"Crimson Blood Manipulation: Hundredfold Convergence."
Viscous blood plasma seeped from the iron sand mass that had crushed the two ninjas, then condensed into scarlet droplets in Hii Kōri's palm, compressed into tiny blood beads.
Simultaneously, the scattered iron sand, under Hii Kōri's manipulation, transformed into a vortex that charged at the Akimichi clan jōnin, as if to pierce his body and extract blood.
Though borrowing the name of the Kamo clan's inherited cursed technique from his previous life, this was essentially an application of Water Release the name was merely a guise to mislead the opponent.
Still, using blood to cast Water Release did indeed have a bit of Crimson Blood Manipulation's shadow. If using the 'corpses' of their comrades to fight could anger the opponent and make them reveal openings, all the better.
"You bastard!"
But this Akimichi clan jōnin was ultimately a battle-hardened veteran. Seeing this, though anger was evident on his face, his movements showed not the slightest deviation.
The Akimichi, as a Yin Release secret technique clan, truly exemplified the enhancement of physical abilities through Yang Release.
Converting food energy into fat stored in the body not only further improved physical durability but also served as chakra reserves for secret techniques.
This was also manifested in the Valley King—Hikifune Kirio.
The Akimichi clan's physique was extremely tough, able to adapt to such intense energy consumption, replenishment and conversion. Enhanced by secret techniques and chakra reinforcement, ordinary blades or piercing ninjutsu were ineffective against them.
The Akimichi jōnin crossed his arms in front of him, then swept them left and right, shattering the iron sand vortex to pieces.
"Super Palm Strike!"
Already having cast Expansion Technique and transformed into a giant, the enraged Akimichi jōnin roared, the mere shout shaking the surrounding trees.
He used Partial Expansion Technique on his hands, further enlarging them. Visible chakra flares rose from his huge palms as they crushed trees in their path, thundering forth like a toppling jade mountain with decisive momentum.
Such thick, tough palms were indeed a barrier that fine iron sand could not waver.
Yet Hii Kōri was not merely a Magnet Release ninja.
"Crimson Blood Manipulation..."
Riding his iron sand cloud, Hii Kōri could have chosen to abandon this Akimichi jōnin and directly pursue Katō Dan's group. But if an enemy could be killed, why let them go?
It wouldn't take much time anyway.
While rapidly retreating, Hii Kōri pressed his palms together, compressing the blood bead, then—
"Piercing Blood!"
His voice, twisted and eerie from the perception obstruction mask's effects, seemed to seep out blood-drenched aura.
Whoosh—
The ultra-compressed blood bead suddenly spurted, propelled by chakra, transforming into a crimson streak that cut through everything.
This thin blood line, with initial speed rivaling sound, already exceeded this Akimichi jōnin's visual capture limit. Long before the technique's name reached his ears, it pierced through his thick, solid palm with a sharp shriek.
"Have you pissed yourself? Prayed to the gods? Prepared yourself mentally to tremble in some dark corner begging for mercy?"
Before the Akimichi jōnin could realize the source of the slight sting in his palm, Hii Kōri's words, full of sharp killing intent, pierced into his consciousness like blades.
The next instant, the super-fast blood line, like a wire saw cutting through stone, sliced a striking eye mark across his enormous palm—like a hot knife through butter.
Through the wound piercing his palm, the Akimichi jōnin could even see the surging ring of iron sand and water behind Hii Kōri.
"Die."
The two persons' worth of blood now exhausted, Hii Kōri manipulated the water flow into iron sand into a deadly water blade, slashing horizontally.
The battle-hardened Akimichi jōnin instantly realized his huge body now made him a target. He rapidly canceled the Expansion Technique, yet the buffer reserve to allow his body to withstand the transformation prevented him from completely dodging this water blade that seemed about to sever his legs.
Even as he retreated while shrinking, the iron sand-laced water blade still severed three of his fingers and carved a massive gash across his chest.
"Ugh!"
The mutilated limbs and wound nearly severing his ribs brought severe pain, forcing a muffled groan from the Akimichi jōnin. Even for a Yang Release clan renowned for physical toughness, this was no injury to be ignored.
"Ah... even reinforced with chakra and cursed energy, palms still hurt a lot..."
Before the kneeling Akimichi jōnin could rise, the masked Hii Kōri had already unhurriedly floated nearby, seemingly mocking holding up his palm, dramatically blowing on his overheated palm from jet iron sand friction.
'Cursed energy... is that the means he uses to cast undispellable genjutsu?'
The Akimichi jōnin narrowed his eyes, noting this unfamiliar term in his speech. But the next moment, his thoughts were interrupted by Hii Kōri's next words.
"Anyway... it's already really blended in."
The iron sand attached in the Akimichi jōnin's wounds, under Hii Kōri's manipulation, rapidly squeezed into his body, wildly rushing through blood vessels, nerves, muscle fibers, and chakra pathways. The traces of surging iron sand beneath his skin looked like surging veins in rage.
"Ghh—!"
The deliberate agitation of his entire meridian, the agony of being flayed alive, instantly robbed the Akimichi jōnin of any resistance. He sprawled unnaturally on the ground, writhing like an electrocuted insect.
"Blegh—"
Churned viscera and fat, mixed with iron sand and blood, splattered from his ruptured skin. His eyes blood-red, the Akimichi jōnin vomited great gouts of blood mixed with organ fragments, yet forcibly suppressed any sound.
Not letting the enemy achieve their goal this was the most basic principle of ninja combat philosophy.
Hii Kōri claimed his goal was the Spirit Transformation Technique; torturing him now was of course also to exert mental pressure on Katō Dan. Judging thus, the Akimichi jōnin, knowingly doomed, how could he comply with Hii Kōri's wishes?
"Actually, ever since learning Magnet Release, I've always wanted to try this technique..."
Finding this quite tedious yet obliged, Hii Kōri yawned, slowly crouched beside the Akimichi jōnin, and reached out to lightly touch his forehead.
He sensed Katō Dan's group had stayed somewhere for a while; timewise, they should have had enough to cast Spirit Transformation and arrive.
"Metallica."
Countless blades, screws—all at once squeezed out from the Akimichi jōnin's seven orifices, tumbling with his life into the blood-mixed muddy water.
***
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