A Shadow-Level Shinobi Defeated Instantly—A Blade That Extends Ten Kilometers?!

Konan, known as the Angel within the Akatsuki, had a mission.

She had come to the Wind Country's desert under the orders of the mysterious masked man.

Her objective was to recruit new members for the Akatsuki.

This time, her target was none other than Sunagakure's S-rank rogue ninja—the man responsible for killing the Third Kazekage.

The infamous puppet master, Sasori of the Red Sand.

Since Sasori always concealed himself within his puppets, he rarely appeared in populated areas.

It had taken Konan days to track his movements, following reports of his attacks on border villages.

Finally, she had found him today.

But just as she spotted Sasori, before she even had a chance to speak, she witnessed something shocking.

The renowned Sasori had suddenly engaged in battle with a brown-haired young man.

And before she could process what was happening, he was cut down in an instant.

No drawn-out exchange. No fierce struggle.

Just a flash of a blade, and it was over.

Konan was stunned.

A shinobi of Sasori's caliber, defeated in a single moment?

And more importantly, the distance that blade extended was ridiculous.

From her vantage point in the sky, Konan estimated the reach of the sword's attack.

At minimum, ten kilometers.

A sword that extends ten kilometers?

A flood of disbelief filled her mind.

Even more terrifying than the length was the speed of its retraction.

The moment the light of the blade appeared, it had already returned to the young man's hand, as if nothing had happened.

For a moment, Konan hesitated.

But then, she decided to descend and investigate.

The scene had been too surreal.

There was a risk of confrontation, of course.

However, she possessed Shikigami Dance, making her immune to all physical attacks.

No matter how powerful that sword was, she had nothing to fear.

And besides, her goal was recruitment.

Sasori might have been a valuable prospect for Akatsuki, but perhaps this new fighter was even stronger.

With that thought, Konan spread her paper wings and descended toward the battlefield.

At the same time, in the desert below, Kuzo stood over Sasori's fallen body.

A notification echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Side quest completed.]

"Defeat the genius puppet master Sasori of the Red Sand (1/1). Rewards: Shunpo experience +100, Kidō experience +200, Reiatsu +1000."

"Defeat three shadow-level shinobi (1/3). Additional reward unknown."

Kuzo's eyes lit up.

Aside from improvements in Shunpo and Kidō, he had received something rare—an increase in Reiatsu.

Perfect.

Over the past decade, most of his system rewards had improved his swordplay and combat techniques. But boosts to Reiatsu were far less common.

Even now, his Reiatsu level was only level three.

And Reiatsu was everything.

As Aizen once said, a battle between Shinigami is, at its core, a battle of Reiatsu.

With enough Reiatsu, one could completely negate an enemy's attacks.

A truly powerful individual could disperse weaker opponents just by unleashing their spiritual pressure, without even fighting.

Kuzo had attempted this against Sasori earlier, but it had only strengthened his presence, not outright suppressed his opponent.

With this new boost, however, that might change.

As he processed this thought, his Reiatsu senses picked up something.

A presence was approaching fast.

His eyes narrowed, turning toward the sky.

There, above him, a woman in a black cloak adorned with red clouds hovered mid-air, angelic paper wings spread wide.

Her short blue-violet hair and the paper fragments drifting around her made her identity unmistakable.

Konan.

For a moment, Kuzo was surprised.

Then, he smiled.

From this angle, Konan's figure was accentuated perfectly, the loose folds of her Akatsuki cloak unable to fully conceal it.

No wonder she was known as the most striking of Pain's six paths.

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