Chapter 14 — Capturing a Jonin Alive
"Barrier!!"
The technique Obuya had been secretly preparing for so long finally activated at that very moment.
A translucent dome of pale light burst outward from his body, expanding rapidly until it formed a massive semicircular barrier with a radius of nearly twenty to thirty meters. The shimmering surface flickered faintly, like sunlight reflecting off water, enclosing everything within its range.
Even Tōki—mid-descent with his massive stone fist—was caught inside.
The moment the barrier fully formed, Tōki felt it.
An invisible repelling force pressed against his body from all directions. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was persistent, like thick water resisting every movement.
His descent slowed noticeably.
It was only for an instant—
—but that instant was enough.
"Now!"
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Obuya grabbed Rin by the arm and dragged her away with all the strength he had left. His legs trembled from exhaustion, but desperation drove him forward.
They had barely cleared the impact zone—
BOOM!!!
Tōki's massive rock fist slammed into the ground like a falling meteor.
The earth shook violently beneath them. The impact released a deafening roar that echoed through the forest, sending birds scattering into the sky in panicked flocks.
A massive crater formed at the point of impact—nearly ten meters wide, with a half-meter deep depression at its center. Broken rock and soil blasted outward in all directions like shrapnel.
The Water Screen Rin had created moments earlier, already shattered by the Rock Fist, collapsed completely now that its structure was gone. The suspended water fell all at once, pouring down like a sudden rainstorm and soaking the entire battlefield.
Obuya and Rin had avoided the direct strike—
—but they couldn't escape the shockwave.
The violent force swept over them like a hammer. Both were thrown off their feet and slammed into the muddy ground.
Their organs felt compressed from the impact. A metallic taste filled their mouths as thin streams of blood trickled from the corners of their lips.
"Huh? What kind of barrier is this?"
Tōki looked mildly surprised.
"Little brat, is this your trump card? Your barrier does suppress me a bit, but with my strength, I could still kill you both with ease."
Obuya planted his hands on the ground, struggling to get up.
He swayed unsteadily, appearing close to collapse, but his face was ashen.
"Your power… surpasses my expectations. Our escape plan has failed. Since death is inevitable, can I at least choose the manner of my end?"
"Oh? That's interesting. Tell me, how do you wish to die?" Tōki asked with a half-smile.
"I want to die in direct combat, not be ambushed," Obuya replied, eyes dark with despair.
"Hahaha! Little brat, tell me—how did you figure it out?"
A sudden voice rang from behind Obuya.
It was Tōki himself, a kunai pressed to Obuya's back.
Earlier, Tōki had turned to mud and dissolved from his head downwards, vanishing entirely.
Rin's face went pale at the sight.
Obuya didn't turn back. "Do you believe me if I say I guessed?"
"Then guess correctly. But you disappoint me. Earlier, you two plotted… and this was all you could manage? Looks like I made too big a fuss."
"Of course, it's not just this!"
A sly smile spread across Obuya's face, his plan beginning to bear fruit.
"What?"
Tōki froze, listening.
Suddenly—sizzle!
A surge of terrifying electricity rose from Obuya's feet, conducted through the water on the ground. Controlled with precise finesse, it instantly shot into Tōki's body behind him.
"Ah!!"
Caught off guard, Tōki screamed.
The electricity moved so fast that he had no time to react. It coursed through his body, muscles convulsing violently, limbs stiffening instantly.
With Tōki's back turned, Obuya seized the moment. He spun around, lightning flashing across his hands like a sharp surgical knife. At the instant Tōki's body stiffened, Obuya sliced across his neck in a reverse strike.
A head rolled to the ground.
Obuya's strike was so swift, and the blade of light formed from the electricity so sharp, that Tōki's head was severed cleanly while his body remained upright.
Rin, watching, collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, but her face was lit with uncontainable excitement.
"Little brat! You dare betray me?"
The severed head roared in fury at Obuya.
But in the next instant, it realized something was wrong.
"What… what's happening? I was decapitated… why am I not dead?" Tōki exclaimed as if seeing a ghost.
"You're not dead because I didn't want you to be," Obuya said.
His hands transformed again into surgical knives, slicing at Tōki's body with precision.
"Little brat, stop it!"
Watching his body being torn apart, Tōki was furious and terrified, shouting at Obuya.
Obuya casually grabbed a stone and stuffed it into Tōki's mouth, finally quieting him somewhat.
"Obuya, you're amazing! You actually defeated a Jonin. No one would believe this if we told them," Rin said, visibly thrilled.
Obuya's injuries weren't serious; his earlier staggering had been largely an act.
He glanced at the ground, soaked as if by a downpour, and smiled. "If it weren't for your Water Release, we wouldn't have been able to catch him off guard. He would have turned the tables on us."
Rin smiled sweetly. "But speaking of which, Obuya, your Lightning Release is extraordinary. You don't even need hand seals, and it carries a power unlike any normal Lightning Release. No wonder he fell for it."
With only his head remaining, Tōki's eyes burned with resentment and rage.
Obuya kicked him lightly. "You died today because of your own mouth. If you had just attacked us from the start instead of talking so much, even the two of us might not have been your match. But sadly, the world has no medicine for regrets."
Suddenly, Rin's expression brightened as she remembered something.
"Right! The reason he wanted to kill me is because I intercepted his messenger bird. The bird came from the Iwa ninja village. He entered the Land of Fire—it's likely part of an unknown plot."
Obuya's heart skipped a beat. Indeed.
This Tōki, masquerading as a rogue ninja, had infiltrated the Land of Fire. He was probably scouting Konoha's defenses in preparation for an attack by Iwa Village a month from now.
"That's easy. We'll bring him back to Lord Minato. Konoha has specialists for interrogations—whatever his plans are, they'll get it out of him."
Rin nodded in agreement.
"Rin, how are your injuries? Nothing serious, right?"
Obuya looked at her body, covered in cuts and bruises, and felt a pang of sympathy.
"Hehe, it's fine! Just minor wounds. Don't forget, I'm a medical ninja. One day, I'll be like Lady Tsunade…"
"Alright, alright. Don't overdo it. Save some energy for healing. I'll cover you; once you recover, we can continue our journey."
"Mm-hmm!"
Rin nodded cheerfully.
Obuya's eyes scanned every direction, alert to the slightest movement.
Then Rin's soft voice came from behind:
"Obuya… thank you!"
Seeing him glance her way, she quickly closed her eyes and began applying medical jutsu to heal her wounds.
Obuya understood exactly what she meant.
Had he not come today, Rin would have truly had no chance of survival. Thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine.
"It seems the history of the ninja world has already changed. Today, I captured a spy from Iwa, exposing the Land of Earth's plot early. I wonder if the Third Ninja World War might be advanced as a result."
Previously, Obuya had believed he had some certainty about the future, but now everything had shifted. What he once knew no longer held much reference.
At that moment, the system's voice rang in his ears:
[Special Demon Mission Complete: Capture a Jonin from Iwa alive. Earned 40 Demon Points.]
"Forty Demon Points gained. Adding the previous twenty, I now have sixty. Once I pass the Chunin Exam and become a Chunin, my Demon Points will reach one hundred, and I'll naturally advance to a One-Star Demon."
Obuya felt a surge of anticipation.
He was eager to awaken the Human Modification fruit ability. Only then could he freely transplant others' Kekkei Genkai. That would truly mark the beginning of his power.