The two Iwa-nins executed their ninjutsu with impeccable precision, proving they were capable of accompanying Han on this reconnaissance mission.
The ninjutsu Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears struck Tengen directly, and this time, Tengen did not attempt to dodge.
Yet the two Iwa-nins showed no signs of triumph, for the Tengen they hit dissolved into a puff of smoke; it was a Shadow Clone.
"Over here." One of the Iwa-nins' expressions shifted as he spun around, realizing Tengen was already dangerously close.
"Caught me." Tengen said with a cold smirk. "But it doesn't matter. You're already within my range."
"Within range?" The Iwa-nin gripped his kunai, bracing for defense.
"I'm not just about ninjutsu." A familiar power surged through Tengen's palm, and this time, he unleashed the full force of his Armament Haki.
Armament Haki: External Strike!
A thunderous boom shook the air. An invisible force slammed into the Iwa-nin, unavoidable and overwhelming.
"Impossible!" The Iwa-nin let out a final, agonized scream.
His chest cracked audibly, blood spraying as the immense force sent him hurtling through the air, crashing through several trees before coming to a stop. It was clear his life had been snuffed out by the attack.
This Iwa-nin met a gruesome end. Typically, ninjutsu could be projected outward, but taijutsu required profound mastery to achieve such a feat, producing a force akin to an air cannon.
In the future, Guy, with the Eight Inner Gates, would accomplish something similar.
Against such an opponent, these three Iwa-nins wouldn't have lasted more than a few exchanges. But this ninja never anticipated that Tengen could unleash such an attack.
Unprepared, he was obliterated by Tengen's Armament Haki.
This was a testament to Tengen's growth into the rank of chunin. He had elevated his Armament Haki to new heights, a feat he couldn't have achieved as a mere genin. Armament Haki was intricately tied to one's physical prowess.
"How…" The last Iwa-nin stood frozen, unable to comprehend how, in the blink of an eye, he was the only one left of the three.
It felt like a dream. In mere moments, his comrades were dead.
This Konoha-nin's strength rivaled that of a jonin, there was no other explanation.
Then Tengen's gaze locked onto him, snapping the Iwa-nin back to reality. Alone, he stood no chance.
"Run." With that thought, the Iwa-nin retreated, intent on escaping.
This encounter with the Konoha-nin wasn't a fight to the death, nor was it the Shinobi World War. Fleeing wouldn't bring severe consequences.
"Did I say you could escape?" Tengen hurled a kunai at the fleeing ninja.
Clang! Clang!
The Iwa-nin deflected Tengen's kunai with his own while retreating.
"Konoha-nin... we have no grudge. Let me go." The Iwa-nin pleaded, seizing a brief opening.
"Let you go?" Tengen's lips curled into a smile. "Do you think that's possible?"
Even setting aside the fact that this was an enemy ninja, the prospect of earning half a Dragon Ball video fragment made killing this Iwa-nin worthwhile. Having already taken down two, what was one more?
Realizing the Konoha-nin wouldn't spare him, the Iwa-nin focused on escape.
"Can you even escape?" Tengen's voice was calm. The kunai he'd thrown, now scattered around, encircled the Iwa-nin from all directions.
"Wire strings!" The Iwa-nin's face paled.
"Exactly." Tengen's lips parted slightly as tiny flames flickered along the wires, enveloping the Iwa-nin in a blaze.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
"No…" The Iwa-nin screamed as the flames closed in, consuming his entire body.
Moments later, a charred corpse plummeted to the ground.
[Ding! Mission complete: Eliminate three Iwa-nins. Reward: Half a standard Dragon Ball video.]
The system's voice echoed in Tengen's mind.
"Done." Tengen smiled. The previous Dragon Ball video had yielded a Senzu Bean. He wondered what this one would bring.
Tengen was thoroughly satisfied with this haul.
Even if the Dragon Ball video yielded nothing extraordinary, it was still a win.
Having earned an Elite Chunin experience package, Tengen now ranked among the top Chunin. Combined with his miscellaneous abilities, he could hold his own against a Jonin.
This level of strength allowed Tengen to breathe easier. He was no longer among the weakest ninja.
In a Shinobi World War, his chances of survival would be high.
But Tengen wasn't content. This strength was far from enough. If Orochimaru set his sights on him, escaping would be nearly impossible.
It all boiled down to insufficient power. Still, in Tengen's estimation, even if Orochimaru was curious about him, he wouldn't act hastily.
Doing so would raise suspicions from Hiruzen, who held high expectations for Tengen.
To live freely in the ninja world, Tengen needed to keep growing stronger.
"What about Saki, the client for our mission?" Tengen recalled the task at hand.
In the chaos of escape, they'd left the merchant behind. If Orochimaru emerged victorious in this battle, he'd likely bring the merchant back.
"Forget it. No use worrying." Tengen shook his head. The merchant's fate wasn't worth dwelling on. If he died, it was just a failed mission.
"Combine two half standard Dragon Ball videos." Tengen commanded.
[Combination possible. Synthesizing video… Synthesis complete.]
A standard Dragon Ball video materialized in his system.
Tengen grinned. As expected.
With the video in hand, it was time to use it and see what he'd draw.
[Ding! Obtained…]
***
Every 5 reviews and 200 power stones, a bonus chapter will be dropped.
(5,10,15, 200, 400, 600, and so on then two bonus chapters will be dropped, 1 for 5 reviews and 1 for 200 power stones, so that's 2 bonus chapters!)
And if you want to read more than 50 chapters early, feel free to visit pat re on. com / Xelenea (remove space).