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Most ninjas lack the ability to see in the dark. Only those from clans with dojutsu, such as the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan, can maintain their composure in such situations.
But now, there was Ryo Sarutobi.
With his right eye's thermal imaging and night vision capabilities, he navigated the darkness with ease. Explosions and screams echoed through the passageway as he tore through his enemies with unparalleled precision. His superior physical prowess and mastery of taijutsu allowed him to dominate the battlefield.
After all, he could see everything while his enemies floundered in the pitch-black void like blind men. The outcome was inevitable.
"Konoha Great Cyclone!"
Ryo Sarutobi launched into a spinning kick, striking three enemies in quick succession. His blows landed with crushing force, sending them crumpling to the ground. With a final, devastating strike, the last of his attackers collapsed.
Then, he withdrew.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
Even for someone as skilled as Ryo, maintaining peak taijutsu performance was physically taxing. His breathing grew heavier, sweat forming on his brow as he retreated into the tomb.
Baiyun Yeshan had just ignited a torch when Ryo reentered, swiftly sealing Kato Dan's remains into a storage scroll. Without wasting a moment, he turned on his heel.
"Move!"
With his enhanced vision allowing him to navigate the underground terrain effortlessly, escaping was only a matter of time.
As Baiyun Yeshan caught sight of the bodies littering the ground, he muttered in awe, "Did Master Ryo Sarutobi defeat all of these Blood Mist shinobi... alone?"
Recalling the earlier sounds of combat, he realized that in such a brief span, Ryo had eradicated every foe.
Like father, like son. The Third Hokage's legacy was undeniable.
Suddenly, Yamanaka Hui halted, sensing something. His voice rang out in alarm, "Master! More Blood Mist shinobi are converging from other tunnels!"
It was clear the enemy had their own sensory ninja, fully aware of what had just transpired.
All across the underground network, Kirigakure forces were mobilizing to encircle them.
"How many?" Ryo asked, increasing his pace.
"Six... twelve... no, eighteen!" Yamanaka Hui reported.
Eighteen. Adding the six Ryo had already slain, that meant the enemy had originally numbered twenty-four, split into four squads of six.
"What are our odds of escaping?" Ryo pressed.
"Best case scenario? We only run into one of the groups."
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Ryo signaled the group to follow and broke into a sprint.
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Before long, they emerged from the underground, greeted by the sight of eight Blood Mist ninja waiting with predatory grins.
Leading them was a small, yet striking kunoichi. Her brown-red hair, tied up into twin tufts resembling rabbit ears, was distinctive. But even more so were the twin blades strapped to her back—lightning-coated fangs of death.
Baiyun Yeshan's eyes widened in horror.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen... the wielder of the Thunder Blades, the genius prodigy of the Mist... Ringo Ameyuri!"
The name alone sent chills down their spines.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were legendary, their combat prowess unrivaled within Kirigakure, second only to Mizukage, Jinchūriki, and a handful of elite bloodline users.
Encountering such a figure during a Jonin assessment mission was sheer misfortune. Baiyun Yeshan's expression hardened as reality set in.
Despite being the youngest among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Ringo Ameyuri had carved out a fearsome reputation. It was said she wielded the Thunder Blades with unparalleled mastery, surpassing all who had come before her.
And now, she stood before them, eyes locked onto Ryo Sarutobi. A smirk curled her lips.
"Oh? If it isn't the Third Hokage's son... Master Ryo Sarutobi?"
Her gaze swept over his attire: the Konoha forehead protector, the Uzumaki crest on his back signifying Konoha's alliance with the Uzumaki Clan, and the Sarutobi clan emblem on his sleeve. His features bore an uncanny resemblance to a young Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Recognition dawned.
Among her generation, only Namikaze Minato's name was widely renowned. But Ryo Sarutobi? He was a shadow. Either completely incompetent or a hidden monster.
Her lips parted in a toothy grin as she drew her twin blades, crackling with electricity.
Baiyun Yeshan's grip on his weapon tightened.
The aura of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was suffocating, their bloodlust tangible. The young shinobi, unseasoned compared to his Shippuden-era self, struggled to endure the sheer pressure. His survival instincts took over.
With a desperate cry, he unsheathed his blade. "Wind Style—"
But he was too slow.
"Lightning Release—Thunder Blade: Lightning Flash!"
A blinding arc of lightning surged from Ameyuri's swords, crackling upward before splitting the sky with a deafening crack.
A heartbeat later, a searing bolt of lightning struck Baiyun Yeshan before he could even swing his sword.
BOOM!
He collapsed instantly, smoke rising from his scorched body.
The speed of her technique was incomprehensible.
No... it defied all reason.