Chapter 68

Tian Yu glanced at Tsunade, who had collapsed to the ground.

It seemed her fear of blood was far more severe than he had previously estimated.

It wasn't just that contact with blood caused her body to seize up—now, even the sight of someone else's blood was enough to plunge her into a state of paralyzing dread.

"Master Mingyu, please leave Master Tsunade to me," Mute said, raising her head with determination as she looked at Tian Yu. "Apologies, but we can't assist with the battle below for now."

Her voice was calm but urgent.

"I'm a medical ninja. Please bring your injured comrade to me—I will treat him."

"Alright," Tian Yu replied with a nod.

The battlefield situation had changed drastically moments ago.

Five enemy ninja, each at least quasi-Jonin in strength, had suddenly joined the fray.

Each one possessed solid endurance and combat skill. Combined with the support of specialized Jonin and Chunin in their ranks, the pressure on Tian Yu's side had intensified.

Qing's "Absolute Defense" via Hakkeshō Kaiten was holding back frontal assaults, and Sunflower's stealth and evasion allowed him to dodge most attacks. But controlling his Destruction Beetles under such pressure was proving difficult—especially against enemies that specialized in taijutsu.

Taijutsu was never Sunflower's strength. After narrowly evading a few coordinated assaults using his insects, he was forced into a defensive posture.

The ninja who had pierced Qing's shoulder blade with a barbed blade was one of the five elite enemy Jonin.

Clearly, it was time for Tian Yu to intervene personally.

With a burst of speed, only a white afterimage was left behind in the air.

His white cloak flared outward like wings as he soared downward.

In the next instant, he appeared beside Qing, shielding him.

Upon landing, he drew his blade.

"Slash!"

Chakra surged from his core.

The long sword in his hand cleaved toward the earth below.

BOOM!

A deafening thunderclap echoed outward.

Then came a cascade of rumbling, like rolling thunder across stone.

The ground split in two under the force of Tian Yu's blade.

A vast rift opened instantly, the chasm widening in both directions.

The fracture expanded faster and faster—its maw consuming the terrain, swallowing trees, rocks, and enemies alike.

"W-what is this?!"

"Help!"

"Kawasuke-sama, save us!"

Panicked screams echoed through the air.

No blood was shed. No counterattacks came.

Only terror-stricken expressions as the enemies desperately fled in all directions.

But it was futile.

The battlefield was completely covered by Tian Yu's chakra. The ground quaked, denying any chance of escape.

One after another, the enemy shinobi fell into the abyss.

And then, just as suddenly, the rift sealed shut.

Not a single trace of the crack remained.

The land ahead of Tian Yu lay smooth, undisturbed—as if the abyss had never existed.

It had all occurred in mere moments.

The Jonin referred to as Kawasuke could only watch in horror.

More than a dozen of his comrades had been buried alive by a single strike.

He hadn't reacted in time—hadn't even moved.

The shockwave from the sword alone had forced him back several meters.

"Captain…"

Qing, who had believed himself on the verge of death, was overwhelmed by emotion at the sight of his captain's intervention.

"Sunflower! Island! Get over here!"

"Yes, Captain!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The two responded immediately, disengaging from their respective fights and rushing to Tian Yu's side.

However, with their departure, the enemy forces they'd been containing began to regroup and converge.

Still, after witnessing Tian Yu annihilate more than ten comrades in a single strike, those remaining enemies now hesitated. Fear had settled into their hearts. None dared to make the first move.

The battlefield reached a sudden stalemate.

In the previous bout, Island had taken down one Jonin, four Tokubetsu Jonin, and over ten Chunin.

Qing had eliminated two Tokubetsu Jonin and seven Chunin.

Sunflower had defeated one Tokubetsu Jonin and five Chunin.

Now, approximately four enemy elite, eight Tokubetsu Jonin, and twenty Chunin remained.

"How much chakra do you have left?" Tian Yu asked calmly.

"About one-third," Island replied.

"I've got a little under half remaining," Sunflower answered.

"You've only handled about one-third of the total enemies," Tian Yu said, his tone sharp. "Yet you're already low on chakra. If I hadn't stepped in, how would you have survived the rest of the battle?"

Island, Sunflower, and the wounded Qing all remained silent.

As their captain, Tian Yu wasn't scolding them.

But his question cut deep—because they all understood the truth.

Without his intervention, all three of them would've likely perished.

"Then we'll fight to the end!" Island growled, a trace of defiance in his voice.

"Foolishness."

Tian Yu's tone turned icy.

"Do you think meaningless deaths bring honor?"

Silence fell again.

The intended effect had been achieved.

Tian Yu's rebuke was not about humiliation—it was a lesson.

He wanted them to recognize their shortcomings. To reflect. Because in actual combat, reflection was the fastest path to growth.

"Alright. Take the injured Qing to Mute," Tian Yu ordered. "She'll treat his wound."

"Yes!"

Sunflower swiftly moved to support Qing, carrying him toward Mute's position.

Island, however, hesitated.

His fists clenched tightly. Anger, shame, and pride warred within him.

"Captain," he said quietly. "Let me stay. I want to fight with you. I want to prove my strength."

"No need," Tian Yu responded coldly.

"I've seen what you can do. If you stay, you'll only be in my way."

"For what comes next… I alone will be enough."

Island stood frozen for several seconds.

Then finally nodded, his voice quiet. "Understood."

Without another word, he turned and vanished toward Mute's location.

Now, only Tian Yu stood between the enemy and the Konoha forces.

At that moment, Kawasuke straightened.

"Don't panic!"

He raised his sword and shouted.

"He's just an Anbu. We were just caught off guard earlier!"

"Listen—if we all attack together, we can take him down! We'll avenge our fallen!"

"There's only one of him! Everyone, attack!"

At his command, the remaining enemy ninja—specialized Jonin and Chunin alike—charged forward with weapons drawn: kunai, shuriken, blades long and short.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Lightning Style: Blade Arc Slash!"

Elemental techniques howled through the air, converging on a single target:

Tian Yu.