Itsuki still couldn't rush out of the Grass Village in one breath. Although he had dealt with the group outside the hospital, he was soon blocked by others.
The other shadow clones had been dispelled, leaving only his real body and two clones protecting Karin and her mother.
"Damn it, put down the humanoid pill!"
"Leave her behind, seal your chakra, kneel down, and beg for mercy! Otherwise, Kusagakure will hunt you down!"
"Do you think you can get away alive? Our leader won't let you go!"
"Everyone, attack together! Kill this guy with everything you've got! Don't worry about the humanoid pill—just don't hit her vital parts. She won't die!"
Dozens of Kusagakure ninjas charged in with furious shouts.
Because the ones ahead had failed to stop him, they realized this enemy wasn't ordinary. They now attacked with nearly all their strength.
All kinds of ninjutsu came crashing down, covering Karin and her mother as well.
But what they didn't notice was that Itsuki—who had just killed so many of their comrades—was radiating an even stronger murderous aura.
"You keep calling her a human-shaped pill… Kusagakure deserves to die!"
Itsuki lowered his voice, suppressing his anger as best he could, but still growled hoarsely, "Even beasts know gratitude! You're worse than beasts. Kusagakure has no right to exist!"
Earth Style: Four-Sided Earth Wall!
Four massive walls of earth rose up, blocking every ninjutsu flying toward Itsuki and his team.
The attacks looked dazzling, but their actual strength varied wildly.
Many couldn't even leave a mark before dissipating.
A few managed to chip at the walls, but none could break through.
In the next instant, Itsuki leapt high above the earth walls, soaring alone into the crowd.
Originally, he had only wanted to save people. But Kusagakure's cruelty had ignited his fury beyond control.
If that's how it is—then let them die!
The Kusagakure ninjas quickly surrounded him again, hurling large-scale ninjutsu from every direction.
Itsuki gripped his short blade, eyes cold. The blood-red tomoe of his Sharingan spun—two tomoe twisted into three.
This time, he didn't dodge. Chakra surged through his body, coating him in stone armor as he charged the nearest Kusagakure ninja.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ninjutsu of every attribute hammered him, shattering chunks of stone off his armor. One piercing strike even broke through and sliced his arm.
But Itsuki didn't flinch. He cut through the storm, his blade flashing.
Several Kusagakure ninjas fell headless before they could even scream.
Boom!!
Just then, a massive sword crashed against his back.
Although he was fast, not every opponent was slow. Kusagakure's numbers filled the village, and their strongest were closing in.
The wielder of the blade was a senior Kusagakure ninja. Not on par with an elite jonin of the Five Great Nations, but still far stronger than most.
His strike carried earth chakra, weighing nearly a thousand pounds.
Itsuki spat blood, his stone armor shattering and his back torn open in a bloody mess.
"Damn… Captain Tenzō was right. A real life-or-death battle is completely different!"
His face twisted with pain, but he didn't stop. Instead, he used the force of the blow to rocket forward, cutting down several more Kusagakure ninjas in his path.
Wood-style chakra flared, sizzling over his wound as it knitted back together in seconds.
"Is this guy a monster?!" the sword-wielding ninja gasped, stunned.
That moment of hesitation cost him his chance—Itsuki was gone, already tearing into the crowd like a tiger among sheep.
For Kusagakure, this was a nightmare.
It was still just a small hidden village. They had strong fighters, yes, but only a handful.
Eight or nine out of ten couldn't even survive a single strike from Itsuki.
And with every second, Itsuki's blade grew faster, his battle instincts sharper.
Meanwhile, some Kusagakure ninjas had bypassed him, hammering the Four-Sided Earth Wall.
Boom!
One wall finally cracked under a dozen chunin working together.
Water Style: Exploding Water Wave!
A giant wave erupted from within. Itsuki's Shadow Clone #1 had freed his hands and unleashed a torrent, instantly sweeping away the attackers at the breach.
Their screams vanished into the crashing water.
"Go!" Clone #1 barked, charging ahead.
Clone #2 carried Karin's mother on his back and cradled Karin in his arms, following quickly.
"Where are you running to?!"
The sword-wielding Kusagakure ninja finally spotted them and gave chase.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Clone #1 formed a seal—dozens more clones exploded into existence, blocking the path.
"…" The Kusagakure swordsman froze.
Did this guy think chakra was free? He was a shadow clone himself, and he could still pump out dozens more? Brutal didn't even cover it.
As one of Kusagakure's most senior shinobi, the swordsman could barely handle two clones—and not for long. Watching Itsuki squander chakra like this made him want to cry.
The next moment, he was buried under a tide of clones.
Seizing the chance, Clone #1 shielded Clone #2 and Karin's family, breaking through the last line of defense.
Chaos consumed Kusagakure.
Most of their forces were tied up by Itsuki's real body. Few could pursue the clones, and under Clone #1's protection, Karin and her mother drew closer to the village gates with every step.
Snuggled against Clone #2, Karin clutched his neck tightly. But her gaze lingered on Clone #1, eyes dazed.
She couldn't understand—why would he go this far for her, someone who was just a stranger?
Warmth swelled from her chest, softening her hardened heart.
Itsuki was a ray of light piercing her dark, broken world.
Aside from her mother, he was the first person to protect her.
Long ago, after seeing the future video, she had secretly vowed: if Itsuki ever rescued her and her mother from Kusagakure's hell, she would devote her life to repaying him.
Now, with him truly here—she finally understood.
Itsuki was worth everything.
Her life, her body, her soul—everything she had would always belong to Itsuki.