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~In a Dark Forest~
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On the dark rainy moonless night, Ryoichi appeared on a large branch wearing his Anbu uniform. He looked at the bunch of Shinobi patrolling the surrounding area. His gold metallic eyes scammed each and every Shinobi guarding Mizuki's base.
Ryoichi frowned noticing the less number of Shinobi than the previous day.
"Did they take on some mission? There are 13 people less guarding the area." Ryoichi muttered.
'Is this for good or bad… there are fewer enemies to fight thus the risk factor is much lower, but on the other hand, their leader might be on a mission and would be able to escape…'
"Should I wait for a few days? No, I can't waste any more time or else the backup from the village will arrive."
Ryoichi's thoughts weren't far from the truth, he had already spent 3 days in Akihara village while surveying the Mizuki's base area. The maximum time limit on this mission was a week. if he takes the time it took him to reach Akihara village and the time it will take to return back to Konoha, he has only this night to complete his task.
Ryoichi didn't waste more time thinking and churned in action. He had already memorised the new position of all the patroling Shinobi, and their movement patterns while analysing the surroundings.
With his unique and deadly stealth, he easily started taking down Shinobi after Shinobi at a record time. And in 10 minutes he easily took down the 30-40 Shinobi under the sound of rainfall.
Ryoichi waved off the blood from his wakizashi and sheathed it back. He raised his head feeling the refreshing raindrops seeping through his uniform and removing the murky stench of blood from him. Once the blood was completely washed away, he walked towards the tunnel which led towards the Mizuki's base.
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Inside the base, a frowning man was sitting behind a table while looking at the door which slowly slid open revealing Ryoichi with blood covering him again.
"You're not the leader…" Ryoichi nonchalantly commented, making the frowning man scowl.
"Who are you-
"Who are you? Why did you kill my people? what's your motive?" It's all pointless questions." Ryoichi spoke cutting off the man before speaking again.
"It's not questions you should be asking, but the answers you should be telling… if you want to die peacefully that is."
"You hairless brat who do think you're standing before!" The frowning man shouted with veins popping out his forehead. His words reminded Ryoichi of the first member of Mizuki he met.
Clearly, that man was this man's subordinate.
"Yeah, I know… A failed Kage-rank Shinobi at the end of his potential. In short… A failure." Ryoichi flatly spoke, noticing the man's Chakra quality was stuck between an S-rank and Kage rank, meaning a quasi-Kage or demi-kage.
Ryoichi knew that to increase the rank of a Shinobi one doesn't need only Chakra quantity because if that was the case none of Uzumakis would have below Jonin level strength. A Shinobi needs both quantity and quality of Chakra while simultaneously possessing the skills to back up their Chakra to qualify for any rank.
The quality of Chakra is far more important than quantity. The reason behind that was the Chakra reinforcement and high-level Jutsus. A Shinobi's physical body is not strong like the One Piece world's residents. They need Chakra reinforcements to perform superhuman feet.
So the quality is very important because no matter how huge their quantity is, a Genin level Chakra quality can only raise their speed and strength to Genin level no matter how much they pump it. They can maintain Chakra reinforcement longer with huge Chakra quantity, but no matter how much they pump their Genin-level Charka they will not raise their physical prowess to Chunin level.
The high-level Jutsu requirements were not that strict, but it is hard to perform with lower quality Chakra nonetheless.
A Genin can use an A-rank Justu with enough Chakra, but the difference is huge. The Justu that will only take a drop of Jonin-level Chakra will completely exhaust Genin's Chakra reservoir.
Those are not the only reasons Chakra quality is important. A higher quality Chakra has better nourishing quality and is needed to permanently strengthen the body further.
From what Ryoichi has deduced after examining many Shinobis from Academy students to Super-Kage like Hashirama, the quality of Chakra feels gaseous to liquid and in Hashirama's case thick liquid like Honey.
The quality stays mostly the same from birth, this also explains the talent factor of a Shinobi.
The reason why Ryoichi said "mostly" is because he has seen the quality of Chakra also change, mainly his and a guy named Dai.
Ryoichi's Chakra quality originally was Jonin level, but as his physical energy increased to match his high-quality mental energy his Chakra quality increased as well.
Ryoichi still doesn't know if it's his physical energy quality increasing to match his superior mental energy, or absorbing Natural energy was the reason behind such change, but it proved him that potential can be increased.
But all those things are a problem for another time as a very angry quasi-kage is charging at him.
"I'm Arasoi Kazyua, the impenetrable defence you impudent brat."
"Wasn't that Raikage?"
Ryoichi ducked hurriedly after taunting Kazuya as a powerful punch blew past his afterimage.
