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At the crucial moment, Sawara Kiri, whose body was still in mid-air, suddenly stepped forward into the empty space.
With just that one step, the space beneath his feet seemed to be compressed out of thin air. His entire body, carried by the inertia of the opposite direction, suddenly rushed towards the void opposite him. In a manner that almost defied the laws of physics, he flipped upside down twice and landed on the ground with a thud.
"Boom—"
Only then did the explosive sound of his body passing through space register, causing the people behind him to suddenly react.
"Whinny—!"
The packhorse hitched to the cart let out a sharp whinny, startled, and repeatedly stomped its front legs, pulling the heavy four-wheeled cart forward a few steps.
However, no one cared about the startled animals at this moment.
The merchant convoy leader stared in shock at the scene unfolding before him.
In their eyes, in just a flash, the few rogue Ninja who had blocked their path had turned into a mist of blood, and even the road ahead had become a void.
Sawara's figure flickered repeatedly and suddenly, until now, he stood on the road a hundred meters away on the opposite side.
"What's going on?"
At this moment, Sawara Kiri had no time to answer his question. His azure eyes were fixed intently on the void that had just been behind him.
Thanks to the 360-degree vision characteristic of the Six Eyes, he had detected that spatial fluctuation one step in advance.
Although he had Limitless as a safeguard, the moment that hand appeared, an extremely strong sense of alarm surged within him, as if he would be instantly torn apart if he were to be touched.
Coupled with that idiot's remark just now, he already knew that the other party wasn't after the convoy, but was targeting his life.
However, in just that instant of flickering, the hand that had appeared behind him had already vanished.
Within his line of sight, it had once again become a quiet void.
Sawara Kiri, however, did not take this as a sign of safety.
On the contrary, it only indicated that even his Six Eyes had failed to detect their location.
If they couldn't instantly cross extremely long distances, then it could only mean they possessed a Chakra-shielding technique that could counter his Six Eyes.
'But who could invent such a technique without ever having come into contact with me?'
Sawara Kiri thought to himself, and that sense of alarm gradually grew stronger.
While maintaining a high-intensity Six Eyes vision, he issued orders to his subordinates in the convoy:
"Chunin Kono!"
"Here!"
Kono, who had been in combat readiness since the appearance of the rogue Ninja, immediately responded loudly, and it was clear that he was somewhat tense.
Sawara's reaction just now…
Was it a sudden enemy?
Unlike ordinary people who only noticed the scene of a few rogue Ninja, who were likely deceived into coming, self-destructing, Kono, as a top student trained in the first batch of Ninja High School, noticed that Sawara had made an extremely abnormal evasive maneuver at the end.
He did not believe that Sawara's judgment would be mistaken.
Therefore, it could only mean that he himself probably hadn't even clearly seen the enemy's movements.
Just realizing this point, Kono's internal alarm bells rang loudly.
Sawara Kiri's voice, however, remained calm:
"You will now serve as the temporary leader. Lead the merchant association back to the last town we stayed in and await my news."
At the same time, he also reassured, "Mr. Noda, this operation should have nothing to do with your merchant association. After this mission is completed, Konoha will discuss the next steps for economic compensation and insurance claims with you. For now, please cooperate with the operation."
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Noda immediately felt relieved.
Konoha is indeed a great Village; they handle things with a lot of humanity.
However, as the convoy, led by Kono and Mr. Noda, gradually retreated along the original path, Sawara Kiri's expression grew increasingly serious.
"Still not planning to come out?"
"I still have a mission to complete and no time to play these childish games with you."
Although he said this, he constantly monitored the spatial ripple fluctuations transmitted from all around him with his Six Eyes, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
The next moment, a pitch-black fissure suddenly opened before him.
A pale figure slowly 'squeezed' out from the fissure before him, floating in mid-air.
"Oh, him at this point in time… he really doesn't have a 'protection mechanism,' does he?"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki said, his lips curving upwards uncontrollably as if from intense excitement, revealing a strange, distorted expression that was both crying and laughing.
"This is truly…"
"Amazing!"
Sawara Kiri was stunned at his words, completely failing to understand what he meant.
However, just seeing the other party's appearance, the Chakra within his body erupted to its peak, and his azure eyes, which had almost constricted to a pinpoint, involuntarily widened a few degrees.
"You are Ōtsutsuki?!"
"How can this be??"
Didn't Kakashi from the future say that their appearance would be ten years later?
Noticing his astonished expression, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's smile grew even wider. He slowly drew a slender weapon, constructed entirely of Chakra and resembling a fishing rod, from the fishing pouch at his waist. The strange expression on his face gradually transformed into an extremely vicious killing intent:
"It seems that even at this point in time, you are not completely ignorant."
"Then I don't need to explain further."
You were originally going to explain?
You're actually quite a nice guy, aren't you?
This inexplicable thought popped into Sawara Kiri's mind.
However, before he could ask anything more, the slender, pale figure suddenly vanished from mid-air. The forests on both sides were swept by the turbulent air currents, creating a swift and violent wind.
