Shinji toyed with the ninja blades he'd snatched from Kurosuki Raiga, swinging them casually a couple of times.
"The Mist's ninja blades aren't all that impressive."
With that, he tossed them aside, disdainfully planting the twin Fang blades into the ground.
"You little brat!"
Raiga scrambled to his feet, gnashing his teeth, still clueless about what had just happened.
As a former member of the Mist's Seven Swordsmen from the Blood Mist era, his blades were practically an extension of his body—second nature to wield. With his keen blade sense and vast combat experience, he was certain his blades had been faster than Shinji's hands!
The Leaf shinobi finally snapped out of their shock.
When Shinji had charged in alone, they'd braced for the worst. They never expected the situation to shift so dramatically.
Not only had Shinji repelled Hiruko, but he'd also miraculously disarmed Raiga, a former Seven Swordsman, right from his hands.
Unbelievable!
Under everyone's gaze, Shinji reflected on his recent move.
This was his first strike since completing the First Hokage's cell transplant surgery. He could clearly feel the significant changes in his body—his abilities enhanced across the board, with the Twelve Palaces technique's power boosted immensely.
"The Koryugan really is a taijutsu game-changer!"
He couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Undoubtedly, in his clash with Raiga, he hadn't just used Chidori and the Twelve Palaces. At the critical moment, he'd tapped into the Koryugan's blood manipulation ability.
That split-second interference from the Koryugan had slowed Raiga's swing, creating the opening for Shinji to seize the blades.
His overwhelming defeat of Raiga was the result of weaving multiple techniques, overt and covert. Otherwise, even with his newfound strength, instantly beating an experienced elite jonin like Raiga would've been impossible!
Regardless, Shinji's bold entrance had stunned everyone.
"This kid's mine! I'll tear him apart myself!"
Hiruko, just knocked back, shattered the battlefield's brief silence, roaring as he drove his Susanoo toward Shinji.
Facing the massive dark purple Susanoo charging at him, Shinji smirked.
He was itching for a durable wooden dummy to test his post-surgery body's limits!
Swish.
Fearless, Shinji rushed forward.
Dodging the frontal assault of Hiruko's Susanoo, Shinji used his speed to slip beneath it, unleashing a Spiraling Shuriken!
Boom.
A massive roar erupted as Hiruko's Susanoo staggered.
Swish.
Flashing again, Shinji appeared behind Hiruko's Susanoo, landing another Spiraling Shuriken on its back.
Struck back-to-back by two Spiraling Shurikens, Hiruko, beneath his Susanoo, was livid.
"Damn you!"
No longer conserving pupil power, he urged his Susanoo further.
Instantly, a long blade appeared in the previously empty-handed Susanoo's grip. With a fierce swing, it slashed down at Shinji!
Rumble rumble.
The ground quaked, dust billowing!
Even the Leaf shinobi and Raiga, dozens of meters away, felt the violent tremor beneath their feet.
"Shinji!?"
Yakumo's face was etched with worry.
Sasuke wanted to charge in, but the stinging pain in his eyes made maintaining his Susanoo a struggle, leaving him powerless.
As the dust cleared, Hiruko's dark purple Susanoo came into view.
But everyone, including Hiruko beneath it, had their pupils contract as if witnessing something unimaginable.
Shinji hadn't been hit. Instead, he stood calmly atop the blade of Hiruko's Susanoo.
He strolled along the massive blade's spine toward Hiruko.
"You!?"
Beneath the Susanoo, Hiruko's eyes narrowed.
He finally understood the helplessness others felt against his Swift Release. Against such a speed gap, his Susanoo was strength without a target.
But he couldn't fathom what Shinji, walking toward him again, was planning.
Each of Shinji's seemingly leisurely steps was secretly gathering power, pushing the Twelve Palaces to its peak.
"The First Form sent Sasuke flying from a full-body Susanoo with one kick. I wonder what my strength can do now…"
With that thought, whoosh, Shinji struck.
Bang!
Under everyone's stunned gazes, Shinji didn't use ninjutsu. Instead, he smashed a fist into the face of Hiruko's Susanoo, unleashing a low, resounding boom.
Hiruko laughed: "Trying to break my Susanoo with your fist? You're beyond foolish!"
Crack.
But before Hiruko's words finished, a crisp shattering sound rang from his Susanoo!
Hiruko froze.
Not just him—every Leaf shinobi watching was dumbfounded as Shinji's fist left a crack on the Susanoo.
If Shinji had broken it with a Spiraling Shuriken, they could've accepted it. But shattering Susanoo with a fist? That was beyond comprehension.
Bang!
Before Hiruko's shock could fully register, Shinji's next fist landed, striking the crack precisely!
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Then came the third, fourth, and fifth fists!
"You… you… you bastard!?"
Hiruko watched as his Susanoo was pummeled to pieces by Shinji's fists, his expression and mindset crumbling!
The frenzied Hiruko finally sobered up.
Crack!
Finally, with a shattering sound, Shinji's fist smashed a hole in the face of Hiruko's Susanoo.
Rushing inside, Shinji landed a punch on Hiruko's stunned face, sending him flying out of his own Susanoo.
The entire sequence was seamless, as if it was meant to be.
But after succeeding, Shinji shook his head, spitting in dissatisfaction: "Tch, took six punches!"