Suzumebachi observed Kokushibo. The six eyes weren't something he had witnessed in his decades-long life. Was it some sort of mutation? Or was this Kokushibo not human at all? Kekkei genkai existed that produced strange physical mutations, but they weren't this strange. The flesh-like sword was more concerning and suggested some form of biological manipulation.
Kokushibo walked forward with unhurried steps that showed complete confidence.
The traps triggered as the explosive tags detonated in a sequence that had been carefully calculated to create overlapping blast zones. The first ring of tags erupted in fire and concussive force that tore through the earth and sent debris flying in all directions. The second ring detonated half a second later and created a secondary explosion that caught anything trying to escape the first. The third ring completed the sequence and ensured that nothing in the target area could survive.
The combined blast created a crater fifteen meters wide and three meters deep. The shockwave knocked several nearby shinobi off their feet. The heat washed over the camp in a wave that made everyone shield their faces.
When the explosions cleared, smoke and dust filled the air. Suzumebachi's chakra-sensing strained to detect the enemy signature through the interference.
"Did we get him?" someone asked.
"Hold positions," Hachimitsu commanded from the middle ring. "Wait for visual confirmation."
The smoke began to clear. A figure became visible in the center of the destruction. Kokushibo stood in the same position he had been walking through when the tags detonated. His robes were torn and burned in multiple places. His exposed skin showed severe burns that covered his arms and chest and parts of his face.
But as Suzumebachi watched with clinical interest, the burns began to heal. The charred flesh regenerated and returned to its normal pale color. New skin grew over the damaged areas. Within seconds there was no evidence that the explosions had touched him at all.
Suzumebachi's eyes widened in surprise. Regeneration of that speed and scale required extremely advanced medical ninjutsu. But Kokushibo seemed like a samurai. How would he know advanced medical jutsu of this level? He had heard that Hashirama Senju from the Land of Fire was capable of such healing. He didn't expect to meet someone like him here.
"Impossible," someone whispered.
Kokushibo looked down at his regenerated arms and flexed his fingers as if testing their function. His six eyes turned toward the camp. His expression showed mild interest rather than anger or pain.
"Explosive tags," Kokushibo said. His voice carried clearly despite the ringing in everyone's ears from the blast. "A classic shinobi tactic. Create overlapping kill zones and detonate them simultaneously to ensure the target cannot escape. The execution was competent."
He stepped out of the crater and continued walking toward the inner defensive ring. His sword remained in its scabbard. He made no aggressive moves despite having just survived an explosion that should have killed anything human.
"However, you seem to misunderstand something," Kokushibo continued. "You can't hurt me. I have transcended the limitations of human flesh. Fire and concussive force cannot kill me. They can only delay the inevitable."
"Fire!" Jibachi shouted.
Twenty shinobi launched kunai and shuriken in a coordinated barrage that filled the air with metal. The projectiles converged on Kokushibo's position from multiple angles and should have forced any normal opponent to retreat.
Kokushibo's hand moved to his sword and drew the blade. The sword cut through the air in a horizontal arc. Every projectile was deflected or sliced apart before reaching their target. Metal fragments scattered across the ground. Kokushibo returned his blade to a ready position without having moved from where he stood.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" fifteen voices called out in unison.
Spikes of hardened earth erupted from the ground around Kokushibo in a cage formation designed to impale from all sides simultaneously. The technique was one of the Kamizuru Clan's coordinated attacks and had killed dozens of enemies over the years.
Kokushibo looked down at the earth spears rising toward him. His expression showed mild interest rather than concern. His sword moved in a circular pattern. Crescent-shaped waves of energy erupted from the blade. The crescents expanded outward in all directions and carved through the earth spears like they were made of sand.
The technique collapsed. The ground was left torn and scarred where the crescents had passed.
Suzumebachi's eyes narrowed. Samurai Sabre Technique of this level could only be achieved by someone who had touched the limits of kenjutsu.
