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Was it a moment of heated impulse, or was there some other reason?
Menma frowned. Just as he was about to reveal himself and deal with Suien directly, he caught a glimpse of the other Waterfall ninja in the background out of the corner of his eye. Recalling the conversation between Mizuno Satoru and Shibuki earlier, a look of realization dawned in Menma's pupils.
So that's how it is? Very well. Then let me see your capacity as a leader, Lord Shibuki.
He stopped his steps accordingly.
He might as well treat it as watching a show. With the strength of these people below, even without counting the Nine-Tails' chakra, Menma was confident he could completely control the field.
There was no need to worry too much.
Meanwhile, Suien down below naturally had no idea that the situation had changed completely.
Thinking everything was still under his control, Suien was more than happy to strike and torture Shibuki on both mental and physical levels.
Especially within the village.
Defeating him with overwhelming force would highlight his own excellence even more.
It would prove that those old geezers had chosen the wrong person!
"Since you want to die, I'll satisfy you!"
Suien smiled viciously.
Boom!
His chakra erupted.
Whoosh!
His figure flickered, launching a forceful assault toward Shibuki's position.
Shibuki's expression hardened.
Shing!
He flipped his hand, pulling out a kunai directly.
Meeting the attack head-on.
Clang!
Bang!
The two collided fiercely.
A dull thud resonated.
Contrasting with the shockwave that exploded outward.
Rumble!
As they crossed paths...
In just a few short seconds, the two exchanged more than ten moves. Under the intense pressure...
Relying on his advantages in strength and experience, Suien clearly gained the upper hand to a certain extent.
In high-frequency combat...
Openings would inevitably be revealed.
Suien seized one keenly.
He delivered another heavy elbow strike.
Bang!
It smashed into Shibuki's chest.
"Ugh!?"
The immense force transferred through the blow caused a sharp pain in Shibuki's heart. He lost his breath instantly, his figure sent flying directly.
Thud!
He smashed heavily into the ground.
Accompanied by rising dust.
"Leader!"
"Lord Shibuki!"
The Waterfall ninja who could be considered Shibuki's direct subordinates—the die-hard loyalists of the previous leader—changed their expressions and were about to rush forward to cover him.
"Don't come over! This is between me and Suien. Cough, cough... If I die, you don't need to resist either."
But they were stopped directly by Shibuki's stern shout.
Perhaps he was just putting on a brave front, or perhaps he truly wanted to prove himself.
Or maybe he had other thoughts.
At the very least, the current Shibuki truly wanted to use his own strength to redeem the mistakes he had made.
Grandpa Satoru, I will definitely protect this village!
Shibuki's face revealed a look of absolute determination.
"Heh, do you see? This is the gap between us, Shibuki. Give up. For the sake of our past relationship, I'll give you a quick death."
Suien approached with a sinister grin on the opposite side.
Whoosh!
Shibuki pulled out a gourd filled with a transparent liquid from his slightly bulging uniform.
"Is that!?"
"Could it be?"
"!?"
The moment they saw that gourd...
The older Waterfall ninja present all widened their eyes.
"You bastard!"
Suien's expression changed even more drastically.
Boom!
With chakra rippling out, he charged forward wildly.
However.
Glug, glug!
The distance was too great to stop him.
Shibuki pulled out the stopper directly, threw his head back, and downed the transparent liquid into his throat.
Rumble!!
In an instant.
Chakra spiraled and surged upward.
Within visible range...
The intensity of the chakra swelled and strengthened instantly, felt nakedly by everyone.
"Is this the Hero Water!?"
From his high vantage point, Menma's pupils contracted slightly upon seeing this scene.
The legendary substance said to increase the user's chakra dozens of times over, but at the cost of devouring the user's lifespan.
It was an out-and-out double-edged sword, but undoubtedly a crucial item for risking one's life in critical moments.
"Although the amplification isn't as exaggerated as the 'dozens of times' in the rumors, it's still several times the chakra boost!"
Sensing the intensity of Shibuki's chakra down below, which had already reached an exaggerated level...
Menma raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself.
In Menma's view, this intensity was still something he could completely suppress, but for Suien, it was an insurmountable gap.
Whoosh!
The chakra, amplified several times over, allowed Shibuki's strength to reach its peak in this moment.
Suien flashed to close range.
Shibuki's gaze hardened.
The speed was now nakedly perceivable.
Whoosh!
Moving at a speed far exceeding before...
Snap!
"What!?"
Shibuki caught Suien's fist easily and precisely.
"The one who should die is you, Suien!"
The hatred flowing in his pupils...
The terrifying chakra pressure venting out...
Why did he risk choosing to duel Suien alone? Why, when he clearly had Menma's help, did he choose to use the Hero Water with its massive side effects!?
Was it because he didn't trust Menma?
Was it because he truly wanted to prove himself?
No!
It was simply because he wanted to kill this traitor Suien with his own hands.
This was Shibuki's obsession in this moment.
Boom!
Chakra rose further.
Bang!
With Suien completely unable to react, Shibuki's clenched fist smashed heavily into Suien's abdomen.
"Blargh!"
His abdomen caved in.
Pain spread through his entire body. Unable to control it, Suien spat out a mouthful of extremely crimson blood.
Just as Shibuki flipped his hand to finish Suien off...
"Aaaaaah!"
A look of madness appeared in Suien's pupils. With a violent twist, he forcibly wrenched his captured right arm at a grotesque angle.
Crack!
The clear sound of bone fracturing rang out.
But Suien forcibly broke free from Shibuki's restraint.
After all, lacking experience, Shibuki missed the opportunity for a one-hit kill and could only use the last chance available.
As Suien twisted his body away...
Shibuki kicked hard into Suien's side.
Bang!
Another massive force struck.
Whoosh!
The force was completely unbearable.
Suien's body flew out like a cannonball.
Thud!
"Lord Suien!"
"Suien-san!?"
He smashed heavily into the ground.
Even more violent dust was kicked up.
The subordinates Suien brought, who had maintained a relaxed posture before, now had drastically changed expressions.
"Cough, cough..."
As the dust settled...
Suien crawled up from the ground in a sorry state. His face had turned pale, blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth, and most importantly, his caved-in abdomen was proof enough that he had been severely wounded by Shibuki.