CHIRRRRRRP! BZZZZZZZZT!
The intense, high-pitched sound of buzzing electricity, like a thousand birds chirping, coming from the other side of the mist shroud sent chills down the spines of Ryohei, the fat leader Masui, the lean leader Katsui, and the fifty trained ninjas under them.
As for the hundred or so actual bandits, they felt their legs shaking.
Witnessing ninjutsu on a scale comparable to natural disasters had already wiped out their bravery. Their leader Ryohei's strong front and his subordinates' inhumane power were the only reason they were still standing rather than running away.
They were their reassurance.
Didn't Ryohei's, their leader's, subordinates control water to douse the sea of fire? It meant the white-haired boy could still be dealt with.
They would leave the monstrous, freakish boy who unleashed the sea of fire to Ryohei and the others. Meanwhile, the bandits would focus on looting the caravans and fighting the civilian guards.
That was how it had always been in the past two months.
What they didn't know was that their ever-so-reliable couldn't be calm anymore.
Although Ryohei couldn't see anything beyond the shroud of mist, he, as a sensor-nin, could sense the terrifying amount of lightning-natured chakra being condensed by the white-haired boy.
Violent, destructive lightning crackled around Seimei and on his palm with such intensity that Ryohei felt the hairs on his neck stand up.
This? What is this? Ryohei broke out in a cold sweat and barked, "Quickly. Blow the mist away. Faster, you lazybones."
"And don't gather in a single place. Scatter. Scatter. Stay a couple of meters away from each other."
Ryohei spoke urgently.
His words had merit.
The moment Ryohei sensed Seimei kneading a vast amount of chakra, enough to launch several destructive A-rank ninjutsu, he knew that an AoE ninjutsu was probably going to come their way.
If the white-haired boy were a sensor-nin like him, he might be able to pinpoint a place where Ryohei's subordinates had clustered despite the presence of the mist shroud.
Once he did that, the result would be disastrous.
So, before they blew the mist away, scattering and keeping distance were the best ways to keep their losses down.
On the other side of the mist, Seimei watched the Bandits' actions with a hint of amusement.
"Indeed, they are well-trained ninjas, not the ragtag rogue types that primarily focus on the black market commissions or looting. Especially the leader…his commanding capabilities, quick thinking, and battlefield control are pretty good."
Seimei looked at the hundreds of bolts of purple lightning arcs flashing around him. Then he looked at his right palm, where he concentrated most of the lightning-natured chakra.
"A good plan indeed. When both sides can't see each other and can only sense using a chakra sensory field, scattering people can surely lower the casualties and injuries."
"Unfortunately for him…"
Seimei's Tenseigan glowed with an ocean-blue light.
In front of my eyes, all your secrets are open. There's nothing you can hide. Everything you do, everything you think, everything you plan—all of them are useless.
Seimei thought inwardly, feeling somewhat emo.
Okay, I definitely wanted to say that out loud like those Uchiha ninjas, but now's not the time. Actually thinking is fine. But if I actually said those chunni lines out loud and someone heard it, wouldn't I just die out of embarrassment?
Thinking this far, Seimei finally refocused his wandering thoughts and decisively took action.
"Oh well…I hope they like my gift."
Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon
Chirrrrrp! Crackle! Bzzzzzzzt!
Lightning arcs crackling on his palm intensified.
Seimei pulled his right arm and palm near his left shoulder. At the next moment, he suddenly swiped his arm horizontally from left to right, releasing no fewer than fifty long, finger-thick, destructive purple lightning-condensed needles, each about fifty centimeters long.
And unlike regular A-rank Chidori Senbon lightning needles, which only killed enemies upon piercing vital body parts and merely paralyzed their targets upon hitting non-vital zones due to only single-digit units of chakra in each of them, each lightning needle released by Seimei had at least 50-60 units of chakra, making them incredibly deadly.
Whoosh! Crackle!
Crackling lightning needles tore through the air, crossed the mist, and rained down upon the bandits.
"Dodge! DODGE THEM…"
The leaders barked.
But even without command, whether real bandits or actual ninjas, all of them tried to dodge the hail of Chidori Senbon.
Unfortunately, Seimei's precision, combined with the late reaction of most bandits and ninjas due to the mist shroud, meant that most were too late to react.
Slik! Slik! Crackle!
Among 50 lightning needles, 34 accurately pierced hearts, throats, heads, lungs, stomachs, and other body parts of the true bandits.
Those whose vitals were pierced were killed on the spot.
As for those who managed to keep their vital body parts from being pierced…
Crackle! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The moment the lightning needles pierced their bodies, they detonated violently.
The resulting concussive force tore their limbs and smashed their internal organs into pulp.
Meanwhile, the destructive purple lightning annihilated and charred their internal body structures and organs, including their hearts, lungs, nervous systems, brains, and blood vessels.
All of them died in agony.
What's more, among the remaining 16 lightning needles, 10 struck six Genin, three Chunin, and one full-fledged Jonin.
Those ten ninjas had also died a miserable, violent death.
Among the remaining six lightning needles, one was meant for another real bandit, and five targeted five ninjas.
