[Killing Intent detected: +5000 points]
[Energy transferred to Sukuna]
[Development progress: 82.7%]
The Suna jonin leaped back, increasing the distance between himself and Shiratori. His eyes swirled with thick killing intent.
This brat is weird! I have to kill him!
The silvery, liquid returned to Shiratori's side. It circled around him, then suddenly transformed into a deadly silver torrent, piercing straight toward the jonin's throat.
The experienced ninja leaned back sharply. Sand gathered at his neck, transforming into a crystal that covered it like thin armor. However, what he didn't expect was this: as the mercury brushed past his neck, it instantly split into multiple silver spikes in midair.
The crystal armor quickly enveloped his entire body, but it was already a step too late.
One of the silver spikes had already pierced into his body.
A numbing sensation spread from the wound. A flash of seriousness crossed the his eyes.
Can't let this drag on... I need to end it quickly!
[Killing Intent detected: +5000 points]
[Energy transferred to Sukuna]
[Development progress: 83.2%]
He slammed his palms onto the sandy ground.
The sand beneath Shiratori and around his feet immediately began to sink. His legs were instantly swallowed by the flowing sand, which then quickly solidified into pale crystal.
Shiratori tried to move.
If he forcibly broke free, his legs might be shattered into pieces along with the crystal. For someone who possessed a technique for regeneration, even having his legs broken wasn't a big deal. But he didn't want to endure that kind of pain.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to him.
He lowered his head and stared at the crystal binding his legs.
The jonin approached Shiratori, pulling out a kunai from his ninja tool pouch, its cold edge gleaming sharply.
"If I let you keep growing, you might become a major enemy of Suna in the future... If you were a ninja of our village, perhaps I'd consider you a—"
"If you want to end it, then just do it already. All this talking... it's pointless."
Looking at the approaching jonin, a trace of pity flashed in Shiratori's eyes. The ninja thrust his dagger toward Shiratori's neck.
A flash of cold light, but the one who fell was not Shiratori.
"AAAH!"
The jonin let out a blood-curdling scream. His legs had been severed. His entire body slammed hard into the sand. He stared in disbelief at Shiratori, who had broken free from the crystal and stood there with uninjured legs.
The jonin's eyes widened in shock, blood and the scent of iron flooding his mouth and nose.
[Fear detected: +3000 points]
[Energy transferred to Hanami]
[Development progress: 57%]
The tip of Shiratori's blade hovered at the jonin's neck.
All he had to do was apply the Tool Manipulation technique to the crystal made from sand.
The ownership of the crystal shifted from the jonin to him, allowing him to command the crystal to shatter automatically. That way, he could free his legs without sustaining any damage.
Tool Manipulation really was amazing!
But he had no intention of killing the jonin immediately. He needed to give him the chance to counterattack.
[Killing Intent detected: +5000 points]
[Energy transferred to Sukuna]
[Development progress: 84%]
"Even if I die... I'm taking you with me!"
The jonin let out a bloodthirsty roar, his eyes blood-red.
Chakra surged wildly throughout his body. Centered around both himself and Shiratori, sand rose like a tornado and enveloped them.
The spinning sand rapidly transformed into fine crystals with sharp edges. The air was torn apart by the crystals, producing sharp, piercing shrieks.
As the high-speed spinning crystals spread through the air, even before they reached him, Shiratori could already feel the stinging pain on his skin.
It seemed the jonin really intended to go down together with him.
Shiratori sheathed his blade and gave the jonin a faint smile.
"Copy complete."
With Rika's level increasing, he was now able to copy all kinds of ninjutsu, even bloodline limit techniques. Though the range limitation still remained. He had already estimated the distance before copying, he and the jonin were less than one meter apart.
All the conditions were met.
The copy was destined to succeed.
Hearing Shiratori's voice, a flicker of confusion appeared in the jonin's eyes. Suddenly, Shiratori's figure vanished from in front of him.
The jonin's pupils dilated.
Where Shiratori once stood, a bewildered Suna ninja now appeared in his place.
"Captain?!"
The ninja looked at him in confusion, unaware of what had just happened.
Before he could even finish his sentence, both he and the jonin were swallowed in an explosion of blood mist.
Shiratori's figure reappeared within the ranks of the Suna ninjas.
He smiled at them.
As panic spread through their eyes, he reached behind him and drew his blade.
[Killing Intent detected]
[Multiple sources: +2000 points each]
[Total accumulated: 38,000 points]
[Energy transferred to Sukuna]
[Development progress: 87.8%]
[Fear detected]
[Multiple sources: +2000 points each]
[Total accumulated: 12,000 points]
[Energy transferred to Hanami]
[Development progress: 58.2%]
"Why is he suddenly here?!"
"Where's Kazuma?!"
"What just happened?!"
"Who cares what happened, kill him!"
Shiratori could hear the angry roars of the Suna ninjas all around him.
"What happened?"
Of course, it was all thanks to his foresight.
Even before the battle with the jonin had begun, he had secretly placed marks on five surviving Suna ninjas he'd encountered during combat.
As long as he didn't remove those marks, they would remain active.
Just now, he had used Love Rendezvous technique's interaction rule:
He swapped positions with one of the marked Suna ninjas.
His figure once again charged into the Suna ninja ranks.
The blood-red setting sun painted a tragic picture across the Suna encampment.
The main gate had been blown apart by explosive tags, and the left and right flanks were reduced to rubble.
Corpses of Suna ninjas lay scattered in disarray. The entire camp had fallen into a deathly silence.
It had been overrun by the Ame ninjas.
The first ambush unit of Ame had regrouped at the center.
Shiratori's gaze swept across the team, many members were clearly missing.
Takigawa, covered in blood, approached Shiratori.
"You're not hurt, right?"
Shiratori shook his head.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
Takigawa remained silent.
All of the surviving Ame ninjas stayed silent.
Shiratori's jaw clenched. His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides.
"I was supposed to save them."
His voice came out quiet, but something sharp flickered behind his eyes.
"You've already done so much."
Takigawa's eyes were heavy with emotion. He knew just how much Shiratori had contributed to this operation.
"Not enough."
Shiratori's voice cracked slightly. He turned away, searching for the fallen Ame ninjas.
He needed more than just killing intent...
He needed gratitude... and affection too!
If the ninjas truly understood him, then they should be contributing emotional values to him as well!
Watching Shiratori desperately search for the fallen comrades, Takigawa felt his throat tighten.
[Affection detected: Takigawa +3000 points]
[Energy transferred to Rika]
[Development progress: 93.21%]
"Go help him find the others."
He turned to the ninjas behind him and ordered.
"Yes!"
They had been waiting for their captain to say those words.
If Shiratori hadn't given up on saving others, then neither could they abandon their comrades.