Chapter 26: Do You Know the Normal Blood Flow Rate of a Person?

Whoosh!

Tap tap tap...

A small, masked figure was fleeing rapidly, occasionally turning around to shoot a barrage of shurikens to obstruct his pursuers.

Behind him, Shinsuke, enveloped in blood lines, was relentlessly pursuing him!

If not for his prior planning of the escape route and setting up some traps, he might have already run out of options by now.

This man was truly terrifying!

"Water Style Secret Technique: Thousand Kill Water Shuriken!"

"Concentrate!"

Facing the incoming barrage of shurikens, Shinsuke immediately raised his right hand. The blood swirling around him quickly split off, forming a red crystal wall in front of him, deflecting all the shurikens away.

This was another application of the Blood Manipulation Technique, using blood to form a solid barrier for attack or defense.

The downside was that once the blood solidified, it couldn't be reverted to liquid for repeated use.

Shinsuke quickly realized something was off; the opponent might be deliberately trying to lead him away.

Fortunately, he had left Hidan behind as a precaution.

With Hidan's strength, there was no need to worry about him.

Although many thoughts flashed through his mind, they didn't delay Shinsuke's actions.

He suddenly clasped his hands together, compressing the remaining blood into his palms. Then, he spread his hands at a certain angle, aiming at the rapidly escaping enemy.

"Blood Manipulation Technique: Supernova!"

Boom!!!

The compressed blood exploded outward in a shotgun-like spray!

There was no way to avoid it!

When Haku sensed the attack from behind, he couldn't escape the wide range of the attack in time.

So he immediately stopped, making the best decision.

He performed the necessary hand seals and cast his technique!

"Ice Style: Ice Rock Dome!"

A thick, bowl-shaped ice wall rose immediately, covering Haku. Then, the next moment...

The sound of numerous impacts echoed!

Despite the blood bullets shattering the ice into fragments, the ice wall still retained some of its structure and wasn't completely destroyed.

"Hah... hah..."

Drip, drip!

Haku breathed heavily, blood dripping rapidly from his arm wounds.

Although he had reacted quickly upon sensing danger, he was still a bit late and was hit by several blood bullets.

His right arm hung limply, half of his body stained red. Worse, he was beginning to feel a numbness at the wound and his vision was becoming blurry and doubled.

The previous attack was poisoned!

"Ice Style? Who are you?"

Shinsuke also paused, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

Given the build, height, and mask, and the fact that he was in the Land of Waves with Ice Style...

If nothing unusual happened, Shinsuke already knew who this kid was.

So the question was, where was Zabuza?

It was clear that Zabuza must be out killing Mira Peng, and he might already be fighting Hidan.

As for who would win...

It was hard to say. It depended on whether Zabuza would silently decapitate Hidan first or if Hidan would get Zabuza's blood first and complete the ritual with Death Reincarnation.

The one who gained the upper hand would win.

However, Shinsuke was certain that Zabuza hadn't brought Haku to the Land of Waves yet when he killed Gato.

So what was going on?

Why did Haku suddenly appear and go to assassinate Mira Peng?

Could it be that someone else issued an assassination mission that Haku and Zabuza happened to take on?

Shinsuke couldn't figure it out for the moment, but even if the Demon Zabuza came, he wouldn't retreat!

Haku remained silent.

But from his eyes and condition, it was clear he hadn't given up hope.

"It seems you trust the person assigned to the beheading mission quite a bit, believing he can delay until he comes to rescue you. But... I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"Because my partner isn't some useless trash who can be easily killed!"

"Although unwilling to admit it, that guy's terrifying aspect is beyond your imagination!"

"Alright, enough chit-chat. It's time to get serious."

As soon as the words were out, an eerie 'X'-shaped blood mark appeared on Shinsuke's forehead, and his aura changed instantly!

Blood Manipulation Technique: Red Scales Dance!

Swish!

Shinsuke's figure vanished from sight.

Despite Haku's extreme vigilance, he couldn't see Shinsuke's movement trajectory.

Bang!

The excruciating pain in his lower back jolted Haku back to reality!

"When did he...?!"

Haku's face was filled with horror. After crashing into a tree, he immediately forced himself to land on the ground.

Before he could even raise his head to locate the enemy, a voice came from behind him.

"Do you know the normal blood flow rate of a person?"

Haku immediately rolled forward without hesitation.

The next moment, a blood-red curved blade sliced through the ground, splitting it apart like cutting tofu.

A moment's hesitation would have meant being cut in half from head to toe!

Shinsuke, holding the blood-red blade, didn't immediately pursue but seemed to be asking himself, "Under normal conditions, it's about 14 centimeters per second. When a person starts intense physical activity, the blood flow rate increases to meet the body's needs."

"So when the blood flow rate reaches a certain level, the human body's limits can be broken. Even though this state of surpassing limits can't be maintained for long and causes significant harm to the body."

"Now the next question: How long can you endure against me in this state?"

The immense pressure overwhelmed Haku, making him feel like he was suffocating. Yet, facing such a terrifying enemy, he didn't back down, didn't beg for mercy, and wasn't broken by the enemy's words.

"Timer... started."

"Ice Style Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirror!"

Haku bit his tongue hard, forcing himself to maintain his will, and squeezed the remaining chakra in his body into this move!

"Zabuza-sama, I'm sorry. Haku... might not be able to stay by your side anymore."

...

Three seconds later, a dozen ice mirrors shattered instantly, turning into a sky full of ice crystals.

The real Haku hidden in the mirrors fell, exhausted, under Shinsuke's relentless attacks.

"It should still be possible to return in time, right?"

"I hope that idiot hasn't been cut to pieces and is waiting for me to save him."

As the blood mark on his forehead disappeared, Shinsuke muttered to himself, then casually picked up Haku and headed back the way he came.

The appetizer was finished, but there was still the main course waiting for him