'Fast…' Ryoichi thought as Kazuya's kick reached him, making him hurriedly cross his arms to block.
Ryoichi immediately launched himself back using the force behind the kick to cushion the blow and to create some distance.
"What the fuck is this!" Kazuya shouted while looking at the black mark the SEAL MATRIX left on his leg. He tried to remove the ink, only for it to move near his spine.
"The Fuck-huh?"
Kazuya cursed loudly which got cut off by Ryoichi's kick that sent him flying through the wall.
Ryoichi didn't waste time and substituted with a broken stone piece and landed another kick on Kazuya that launched him flying again.
Ryoichi tried to repeat his attacks again, but got caught.
"Got you now bitch-huh"
Before Kazuya could celebrate his accomplishment, Ryoichi substituted again.
"SUBSTITUTION JUTSU? No! You didn't use any hand sign, a bloodline ability? Is that the source behind your arrogance, huh?" Kazuya analysed which nearly caused Ryoichi to snort at the man's proud tone, but he didn't instead he rushed at Kazuya who had let his guard down during his rambling.
Ryoichi smirked seeing the seals slowly spreading in Kazuya's body, making him freeze. Ryoichi's wakizashi reached near Kazuya's neck, aiming to sever it cleanly.
But just as Ryoichi's blade sunk into Kazuya's neck, a powerful Chakra wave was released from him, pushing away all the seals outside his body alongside Ryoichi who flung back and crashed against a wall.
Ryoichi slowly stood up as he saw Kazuya looking at him with murderous eyes. His own widen a little seeing his seals taken down like that.
'What the-' Ryoichi nearly cursed feeling shocked, but stopped himself as a look of realization passed through his mind.
'Of course, the Fuinjutsu are not omnipotent otherwise the Uzumakis wouldn't be wiped out. And… the gap between Jonin and Kage is bigger than I thought.'
Ryoichi wiped the blood coming out of his lips and threw the dim Chakra stone away.
'Such a waste of time'
Ryoichi's Haki suddenly flare in danger as he instinctively raised his arms which blocked Kazuya's kick.
"Agh" Ryoichi grunted and felt immense pain as his bones cracked while his body dug deeper into the wall.
Not letting the pain get the better of him, he immediately substituted away, only to instinctively block another kick.
Fortunately, there was no wall behind him this time, so he easily threw himself back to cushion the blow.
Kazuya didn't let Ryoichi go and followed with another attack, but this time Ryoichi didn't waste time as he felt the upcoming blow through his Haki. He slightly tilted his head which was the most he could do in the given time, and let the punch through his afterimage.
Ryoichi felt the punch nearly blow his ear off as he substituted again. He appeared at some distance, and just as he was preparing for another attack, his Haki screamed danger like never before.
The temperature inside the large room instantly increased by a few degrees as Kazuya released a large fire dragon.
-FIRE STYLE JUTSU: DRAGON METEORITE!!!
'A big fire Ninjustu in this enclosed room, does he intend to kill us both?'
Ryoichi immediately tried to substitute with the farthest thing he could find with his Haki but got delayed due to his Chakra being turbulent by his previous use of SUBSTITUTION JUTSU.
*BOOOOMMM!!!*
The fire Justu caused a huge explosion, completely destroying Mizuki's base.
Amidst all the fire and wreckage Kazuya walked out of the base, his clothes almost burned out, but there was no damage on him as his skin had turned brown. This was his Clan's Jutsu that gave him the title-Impenetrable defence.
"Cough! Cough!"
Kazuya heard the coughing sound as he was relishing his victory. He turned his head towards the origin of that sound and saw Ryoichi standing up with multiple second and third-degree burns.
"Hahahaha!!! THIS IS IT!!! THIS IS THE FEELING I WAS LONGING FOR. The feeling of being alive as the adrenaline courses through the veins faster than any supercar, ITS THE BEST!!!"
Kazuya got spooked as he saw Ryoichi laugh crazily with his face and body burned.
"I hope you're ready for round two, cause shit's about to get real!" Ryoichi declared loudly.
"Crazy bastard! What second round you are already half dead. Acting crazy won't get you nowhere!"
Ryoichi shook his head at Kazuya's words. Does this idiot thinks he tried his best?
'Fool…'
"Me bluffing? Who said that!"
"I'm already dead? Who decided that?!! You! A failure!!!"
Ryoichi didn't waste more time and made a sign which caused the thousands of seals he planted during the previous two days to come to life and form a massive formation.
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[AN: If you want to read more go to my Patr*on/41_Claws. There are 10+ advance unedited chapters on it…]
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