However, whether through skill or sheer luck, they had dodged their deaths.
Just as the explosions subsided, the ninjas specializing in Wind Release on Ryohei's side had also cast several ninjutsu, including Gale Palm and Great Breakthrough jutsu, to blow the mist away.
Now, people from Seimei's side could also see the tragic fates of the bandits and opposing ninjas.
44 charred and dismembered corpses were lying on the ground, still smoking. Faint arcs of purple lightning were still dancing around their dead bodies from time to time.
Such a scene made the morale of the caravan guards, including the ninjas and samurai hired by Genzo, soar.
Of course, many of them, including the leader of Genzo's hired ninja squad, Fukada Ren, glanced warily at Seimei.
Seeing the back of the white-haired boy now, a hint of inexplicable fear couldn't help but creep up their spines.
Who would have thought a young boy like him would hide such power inside his body?
Were all Konoha ninjas this fearsome now?
Just thinking about having someone like Seimei as their enemy filled them with dread.
Fortunately, he was their ally right now.
On the other side, the bandits were so afraid that their feet almost turned into jelly.
One attack reduced their numbers by 44 people. Their original team of 150 was reduced to just over a hundred.
As they thought about fleeing, Ryohei's orders came like god's salvation.
"You lots, don't fear. Just focus on targeting the caravan and the civilian guards. Leave the rest of the ninjas and samurai to us."
"Once I restrain the ninjas, you will charge at the caravans and wagons."
The bandits cheered inwardly and sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, the remaining 40 or so surviving ninjas, including the nine Jonin-level Shinobi and the two leaders, Masui and Katsui, stared at him with eyes full of worry.
Katsui hesitated a bit before asking, "Shouldn't we retreat now? Let these bandits act as cannon fodder as we make our exit."
Masui added, "Yes. That boy is clearly not simple. If he could turn the tide like this alone, what will happen if the others join him to besiege us? If we don't retreat now, it will be too late."
The remaining people didn't say much. Although their eyes flashed with hatred and fury, they weren't foolish.
Right now, retreating seemed like a good option.
Once they brought reinforcements, it wouldn't be too late to take revenge.
Ryohei took a deep breath and held his hand.
He spoke in a low voice, "I understand your worry. I also understand that the white-haired boy's chakra capacity far exceeded that of a typical Jonin. The reading we are getting from our sensory techniques clearly isn't accurate."
"But think about it for a second. That boy had barely entered his teens. And from his actions, it's clear he's a Ninjutsu Specialist. His main battle tactics must rely on the heavy firepower of his ninjutsu."
"He is most likely someone trained to participate in Anti-Army or Anti-Monster actions."
"What does that mean? It means his close combat capabilities will be average at best."
"He's just a kid, not an adult. He can't possibly have enough time to hone his Taijutsu to the same level as his Ninjutsu. We have faced Ninjutsu Specialists like that, haven't we?"
"With our heavy-impact, lightning-fast Nintaijutsu and Lightning Release Kenjutsu, dealing with him won't be a problem as long as we close the gap."
"We have three Elite Jonin and nine full-fledged Jonin."
"Once we surround him, he is toast."
"We won't give him a chance to perform hand seals or cast ninjutsu. He will be at our mercy."
"Even three of us are enough."
"As for his teammates and the other ninjas, send five Jonin and the remaining Chunin to attack them. Once we achieve our target and complete our mission, we can finally leave this godforsaken place and return home."
As they heard Ryohei's explanation, a bright gleam returned to their eyes.
They slowly began to regain their lost fighting spirit.
The fury inside them, the savagery deep within their souls, their instincts as ninjas—all of them slowly returned and boiled.
Yes, they were trained elites.
They had besieged and killed even S-rank ninjas and several AA-rank chakra beasts.
They had toppled behemoths.
Why should they fear one teenage boy just after one setback?
The boy might be talented, but he was still in his teens. His potential hadn't been realized completely.
Despite his phenomenal ninjutsu prowess, he was bound to have other weaknesses, especially at his age.
He must lack the experience of surviving years of brutal reality in the battlefield meat grinder.
No matter how powerful he was, as long as he wasn't a Kage-level ninja, they could still kill him with a single kunai to his heart or throat.
As long as he was a human, he would have countless vulnerabilities.
Just one decisive blow to his vitals was enough.
Even the legendary God of Shinobi or the Ghost of Uchiha couldn't survive decapitation.
What was there to be afraid of?
(Hashirama and Madara: Really? You, idiots, think you can put a blade to our throats that easily? We would like to see you try!!)
Ryohei saw the change in their expressions and said, "So, what we must do next is quite clear, isn't it?"
Masui took a deep breath and uttered, "Yes. We will surround him and…"
Katsui finished the sentence. "...And we will kill him."
Meanwhile, Seimei saw the group of supposed bandits' expressions shift from panic, fear, and dread to sudden silence, deep thought, fury, and madness with a hint of confusion.
Did they really go nuts?
Oh well, since they weren't coming at him, he would kindly enter their ranks and send them to meet their makers.
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