Chapter 143

Yakushi Kabuto possesses the strength of an elite jonin, while Kimimaro in his full form also has elite jonin strength. The Sound Four, in their complete forms, have the strength of special jonin.

With this lineup, dealing with the strength Leo demonstrated in the Forest of Death should be more than sufficient. At that time, Leo's displayed strength was, at most, that of an elite jonin with a focus on taijutsu.

Moreover, this place is far from Konoha, so no matter how intense the battle, it won't be detected.

"Your Highness, you now have two choices: either let us seal you and bring you back to the base consciously, or let us do it unconsciously."

Kabuto extended his hand, forming a sharp chakra scalpel, while the five Sound ninjas simultaneously activated their Curse Seal Level Two forms.

"I knew Orochimaru wouldn't be so kind. If you want to play, then I'll play with you!"

Leo roared, and his body rapidly swelled, transforming into a muscular form.

Tenzo still had some time before returning from reporting to the Third Hokage, and this brief period was just enough to test his current full power against Orochimaru's subordinates.

"Summoning Jutsu: Mud Golem!"

Jirobo summoned a ten-meter-tall stone giant.

"Secret Technique: Summoning Jutsu: Giant Spider!"

Kidomaru summoned a giant spider, accompanied by a swarm of smaller spiders.

"Summoning Jutsu: Three Giants!"

Tayuya summoned three giants wielding spiked clubs.

Knowing that Leo was particularly strong in taijutsu, those who could use summoning techniques immediately called forth their summoned creatures.

"Metelojinx—Storm and Tempest!"

After swelling his body, Leo pointed his Elder Wand toward the sky. Instantly, dark clouds gathered over the Valley of the End, and lightning, gale-force winds, and torrential rain followed.

The Valley of the End already had a lake, and with the heavy rain he had conjured, it would greatly aid his use of Water Release, Lightning Release, and Wind Release techniques.

After casting the meteorological spell, Leo quickly formed a series of hand seals:

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

After three consecutive Great Waterfall Techniques, Kabuto, Kimimaro, the Sound Four, and their summoned beasts were all thrown into disarray.

While the Great Waterfall Technique doesn't have strong attack power, its large area of effect makes it an excellent choice for an initial suppression, especially since his chakra reserves were abundant in this state.

"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"

After the Water Release, Leo formed more hand seals to release a Lightning Release technique, forcing those who had just surfaced from the waterfalls to scatter and jump away from the water.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, he pulled out the extremely sharp Kusanagi sword from his small pouch and charged straight at Tayuya, who had just taken out her flute to prepare a genjutsu.

In ninja battles, beyond sheer strength, the most crucial factor is knowledge of the enemy's abilities. Leo was fully aware of everyone's capabilities here—their Kekkei Genkai, their preferred jutsu, and their weaknesses.

Meanwhile, the opposition only knew about his strong taijutsu and medical ninjutsu, but nothing else.

So, right from the start, he gained the upper hand with a combination of water and lightning ninjutsu.

"Not good!"

Tayuya was about to cast her genjutsu when she saw Leo already charging at her, sword in hand. She hastily used her flute to block as a makeshift weapon.

However, with Leo's strength combined with the sharpness of the Kusanagi sword, her flute was easily sliced in two.

"Shikotsumyaku: Finger Bullets!"

"Secret Technique: Spider War Bow: Terrible Split!"

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Reacting quickly, Kimimaro, Kidomaru, and Kabuto, who all had ranged support abilities, launched their attacks from three directions.

If Leo continued attacking Tayuya, he would undoubtedly be killed on the spot by their jutsu.

"Protego!"

Seeing this, Leo waved the Elder Wand in his left hand, casting the Shield Charm to block the three ninjutsu, then swiftly followed up with a whip-like kick, sending Tayuya flying and coughing up blood.

In fact, he could have decapitated Tayuya with a single strike, but he chose not to.

After all, Orochimaru's plan to destroy Konoha would still rely on these people. If he eliminated them all, the plan would fail.

'Boom!'

The bone bullets, golden arrows, and water dragon all struck the Shield Charm, shattering it after about three seconds.

Clearly, at Leo's current level, his Shield Charm couldn't withstand the combined power of the three ninjutsu.

But by the time Kabuto and Kimimaro, the strongest among them, reached Leo, he had already vanished.

"Argh!"

At that moment, Kidomaru, who was preparing to shoot another arrow from a nearby tree, suddenly let out a scream.

"How is that possible? When did he get there?"

Everyone realized, to their shock, that Leo had somehow appeared behind Kidomaru, kicking him off the tree.

It turned out that while the Shield Charm was holding off the other ninjutsu, Leo had used Apparition to teleport behind Kidomaru and launch an attack.

Tayuya and Kidomaru—one a genjutsu specialist and the other an expert in web-spinning and archery—would be troublesome if left unchecked.

Luckily, neither was proficient in taijutsu, so once he got close, they had no way to resist, making them his priority targets.

If he had used Apparition to get near Jirobo or the twins Sakon and Ukon, who excelled in taijutsu, he wouldn't have been able to take them down so quickly.

And if he had Apparated next to Kabuto or Kimimaro, they might have been able to counterattack during the brief pause after he reappeared.

Now, with Tayuya and Kidomaru knocked unconscious and their summoned beasts vanishing, the number of attackers surrounding him had more than halved.

"Die!"

After Leo dealt with Kidomaru, Jirobo, who was closest, drove his ten-meter-tall mud giant forward and punched toward Leo.

'Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!'

Leo easily dodged the attack, leaping onto the giant's arm. As he charged at Jirobo, he swung his Kusanagi sword with his right hand, severing the giant's arm into several pieces.

This mud giant, all strength but no speed, might be effective against chunin, but against him, it was nothing more than a big target.

"Don't underestimate me—Shoulder Charge!"

Seeing Leo rushing toward him, Jirobo, the physically strongest member of the Sound Four, channeled the immense power from his Curse Mark, raising his right shoulder like an enraged bull and charging forward.

This move was something even Kimimaro wouldn't dare to take head-on.

"Stupefy!"

However, Leo had no intention of matching brute force with Jirobo. As they were about to collide, he raised his left hand and cast a Stunning Spell.

Jirobo's eyes immediately closed as he fell unconscious, dropping from the giant and causing the mud giant to disappear with him.

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