The scattered shinobi darted aside, while in the open courtyard of the mansion, Shigeo still held onto Shion's hand, watching the figure of Yomi who had already stood back up.
Earthen dragons coiled around them, twisting and turning. The scattered shinobi couldn't approach, and more than ten of them had already been struck down by the dragons, lying wounded on the ground.
"Who are you?" Yomi shouted.
"By commission of the ruler of the Land of Demons, Miko-sama, I am the one who accepted the mission!" Shigeo answered.
The mansion walls were tall, with guard towers on top. At this moment, some of the mansion guards had taken positions there, drawing their bows. Arrowheads lit with flames were aimed down toward the two standing in the open courtyard.
"The one who took the commission? Heh!" Yomi wiped the blood from his mouth, regret flashing in his heart. He had underestimated him just because he was a child. If he had known, he would have taken him out first.
"Miko-sama, do you think the whole city stands with you? Look—these guards of the lord's mansion obey me. So this country does not necessarily need you. Without you, perhaps we'll live better! Kill!" Yomi's eyes bulged as he shouted loudly.
On the courtyard walls, many guards had bows drawn. Yet when some hesitated, ninja behind them cut two down in an instant and barked: "If you don't obey, I'll order your families slaughtered!"
They were people under threat.
"Release the arrows!"
Flaming arrows rained down, like a storm of fire from the sky. Civilians and guards screamed, tripping and trampling each other as chaos spread.
"Don't panic, everyone! I'm here!" Shigeo shouted, his voice amplified with chakra.
Everyone turned to look back. That boy held tightly onto their Miko-sama, standing at the gate of the mansion without moving a single step.
The fire arrows fell—yet strangely, the sky went dark. It was as if all the flames had vanished.
"What's going on?" someone cried.
"Look up, what's that?"
Above them, within the arrow's range, a massive black barrier blocked the flaming arrows. Each arrow struck against it, turning the surface of the magnetic dome into a sea of fire, glowing crimson.
They were safe. No one was burned.
The earthen dragons faded. Shigeo looked down at Shion and said, "Just stand here. Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Before, Shion had still doubted him. Now, seeing him save everyone without even moving from where he stood, she believed him completely.
Shion nodded heavily, replying, "Please believe me as well. I promised I would stand here, and I will not move even a step."
This was the stance of a sovereign. She would let her people and her soldiers see that she stood with them, with the nation itself.
Several jōnin at Yomi's side appeared. A flurry of ninjutsu attacks struck from every direction. Shigeo formed hand seals, raising his +Jiton (Magnet Release) barrier, and unleashed +Shōton (Crystal Release) against two ninja in front.
Crystal blossoms bloomed like an explosive garden, sending jagged pink crystal spikes surging upward. Lightning rained from the magnetic shield above, turning the battlefield into a realm of thunder and crystal.
Thunder rumbled, crystal gleamed, yellow lightning clashed with crimson crystal, all beneath the weight of the black magnetic barrier that churned like a stormy sea.
"Pu-pu-pu…"
Five jōnin died unwillingly, still forming seals, still ready to fight. Yet the ground gave them no footing, the sky no escape. Trapped like turtles in a jar, they were struck down—some pierced, some electrocuted.
At the center of the storm stood the little girl. She hadn't moved at all. If not for her hair whipping in the wind and her dress fluttering wildly, one might have thought she too had been struck by lightning.
Inside her sleeve, Shion's fingers clenched tight. Her wide eyes were red with strain. The shock in her heart roared like thunder. This boy was too strong, terrifyingly strong.
Had she not trusted him, she might have fainted from fear already. But she believed he would never harm her. Sure enough, as the five jōnin fell, she stood untouched.
"Go, all of you, kill them both!" Yomi screamed like a madman, his hands shaking. Black chakra, writhing like insects, poured into the bodies of over ten jōnin rushing forward.
"Let me show you the power of Mōryō!"
At once, those ninja convulsed as their forms twisted. Strange markings spread across their skin. Enormous chakra burst from them.
They lunged forward, speed exploding, seals flashing one after another.
+Katon (Fire Release), +Doton (Earth Release), +Suiton (Water Release), and even +Bakuton (Explosion Release), a kekkei genkai, erupted.
Empowered further by Mōryō's black chakra, they were like beasts with wings, their numbers encircling Shigeo and Shion.
The magnetic barrier shifted, blocking fire streams, earth boulders, and water torrents.
The detonations of Bakuton thundered, blowing craters into the magnetic shield.
"Hahaha! This power is madness! Kill them!"
The jōnin, crazed, attacked wave after wave. Civilians and guards retreated, the courtyard emptied. Shion stood firm, eyes closed, refusing to move.
Amid the smoke, Shigeo vanished. Now all attacks were aimed at the Miko. But the magnetic barrier seemed alive, blocking every strike exactly where it was needed.
Even so, the crazed ninja could not break through.
"Let this whole city die with me! Bakuton—Explosive Heaven!" one of the kekkei genkai ninja screamed, his body warped by black markings, veins bulging purple-black. His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with lines.
He had lost all control, driven by madness. Even if it meant blowing himself to pieces, he would detonate everything.
Yomi frowned, just about to stop him, when he realized—the man was compressing chakra inside his own body.
High above, Shigeo's heart clenched in alarm. This kekkei genkai was not like Deidara's explosive clay, which could be countered with lightning. A living human bomb was far harder to stop.
(End of Chapter)
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