The outcome was inevitable. The seemingly unstoppable sword instantly cut down the wielder of the kunai.
Watching the blood floating in the air, Xia Li's gaze was cold. The power of the Wind Blade Shinobi Sword was so immense that, without the kunai being enchanted to counter it, there was no way to stop it—unless the kunai was made of an exceptionally strong material.
Especially considering that the sword Xia Li now wielded had been painstakingly crafted over a long period. He had gathered rare materials and personally forged it with the master craftsman Hu Lu Wu. Of course, the craftsmanship itself owed much to Hu Lu Wu's exceptional skill.
Xia Li's sword didn't look like a traditional katana. The hilt was ordinary, wrapped in black cloth, but the blade itself was far smaller than a standard katana, just long enough to barely protect the hand.
What made it truly unique was its absolute rigidity—the blade was straight and unyielding. A blood groove, dyed red, ran along its edge, a clear sign of its deadly sharpness and extreme danger.
At that moment, another ninja panicked, pupils dilated, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Who could explain why both of his teammates had been killed in an instant? Was this even humanly possible?
Attack? Don't be foolish—that's suicide!
He turned and ran, trying desperately to form hand seals as he fled. In his panic, even the seals for his otherwise practiced instantaneous techniques became nearly impossible to perform.
Xia Li sensed the movement. A faint smile curled at his lips as one hand precisely caught the spinning kunai midair. A flash of energy arced across his arm as he flung the broken blade aside.
The wandering ninja froze. The final hand seal for his instantaneous technique was almost complete—but would never finish. Blood continued to flow from his forehead as the broken kunai pierced through and embedded itself in a large tree.
His eyes slowly dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground.
The special jōnin's retreating figure halted, staring blankly at the scene before him. How long had it been? Were all three of his subordinates truly dead?
Who could explain the outcome?
When the jōnin looked at Xia Li, it was as if he saw a demon incarnate. Though Xia Li's eyes were black, they seemed to glow blood-red, burning with lethal intent.
Xia Li held the sword in one hand and raised a finger with the other, nodding slightly. The killing intent he had suppressed for so long surged uncontrollably, compelling him to slay his opponent with utter ruthlessness.
This was the problem he faced now: the more he killed, the stronger the craving for blood became, and the more savage his methods grew. Normally, he could restrain this emptiness, but continuing on this path would only exacerbate the problem. Xia Li knew he needed a break to calm himself.
But… looking at the special jōnin before him, his killing intent only intensified.
"One… last one. So… just die already!"
In the next moment, Xia Li lunged forward with his sword.
The jōnin could only hastily form a few hand seals.
"Cloning technique!"
It was the usual clone jutsu. The more clones you summon, the less time the opponent has to complete their seals.
The special jōnin tried to think, but his eyes suddenly shrank in fear.
Xia Li ignored the clones entirely, striking directly at the true body with his dagger.
Clone techniques? If it were a shadow clone, his chakra perception would be unable to detect it. If it was just a basic clone, the chakra within would be weak… but Xia Li was not deceived.
Why? The jōnin's heart sank. How could the opponent see the real body so clearly? Most wouldn't even focus on the clones, let alone discern the real from the fake.
But Xia Li's blade did not falter for a moment.
The special jōnin had no choice but to raise his kunai and watch as it was cut clean in two, his chakra pouring into the weapon.
"Flourish!!"
Xia Li's dagger clashed with the kunai. Even at twelve, his physical strength had surpassed any weaknesses thanks to long-term training and natural growth.
The clash showed he was evenly matched in force. Xia Li's lips curved slightly as the lightning along the blade dimmed, and a kunai quietly fell.
The jōnin squinted, staring at the chipped weapon. Few more uses, and it would be ruined. That was the cost of using chakra. No wonder his subordinates' kunai had been instantly severed!
Yet he saw the lightning on Xia Li's sword spreading along his kunai. His eyes widened—was there a follow-up attack? His chakra resisted, but still left his arm slightly numb. He could continue fighting.
Then, a kunai suddenly shot toward him at incredible speed. His hair stood on end. Where did it come from? Xia Li wielded two swords—how was this possible?
Xia Li watched as the jōnin bent down, narrowly avoiding the kunai with a faint smile. Truly a special jōnin—still able to dodge even while paralyzed by lightning.
But that was enough. Xia Li released the dagger, disappearing in the next instant.
"Flying Thunder God!"
Xia Li instantly teleported to the kunai's location, a blue chakra orb appearing in his hand.
He looked at the wide-eyed special jōnin. Twisted and distorted from dodging, the jōnin had no chance to resist.
"Rasengan!"
Without hesitation, Xia Li pressed the swirling chakra sphere into the jōnin's face.
"Flourish!!"
The jōnin's body, especially the head, collapsed to the ground in a cloud of smoke.
