kairen could have easily evaded with a simple climb.
But he didn't. His experience points were running low—it was time to restock.
As the Scorch Fireball flew toward him, Kairen did something unbelievable. In Pakura's shocked gaze, the hawk opened its beak wide—and bit down on the Scorch Release.
Hovering midair, he actually spoke, wings spread in a "V" shape:
"Crunchy! Tastes like chicken wings! Love it!"
The Scorch Release detonated inside him moments later. The extreme heat sucked all the moisture from his body.
Unable to maintain the 〖Hundred Transformations〗 technique, Kairen burst into smoke with a bang and reverted to his human form.
At last, the Sunagakure shinobi could see his true face. Someone immediately shouted,
"It's Moku Kairen! Everyone, be on guard!"
"Fiery Cloud!"
A flicker of anger flashed in Kairen's heart.
Fiery Cloud—he'd get rid of that cursed name one day. It wasn't going to cling to him forever.
"Ding!"
[You were killed by Jōnin Pakura's Scorch Release. EXP +400!]
Pakura was an elite Jōnin with a Bloodline Limit—her strength could rival a Kage's.
Kairen's interest in her only deepened—in both the woman and her technique.
Moments later, Kairen resurrected. A pair of black hawk wings sprouted from his back.
If he could transform into a full hawk, then keeping a pair of wings shouldn't be a problem, right?
Pakura stared at the boy floating in the sky—bare chest, black belt around his waist, black wings spread behind him.
Just from that image alone, it was obvious—this wasn't an ordinary man.
"Damn it," Pakura cursed under her breath. "He's an aerial fighter! That wasn't in the intel!"
Aerial shinobi were among the most troublesome to deal with—they could fight or flee at will. The battle's initiative was entirely in their hands.
Though Pakura's team had a flying hawk as well, it was merely transport—not nearly as maneuverable as Kairen.
Pakura began to suspect that Sunagakure's higher-ups had set her up.
In truth, Kairen had only just mastered flight himself.
One of the Sunagakure Special Jōnin spotted Kairen and didn't hesitate—he unstrapped a massive sealing scroll from his back.
Kairen's eyes narrowed.
So, Sunagakure had gotten smarter—they were now deploying sealing specialists in their squads.
Would that make things less fun from now on?
The tan sealing paper shot out like a serpent, but Kairen flapped his wings, twisted midair, and narrowly avoided being wrapped up.
He pointed a finger toward the sealing ninja.
"Brat, don't move! Hands up!"
The sealing ninja saw the flickering flame in Kairen's palm—his pupils constricted sharply.
According to intel, this was Moku Kairen's fastest Fire Release technique—swift as the wind and explosive on impact.
Ignoring Kairen's taunt completely, the sealing ninja turned to flee.
"Fire Release: Fire Gun!"
The blazing shot exploded forth in an instant. The sealing ninja was too close—he couldn't escape.
"Dodge!" shouted a short-haired Sunagakure Jōnin, shoving the sealing ninja aside—
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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