NOVEL NEXT Chapter 133: Chapter 128: Noticing the Clues!
Chapter 128: Noticing the Clues!
Just as a ninja from the Kusagakure was about to claim he was the Hokage, Haku made his move!
In a flash, Haku used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of the ninja, plunging his kunai ruthlessly into the man's throat. The Kusagakure ninja had no time to react, only managing to glimpse a figure suddenly flashing before him. The next moment, a white light flashed before his eyes, and a sharp pain shot through his throat as his skin was punctured.
The intense pain, the chilling sensation, and the overwhelming suffocation left the ninja in utter agony. He clutched his throat, trying to say something, but no words escaped his lips—he couldn't speak, couldn't make a sound. All he could do was helplessly watch himself slip away.
Meanwhile, Haku turned his attention to the other ninjas. For this group of Chunin, one kunai would suffice.
"You… you! What are you planning to do?!"
"Damn it! You little brat! What's with that look in your eyes?!"
"Hmph! That was just a sneak attack. Do you really think we're afraid of you?"
"Kill him!"
The group of Chunin sprang into action, brandishing their kunai and shuriken as they hurled them at Haku. But Haku simply sidestepped, evading a shuriken, then leapt lightly, dodging the kunai that followed. In mid-air, he flung three kunai, each hitting its mark with precision, striking down three Chunin.
The remaining ninjas were horrified. The young man before them was evidently far superior in strength! This guy was at least Jonin level!
Only now did they realize that they might have provoked a Jonin. Haku smiled and then spoke calmly:
"So, will you continue trying to stop me?"
"N-no, we wouldn't dare!"
"Right, right! Please, take this girl with you! We have no objections!"
"We understand we were wrong, Lord, please spare us!"
The Kusagakure ninjas dropped to their knees, begging for mercy, but their eyes gleamed with hatred. In their minds, a shared thought emerged: they would bide their time, only to strike once Haku dropped his guard.
In this world, even Jonin—or Kage-level shinobi—could fall to a surprise attack if struck in a vital spot. Death was inevitable unless they possessed certain secret techniques. This was one reason why secret techniques were so highly valued and fiercely contested in the ninja world.
Haku seemed to understand this well, deliberately exposing a flaw in his defense.
Seeing an opportunity, the Kusagakure ninjas launched a sudden attack without hesitation, a rain of kunai and shuriken aiming for Haku.
Why weren't they using ninjutsu? Because ninjutsu required time to activate, and hand seals took time to form. After all, they weren't prodigies; they were just Chunin. Being able to use a few techniques was good enough, but deploying them effectively in battle was another story entirely.
"Die, you brat...!"
"That's the price of underestimating us!"
"Die! How dare you look down on Kusagakure!"
"Even Chunin have killed Jonin before, damn it!"
Believing they were about to succeed, the Kusagakure ninjas watched as their kunai and shuriken struck Haku, their faces twisting with glee. Excitement filled the air—they were about to take down this young Jonin!
However, before they could celebrate, with a loud "poof," Haku's form vanished in a cloud of white smoke.
They all froze in shock.
"How is this possible?"
"When did he form the seals?"
"A clone? Or a substitution?"
"No trace was left behind, so it's a clone!"
"It must be the Shadow Clone Technique. When did he cast it?"
The group of Chunin stood there, dumbfounded, as Haku reappeared, standing on a nearby tree branch with arms crossed.
"It seems none of you value your lives. If that's the case, then perish. Ice Release: Thousand Needles of Death!"
Haku's hands moved rapidly, forming seals. The Chunin, realizing his intent, scrambled to form seals to counter. But while they were still forming a single seal, Haku had already released his jutsu!
Countless ice needles flew toward the Chunin, and though they attempted to dodge, the sheer number of projectiles made escape impossible. In the blink of an eye, every Chunin had been struck!
Blood flowed from their wounds, and with a series of thuds, they all collapsed. They were merely Chunin; survival against a Jonin was already a stretch. But Haku was no ordinary Jonin—he now possessed Kage-level strength. Defeating these Chunin was an effortless task.
"Let's go. I'll take you somewhere safe," Haku said, turning to Karin, who nodded. She sensed no malice from him, only kindness.
However, Haku never imagined that members of the Akatsuki organization would be in the Kusagakure, let alone three of them!
Meanwhile, in the Afterworld...
Ishihara's spiritual power, after some time of gathering, had intensified greatly within him.
"Looks like with another six months, I'll be halfway through my Shinigami transformation."
He swung his arm, suddenly sensing something amiss. It was as if he were sealed, unable to move!
"What's going on? And why has the spiritual energy around me decreased?"
Looking around in disbelief, Ishihara noticed that even the elder nearby had stopped absorbing spiritual energy.
"Did my training deplete it? Maybe I should explore elsewhere."
With that, Ishihara headed off in another direction. But after a long while, he found the area similarly devoid of spiritual energy. He even began to feel as if he hadn't moved at all!
"What's going on? This is so strange."
Ishihara stopped, pondering the situation. He had a nagging feeling that something was off, as if someone outside was watching him. In reality, that was exactly the case.
The Sage of Six Paths initially watched Ishihara's actions in shock, then relaxed, sneering.
"Hmph, you want to continue your Shinigami transformation? As if I'll let that happen. You're trapped here for eternity. Once your body deteriorates, next will be your soul!"
Satisfied upon seeing Ishihara unable to escape, the Sage of Six Paths finally withdrew his gaze. Yet, unknown to him, ten minutes later, Ishihara moved again.
"That feeling is gone. It seems someone was indeed watching me. Could it have been the Sage of Six Paths? No matter. I still have to find a way out, or fully complete my Shinigami transformation…"