Chapter 283: Shukaku: I’m Free?!
The elites of Sand Village were on high alert, their formation rapidly contracting to protect the injured Lord Kazekage Rasa at the center.
The air was filled with the scent of blood, sand dust, and fear so thick it could not be dissolved.
In just two clashes, their proud Lord Kazekage had suffered severe injuries, a massive blow to the morale of the Sand Ninja.
Chiyo suddenly unrolled a massive scroll, her hands quickly forming hand seals!
“White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Ten Puppets!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!…
Ten bursts of white smoke exploded in succession!
Ten puppets of various designs, with precise joints and wielding different weapons, appeared instantly, surrounding her like loyal guards!
Each of these puppets emitted a cold and dangerous aura; they were the pinnacle of Puppet Technique, having once helped Chiyo breach an entire city!
Chiyo’s withered fingers connected ten chakra threads to each puppet, her eyes locked dead on Menma atop the sand dune.
Ebizo took the opportunity to step forward, his long eyebrows twitching slightly from tension. He forced a calm demeanor and shouted loudly, “Who exactly are you?! Why are you acting so recklessly in the Land of Wind?! What is your relationship with those two Tails…?!”
He was trying to buy time through conversation, allowing the team to regroup and extract intelligence.
At the same time, the Sand Hidden ninja displayed extremely high tactical proficiency.
The combat squads quickly dispersed, occupying advantageous terrain, kunai and shuriken in hand, Wind Release and Earth Release Ninjutsu poised to unleash.
The Sealing Squad and Barrier Division tightly protected Gaara, who was clutching his doll, in the center.
Baki, Yura, Fugai, Yakura, Ryosuke, Sabaku, and other jonin each held the front lines, their faces extremely grave, cold sweat soaking their backs.
The strength of the boy before them was simply terrifying!
Menma coldly overlooked the fully prepared Sand Hidden crowd below, as if watching a group of busy ants.
He loosely gripped his right hand, and a Chakra Black Rod instantly coalesced in his palm.
He casually swung it, the black rod slicing through the air with a low hum.
“Telling you ants doesn’t matter.” Menma’s voice was flat and emotionless, carrying a condescending indifference: “I am the Shura of the Land of Stars.”
“Shura?!”
This name exploded like thunder in the hearts of the Sand Hidden crowd!
Even with mental preparation, hearing this infamous name that had suddenly risen in recent years, striking fear into the great nations, caused Chiyo, Ebizo, Rasa, and all the jonin who knew its weight to tremble in shock, their faces instantly paling!
The scorching air seemed to solidify, with only the distant unwilling roar of the Ten-Tails and the low whimper of the Dark Nine-Tails devouring chakra in the background, amplifying the oppression of this desolate place.
“Shura…” Chiyo’s dry lips moved slightly. This name that had echoed through the ninja world in recent years now overlapped with the boy’s youthful face, creating an extremely unreal sense of dislocation.
He was the mysterious ninja who turned Cloud Village upside down, came and went freely in Konohagakure, and forcibly extracted four Byakugan from the Hyuga Main Family!
The high-level officials of the major ninja villages had privately assessed his threat level as equal to the former “Ninja God” Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, and some believed the next outbreak of the Fourth Great Ninja War would inevitably involve him!
Chiyo and Ebizo quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing unprecedented gravity in each other’s eyes.
Shura’s sudden appearance in the Land of Wind was surely tied to those two Tails!
“You bastard!” Rasa struggled to stand again, sharp pain in his abdomen causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead, but his dignity as Kazekage would not allow retreat.
He pushed away Baki who tried to support him, stepped forward a few paces, and bellowed with false bravado: “This is the Land of Wind! Did you release those two Tails? Are you trying to start a war?!”
Menma looked at him expressionlessly, slightly surprised by the guy’s durability; he’d taken two heavy kicks and could still stand.
But on second thought, the opponent was someone who could suppress the One-Tails Shukaku with Magnetic Release, so strong physique was normal.
“Those Tails over there have nothing to do with you.” Menma’s tone remained flat, his robe hem flapping loudly in the wind.
