After finishing off the Kirigakure Tokubetsu Jonin, Natsuki nodded at Inuzuka Gaku and activated Shadow Assassin again.

In the midst of battle, there was no time for conversation.

He immediately sought his next target.

Under the cover of night, combined with Shadow Assassin’s unpredictability, it was difficult for any ninja below Jonin level to react.

But after killing three Tokubetsu Jonin and five Chunin in succession, Natsuki finally attracted attention.

"Brat!"

A piercing sound of wind rang out.

Natsuki had just dispelled Shadow Assassin and was preparing to kill the Kumogakure Chunin before him—when he instantly sensed danger.

Water Breathing: Second Form — Water Wheel!

His body spun. He delivered a rotating slash with the Sword of the Thunder God at the enemy behind him.

CLANG!

The blade struck a large sword resembling an axe.

Natsuki felt his entire body tremble. He was forced to retreat backward.

"Seems my luck is good. I’ve encountered a super genius."

The owner of the large sword was a young ninja wearing a helmet.

After seeing Natsuki block his strike, he looked both surprised and excited.

Strangling an enemy village’s genius in the cradle was something worth celebrating.

Natsuki recognized him immediately.

Akebino Jinin—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

His weapon was called the Bluntsword: Kabutowari. Although classified as a ninja sword, it was actually an axe and hammer combination.

"Die!"

Jinin grinned sinisterly and raised the hammer in his right hand.

The hammer smashed onto the back of his axe blade. An irresistible force transmitted down toward Natsuki.

Gravity Mitigation!

Natsuki didn’t choose to meet him head-on. In an instant, he pushed his speed to the limit.

He withdrew the Sword of the Thunder God and retreated like a ghost.

With the force missing its target, Jinin instantly felt uncomfortable.

But as a Jonin, his speed was no slower than Natsuki’s.

He stomped fiercely on the ground. As it cracked beneath him, his entire body gave chase.

Before even getting close, he threw his axe.

The end was connected to his hammer by a chain.

Water Breathing: Fourth Form — Striking Tide!

Natsuki gripped the Sword of the Thunder God with both hands and swung a frontal strike capable of shattering waves.

The axe was struck by his blade and instantly flew back.

"What a formidable brat!"

Seeing this, Jinin became even more excited.

Given Natsuki’s age and strength, he was definitely a heavily cultivated genius in Konoha.

If he could kill him, it would be severing a pillar of Konoha’s future.

Jinin caught the returning axe with quick hands.

A flick of his wrist dissipated the force.

Simultaneously, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Natsuki.

The axe tore through the air, aimed straight at his head.

Projection Magecraft!

A thick, heavy black pot materialized in front of Natsuki.

Jinin sneered and smashed his hammer onto the back of the axe.

The projected pot was instantly split in half.

But Natsuki, who had been behind it, had vanished.

Jinin immediately looked at the ground—and sure enough, saw a moving shadow.

Without a word, he smashed both axe and hammer down.

BOOM!

The ground cracked and turned to pulverized rubble.

Jinin blinked—and saw a sharp blade of light coming toward him.

His heart tightened. At the critical moment, he instinctively leaned left.

The blade light missed.

Natsuki appeared before him.

Jinin swung his axe without hesitation.

What a pity.

Natsuki thought to himself.

His Iai: Lion’s Song hadn’t worked.

The reason: Jinin had already seen Shadow Assassin and was prepared.

The black pot appeared again.

Natsuki used the opportunity to widen the distance.

Jinin touched his right cheek. He could still vaguely feel that sharp blade light.

If his reaction hadn’t been fast—if he hadn’t known about Shadow Assassin—he definitely would have been injured.

"A genius like you absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

Gripping his axe, Jinin charged forward again.

Natsuki raised the Sword of the Thunder God to meet him.

For a moment, blade lights splashed everywhere.

But Natsuki was at an absolute disadvantage.

Whether in strength or speed, he was inferior to Jinin.

In kenjutsu, relying on Water Breathing, he could barely hold his ground.

His only advantage was Shadow Assassin—which allowed him to avoid several fatal crises.

However, this sole advantage didn’t last long.

Jinin was a Jonin, after all.

Becoming a Jonin meant mastering at least two chakra natures.

He quickly discovered Shadow Assassin’s weakness.

Jinin seized an opportunity and suddenly accelerated.

After arriving in front of Natsuki, he chopped down with his axe.

CLANG!

Natsuki blocked with the Sword of the Thunder God.

Jinin wasn’t surprised. He immediately released both hands.

His hammer and axe flew out simultaneously. The chain between them pulled taut, wrapping toward Natsuki like a rope.

Gravity Mitigation!

Natsuki leaped, avoiding the chain.

Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!

Right at that moment, Jinin formed hand seals and extended his hand.

A stream of water quickly enveloped Natsuki.

His body stiffened. He couldn’t move.

"Can you still meld into shadows now?"

Jinin asked smugly.

He maintained the Water Prison with his right hand while swinging his left to catch the returning axe.

The axe fell. Water splashed everywhere.

The prison shattered first—and Natsuki was freed.

But the axe was already upon him. He had no time for any technique—including Shadow Assassin.

A smile appeared on Jinin’s face.

He could already see Natsuki’s blood spurting before his eyes.

But in the next second, his axe struck nothing but smoke.

"What?"

Jinin’s expression froze. He had no idea what had just happened.

The smoke Natsuki had transformed into slipped away from his axe and immediately recondensed.

He raised his hand without hesitation.

Phantom Blow.

Jinin felt dizzy and fell into a stiff state on the spot.

He was a Jonin. He broke free in just an instant.

But by the time he regained consciousness, his vision was filled with blade light.

He clutched his neck instinctively.

A massive amount of blood spurted from between his fingers.

His face was full of disbelief.

Having traversed the ninja world for years, he had never expected to die like this.

With his eyes wide open, he collapsed.

Even until his final moment, he didn’t close them.

This was probably what they called dying with a grievance.

Natsuki dropped to the ground, panting heavily.

He felt like he had just survived a disaster.

It was that saying again: ninja battles are information battles.

Jinin had guarded against Shadow Assassin—but not the Logia-Type Plume-Plume Fruit.

Just when he thought victory was assured, Natsuki used the Plume-Plume Fruit to complete the counter-kill.

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