Chapter 41: Swift Kill

Ding~

The crisp sound of metal clashing rang out. Despite using the Body Flicker Technique, Ao Ming's mastery was still lacking. With only a level 2 proficiency, he couldn't create the "instantaneous movement" effect in front of a lower-ranked shinobi.

As a result, the Iwagakure shinobi he targeted reacted before Ao Ming could strike. He raised his kunai and blocked the attack.

However, due to his earlier arm injury, his strength was insufficient, and Ao Ming easily overpowered him. Noticing the enemy's bleeding arm, Ao Ming's eyes flashed with resolve. His kunai slashed and stabbed rapidly, delivering over a dozen strikes in a blink.

Despite the Iwa shinobi's desperate defense, he couldn't keep up with Ao Ming's pace.

Finally, after another kunai swing, Ao Ming saw an opening. With a sudden twist of his waist and a powerful thrust from his right foot, he kicked out.

Thud~

A dull impact resounded.

The Iwagakure shinobi felt a numbing sensation in his left arm as his entire body was sent flying at an angle. Ao Ming didn't let up. Before his right foot even landed back on the ground, he flung three shuriken at the Iwa shinobi's vitals, empowered by his level 3 Ninja Tool Throwing skill.

Sensing danger, the Iwa shinobi tried to dodge.

But, airborne and with no leverage, he could only barely avoid two of the shuriken.

The third shuriken found its mark, embedding itself in his thigh.

Blood gushed out as the shuriken struck the shinobi's femoral artery.

As his body hit the ground, the Iwa shinobi stumbled, unable to stand. He let out a stifled groan of pain.

Just then, Ao Ming used the Body Flicker Technique once again, silently appearing behind him.

A cold sensation crept up the shinobi's spine, sweat dripping from his forehead as a deep sense of despair washed over him.

"No, please…"

A voice, almost pleading, escaped the Iwa shinobi's lips.

But Ao Ming remained unmoved.

Shlick~

The sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed.

The Iwa shinobi's eyes widened in shock, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Guhhh..."

It was as if his throat was blocked. Ao Ming, with an emotionless expression, pulled the kunai out from his target's back.

Pfft~

A mouthful of blood sprayed from the shinobi's mouth as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

After killing him, Ao Ming surveyed the battlefield briefly before rushing towards Mizutani Shizuko.

Shizuko, already physically weak, was currently being double-teamed by two Iwa shinobi, and her situation was rapidly deteriorating. Ao Ming knew he had to act fast.

Predictably, once he took over the offense, it took less than three minutes before the two Iwa shinobi were lying dead on the ground.

Ao Ming didn't rest, immediately setting his sights on the two Iwa shinobi fighting Ryosuke.

Just like before, after he and Shizuko joined the battle, the two Iwa shinobi stood little chance, falling within minutes.

Ao Ming, Shizuko, and Ryosuke were the only three Konoha genin present, so the Iwa shinobi sent after them were also just genin.

In theory, it was a balanced matchup—two versus one, both being genin, and the Iwa shinobi should've had the upper hand.

However, they hadn't accounted for Ao Ming, a wildcard who, despite being a genin in rank, fought far above that level.

One mistake on their part had cost six Iwa genin their lives.

But that was as far as it went.

Having killed six Iwa genin, Ao Ming finally attracted the attention of the Iwa forces. Immediately, three Iwa chūnin abandoned their current fights and charged straight at him.

Noticing this, Ao Ming called out over his shoulder to Ryosuke and Shizuko, "Cover the one on the left."

"Got it." ×2

After fighting alongside Ao Ming for so long, Ryosuke and Shizuko had developed a deep trust in him.

So, without hesitation, they immediately agreed to his request.

Hearing their response, Ao Ming wasted no time. Pushing off the ground, he dashed straight toward the two Iwa chūnin on the right.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~

Several shuriken flew toward him.

Ao Ming's body swayed, weaving between the incoming projectiles like a butterfly in a flower field, effortlessly avoiding the attack.

Seeing this, the two Iwa chūnin's expressions darkened.

They weren't surprised that Ao Ming could dodge their attack—anyone capable of killing six of their comrades in a short time had to have some skill.

What caught them off guard was how easily he avoided it, with the shuriken practically grazing his body as they flew past.

It looked simple, but it was incredibly dangerous.

Not only did it require immense courage and focus, but the ninja had to have a precise understanding of the enemy's attack.

Otherwise, instead of conserving energy, they could end up bleeding out from a mistake.

Generally, shinobi leave a bit of margin for error when dodging attacks.

But clearly, Ao Ming hadn't.

This made the two Iwa chūnin even more cautious of him.

All of this happened in a fleeting moment.

After dodging their shuriken, Ao Ming didn't slow down. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, and the sound of kunai clashing filled the air.

Thanks to the past month of harsh training, his combat experience had significantly improved.

Now, even when facing the combined assault of two Iwa chūnin, he wasn't as passive as he had been during the ambush weeks ago.

However, his goal wasn't just to hold them off.

Ao Ming's gaze swept across the battlefield.

On the jōnin front, Konoha was at a disadvantage, but neither side had suffered any casualties yet.

As for the chūnin and genin battlefield, besides the six Iwa genin he had killed, another Iwa chūnin and two more Iwa genin had fallen at the hands of his teammates.

However, Konoha had paid the price of losing two chūnin.

In other words, there were still six Iwa jōnin, eight Iwa chūnin, and one remaining Iwa genin left to deal with.

As for Konoha?

Besides their two jōnin and two special jōnin, they only had four chūnin left, along with his three-man Team 17.

With 4+3 versus 8+1, Ao Ming calculated that he'd need to take out at least two or three more Iwa chūnin to maintain some balance on this battlefield.

As for the jōnin battle?

That was beyond his reach.

All he could do was ensure that this side of the fight didn't collapse.

Anything more was simply beyond him.

Unless...

He was willing to reveal his Sharingan!

But unless it was a last resort, Ao Ming wouldn't do so.

The Sharingan was his trump card, and a trump card only worked if it could turn the tide of battle.

While his Sharingan was only at the single-tomoe stage, paired with his basic mastery of the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique, it could momentarily disrupt even a jōnin.

And shinobi were fragile beings. If he could seize that opening, even if he couldn't kill them outright, he could at least heavily injure them.

That would give him a chance to escape.

So, unless he had no other choice, he wouldn't reveal the Sharingan.

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