Chapter 74: [74] : One Against a Thousand
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The Third Kazekage led the Suna forces in a fierce charge. Orochimaru had erected a tall earth wall as a barrier, but he didn't expect it to hold for long. It was merely a delaying tactic.
Retreating was the wisest course of action, but they had to choose the right moment. Otherwise, they'd be hunted down by Suna, and perhaps even Amegakure would join in for a share of the spoils.
"I hear the Third Kazekage boasts absolute defense."
Shin's eyes were fixed on the Third Kazekage, who looked deceptively young. He was a genius, possessing the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
It was likely a Kekkei Genkai he had developed himself. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had learned Magnet Release from him.
"I don't know about 'absolute defense,' but his defense is certainly strong. Even Tsunade couldn't break through his Iron Sand," Orochimaru said.
He looked at Shin. "Shin-kun, do you have a way to break through his defenses?"
"If even Tsunade can't do it, what makes you think I can? I'm just a Chūnin."
"Oh? Are you really only Chūnin, Shin-kun?" Orochimaru gave him a knowing look.
"Who knows?"
Shin watched the approaching Suna forces, drew his Kusanagi sword, and leaped over the earth wall.
Orochimaru frowned.
"Orochimaru-sama, he went down there. Should we bring him back?"
A Jōnin asked Orochimaru.
"Observe. Perhaps he'll surprise us. I'm quite curious." Orochimaru waved a hand dismissively, his snake-like eyes gleaming with anticipation.
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"You'll be my whetstone."
Shin's eyes also held a glint of excitement. He didn't know exactly how strong he was, but the battlefield was the perfect testing ground.
He wasn't afraid of danger. His Mangekyō Sharingan abilities could protect him. With Yomotsu Hirasaka, he could escape any situation.
Wielding his Kusanagi sword, Shin charged towards the Suna forces, a blur of motion against the backdrop of the battlefield.
"He's fast!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened. Even he would struggle to dodge at that speed.
Clang!
Shin's sword clashed against the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand, sending the Kazekage flying.
If the Kazekage hadn't sensed the danger and used his Magnet Release to defend at the last moment, he would be dead.
"What?!"
The Suna Shinobi stared in disbelief at the young boy who had just sent their Kazekage flying with a single blow.
They couldn't believe their eyes. This kid, who looked no older than twelve, had repelled their Kazekage?
At the Konoha camp, Tsunade clenched her fists.
"Damn it, he's reckless! Orochimaru, why did you let him go? Why didn't you stop him?!"
She glared at Orochimaru. She had been treating some injured Shinobi and had arrived late. She hadn't expected Shin to charge into the enemy ranks alone.
"Tsunade, do you want to go down there too?" Orochimaru asked, seeing her agitation.
"You're still injured. Even if you go, you won't be much help. If he dared to face them, he must have a plan. You'd just be a burden."
Tsunade hesitated. He was right. She would be a liability in her current state.
Shin had Space-Time Ninjutsu; he should be fine. She'd give him a good scolding when he got back.
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"Are you all stunned?"
Shin looked at the Suna Shinobi, who were frozen in shock. He swung his sword, cutting down several of them.
Their deaths snapped the others out of their daze. They glared at Shin with fury.
Shin charged into the enemy ranks. They wouldn't dare use large-scale Ninjutsu now.
That was how the Third Raikage had been able to fight a thousand Shinobi for three days and three nights. They didn't use powerful Jutsu for fear of harming their own comrades.
With their own allies mixed in with the enemies, how could they use Ninjutsu?
Shin reveled in the chaos. In terms of Taijutsu, perhaps only the Third Raikage could match him. And in Kenjutsu, he believed he was unmatched in the Shinobi world.
"Flash Slash!"
He combined the Body Flicker Jutsu with his swordsmanship, killing over a dozen Suna Shinobi in an instant, including a Jōnin.
"Weak."
Shin flicked the blood off his Kusanagi sword.
He had already killed dozens. His sword danced through the enemy ranks like a reaper's scythe.
He kicked a Shinobi who tried to attack him from behind. The man flew through the air and landed with a sickening thud, his body twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
The giant shuriken, formed from swirling Wind Chakra, shot towards the Suna forces. It exploded, the countless tiny needles tearing through flesh and bone.
Shin had aimed for the densest part of the enemy formation. The Shinobi there were helpless against the Rasenshuriken.
"MOVE!! SCATTER!!"
The Third Kazekage yelled.
He had a gash on his chest, courtesy of Shin's sword. Even with his Iron Sand defense, he had still been injured.
The Kusanagi sword was incredibly sharp, and Shin's strength was monstrous. Thankfully, the Kazekage's defense was strong, or he would have been gutted.
"I'm almost tempted to copy his Magnet Release," Shin mused, seeing the Kazekage's relatively minor injury.
But he didn't. He had learned that Uchiha Ryota had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He was saving his last Advanced Replication Card for that.
His own Mangekyō Sharingan had reached its limit, but it still hadn't evolved into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. He wanted to copy another Mangekyō Sharingan to help his own evolve.
Compared to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Magnet Release was nothing. The choice was obvious.
The Third Kazekage ordered his men to retreat, then faced Shin alone. He wasn't trying to be a hero; he simply didn't want his men to get caught in the crossfire.
He glared at Shin with murderous intent. If he hadn't reacted quickly, he would have been killed by Shin's sword.
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