NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Chapter 16 : Battlefield (1)
"Soul: Sacrifice!"
Uchiha Shin performed the same technique, engulfing the bodies of the five Kirigakure Chūnin in black flames, reducing them to ashes. The dark fire carried their chakra and vitality, surging into his body like a tide.
"My body... it feels stronger. The chakra I used has not only replenished but increased significantly!"
A rush of exhilaration filled Shin as he felt the subtle yet undeniable changes within himself. His senses sharpened, his muscles felt denser, and his chakra reserves swelled beyond their previous limits.
Since he had already mastered chakra nature transformation, he could clearly perceive the properties of his own chakra. And now, after absorbing the chakra of these Mist-nin, he noticed something unexpected—his chakra affinity had gained an additional element.
"Water Style... I actually acquired a new chakra nature?" Shin muttered, his Sharingan spinning in fascination. This was beyond what he had anticipated.
Grinning, he rifled through the remains of the slain Kiri-nin, swiping everything of value—kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, ration pills—before vanishing into the nearby forest.
His supplies had doubled after looting both sides of the battlefield. Looking back at the flames raging through the wreckage, his eyes gleamed with greed and excitement.
"Right now, every ninja on this battlefield is an 'experience point' waiting to be claimed."
The battlefield was already a chaotic mess—what was a little more carnage?
A sadistic smile curled across Shin's lips as he extended his palm. Chakra swirled rapidly in his grasp, forming a Rasengan, crackling with electrical energy.
"Lightning Release: Rasengan."
With a flick of his wrist, the spiraling sphere shot forward. Unlike a normal Rasengan, this one shimmered and distorted the air, making it almost invisible to the naked eye.
A Sunagakure Chūnin, preoccupied with attacking the Uzumaki clan's barrier, suddenly sensed something off—but before he could react, the Rasengan struck him square in the temple.
BANG!!!
The impact was like a high-caliber rifle round going off, bursting through the Suna-nin's skull. Brain matter and shards of bone splattered across his comrades, who recoiled in horror.
"AAAAAHHH!"
One of them barely had time to scream before another explosion tore through his chest, leaving a gaping hole. Blood spurted violently as his body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
In mere moments, nearly ten Suna Chūnin lay lifeless, their corpses littering the battlefield. Only an elite Jōnin managed to retreat, dragging a few survivors with him.
Hidden in the shadows, Uchiha Shin motioned for his shadow clones to retrieve the bodies. His face split into a wide, wicked grin.
"Hiding and sniping from the dark like this... it's almost too fun."
With his stolen chakra replenishing his reserves, he didn't hesitate to create more clones, bombarding the battlefield with multiple Lightning Release: Rasengan. Despite the continuous assault, his chakra levels remained stable, thanks to the energy absorbed from his fallen enemies.
Then, something new surfaced in his mind.
[Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere]
A B-rank jutsu that launched compressed wind bullets upon exhaling—similar to the Phoenix Fire Jutsu, but with slicing force instead of flames.
"I can steal jutsu, too? Now this is a pleasant surprise."
He instinctively knew how to perform the technique, as if he had practiced it for years. Testing it would have to wait—new prey had arrived.
"I sense chakra fluctuations over here!"
"It must be an escaped Uzumaki! After them!"
A squad of Iwagakure-nin rushed toward his position. With his disguise—a darker complexion and slight changes to his features—they immediately assumed he was a Kumo-nin.
Since the Hidden Villages had agreed not to attack each other during the siege, the Iwa-nin hesitated. The leading Jōnin stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at Shin.
"If he's an Uzumaki in disguise, we kill him. If he's really from Kumogakure, we back off."
Before they could confirm either way, Shin acted.
"Magnet Release: Nail Hell!"
In an instant, several iron nails hidden beneath the dirt shot upward, hurtling toward the Iwagakure team with deadly precision.
The Jōnin reacted instantly, deflecting the first nail with his kunai—only to realize, too late, that the nails were wrapped in explosive tags.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The detonations tore through the squad, leaving only the elite Jōnin standing amidst his injured comrades.
"It's an enemy! Kill him!"
The surviving Iwa-nin quickly formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"
Massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, encasing Shin in an inescapable cage. The Jōnin followed up instantly.
"Earth Release: Rock Spear Barrage!"
Jagged stone lances burst from the ground, aiming to skewer Shin alive like a pincushion.
"Lightning Release: Iron Body!"
An aura of crackling lightning surged around Shin as his muscles hardened, his skin becoming as unyielding as tempered steel. The stone spears shattered upon impact, leaving him completely unscathed.
He smirked. "That all you got?"
"Damn those Kumo-nin! I knew they were up to something!" the Iwa Jōnin snarled, mistaking Shin for a Cloud-nin due to his Lightning Release.
The moment he prepared for a counterattack, his body suddenly stiffened.
"What the—? I can't move!?"
"My body... it's numb!"
The remaining Chūnin screamed in panic, realizing their limbs refused to obey them.
Shin chuckled darkly, stepping forward from the crumbling rock prison. "Ah, that paralysis toxin works wonders."
Not just the nails, but every weapon he carried was coated in fast-acting nerve poison. Even the slightest scratch meant total immobilization.
"W-wait! Let's talk!"
The Jōnin tried to bargain, his voice laced with desperation.
Shin merely grinned, raising his hand to form another Rasengan—this time infused with Wind Release.
"Sorry, but talking won't increase my experience points."
The wind-imbued sphere roared in his palm before he slammed it into the Jōnin's chest, shredding him apart in a burst of blood and entrails.
As the remaining Iwa-nin fell to the ground, paralyzed and helpless, Shin's grin widened.
"Now... let's see what new abilities you guys have for me."
The battlefield burned behind him, screams and explosions filling the air. And amidst the chaos, Uchiha Shin continued his rampage, growing stronger with every life he claimed.
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Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones