[Ding!]
[You successfully countered a Ronin. Obtained random skill: Basic Kenjutsu (Entry).]
[You successfully countered a Ronin. Obtained random skill: "Delicious Cooking Methods for Wild Vegetable Soup and Tree Bark" (Master).]
[You successfully countered a Samurai. Obtained random skill: Kenjutsu: Chakra Infusion (Entry).]
[Your 'Heart of Steel' stacks have increased.]
[Exiled Samurai of the Land of Iron, Daidō Takashi, has developed killing intent toward you.]
[A Jashin Genin has targeted you...]
Subtitles for the four fallen Ronin and a fresh wave of hatred targets flashed before his eyes, but Ren Uchiha had no time to look.
The crescent-shaped sword light cut diagonally across his vision, shattering the floor tiles with a sharpness that felt like it could slice the wind itself. Ren felt a chill run down his neck. Even in this era of ninjas, there were samurai with terrifying combat power. Someone like Mifune could reach Kage-level with just a sword. While this leader was nowhere near that level—maybe a Chunin at best—the danger didn't end with him.
Ren's Sharingan spun, capturing every detail. Time seemed to stretch. He could see every facial expression, frame by frame. Behind the samurai leader, ten more Ronin were charging. Unlike the fodder Hideki had led, these men were coordinated. They moved from different angles in two rows, aiming for Ren's throat, eyes, heart, and calves.
And behind them? Twelve Jashin ninjas were already weaving signs. They clearly didn't care about their samurai "allies"—they intended to blast everyone into dust!
Faced with this, Ren didn't move. He stood like an ancient pine. He didn't dodge. Instead, he sheathed his new sword, pulled out his last two explosive tags, and held one in each hand. Then, mirroring Sasuke's Amaterasu: Flame Lightning pose, he threw his arms wide.
Whoosh—!
The Rekkūzan sword energy, seventeen Ronin, and a barrage of Fire Style, Wind Blades, and Earth Spears rained down like machine-gun fire. Ren looked up, his lips curling into a savage grin, and roared:
"Katsu!" (Boom!)
The tags in his palms ignited instantly. The charging Ronin were paralyzed with shock.
"Are those... explosive tags?!"
"Run! This kid wants to take us all down with him!"
"Run where?! There are ninjutsu blasts behind us!"
"Dammit, this brat is insane!"
Who uses explosive tags like that?! detonating them right in your own hands?!
The next second, the tags finished burning, and the mountain of ninjutsu hit.
BOOM!
A brilliant firework of destruction erupted on the wall. Stones flew, flames swirled, and thick white smoke rose. Amidst the chaos, a series of clanging sounds—like metal hitting impenetrable stone—echoed. Seventeen Ronin were swallowed by the blast, their screams filling the air.
The samurai leader, who had used Shunpo to retreat just in time, swallowed hard. He had never seen a ninja this fierce. He self-exploded without a word, as if someone were chasing him to prevent him from dying. This kind of spirit made even a samurai—who would commit seppuku at the drop of a hat—feel ashamed.
Just as the samurai leader turned to curse at Hideki for the "friendly fire," a surprised voice drifted from the smoke:
"Huh? This sword looks pretty good too, doesn't it?"
The samurai leader stiffened and looked back. A blue ring of light flashed within the smoke—a glowing blue blade swept out, cutting down four surviving Ronin and clearing the path.
The boy in the tattered black robe charged out. His hand was coated in a deep, ink-black darkness as he leaped high.
Black Tiger Steals the Heart!
Ren's hand punched straight into the samurai leader's chest. Then, he gave a gentle squeeze.
Thump!
Ren slammed the leader into the ground. Ignoring the man's hateful gaze, he snatched the sheathed katana from his waist and tucked it into his own belt.
The Jashin ninjas were stunned. In a situation where he should have been shredded by swords and ninjutsu, this kid was not only unharmed but had the strength to break out and take down their strongest samurai?!
Ren said nothing. He just looked up, staring intently at the twelve ninjas—specifically, at the tool pouches on their waists.
Earth Style: Earth Spear. This jutsu gave him a defense so powerful he could ignore point-blank explosions. From the start, these people—who were basically providing a "warm bath" of ninjutsu for him—were no longer a threat.
Ren had jumped down here for one reason: Sustainable Warfare. He needed to restock his empty pouches. Whether it was his thread manipulation or his new sword-style ideas, he needed tools to support his wild imagination.
Seeing more elite Jashin squads closing in, Ren licked his lips. He placed his hands on the hilts of his two new blades, looping a strand of black Earth Grudge Fear thread onto the guards.
Then, he drew them both.
"Well... time is short and the mission is heavy. Let's make this quick!"
Blade-light flared. With a sword in each hand, Ren spun into the air, his crimson Sharingan glowing. Using the momentum of his spin, he hurled the reverse-gripped katana like a projectile!
Shuuu—!