Almost the instant he moved, Sawara Kiri had already reacted. He swiftly drew the black blade from the hilt at his waist, and it cut a crescent-shaped arc in the air behind him, whistling as it tore through the air and struck at the blurry figure he saw with his Six Eyes.
"Clang—"
A piercing metallic ripping sound echoed in mid-air. If there were bystanders present, their eardrums would likely be easily pierced in that instant. The seemingly light Chakra fishing rod, under his honed martial arts, unleashed astonishing power, making Sawara Kiri's arm, which had taken the blow head-on, feel faintly numb. His body, fixed in place, slid sideways along the direction of the immense force, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the soft soil.
So fast!
Isn't this guy the useless Boss who appeared in the non-combustible material?
He actually has this level of strength?
The questions in Sawara Kiri's mind went unanswered. His entire body's Chakra surged forth like flames, then swiftly infused into his limbs, making him like a formula racing car that could go three kilometers in three seconds. He unleashed all his power at the utmost speed, transforming into a released arrow, and swung the blade in his hand.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"
The air was filled with a faintly foul, scorching scent, and the spraying sparks shot through the air like meteors.
However, this powerful blow was treated as nothing by Ōtsutsuki Urashiki. He simply blocked it entirely by casually holding the fishing rod at his side.
'Rumble!'
The moment the explosive crimson flame struck from the right, it immediately burst open from the left, transforming into a scorching fireball that completely engulfed the opponent.
However, Sawara Kiri's Six Eyes allowed him to detect the anomaly first. He abruptly retreated several steps, his expression serious as he gazed at the figure opposite him, fully on guard.
"Whoosh!"
With just a casual flick, the Chakra-constructed fishing rod tore a straight path through the center of the fireball.
The unharmed Ōtsutsuki Urashiki stepped out from the center of the blazing flames, the smile on his face growing even more intense. His pure Byakugan eyes stared fixedly at Sawara Kiri's still somewhat youthful face, as if that last attack had completely confirmed certain things for him.
"That's right!"
"This is how it should be."
"This weak, powerless, fragile appearance is the proper state for you lower beings!"
By the end of his words, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's voice was almost shrill.
Sawara Kiri completely failed to understand what kind of blow he must have suffered to utter such meaningless sentiments during a battle.
Clearly, Sawara Kiri of this era could not understand.
As a high and mighty god, to be defied by the lower beings they once regarded as ants, to have their leader, who was called the God of Gods in their dimension, slain, and to be relentlessly pursued day and night.
Finally, in order to completely resolve the calamity that had occurred on this world line, Otsutsuki Urashiki and the others, who had exhausted everything to create a path of survival for their Ōtsutsuki Clan, bore immense pressure and despair after repeated failures.
That feeling could even crush their spirits, making the Ōtsutsuki clansmen, who once called themselves gods, abandon all hope of survival, merely living in obscurity in a corner of the universe, barely clinging to life.
Until this moment!
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's eyes stared intently in Sawara Kiri's direction.
They had finally found their last hope!
Sawara Kiri on this world line was...
Very weak.
Just thinking of this made Ōtsutsuki Urashiki feel his blood surge, and his whole body was filled with the power of revenge!
"If you want to blame someone, blame your future self!"
Sawara Kiri's expression froze.
Immediately following that, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, with a reckless momentum like a wild bull, stomped his foot, surging towards him with a roar, the dust behind him swirling into a tempest under the violent airflow, his fishing rod in hand thrusting like a spear.
"Om—"
At this moment, Sawara Kiri had no time to think. How he performed in the original story was no longer something he had time to recall. This guy was stronger than any enemy he had ever encountered.
Much stronger!
"Inherent Time Control: Triple Speed."
As his thoughts flickered, everything happening before Sawara Kiri's eyes slowed down in his consciousness.
The flow of wind, the change of Chakra, the grip of the black sword in his hand, and the strong threat coming from in front of him!
In that brief instant, his original thought of converting into a large amount of fire-release Chakra changed. Driven by his meticulously honed skill, he affixed the radiance of "Technique Lapse: Blue" to the tip of his black sword.
The compression and conversion of space were completed in an instant, forcibly making the movement of his hand keep up with the fishing rod that was stabbing towards him.
"Clang!"
The high-frequency vibration transformed into rippling aftershocks, creating a circular air mass that burst forth in the air.
However, the tearing sensation from his arms made him frown slightly.
Without any hesitation, the healing effect brought by "Reversal Technique" immediately attached to his arms, beginning to heal rapidly.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, however, showed no sign of retreating due to this brief pause; his ferocious Byakugan eyes were filled with madness.
With just a pull and a twist, he reeled the fishing rod back in front of him, thrusting it repeatedly like a spear.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—!"
Sawara Kiri felt that this guy's physical prowess was incredibly absurd, but his hands dared not slow down in the slightest due to the sharp pain from tearing and healing.
