Seeing his conjecture was correct, a smile curved on Kiyoshi's lips.
A cool sensation spread through his palm, making him feel as if he were soaking in a mountain spring.
The circulatory system is the pathway for chakra flow.
The upper limit of Ninjutsu execution is intrinsically linked to it.
Since Kiyoshi had raised this by 5%, it meant he could increase the chakra output of any Ninjutsu used in his hands by 5%.
Kiyoshi looked at the surrounding ninjas.
Wasn't this the best time for him to farm [Traits]?
"Kurenai, you all stay back." Kiyoshi instructed, not wanting anyone to steal his kills and prevent him from gaining a [Trait].
Then, his offensive continued unabated, and he struck several other ninjas in the same manner.
*Puff! Puff! Puff*...
Everyone who charged at him was sent flying by Kiyoshi's palm, either dead or wounded.
These were nothing but cannon fodder sent to test him, ninjas from minor, unknown villages.
All their movements were clearly visible under Kiyoshi's Sharingan.
As a result, Kiyoshi's rapid movements left the charging ninjas unable to react.
The pupils of one ninja contracted violently. He looked down at his ruptured abdomen, which was scorched black, marked by a bloody hole.
Looking from afar, one could even see the astonished faces of Mei Terumī and the others behind him.
"Are you... crazy?" Mei Terumī could no longer maintain her smile.
Kiyoshi didn't flee, but actually charged at them?
The ninjas who had initially formed a surrounding circle immediately scattered.
Everyone was here to pick up scraps; no one was foolish, and they all understood how to size up a situation.
"Aren't you afraid of being surrounded by all of us?"
"If you can, then come on. I'm in a rush."
As the words fell, Kiyoshi no longer concealed his Sharingan.
His eyes, which had been at one tomoe, suddenly changed.
A second tomoe emerged from the crimson pupil of his left eye, forming the two-tomoe Sharingan.
In an instant, Kiyoshi moved.
Compared to his speed, these ninjas from minor nations were utterly powerless.
The screams of ninjas rose and fell, blood splattering onto the ground, reflecting a dark red.
[Trait: Merciless Iron Hand (White).]
[Requirement Achieved: Defeat ten ninjas with your palm.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: The circulatory system in your palm will become more resilient, increasing its foundation by 5% on top of the original base.]
[Note: Can be further evolved later.]
[Evolution Path One: Integrating "Battlefield Rose (White)" and "Merciless Fire Extinguisher (White)" can evolve it into "Burning Heart (Green)"]
"You have obtained the Trait: [Battlefield Rose (White)]."
[Trait: Battlefield Rose (White).]
[Requirement Achieved: Dance in a battle of 30+ people and persevere for 100 seconds.]
[Progress: 1%.]
[Effect: Your fighting spirit is high, and your battle is ceaseless; your "Yin" Release chakra is increased by 5% on top of the original base.]
[Note: Can be further evolved later.]
Two consecutive [Traits] appeared before Kiyoshi.
One was the completion of [Merciless Iron Hand (White)].
The other was the unlocking of [Battlefield Rose (White)].
Seeing the [Merciless Iron Hand] Trait was achieved, Kiyoshi took down his sealing scroll and summoned his ninja sword.
He tightened his grip on the sword, the blade slicing through the air, bringing with it a flash of cold light.
"All together!" Mei Terumī immediately shouted, seeing the situation take a turn.
In an instant, many ninjas swarmed forward.
Kurenai wanted to intervene, but Kiyoshi's speed was too fast, and a rash intervention might accidentally injure him.
"Pakura, let's go!" Maki immediately urged Pakura to leave, seeing the situation was wrong.
They had been defeated by Kiyoshi before and only came because they thought they had strength in numbers and could fish in troubled waters.
However, Kiyoshi's ferocity exceeded their expectations.
"...Alright." Pakura hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
After giving Kiyoshi a long, hard look, she retreated behind the crowd with Maki and Tarō Hōki and left.
Kiyoshi noticed Pakura's departure but paid it no mind.
He had already squeezed the available [Traits] from Pakura; she could be left to her own devices for a while.
The departure of the trio caused no ripples.
Everyone's attention was fixed on Kiyoshi.
"Water Release: Great Water Arm Technique!" Hōzuki Mangetsu of the Hōzuki clan finally made his move.
He concentrated the water in his entire body into his left arm, making it nearly as thick as his torso.
He then drew the large sword from his back, which resembled a door, and swung it at Kiyoshi.
The force was enough to cleave through a solid iron gate.
Kiyoshi immediately felt a sharp edge rushing towards him.
He rotated his wrist, and the flames on his ninja sword grew fiercer.
*Bang!*
The two clashed, releasing a surging burst of air.
The blast hit the ground, flattening all the wild grass.
"He can actually match my technique." Mangetsu Hōzuki was forced back three steps by the recoil.
Kiyoshi also took one step back.
He didn't have any Ninjutsu that directly increased his physical strength, only Cloud Style: Flying Bird to accelerate, cleverly using speed to increase his power.
Mangetsu Hōzuki shaped his hand like a pistol, and a liquid bullet shot out from his fingertip with a *poof*.
Kiyoshi recognized this iconic Ninjutsu.
Water Release: Water Gun Technique!
This was a secret technique passed down through the Hōzuki clan for generations. The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, had once used this technique to pierce Gaara's sand clone disguised as Ōnoki.
"In that case…" Kiyoshi also extended his hand, but his gesture was an open palm.
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash."
*Whoosh!*
Lightning, like a stream of water, flew from Kiyoshi's palm with a roar.
When the liquid made contact with the electric current, it only made the current more ferocious.
A smile appeared on Kiyoshi's face.
Lightning overcomes Earth, but not Water.
But Lightning Release: Ground Flash was different.
It could actually be used as a special composite Ninjutsu.
When it encountered water, it became... stronger!
*Crack!*
The scene Mangetsu Hōzuki had imagined—the liquid bullet penetrating Kiyoshi's body—did not happen.
The beam of electricity from Kiyoshi's palm rushed towards him rapidly.
A bead of cold sweat dropped from Mangetsu Hōzuki's face. He tried to dodge.
At extremely close range, Kiyoshi swung his sword, aiming at the direction Mangetsu was trying to evade.
Mangetsu Hōzuki's internal alarm bells screamed.
'Damn it!' All escape routes were blocked by this guy!
If he didn't use Hydrification Technique, he couldn't dodge Kiyoshi's slash.
If he used Hydrification Technique, he couldn't dodge the lightning.
This special secret technique, which granted immunity to all physical attacks, had only one weakness: it was countered by Lightning!
"Dodge quickly!" Mei Terumī's seductive voice was strained.
"It's no use; he's been forced into a corner."
Everything happened in a flash of lightning.
A lump of flesh appeared on Shōshi Kaguya's palm, revealing a flash of stark white.
He pulled out a bone, shaped like a spear.
*Whoosh!*
Shōshi Kaguya threw the bone.
It arrived in the trajectory of Kiyoshi's slash in the blink of an eye.
"Shikotsumyaku!" Mangetsu Hōzuki exclaimed, seeing Shōshi Kaguya's bone spear.
A flash of salvation appeared in his eyes.