Chapter 61: Battle Royale - You Run, I Kill!
"It's your turn."
The towering, imposing figure seemed to merge seamlessly into the depths of darkness itself.
His hoarse voice was unnaturally piercing—like sharp metal scraping across glass.
It sent bone-deep chills racing down the spines of Umezono Chizu and Daigo.
What the hell is going on?!
Countless thoughts raced through their minds, only to be immediately dismissed. The situation before them had completely exceeded their worst expectations.
An unexpected incident during the Chunin Exams—Konoha invaded by mysterious ninja, resulting in the deaths of all examinees and examiners. In just seconds, Umezono Chizu mentally reviewed all available information. But the deeper she analyzed, the more terrifying it became.
Who possessed the ability to invade Konoha and, right under everyone's noses, silently slaughter so many people?!
In an instant, cold sweat seeped down her back. Umezono Chizu's pupils contracted to pinpoints.
WHOOSH!
Overwhelming killing intent surged forth like a tidal wave, creating visible pressure waves in the air.
Startled into awareness, the three Sand ninja instinctively looked up. Their eyes met those of the burly, muscular man covered in gore, emerging from the darkness like a demon.
They had never witnessed such terrifying bloodlust. They could almost visualize mountains of corpses and rivers of blood behind him.
His crimson gaze—like a dull, serrated knife—swept across their skin, mimicking a butcher scraping flesh from bone. It sent violent shivers down their spines.
Scraaaape—
The jagged, rust-covered cleaver dragged across the brick floor, throwing sparks.
The 'Butcher' strode heavily over the corpses, each thunderous footfall like a hammer striking their hearts.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Each step brought crushing pressure.
At this moment, even the surrounding air seemed to turn bone-chillingly cold—as if transformed into countless steel needles frantically stimulating every nerve in their cerebral cortex. The sensation alternated between light and heavy, provoking their deepest primal fears. Mixed with the overpowering stench of blood, their terror reached its absolute peak.
"RUN! JUST RUN!"
Their third companion—who'd been frozen in shock until now—suddenly grabbed both of them and tried to flee. "You two! What are you standing there for?!"
The loud shout jolted Umezono Chizu and Daigo awake. Their bodies were drenched in cold sweat, as if completely dehydrated.
Right! What the hell were they waiting for?!
Just moments ago, it was as if they'd been possessed. A single glance from that monster had completely paralyzed them.
"Go!"
Umezono Chizu formed hand seals rapidly and took a deep breath. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
WHOOOOSH!
Instantly, debris flew everywhere as fierce winds raged through the tower.
Billowing dust and smoke formed a temporary barrier, obscuring their vision.
"Now!"
Chizu shouted to her companions, spinning and sprinting toward the gate.
But in that very instant, she witnessed a rust-covered iron hammer—coated in sticky white and red matter—fall with deceptive lightness, striking her companion squarely on the head.
CRACK!
The hammer shattered his skull like a watermelon, sending brain matter and blood flying in all directions.
The sticky, warm, disgusting liquid splashed across their faces. The pungent, nauseating smell combined with the gore on their skin made Umezono Chizu and Daigo turn deathly pale, their stomachs heaving violently.
"KOKOTA!"
Chizu's pupils dilated with pure horror.
But unfortunately, Kokota clearly couldn't hear her anymore. After all, most of his head was gone.
"RUN, CHIZU!"
Daigo reacted faster, reaching out and pulling her forward.
The object wrapped tightly in bandages on his back revealed its true form—a finely crafted wooden puppet.
Creak... creak...
Daigo's fingers twitched as chakra strings connected to the puppet's joints.
Manipulated by invisible threads, the puppet's arms extended, revealing black tubes embedded in its palms. Sharp senbon needles rained down on the massive, bloodstained figure.
Thunk thunk thunk thunk!
The senbon possessed considerable penetrating power.
The Butcher's body jerked as he was riddled with needles. Blood spurted from countless wounds as he staggered back several steps.
"Hurry! Run, Chizu!"
Daigo grabbed the still-stunned Chizu and bolted toward the exit, not daring to look back.
The oppressive presence behind them and the hoarse, animalistic breathing reminded them of one terrible truth... that thing wasn't dead!
Sure enough!
Just as they turned and took several running steps, the suffocating killing intent returned with a vengeance.
Scraaaape—
The grating sound of that serrated cleaver dragging across brick echoed once more!
The relentless bloodlust closing in from behind made the mere dozen meters to the exit seem like an insurmountable chasm.
