[Ding!]
[System detected Sutaka's killing intent value +5000.]
[Your Cursed Spirit Sukuna's rank has increased to 82.7%.]
Sutaka back-flipped, widening the distance between him and Haruki. Thick killing intent swirled in his eyes.
This kid is strange! He must be killed!
The shimmering silver liquid mercury returned to Haruki's side. The mercury circled him, then suddenly transformed into a deadly silver torrent, striking directly at Sutaka's throat.
Sutaka, experienced and quick to react, sharply leaned back, and yellow sand condensed around his neck, turning into pale yellow crystals that covered his neck, forming a thin armor.
However, what Sutaka didn't expect was that as the mercury grazed his neck, it instantly dispersed into several silver needles in mid-air.
The yellow crystal armor instantly enveloped Sutaka's entire body, but it was still a step too late. One silver needle still pierced into his body. A numbing sensation spread from the wound.
A hint of solemnity flashed in Sutaka's eyes. He can't drag this out, he has to finish it quickly.
[Ding!]
[System detected Sutaka's killing intent value +5000.]
[Your Cursed Spirit Sukuna's rank has increased to 83.2%.]
Crystal Sand Restraint!
Sutaka slammed his hands onto the sandy ground. The sand beneath Haruki's feet and all around him immediately sank.
His legs were instantly swallowed by the flowing yellow sand, which then solidified into pale yellow crystals.
Haruki attempted to move. If he forced himself to break free, his legs might shatter into countless pieces along with the crystals.
For Haruki, who possessed Reverse Cursed Technique, even broken legs were nothing. But he didn't want to endure that pain.
A sudden thought flashed in his mind. He lowered his head, staring at the pale yellow crystals that bound his legs.
"You are a genius..."
Sutaka approached Haruki, pulling a kunai from his ninja tool pouch, the kunai emitting a sharp, cold gleam.
"If I let you continue to grow, perhaps in the future you will become a great enemy of Sunagakure ..."
"Therefore, I must kill you here."
"If you were a ninja of Sunagakure, perhaps you would become a junior I favor..."
Watching Sutaka approach, a hint of pity flashed in Haruki's eyes.
Perhaps Sutaka had never heard a certain saying.
Villains die from talking too much.
"Goodbye."
Sutaka extended his dagger, slashing towards Haruki's neck. A cold light flashed but it was not Haruki who fell.
"Ah!"
Sutaka let out a scream.
His legs were severed. His entire body crashed heavily into the yellow sand.
He stared in disbelief at Haruki, who had emerged from the crystals before him, his legs completely unharmed.
"How is that possible?"
Sutaka's eyes were bloodshot, and the smell of blood constantly surged into his nose and mouth.
[Ding!]
[System detected Sutaka's fear value +3000.]
[Your Cursed Spirit Hanami's rank has increased to 57%.]
"Nothing is impossible."
The tip of Haruki's blade hovered above Sutaka's neck.
He only needed to apply Tool Manipulation to the crystals Sutaka had created. The ownership of the crystals had shifted from Sutaka to Haruki, so he could naturally make the crystals shatter automatically.
This way, he could pull his legs out of the crystals without suffering any harm.
Haruki didn't intend to kill Sutaka directly. He had to give him a chance to counterattack.
[Ding!]
[System detected Sutaka's killing intent value +8000.]
[Your Cursed Spirit Sukuna's rank has increased to 84%.]
"Even if I die! I'll take you with me!" Sutaka roared, his eyes blood-red.
Crystal Sand Explosion!
His entire body's Chakra surged desperately.
With Sutaka and Haruki at the center, yellow sand, like a tornado, enveloped them.
The yellow sand, in its high-speed rotation, gradually transformed into extremely fine crystals with sharp edges. The air was torn apart by the crystals, emitting sharp shrieks.
High-speed rotating crystals filled the air. Before they even got close, Haruki could already feel the stinging pain on his skin. It seemed Sutaka intended to die with him.
Haruki sheathed his sword and smiled at Sutaka.
"Copy successful."
With the increase in Rika's rank, he could now imitate all ninjutsu, including Kekkei Genkai. However, the distance limitation still existed.
The distance between him and Sutaka was less than one meter. All conditions were met. Copy was destined to succeed.
A hint of confusion flashed in Sutaka's eyes when he heard Haruki's voice.
Suddenly, Haruki's figure vanished from his sight.
Sutaka's pupils widened. He watched as a bewildered Sunagakure ninja replaced Haruki.
"Sutaka-sama!"
The Sunagakure ninja looked bewilderedly at Sutaka, who had suddenly appeared before him.
No sooner had he spoken than he, along with Sutaka on the ground, turned into a mist of blood.
Haruki's figure appeared out of thin air among the Sunagakure ninjas' team.
He smiled at the Sunagakure ninjas.
Under the horrified gazes of the Sunagakure ninjas, he drew the sword from his back.
[Ding!]
[System detected Suna Ninja A's killing intent value +2000.]
[Ding!]
[System detected Suna Ninja B's fear value +2000.]
...
[Currently, a total of 38000 killing intent points and 12000 fear points have been collected. Your Cursed Spirit Sukuna's rank has increased to 87.8%, and Hanami's rank has increased to 58.2%.]
"How did he suddenly appear here?!"
"Where's Akai?"
"What happened?"
"No matter what happened, kill him."
The roars of the Sunagakure ninjas echoed in Haruki's ears.
What happened?
Of course, it was thanks to his foresight.
Before he had started fighting Sutaka, he had simultaneously left marks on the five Sunagakure ninjas who were still alive after their encounter with him. As long as he didn't remove the marks, they wouldn't disappear.
He had simply used the interaction rule within Love Rendezvous. He had swapped positions with the marked Sunagakure ninja.
Haruki's figure once again charged into the Sunagakure ninja team.
...
The setting sun, red like blood, reflected the tragic state of the Sunagakure camp.
The main gate was destroyed by explosive tags, and the left and right sides were ruins. The corpses of Sunagakure ninjas lied scattered on the ground.
The entire Sunagakure camp fell into a dead silence. It had been breached by the Amegakure ninjas.
The Amegakure ninjas of the First Ambush Unit gathered in the center.
Haruki's gaze swept over the team, which was noticeably missing many people.
Takinawa, covered in blood, walked up to Haruki and asked, "Are you hurt?"
Haruki shook his head.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
Takinawa fell silent.
All the surviving Amegakure ninjas fell silent.
"I can save them."
Haruki clenched his fists and yelled at Takinawa.
"You're already very tired."
Takinawa's expression was solemn. He knew how much power Haruki had contributed to this operation.
"I still can!"
Haruki stared at Takinawa, his eyes red-rimmed.
He turned to look for the fallen Amegakure ninjas. He needed to collect killing intent, but he also needed gratitude and affection.
If the Amegakure ninjas truly sympathized with him, they should contribute more emotional value to him.
Watching Haruki desperately search for the fallen Amegakure ninjas, Takinawa couldn't help but feel his eyes redden.
[Ding!]
[System detected Takinawa's affection value +3000.]
[Your Accompanying Cursed Spirit Rika's rank increased to 93.21%.]
"Go help Haruki find the injured." Takinawa looked at the Amegakure ninjas behind him and commanded.
"Yes!"
The Amegakure ninjas had been waiting for their captain's words.
If Haruki hadn't given up hope of saving their comrades, they certainly couldn't abandon them.
(End of Chapter)
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