So fast.
Faster than expected—
And the force behind it was absurd.
Honda barely managed to intercept Ren's flash-step thrust meant for Inoue—his sword ringing as it caught bone.
The impact almost tore the blade from his hands.
His eyes sharpened.
But the moment he bought Inoue time, Inoue's seals snapped into place, and he shouted—
"Wind Release: Wild Wind Blades!"
Razor wind erupted outward, chewing trees and shredding branches.
The Inuzuka on the side was forced to retreat—
But Ren didn't move back even a step.
The wind blades shredded Ren's shirt—
Then struck his skin.
And died.
Not even a red mark remained, as if the blades had hit steel.
"What…?!" Inoue froze, mind refusing to accept it. "That's a B-rank—!"
"Don't stand there if you don't want to die!" Honda bellowed, yanking Inoue back and slashing into the storm of incoming projectiles.
Clang—clang—clang—
Honda deflected what he could.
But arms and legs took the rest.
Blood burst again and again, his clothing soaking red.
When the barrage finally stopped—
Honda was standing only by will.
Ren watched him calmly.
"Still resisting, Honda-senpai?"
Honda spat blood. "Like I'd ever surrender to a brat like you."
Ren smiled faintly and glanced toward the direction Inoue had fled.
"Baiting with your body… sending him to beg Konoha ANBU for help."
"Not a bad idea."
"Only problem?"
"You picked someone… a little too weak."
"Fang Wolf Fang!"
A spinning, drilling double-headed black wolf tore through the forest like a storm.
Ren raised his arm.
"Hard clash? Fine."
"Dance of the Larch—Full Bloom."
Bone surged over Ren's right arm, forming a massive shield—white and heavy.
And beneath that white…
A faint, dim gray shimmer hid like ash.
Ren inhaled.
Then leapt straight into the oncoming vortex.
The collision screamed.
A shrieking, maddening sound—
As the wolf-drill met the absolute defense of bone.
Wind blasted through the trees.
Blood sprayed.
Bone fragments exploded outward like shrapnel.
But the Inuzuka saw it—
As their bodies tore and bled…
Ren's bone shield grew thicker.
Harder.
As if it were feeding on their impact.
How much chakra does this monster have…?!
Then Ren suddenly surged forward, slamming the shield into the spinning beast.
The technique broke.
The fusion split.
Man and ninken flew, vomiting blood.
Ren shook out his arm, almost annoyed.
"Tch… If I really wanted to block something like that, I'd rather use Rashōmon."
Then he pointed at the falling Inuzuka like a child mimicking a gun.
"First head's mine."
"Ten-Finger Piercing Bullets."
White finger bones tore free, screaming through the air toward heart and skull—
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"
A strong voice cut in.
The bone bullets shattered mid-flight.
And a body caught the falling Inuzuka.
"You were told to activate the Flying Thunder God kunai the instant you met the enemy," a woman's voice scolded, tight with fear and anger. "How many missions has it been? You're already ignoring the captain?"
Seo coughed blood. "I'll apologize later…"
He forced his eyes up.
"Everyone be careful."
"That Mist pursuer… he's stronger than we thought."
"He's like… a tailed beast in human form."
"Relax," the woman said shakily, trying to sound confident. "We're all here now. Even if we can't beat him fast, we can stall until Minato-sama arrives—"
More ANBU appeared through the trees.
A dozen. Then more.
All masks. All killing intent.
Hyūga Munekata stepped forward, Byakugan blazing.
And he pointed straight at Ren.
"Now it's your turn to consider retreat, Kaguya brat."
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