Along the way, Leo had fought the Mist assassination squad, battled Cloud-nin spies, and now stood face-to-face with an enemy from the Uchiha clan.
He was exhausted — body and mind pushed to their limits. The ceaseless slaughter had already numbed him… yet he had no choice but to keep fighting.
Kill, or be killed — that was the reality of the ninja world.
Anyone else would've been long dead, nothing but bones left to rot.
But Leo refused to become dust of this era. Since he had come to this world, he would shine with his own light — no one would stand in his way!
If there was no path to heaven, he would walk into hell!
And if hell had no gate, he would cut it open — carve open this world itself with his blade!
The air was thick with the cold chakra unique to the Uchiha.
Uchiha Sanno, a jonin — powerful, even among the elite of his rank.
To be honest, in his current exhausted state, Leo didn't think he stood much of a chance.
Even if he fought to mutual destruction, he was certain the one to die first would be him.
"Haa…"
Leo exhaled deeply. Then, a spark of inspiration — he still had a Platinum Treasure Chest he hadn't opened yet. Maybe there was something inside that could turn the tide.
Without hesitation, he summoned it out — right in front of Uchiha Sanno.
Not that it mattered. Anything from the system was invisible to others; he didn't have to worry about eEXPosure.
The platinum chest opened slightly, its lid creaking upward. Inside floated a single platinum-edged card, shimmering with a mysterious and mesmerizing brilliance.
He took it in hand — its surface was hazy and indistinct.
Then, the card's information flooded his mind:
"Four Emperors Summoning Card."
When used, this card randomly summons one of the Four Emperors from the pirate world. The summoned Emperor will unconditionally obey the host's will for ten minutes before disappearing.
"A summoning card… for a Four Emperor?"
Leo's eyes widened. He'd known platinum chests held great treasures — but this was beyond imagination.
Even with the ten-minute limit, any of the Four Emperors stood at the absolute summit of the pirate world — beings of power that could shake nations, challenge the World Government itself!
Who was stronger — a Four Emperor, or a Kage-level ninja? No one could say.
But against a mere jonin? Overkill.
"Summon — now!" Leo shouted in his heart. "Summon one of the Four Emperors and crush this Uchiha bastard for me!"
The platinum card dissolved into glowing white motes, fading into nothingness.
Then… nothing happened. The world was utterly still.
"…Huh?"
Leo blinked. No thunder, no tremors, no monstrous presence. Just silence.
Where were the Four Emperors?
Could there be a delay in the summoning? That would be seriously unfair.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sanno's killing intent surged to the peak. He had come here for one reason — vengeance for his son.
And since this was beyond the Fire Shadow's reach, there was no need for pretense.
In the wilderness, death came cheap.
He slowly drew the sword from his back — its edge gleamed coldly, the air around it chilling several degrees.
The blade was long and straight, resembling the famed Kusanagi Sword, though in truth, it was simply a well-forged tachi.
In this world, the distinction between swords and blades was faint — both were weapons for killing.
Can'nao raised his sword slightly — a single arc of light traced along the blade, dazzling like starlight.
A murderous aura flooded the clearing.
Leo closed his eyes slightly. He wasn't sure if his Conqueror's Haki could repel the genjutsu of a jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan.
Better safe than sorry — he shut his eyes completely and relied on Observation Haki to perceive the world instead.
"Closing your eyes already? Have you accepted death?" Can'nao sneered.
"Leo…" Kushina's eyes were full of worry. She hated herself — hated how powerless she was, unable to fight beside him, always being protected.
"Stay back," Leo said softly.
He drew Enma, the Demon Blade.
The sword trembled lightly, releasing a crisp metallic cry. Wisps of purple demonic energy flowed from the blade, sinister and mesmerizing.
"Huh? That sword…"
Can'nao, himself a connoisseur of fine blades, was stunned. He'd seen countless famous swords — but never one so alive, so wickedly sentient.
"This blade…" he murmured, eyes narrowing. "Among all I've seen, it ranks in the top three! Such a treasure, in the hands of a brat like you — what a disgrace. I'll kill you and make it mine!"
With that, he lunged — blade flashing in a crescent arc that split the air!
This was no peaceful age.
Every veteran ninja had mastered taijutsu to deadly perfection.
From the Cloud-nin's Nintaijutsu, to the Second Hokage's creation of the Eight Inner Gates, physical prowess was the foundation of all power.
Leo raised Enma, using Observation Haki to read Can'nao's movements.
He met the strike head-on — blade against blade.
Clang!
Sparks eEXPloded as steel collided.
The two exchanged a flurry of rapid strikes, each faster than the last. The air rang with the metallic cries of their duel — a deadly symphony of blades.
To be honest, an elite jonin combining taijutsu and the insight of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan was a near-perfect combat form.
If not for Leo's Observation Haki, he would've been cut down in moments.
But there were no "ifs" in this world.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Breaking the clash, Can'nao leapt back, weaving hand seals. A massive sphere of flame erupted from his mouth — roaring toward Leo, heatwaves distorting the air!
Leo gripped Enma tightly. His breathing slowed; his focus sharpened.
Armament Haki coated the blade, turning Enma into a jet-black sword.
"—Slash!"
No unnecessary movements, no flourish — pure, condensed power.
He drew in one motion — Iaijutsu, a clean cut with the might to split mountains.
Vwoooom!
A dark slash tore through the air. The world dimmed as if space itself had been cleaved in two.
The roaring inferno split apart down the middle, the twin halves passing harmlessly by Leo.
The black slash continued on, unstoppable — Can'nao's Sharingan spun frantically as he barely dodged aside.
The ground behind him split open, a long scar carved deep into the earth.
Pshhh!
Leo knelt, blood spilling from his lips, face pale as paper.
"So it was just bravado," Can'nao said coldly. "That must've been your strongest attack."
He raised his sword again, stepping forward. "But that was the end. When an enemy's wounded — that's when you strike to kill."
Just as his blade descended—
A shadow appeared out of thin air between them.
The newcomer's presence was immense — calm, yet crushing.
He glanced at Can'nao, voice low but commanding:
"Oi… mind giving me a little face?"
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