However, the more he maintained this kind of super-high-speed combat, the clearer his consciousness became.
"Mind's Eye (Fake)."
Evidently, this extraordinary talent allowed him to gradually adapt to this level of combat.
However, Sawara Kiri's expression grew increasingly serious.
While maintaining multiple abilities simultaneously, his limited Chakra flowed and depleted rapidly like a waterfall.
If he continued to consume it...
Almost the instant this thought arose, his body suddenly moved to the left, his black sword deflecting, parrying the Chakra fishing rod that was thrusting directly at him. At the same time, he stomped forward, kicking up a bit of dust, forcibly pushing himself against inertia towards his opponent's embrace.
However, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki seemed to pay no attention to his small movement, thrusting the fishing rod towards his body surface with the same reckless disregard.
"Limitless."
Almost the instant the fishing rod was about to touch his body, the hook at the tip abruptly stopped about an inch from his skin.
At the same time, Sawara Kiri's black sword, imbued with a blue glow, pierced into Urashiki's torso with a 'whoosh,' at a speed that surpassed space.
"Heh."
Just as a hint of a smile appeared in Sawara Kiri's eyes, he heard a low chuckle from above, even before him.
His expression froze involuntarily.
When he looked up, he saw Ōtsutsuki Urashiki looking down at him with a mocking smile.
Crimson blood flowed slowly along the direction of the diagonally inserted black sword.
Until it touched the thin spatial membrane on his body surface.
"Sizzle—"
Though it was blood, upon touching his body, it emitted a faint sound, like sulfuric acid corroding an object.
Although Sawara Kiri didn't know what it was, he immediately realized the problem.
This guy had allowed himself to be stabbed on purpose.
However, before he could flick his sword and withdraw...
The tiny blood droplets seemed to anchor the spatial node he occupied, sealing everything around him.
"Boom!"
In an instant, he was already teleported to another location.
When Sawara Kiri's vision once again reflected his surroundings, his heart instantly turned cold.
Four figures stood around him, completely encircling him in the center.
And on the soil beneath their feet, layer upon layer of barriers were drawn, constructed from an unknown amount of blood.
With just a slight perception, Sawara Kiri realized that space-time ninjutsu was sealed.
"After so many battles with you, and sacrificing so many people, we've gathered information about you."
"You wouldn't think we'd foolishly come to you unprepared, would you?"
"Sawara Kiri."
The speaker was an Ōtsutsuki Clan member, smaller than those around him but with a handsome appearance.
He smiled, looking directly at Sawara Kiri.
"Our blood is now anchored to this sealed spatial area."
"No one can escape."
"Until we kill you."
Sawara Kiri slowly took a breath, his 360-degree vision encompassing the four figures standing around him. His heart rate accelerated, until a drum-like thrumming resonated in his chest.
He slowly curled his lips, silently scanning their faces, and flicked the blood from his sword:
"Then come on."
"Good!"
Otsutsuki Momoshiki's voice almost gritted through his teeth, the bone-deep hatred seemingly integrated into his very soul.
The moment his words fell, the four figures simultaneously shot towards Sawara Kiri in a combined assault, moving so fast that they carved continuous furrows in the ground.
"Inherent Time Control: Quintuple Speed."
The moment he activated this ability, Sawara Kiri felt his life force being consumed at an unimaginably fast rate, and his Chakra seemed to be burning.
However, he had no choice.
Just Otsutsuki Urashiki alone possessed power that could rival his own.
Now, there were four more enemies.
He had no time to complain about the information brought by the future team, no time to ponder the specific abilities of these people, and no time to consider if he could even return.
He could only push himself to the absolute limit.
"Boom!"
With just one step, under the accelerated thinking, the Technique Reversal, as fast as instinct, already dragged his body towards one of the opponents.
The five figures mingled and clashed, violent air vibrations echoing one after another.
On the blood-stained earth, a trembling sound like a wail emanated.
However, all this struggle, in the eyes of Momoshiki and the others, was nothing more than a trapped beast's fight.
They knew better than Sawara Kiri himself in this era what he was truly capable of—this was information painstakingly gathered through the lives of sixteen Ōtsutsuki.
Until the very end...
"Pfft!"
The moment Sawara Kiri's life force was almost completely depleted in this extreme battle.
A pale hand, with five fingers joined, forcefully pierced through his chest.
Splashing a crimson stain of blood.
"Cough."
He stared blankly at the hand that had pierced him, then looked at the short figure in front of him, a trickle of blood slowly flowing from his mouth.
Momoshiki met his gaze, a look of relief on his face.
This chaos was finally coming to an end.
The order of the gods would be rebuilt by them.
All future world lines would be managed by them in this way.
Just as Otsutsuki Momoshiki was envisioning all the beautiful moments after killing Sawara Kiri, he suddenly noticed that something around him felt off.
It seemed too quiet.
When he looked up...
The surrounding fallen leaves floated in mid-air, blood droplets were frozen, and dust was still.
The world, at this moment, had fallen into stillness.
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