“Originally, if you hadn’t come, it would have ended in a few days. But since you’ve delivered yourselves…” He paused, a cold arc hooking his lips: “Perfect chance for me to loosen up.”
His tone then carried a hint of mockery as he countered: “When Sand Hidden was stirring up conflicts at the Land of Stars border, did you ever think of retaliation?”
With the rise of the Land of Stars, in recent years, Sand Hidden, Rock Village, Konoha—which hadn’t continuously sent spies to infiltrate?
At the Land of Wind and Land of Earth border, when had those seemingly small-scale frictions ever truly stopped?
This ninja world was survival of the fittest.
Moreover, Menma’s goal was to end this millennium of decay, clearing out the nobles and daimyo parasitizing above the ninja world’s masses—this was fundamentally incompatible with the core interests of the existing Five Great Nations.
“Magnetic Release: Sand Gold Dust Mausoleum!”
The moment Menma finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in Rasa’s eyes, and the secretly prepared technique suddenly activated!
He had never hoped words would solve it; the prior conversation was just to distract and complete hand seals!
The sand dune under Menma’s feet drastically changed; the originally loose yellow sand was instantly replaced by dazzling golden sand!
Countless sand gold grains like living tentacles rapidly wrapped upward, forming a massive, high-speed spinning golden spiral that completely engulfed Menma’s figure!
Immediately after, Rasa slammed his hands together, chakra surging wildly!
Boom——！！！
A deafening explosion roared through the Sea of Death!
The golden sand dune, as if countless explosive tags had detonated inside, suddenly imploded then violently erupted!
The ferocious energy blast carved a crater over twenty meters in diameter into that sandy area, golden sand mixed with ordinary sand grains scattering in all directions like a golden rain!
“Did it work?” A Sand Ninja couldn’t help whispering.
But Rasa didn’t relax at all, staring intently at the billowing smoke.
Chiyo understood instantly, manipulating three puppets from the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to charge into the explosion center like ghostly shadows, aiming to confirm the kill and finish him.
However, as the puppets shuttled through the smoke, the feedback was empty—nothing there.
“Could he be… dead?” Ebizo frowned tightly, but a vague unease stirred in his heart.
“Are you looking for me?”
The flat voice came from another direction.
All Sand Ninja turned in horror, only to see Menma had silently appeared on a sand dune at the flank, his black-based red-edged miko robe spotless, as if the explosion had nothing to do with him.
He casually swung the Chakra Black Rod in his hand, looking at the Sand Ninja below whose faces drastically changed at his reappearance, and announced the game rules:
“Then, I declare,” his voice carried a hint of playfulness: “The Sea of Death Battle Royale game begins.”
“Try hard to stay alive.”
The words barely fell when his figure vanished from the dune top, turning into a black lightning bolt straight toward the prepared Sand Hidden team!
“Attack!” Baki roared furiously, finishing hand seals simultaneously with Yura and other jonin.
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!”
“Earth Release: Earth Flowing River!”
A violent gale carrying a rolling mudflow formed a composite ninjutsu torrent surging toward Menma!
Facing this joint technique that could instantly destroy a chunin squad, Menma’s forward speed didn’t slow; he merely raised the unassuming Chakra Black Rod and lightly slashed at the oncoming ninjutsu flood!
A bizarre scene occurred!
The ferocious Wind Release and viscous Earth Release, upon touching the black rod, were “sliced” apart by an invisible force, forcibly diverting a gap large enough for Menma to pass through!
He strolled leisurely through the center of the ninjutsu, letting the Wind Release and Earth Release whistle past his sides without even ruffling his robe hem!
“How is that possible?!”
“What the hell is that black rod?!”
The Sand Ninja were shocked; many had survived two Ninja Wars yet never seen ninjutsu countered this way!
“Stop him!” Chiyo barked sharply, the remaining Chikamatsu Ten Puppets moving in unison!
The seven nearest puppets, like well-trained soldiers, either slashed with blades in close combat, launched poisoned hidden weapons, or extended mechanisms to bind, attacking Menma from different angles with perfect coordination, sealing all evasion routes.
