After some time had passed, Tsunade received news that ChiriShiranui Kū — one of Asuma's former comrades from the Twelve Guardian Ninja — had been killed by the Akatsuki.
She immediately dispatched multiple squads to investigate: Asuma leading the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio, Yamato leading Karin's squad, the two gate guards of KonohagaShiranui Kūre, and several additional teams.
For the time being, Asuma's squad and Yamato's squad moved together. They rode through the skies near the Fire Temple atop Sai's Super Beast Imitating Drawing: Eagle, conducting a wide-area aerial search.
Karin activated her sensory ability.
Suddenly, she spoke.
"I'm detecting two powerful chakra signatures."
Asuma asked at once, "Direction?"
"Twenty kilometers ahead to the left. There are also numerous faint chakra traces — barely lingering. They're probably corpses. That location should be the bounty station we're looking for."
Yamato, Sai, and Shin all nodded in understanding.
"O-Okay…"
Asuma was visibly startled. Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly, while Ino looked incredulous.
"Hey, hey… twenty kilometers? You're not joking, right? You can sense that far? And even detect chakra from people who just died?"
He let out a helpless sigh.
"How does the Yamanaka Clan's sensory ability look so weak compared to yours?"
Ever since coming to KonohagaShiranui Kūre, Karin had trained under Tsunade's guidance. Combined with the Uzumaki Clan training scrolls left behind by Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki and Mito Uzumaki, her clan's innate abilities had been developed to an extraordinary level.
Soon, they arrived above the bounty station.
Shikamaru planned to use the eagle's shadow to immobilize the enemy first. The rest would then deliver a decisive strike.
Everyone signaled their understanding.
Sai lowered the eagle's altitude.
The moment Shikamaru judged the timing right, he immediately activated Shadow Possession Technique, successfully binding Hidan.
Hidan blinked in confusion.
In the next instant, Sai and Shin drew their short blades and leapt from the eagle, plunging their weapons straight through Hidan's body.
Just as Shikamaru and the others thought they had succeeded—
Karin suddenly shouted:
"Something's wrong! His chakra hasn't dropped! Shikamaru, behind you!"
Shikamaru's heart lurched. He had already noticed KaShiranui Kūzu circling from the rear.
Just as KaShiranui Kūzu's fist was about to crash down on him, Yamato swiftly used Wood Release to pull Shikamaru away, widening the distance between them.
"Wood Release?!"
KaShiranui Kūzu's eyes widened in shock, buried memories resurfacing.
But when he realized the user wasn't Hashirama Senju — merely someone unfamiliar — he let out a quiet breath of relief.
Even so, his vigilance toward Yamato did not lessen.
Hidan walked over to stand beside KaShiranui Kūzu, facing the Leaf shinobi once more.
Shikamaru quickly whispered tactics to Asuma and the others.
The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio would handle the scythe-wielding one. Yamato's group would take the other.
Asuma stepped forward first, raising his chakra blades.
"Chakra Blades — True: One Word Slash!"
Wind Release chakra surged into the trench knives, forming twin glowing blue chakra edges of immense cutting power.
He charged forward, unleashing a rapid series of slashes at Hidan.
Hidan responded by swinging his blood-soaked triple-bladed scythe in retaliation.
Meanwhile, Yamato seized the opening to attack KaShiranui Kūzu.
"Wood Release: Wood Binding Technique!"
From his arm erupted numerous wooden tendrils, lashing toward KaShiranui Kūzu.
KaShiranui Kūzu showed no panic. Instead, there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
"So this Wood Release isn't on the level of Hashirama Senju's…"
With a few agile movements, he easily evaded Yamato's grasp.
At that moment, Sai and Shin flashed to KaShiranui Kūzu's sides, thrusting their short blades at him—
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
KaShiranui Kūzu hardened the skin of his torso, turning it pitch-black. The blades struck his body and sparked harmlessly off the surface.
He hardened his arm as well, preparing to counterattack—
"Sai! Shin! Move!"
KaShiranui Kūzu noticed Karin charging toward him, fist raised.
He inwardly scoffed at what seemed like reckless impulsiveness.
But Sai and Shin desperately widened their distance — they knew full well how terrifying Karin could be.
"Pure Land: Heaven-Piercing Fist!"
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Their fists collided.
The instant KaShiranui Kūzu made contact, he realized something was terribly wrong.
"How is this possible?!"
It felt as though he had punched a mountain.
With a single explosive burst of strength, Karin drove him straight into the ground.
BOOM!!!
The earth split apart, the ground trembling violently. Even the bounty station nearly collapsed from the aftershock.
A massive crater appeared where Karin's fist had struck.
"You… what monstrous strength."
KaShiranui Kūzu lay at the bottom of the pit, his chakra fluctuating weakly. Only now did he notice the diamond-shaped mark on Karin's forehead.
"That's the mark of the Fifth Hokage…"
[Naruto Uzumaki: Huh? Is Big Sis Karin that strong?!]
[Jiraiya: Good grief. I thought Shiranui Kūra was already outrageous. Turns out Karin inherited Tsunade's true teachings.]
[Tsunade: Hah! Well? My disciple's impressive, isn't she?]
Tsunade folded her arms, smirking.
"I didn't expect her to master the Strength of a Hundred Seal this quickly."
[Shizune: The Strength of a Hundred Seal?! I can't believe Karin learned that!]
[Shiranui Kūra Haruno: Um… Senior Sister, aren't you a bit too strong? I haven't even accumulated enough chakra yet…]
[Karin Uzumaki: Really? I thought storing chakra for this technique was pretty easy.]
[Shiranui Kūra Haruno: ...]
[Shizune: ...]
Cheat code, much?
It wasn't all that surprising. Karin had spent much of her childhood in Konoha Hospital, mastering precise chakra control. As for storing chakra for the Strength of a Hundred Seal — that was even less of an issue for an Uzumaki.
Asuma, Shikamaru, and even Hidan stared at Karin in shock.
Ino looked completely stunned.
We're all disciples of Lady Tsunade — isn't this a bit excessive?
But Karin's expression remained grave.
Suddenly, she leapt backward at high speed.
At the spot where she had stood, two black, tendril-covered arms burst from the earth.
KaShiranui Kūzu sprang from the crater.
"A sensory-type ninja… and that monstrous strength. This will be troublesome."
Karin's gaze sharpened.
"Earlier, I sensed five different chakra signatures from him. Now there are four. Combined with his partner's behavior… that likely means he's also immortal."
She quickly relayed the information.
When the others heard that KaShiranui Kūzu, too, possessed a form of immortality, their expressions turned serious.
"So you figured it out. No matter."
From KaShiranui Kūzu's back burst four masked black creatures — though the Water Release mask was already shattered.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The Wind Release mask unleashed a high-pressure blast that spiraled into a raging vortex.
Yamato swiftly formed hand seals.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
From the ground before them erupted a shield woven of thick wooden vines, blocking the gale.
But KaShiranui Kūzu's second attack followed immediately.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
The Fire Release mask spewed forth a massive sea of flames.
"Wood Release: Wood Release: Tree Sea Descent!"
Using his chakra as a life source, Yamato caused numerous trees to erupt from the earth, forming a small forest that once again shielded the team from the inferno.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
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