After the smoke cleared, the residual power of the Rasengan had left a large crater. The jōnin's head was buried underground, entirely invisible.
Even if you couldn't see it clearly, it didn't matter. After all, it had been a Rasengan to the face.
Xia Li stood by the crater, eyes sharp. The final opponent had no chance to dodge, and though he could have been killed with a sword, Xia Li's unbridled rage had led him to use the Rasengan, striking the face directly.
His gaze was complicated. Continuing this pace of killing would have effects even beyond the reach of the Konmei nation.
It was time to leave the ANBU while the impact hadn't grown worse. At least, his part of the task was complete.
In the past year and a half, how many missions had Xia Li undertaken? How many rescues had he participated in? On average, at least one or two shinobi per day had died at his hands.
Unknowingly, this accumulated killing intent had begun to erode him. Initially, he thought his spirit and composure could withstand it—but he had overestimated himself.
Yes, even with a modern education, his cognition from the past twenty years couldn't change in just a few years.
What he had done now fully contradicted his understanding, which explained the profound impact on him.
Before the mission, Xia Li had planned for the third-generation ANBU members to leave after the task. He finished quickly, but unexpectedly received another rescue mission shortly after.
Taking a deep breath, Xia Li disappeared, using the Flying Thunder God technique again.
This time, he returned to the two Konoha shinobi.
"Lord Mo Ying!" they greeted respectfully.
"Everything is arranged. Collect the bodies in those three directions. Konoha reinforcements will arrive, and then continue transporting supplies. I'll leave now."
Xia Li pointed the way and left without delay.
The two shinobi were stunned. Even the usually calm one now showed an intense excitement.
"No wonder it's Lord Mo Ying!"
The impatient shinobi exclaimed, "How are you so fast? At this time, it's hard to catch up… But why does Lord Mo Ying always keep his eyes closed?"
"Hmph, he has his reasons. Isn't it cool?" the calm shinobi replied with enthusiasm.
"Yes… yes…" The impatient one wiped sweat from his forehead. Talking about Lord Mo Ying made him feel transformed.
Chapter 101: The Twelve-Year-Old Jōnin in Peacetime
"But how did you know Lord Mo Ying would be nearby? Isn't he the ANBU squad leader? You can't possibly know his movements," the impatient shinobi asked after calming down.
"Hmph, you don't care about Lord Mo Ying at all!" the calm shinobi said proudly. "I knew he would be in this area before taking on this mission."
"How did you know?" the impatient one asked. He thought perhaps he could get this info for future life-saving situations.
"The Hokage is the protector of all genin and chūnin! I'd say even some special jōnin see him as a guardian!"
"Indeed…" The impatient shinobi recalled Xia Li's speed and how quickly he eliminated all enemies, and nodded. He had been rescued too and found it unbelievable.
"The Hokage has saved other teams in this area before. I've been following his activities, unlike you, knowing nothing!" the calm shinobi said.
The impatient shinobi wiped sweat from his forehead, thinking he might also come to admire this person. Even behind the mask, his manner was so heroic.
"Hmph, and don't speak of him poorly in front of me. I can tell you're my friend; I won't be mad. Remember, never badmouth the Hokage in front of other chūnin or genin."
"I didn't—why?"
"The Hokage is extremely popular. If you badmouth him, you'll be called out for a duel!"
"That bad?"
"Not at all. Don't you know he's reduced genin and chūnin death rates multiple times this year? That's all thanks to the Hokage!"
"Reduced… several times?" The impatient one widened his eyes, stunned by the numbers. One person could achieve that?
"Yes. Now most mid-level genin choose areas where the Hokage may be on missions, as if they had a life-protecting talisman," the calm shinobi proudly said.
Hearing this, the impatient shinobi fell silent, calming his inner turmoil.
"Hmm… can you understand Lord Mo Ying's words? I want to know too…"
"Hmm?" The calm shinobi's eyes lit up, making the impatient one even more anxious.
If Xia Li had seen this, he might have complained—it was starting to feel like a sermon, and the deity resembled himself.
But Xia Li was far away, walking step by step toward Konoha, suppressing the burning killing intent within him while channeling spatial and dark powers.
Xia Li had kept his eyes closed not to show off, but opening them now allowed him to perceive the two Konoha shinobi fully.
Not just normally—but even with their hair cut, he could visualize their positions. He couldn't help but think of the simplest angles to approach.
So Xia Li decided he should rest for a while, calm himself, and then begin a new round of training.
Konoha was not far now. He didn't use the Flying Thunder God technique, walking slowly and enjoying the moment.
The Third Hokage watched Xia Li silently, sensing the murderous aura emanating from him. Though not aimed at himself, it still caused a heavy sigh.
Even Jiraiya had delivered Xia Li to the village, but the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel some regret. He had previously asked Xia Li about leaving the ANBU, but Xia Li had refused, believing he could endure it.
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