Yet these elite puppets, each capable of facing ordinary jonin, seemed so clumsy before Menma.
Menma’s figure wove freely through the puppet swarm!
The black rod in his hand seemed alive; every swing, block, or thrust precisely hit puppet joints or energy cores!
Bang!
A sword-wielding puppet was struck in the chest by the black rod, its core chakra circuit instantly disrupted, freezing in place.
Crack!
Another puppet trying to launch hidden weapons had its arm shattered by a precise black rod strike.
Clang!
A third puppet’s thick shield was pierced straight through by the black rod, pinning the puppet body to the ground!
Chiyo’s face grew uglier; she clearly felt the eerie black rod not only had astonishing physical destructive power but also constantly interfered with her chakra threads, making puppet control sluggish and power greatly reduced!
“Don’t stop! Remote cover!” Ebizo directed the other Sand Ninja.
Countless shuriken, kunai, senbon, and various release ninjutsu rained down on the battle center.
Rasa also activated Magnetic Release again, countless massive sand gold cubes materializing from thin air, smashing toward Menma like meteorites!
Menma’s figure shuttled through the puppet and ninjutsu frenzy, the black rod in his hand whirling airtight.
He smashed sand gold cubes with the rod, deflected scorching fireballs, swept aside dense hidden weapons.
Occasional stray attacks were easily dodged with agile body techniques.
He completely controlled the battle rhythm!
In mere breaths, two more Chikamatsu Ten Puppets became ground debris.
And Menma, like a tiger among sheep, charged into the Sand Ninja ranks!
“Block him!” A kunai-wielding Sand Ninja roared and thrust, while a special jonin with nunchaku swept from the side.
Menma leaped up, legs springing like coils in midair, speed creating afterimages!
Bang! Bang!
Two muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously; the Sand Ninja and special jonin took heavy chest blows, spewing blood and flying back like kites with cut strings, knocking down several companions behind.
The instant Menma landed, a Sand Ninja pounced from above.
Without looking, he backhanded a slap to the face, smashing the Sand Ninja’s head deep into the sand with immense force, body twitching outside.
Immediately, he spun, a fierce whip kick sweeping out, sending three charging Sand Ninja flying like kicked sandbags, the clear sound of cracking bones audible.
Any Sand Ninja directly hit by him was either dead or crippled, instantly losing combat ability!
Sand dust flew, screams rising and falling.
“Scorching Release: Ultra-Steaming Murder!”
Yakura flashed from the side, several white fireballs emitting lethal high temperatures shooting in triangular formation at Menma.
At the same time, Fugai thrust from the other side with a kunai, attempting a pincer with Yakura.
Menma flicked his wrist; the Chakra Black Rod precisely tapped the Scorching Release fireballs, deftly redirecting them toward surrounding Sand Ninja!
“Ah!!”
Piercing screams rang out as several Sand Ninja too slow to dodge were hit, their body moisture instantly evaporated, turning into withered mummies!
Menma’s movements didn’t pause; as the black rod deflected the fireballs, his body surged forward, the rod stabbing like a striking viper precisely through Fugai’s abdomen!
Fugai froze, eyes filled with disbelief and pain.
Menma didn’t glance, withdrawing the rod while spinning into a fierce back roundhouse kick, slamming into Yakura’s waist just as she landed and exhausted her momentum!
Yakura spewed blood again, body uncontrollably flying dozens of meters, crashing heavily into the sand, unable to rise for the moment.
“Teacher Yakura!” Young Kozuki saw this and cried out in shock, wanting to rush over but held back firmly by her nearby captain Ryosuke.
“Barrier Division!” Baki hoarse-roared.
The four long-prepared Barrier Division members immediately slammed hands to the ground!
“Four Violet Flames Formation: Modified!”
Four purple chakra barriers instantly rose, forming a massive cubic barrier that enclosed Menma, who had just dealt with Fugai!
Purple flames burned on the barrier walls, emitting high heat and dangerous aura.
“It worked!” A Sand Ninja exclaimed joyfully.
Rasa inside the barrier wouldn’t miss the chance; enduring his wounds, he formed hand seals again!
