Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Samui's Predicament
Naruto moved so swiftly that Samui barely registered a blur before her eyes.
Darui and Cee had already been smashed into the wall, their bodies slumped and barely clinging to life.
Samui's entire body trembled as she heard Naruto's low whisper echoing in her ears, her eyes brimming with fear.
When she met Naruto's gaze, it was as if she was staring into the eyes of a demon emerging from the depths of hell.
Yet, despite her trembling frame, this strong-willed, dignified shinobi refused to let her fighting spirit waver.
In the Land of Lightning, a village renowned for its unyielding warriors, every child grew up hearing the same mantra:
"In the Kumo Village, there are only ninja who die in battle. Never those who surrender."
Clang!
Samui unsheathed the long blade from her waist with a sharp, decisive motion, her eyes gleaming with resolve.
"Miss Samui," Naruto said, a chilling smirk tugging at his lips. "That's quite the determined look you've got there."
His voice dropped into a mocking chuckle. "But it's nothing more than a futile struggle."
Gripping her blade tightly with both hands, Samui infused it with chakra. In an instant, the blade began to glow with a vibrant blue-white light.
Her gaze sharpened. "Bastard! Don't underestimate the Kumo's Shinobi!" she roared, her voice ringing with unshakable determination.
Without hesitation, Samui lunged at Naruto, her blade aimed straight for him, fearless despite the overwhelming odds.
Naruto merely sneered, a sound devoid of concern. "Heh... Foolish."
To him, her attack was no more threatening than a child's tantrum.
Crack, crack, crack...
He casually rolled his neck from side to side, producing a series of popping sounds as he loosened his joints, entirely at ease.
Even as Samui's chakra-infused blade neared his chest, his expression remained calm—completely devoid of panic or the slightest inclination to dodge.
Naruto's exceptional perception kicked in, capturing every detail of Samui's attack trajectory in an instant.
A smirk played at his lips as he extended two fingers at lightning speed.
In the blink of an eye, he clamped the blade's tip between his fingers.
"Impossible... The difference in our strength... It can't be this vast!"
Samui's confidence crumbled as she stared at the reality before her.
Her grip on the sword faltered slightly, her expression darkening.
Naruto's grin widened, his tone dripping with malevolence. "Miss Samui, you'll find there are plenty of 'impossible' things in this world."
With just a slight flick of his fingers, the blade groaned in protest. Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface before it shattered with a sharp, resonant snap.
The once-pristine chakra-forged blade splintered into pieces, a devastating testament to Naruto's monstrous power.
Samui's emerald-green eyes widened in shock.
What kind of monster have we provoked?
In the brief moment of her distraction, Naruto's fist shot forward.
Boom!
His punch landed squarely on her abdomen with a sickening thud, the impact reverberating through her body.
"Ugh—!"
Samui's eyes rolled back, and she nearly lost consciousness. A bitter taste rose in her throat as her stomach churned violently, forcing her to retch.
Her strength gave out, and she collapsed into Naruto's arm.
"Miss Samui," Naruto murmured, his tone disturbingly playful. "How about we play a little savior's game?"
Her dazed mind struggled to comprehend his words.
"What... are you planning, you bastard?" Samui's voice was laced with rage, though her body betrayed her weakness.
"You'll find out soon enough," Naruto replied, his Sharingan flashing a sinister crimson light.
---
Later, beneath a pale moonlight...
The cool night breeze swept through the air, and the moon's silvery glow bathed the desolate landscape in an eerie stillness.
Samui slowly regained consciousness, her body aching and feeble. Her chakra was sealed, and her limbs felt as heavy as lead.
A sense of dread settled in as she surveyed her surroundings.
"Miss Samui," Naruto's voice cut through the silence, soft but menacing. He crouched beside her, tilting her chin up with a finger. "Welcome to your nightmare."
He gestured to a tree in the distance. "See your teammate over there? That's Darui, right?"
Samui's eyes followed his hand, spotting Darui bound tightly to the tree by glistening chakra wires. His eyes were shut, but she could still sense his faint chakra signature.
Relief flooded her. At least he was still alive.
"Ah, but relaxing now wouldn't be wise, Miss Samui," Naruto taunted, his tone as light as if he were discussing the weather.
Samui's tension returned in full force.
Naruto tilted his head, his voice mockingly cheerful. "Let me share a little secret: Darui has five explosive tags attached to him. If they're triggered, not even his remains will survive."
"And 500 meters from here, there are five Kumogakure civilians. Strangers to you, I'm sure, but they're in the same predicament—each with five explosive tags of their own."
As Naruto finished speaking, Samui's breath hitched.
Her heart sank.
"You... What do you want?" she demanded, her voice trembling. Deep down, she already knew the answer.
"I told you," Naruto said with a grin. "We're going to play a game."
"The rules are simple. You have one minute to choose who to save—your teammate or the five civilians.
"Whomever you abandon, their explosive tags will detonate."
Naruto's Sharingan glowed ominously as he began the countdown.
"Fifty-nine..."
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