They mustered every ounce of strength, finally approaching the gate.
Just one step away! One last step!
Umezono Chizu and Daigo stretched their hands forward desperately, as if the faintly glowing doorway held their only hope for survival.
Closer... closer... just a little bit more...
Their fingertips finally made contact with the door. Salvation was within reach.
With just one gentle push, they could escape—escape this hellscape of dismembered limbs and gore, escape that nightmare butcher!
THUD!
But the instant Umezono Chizu's fingers touched the door, what should have swung open easily felt like solid stone. No matter how hard she pushed, it wouldn't budge even a millimeter.
"It won't open?!"
Umezono Chizu's expression transformed into one of absolute terror.
"Move aside! Let me try!"
Daigo gathered his chakra and slammed his fist into the door with full force.
BOOM!
The impact caused ripples to spread across the wooden surface—like stones thrown into still water, slowly expanding outward.
"It's a barrier!"
Daigo's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he gritted his teeth. "Someone's set up a barrier jutsu here!"
A faint ray of light shone through the crack in the door.
This seemingly within-reach hope plunged them directly into the abyss of despair, cruelly severing their only chance at survival.
The 'Butcher' dragged his serrated cleaver slowly and deliberately, approaching them with methodical intent.
The massive blade scraped against the ground, throwing sparks. The ear-piercing grinding sound assaulted their ears, threatening to stop their hearts entirely.
"We have to fight him!"
Daigo gritted his teeth, manipulating the puppet with practiced finger movements. "Chizu, work with me!"
The puppet's limbs went rigid, twitching spasmodically like something possessed before skimming along the ground toward the Butcher at high speed.
Realizing escape was impossible, Umezono Chizu suppressed her overwhelming fear. She threw multiple shuriken while rapidly forming hand seals. "Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The shuriken struck the Butcher, embedding deeply into his flesh.
Immediately afterward, razor-thin wind blades—sharpened by Wind Release chakra—sliced through the Butcher's body from multiple angles, spraying massive amounts of blood.
Pssshhh—
The approaching puppet suddenly spewed a cloud of purple poisonous gas from hidden compartments.
The toxic mist spread rapidly, completely enveloping the Butcher's massive form.
"This is a secret poison from Sunagakure!"
Daigo pulled taut on his chakra strings. "Take this!"
Under his expert control, the puppet's arms unleashed various hidden mechanisms. Circling the towering figure within the poisonous cloud, it discharged all its stored weapons in a devastating barrage.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The dense hailstorm of projectiles—like a torrential downpour of steel—completely overwhelmed the figure within the toxic mist.
Finally, Umezono Chizu finished her technique.
She extracted all her remaining chakra and expelled it from her mouth in one final desperate attack.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
Highly compressed Wind Release chakra—shaped like a massive cannonball—blasted directly into the pervasive poisonous fog.
The tall figure within was struck with pinpoint accuracy by the wind sphere.
"He's definitely dead!"
Umezono Chizu was certain that nobody could survive a direct hit from that technique.
"Huff... huff..."
After the intense battle, both were gasping heavily for breath.
Umezono Chizu stared intently into the dissipating poisonous fog, her expression gradually hardening. Her pupils shrank once more as primal fear crept back into her heart.
"No... that's impossible..."
Suddenly, a tall, burly figure emerged from the poisonous cloud, still wielding that serrated cleaver and blood-soaked hammer.
His body was riddled with gaping holes from the wind technique—some the size of fists, blood flowing endlessly from countless wounds. Steel senbon and puppet projectiles protruded from his flesh like grotesque decorations.
Yet despite all this devastating damage, he continued moving forward—like a heartless, unstoppable machine.
"It's your turn."
[End of Chapter 61]
Author's Note:
The horror movie continues! 😱
Poor Chizu and Daigo just threw EVERYTHING they had at the Butcher—puppet attacks, poison gas, wind techniques, the works—and he just... keeps... coming! That's the stuff of nightmares right there.
Of course, we know this is all part of Kazuki's genjutsu world, but these genin don't. To them, this is 100% real, and they're experiencing genuine mortal terror. The psychological damage from this "exam" is going to be absolutely catastrophic.
Questions:
Can Chizu and Daigo possibly survive this?
What's happening to the other examinees in their own nightmare scenarios?
How long will Kazuki keep this horror show running?
Will anyone manage to break the genjutsu?
Drop your reactions! This is pure psychological warfare at its finest!
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