“Magnetic Release: Sand Gold Dust World Method!”
Countless sharp sand gold spikes stabbed from the barrier floor, like a suddenly blooming metal thorn forest, thrusting at Menma from all sides!
Facing this all-around kill, Menma merely leaped lightly, his body unnaturally floating midair, easily evading all ground spikes.
“He… he’s flying?!” The Sand Ninja outside gaped, chill deepening in their hearts.
“Don’t give him breathing room!” Rasa bellowed, manipulating massive golden sand into a towering wave crashing at airborne Menma.
Ebizo also released thick purple poison gas filling the barrier.
Chiyo manipulated the last five intact Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to rapidly form an array at the barrier edge!
“Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Draining Collapse!”
Three puppets formed a peculiar formation, generating powerful suction that created a fierce tornado inside the barrier, trying to forcibly pull airborne Menma down!
Facing this composite assault, Menma’s expression remained calm.
The Chakra Black Rod in his hand suddenly extended like a spear, slashing the incoming sand gold wave in half!
Simultaneously, his left hand formed a simple single-hand seal, a faint chakra glow enveloping him, blocking the invading poison gas.
For the powerful suction, he simply thrust the black rod downward; it pierced like nailing an invisible wall, steadily holding him midair unaffected by the tornado.
“With just one person…” Ebizo watched Menma casually resolve all attacks inside the barrier like a stroll, his heart sinking to the bottom.
“Next, my turn.” Menma seemed tired of passive defense; he raised his free left hand, dense chakra gathering in his palm, instantly forming seven or eight shorter Chakra Black Rods.
He tossed them casually; the black rods shot like black lightning, precisely targeting the four Barrier Division members maintaining the barrier!
“Defend quickly!” Baki shouted in alarm.
But the black rods were too fast!
They ignored ordinary ninja tool blocks, slicing through like hot branding irons through butter, easily penetrating the barrier and stabbing into the throats or hearts of the four Barrier Division ninja!
“Urgh…”
The four Barrier Division ninja’s eyes held terror and reluctance as they died instantly.
The chakra supply sustaining the barrier abruptly stopped; the purple-flamed walls flickered like shattered glass before vanishing.
The situation reversed sharply!
Rasa ached seeing his instantly decimated subordinates; these were all Sand Village elites!
At minimum, special jonin.
Madness flashed in Rasa’s eyes.
He body flickered to the heavily guarded Sealing Squad.
The seven-year-old Gaara clutched his shabby little bear doll, small body trembling nonstop from fear, lifting his head with those panda eyes from chronic insomnia, looking at the man nominally his father who had never given him warmth.
Rasa showed no tenderness; he squatted down, hands pressing Gaara’s frail shoulders, voice cold and urgent: “Listen, Gaara. Now is the time for you this ‘weapon’ to shine! For Sand Village!”
Without waiting for Gaara’s response, Rasa rapidly formed hand seals and low-chanted: “Faux Sleep Technique!”
A surge of chakra entered Gaara’s body; Gaara’s eyes instantly lost luster, head lolling as he fell into forced slumber.
Immediately, Rasa unhesitatingly grabbed Gaara’s sleeping body, using all his strength to hurl him at Menma who had just landed!
“Shukaku! Come out!” Rasa shouted.
Midair, a violent, hatred-filled chakra erupted from Gaara like a volcano!
Sand dust rapidly gathered, in a blink forming a massive tanuki-shaped monster covered in purple curse mark patterns.
One-Tails Shukaku!
“Hahahaha! I’m free!! Let this lord see which blind bastard… uh?!” Shukaku, upon manifesting, let out a manic excited roar, waving short claws, ready for massive destruction to vent long-sealed frustration.
However, Shukaku’s laughter abruptly stopped.
Its small eyes skipped over the tiny ant-like Menma below, landing farther on the Ten-Tails, bound by massive black rods yet still emanating terrifying aura, and the eerie dark red Nine-Tails Fox Demon crouched on it crazily devouring its chakra…
Shukaku’s mad laugh froze on its face, waving claws halted midair, massive body even imperceptibly shuddering.