"Moon Breathing. First Form. Dark Moon, Evening Palace."
Kokushibo's voice carried clearly across the battlefield. His sword traced a horizontal arc. Multiple crescent-shaped blades erupted from the weapon. They spread outward in a fan pattern that covered the entire eastern defensive line.
The crescents carved through the air and left visible trails of disturbed space behind them.
Five shinobi died instantly as the crescents bisected their bodies. Blood sprayed across the ground. The corpses collapsed in pieces. Three more shinobi were caught by secondary crescents that emerged from the first wave. Their screams were cut short as they fell.
Suzumebachi felt his stomach clench. Eight dead in a single attack. The power was beyond anything he had anticipated.
"Fall back to the inner ring!" Kurobachi commanded. "Maintain formation and prepare coordinated strikes!"
The shinobi retreated in organized patterns that showed their training. They moved through the defensive positions and regrouped at the inner ring where the bulk of their combat force waited. The outer ring was abandoned. The middle ring traps had been exhausted.
Kokushibo walked forward and followed their retreat at an unhurried pace. His six eyes tracked the movements of every shinobi simultaneously. His expression showed the calm focus of someone completely in control of the situation.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" multiple voices shouted.
Spheres of flame converged on Kokushibo's position from six different angles. The fireballs were each three meters in diameter and carried enough heat to ignite the surrounding grass. They struck simultaneously and created an explosion that lit up the night sky.
When the flames cleared, Kokushibo stood unharmed in the center of a scorched circle. His sword was held in a defensive position. The blade seemed to have redirected the fire around him rather than allowing it to make contact.
"Interesting technique," Kokushibo said. His voice carried no strain or concern. "You shinobi rely heavily on elemental manipulation. But fire is merely energy given form. It can be cut and divided like anything else."
He walked out of the scorched area and continued his advance. His sword moved in a casual arc. Another wave of crescents erupted from the blade. They spread outward in a spiral pattern that carved through the defensive positions and killed four more shinobi who couldn't retreat fast enough.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!" Dokubachi called out.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!" thirty voices repeated in unison.
Massive walls of earth erupted from the ground and formed a maze of barriers between Kokushibo and the inner defensive ring. The walls were three meters thick. They created a series of corridors and dead ends that would force any attacker to navigate carefully.
Kokushibo stopped and studied the earth walls with his six eyes. His expression showed something that might have been approval.
"You attempt to control the battlefield and limit my movement," Kokushibo said. "This is sound tactical thinking. But walls are merely obstacles to be removed."
"Moon Breathing. Third Form. Loathsome Moon, Chains."
His sword traced two broad slashes through the air. Massive crescent waves erupted from each swing. They were larger and more chaotic than the previous attacks. The crescents split into smaller blades mid-flight and created a storm of cutting edges that filled the space between the walls.
The earth barriers shattered under the assault. Stone and dirt exploded outward as the crescents carved through the walls like they were made of paper. Twelve shinobi who had been positioned behind the barriers died as the attack passed through their cover and bisected their bodies.
Suzumebachi's hands trembled. Twenty dead now. A fifth of their combat strength gone in minutes. This wasn't a battle. It was an execution.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets!" a voice shouted from the left flank.
Concentrated spheres of compressed air launched toward Kokushibo at high velocity. The technique was designed to penetrate armor and could punch through stone walls with ease.
Kokushibo's sword moved in a spinning motion that created a circular pattern of crescents around his body. The vacuum bullets struck the defensive wall of blades and were dispersed harmlessly. The counterattack came immediately as the crescents expanded outward and killed the shinobi who had launched the wind technique.
"He's defending and attacking simultaneously," Kurobachi said from nearby. The Camp Nine commander had moved to Suzumebachi's position. Her face showed tension but not panic. "We have to pour in more manpower to overwhelm his defense!"
Suzumebachi nodded.
"We need to hit him from too many angles simultaneously," Suzumebachi said quietly. "Force him to prioritize targets and create gaps in his defense."