Chapter 0048: By Any Means Necessary
Clang, clang, clang… BOOM!
The sound of clashing weapons echoed throughout the camp, followed by the buzzing of ninjutsu colliding with one another.
A quick estimate revealed the Sand ninjas had deployed more than twice the number of Konoha's guards. Adding to this advantage, their surprise attack had quickly incapacitated Konoha's captain, pushing the battle into a one-sided slaughter. Even though some of the medics had combat abilities, the situation remained dire.
"How... how could this happen so suddenly?" Kurenai was panic-stricken by the chaos before her. Although she had seen combat during missions, real ninja warfare was on a whole different level.
Shizune wasn't faring any better. Her eyes were vacant as she watched Konoha ninjas fall one by one, almost as if she were trapped in a nightmare.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid." I, Hiroto, was the calmest among them, my eyes scanning the surroundings warily as I reassured them. "No matter what happens... I'll protect you both."
Hearing my words, the two girls seemed to calm down slightly, but in the next instant, their bodies trembled again.
The enemy had arrived.
Not just one, but four Sand ninjas, all wearing their forehead protectors, swiftly surrounded us.
"Hah, this kid sure talks big."
"Are all Konoha brats this cocky? He's already using sweet words to charm the girls at such a young age?"
"Who cares? I'm just wondering if their blood will taste any sweeter."
"Let's finish them quickly. I still need to find my next prey."
As the last one spoke, the four Sand ninjas attacked in unison. Four kunai shot toward us from different angles with sharp, menacing speed.
Ting!
My eyes grew cold. My right hand gripped the hilt of my sword, and in an instant, I drew it from its sheath.
Clang, clang, clang.
The kunai were deflected mid-air, sparks flying as my blade intercepted every one of them. Not only that—the closest Sand ninja suddenly widened his eyes, his mouth opening as if to speak, but a dark red spray erupted from his throat before he could utter a word.
"How… how is this possible?!"
"Keita was killed?!"
"Damn it! This kid isn't ordinary!"
The remaining Sand ninjas quickly realized the gravity of the situation. The arrogance from earlier disappeared, replaced by serious, focused expressions.
But it didn't matter.
In the face of absolute strength, no amount of caution could save them from their inevitable fate.
Swish, swish, swish.
Three swift slashes later, their bodies collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
I stood over the fallen enemies, my expression unchanged. I glanced back at the two girls behind me, speaking softly. "Stay close to me and be careful." With my bloodstained sword in hand, I strode calmly toward the left and right flanks of the battlefield.
A Jonin.
In the current world of ninjas, this was considered a high-level combat unit. Why? Because in small-scale battles like this, a Jonin could change the entire outcome.
Though I wasn't officially recognized as a Jonin by Konoha, my strength had already surpassed that of most Jonin. As I unleashed that power, the tide of battle shifted dramatically in Konoha's favor. One by one, Sand ninja corpses piled up at my feet. The two girls behind me finally understood why Lady Tsunade had called me a "monster."
Wherever I went, no enemy could withstand even a single strike from my sword.
Even when ninjutsu was launched at me, I never hesitated or stopped. Despite my young, slender frame, I stood like an unbreakable mountain, shielding the two girls behind me from everything.
"Who is that boy?" On the western side of the battlefield, the Sand ninja wearing the face cloth, known as Ryunosuke, had noticed the situation, his brow furrowing.
One of the Jonin maintaining the barrier asked, "What should we do, Lord Ryunosuke? If this keeps up, our mission will..."
"Forget the mission!" Ryunosuke made a decisive move. "We're changing our target. No matter the cost, that kid must be killed here!"
The other Jonin maintaining the barrier were momentarily stunned, but after thinking for a moment, they understood their superior's reasoning.
That boy couldn't be more than ten years old. For someone so young to wield such terrifying power… if they allowed him to grow any stronger, in five years, who could possibly stand against him? By then, he would be a nightmare for the Sand Village! Such a monster had to be destroyed in its cradle.
"Understood, Lord Ryunosuke. We'll leave the barrier to you."
"Mm."
Ryunosuke formed hand seals and created two Sand clones. Together with himself, they replaced the Jonin maintaining the barrier. "Remember! No matter what it takes, that kid must die!"
"Yes!" The Sand ninjas nodded and charged toward the battlefield.
"Damn it! You bastards!" Inside the barrier, Ishigaki Tomoki and Naoya could only watch helplessly as the events unfolded, their roars filled with frustration.
At that moment, they both realized—more than the lives of the medics or even their own, Hiroto's safety was the most important! If someone like him could survive, he would surely become Konoha's future. The real future!
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