It now seemed that Shin's act of removing Kakashi's Sharingan had been the catalyst that reignited his fighting spirit.
Kakashi, however, said nothing in response to Shin's observation. He fixed his gaze on Shin's every movement, a faint trace of sweat forming on his forehead.
Losing the dynamic vision the Sharingan provided hindered Kakashi's control over Raikiri in the beginning. However, as a shinobi, even nerve reflexes could be trained and sharpened over time.
Otherwise, how could the Fourth Raikage, with his Lightning Armor, and Guy, with his Eight Gates open to the seventh, manage their incredible speeds? If they could achieve that control, then Kakashi, with three years of rigorous training, had honed his dynamic vision and reflexes enough to react effectively. Yet, it was precisely because of this sharpened awareness that he sensed the immense threat emanating from Shin.
"Damn it, no matter which angle I choose, he feels untouchable," Kakashi thought, unaware that Shin had the advantage of Observation Haki. To Kakashi, it merely appeared as if Shin subtly adjusted his stance, depriving him of any opening.
"Gate of View — Open!" Guy, standing beside Kakashi, shouted. With the sixth gate open, his hair stood on end as he launched himself forward without a moment's hesitation, throwing a punch.
Simplicity had its merits. Guy didn't hesitate to overthink his approach—regardless of the opponent's strength or the odds of winning, as a master of Strong Fist, he would never back down!
With a loud crash, Shin's hand caught Guy's fist. The impact created a shockwave that fractured the ground beneath them.
"What?!" Guy gasped, surprised not just by Shin's ability to block his punch but by the fact that Shin hadn't even flinched. Shin had neither drawn much chakra nor been pushed back; he simply stood there, unperturbed. Such physical strength was almost beyond Guy's comprehension.
Suddenly, A dark mist radiated from Shin's palm, and Guy quickly realized that Shin was absorbing his chakra. In his current Sixth Gate state, his chakra was already wildly turbulent, and now it was draining away rapidly.
Guy's hair settled within seconds, and his previously flushed red skin returned to normal. With the loss of so much chakra, his stamina was depleted, and he nearly collapsed.
But at that moment, a flash of lightning surged toward Shin—Kakashi's Raikiri.
Yet Shin turned his body slightly, allowing Kakashi's attack to miss its mark. In an instant, Shin seized Kakashi's wrist.
"Impossible! This guy can sense my moves!" Kakashi thought, alarmed. He had timed his attack to coincide with Guy's assault, thinking Shin's line of sight was blocked. Even if Shin dodged, Kakashi believed he could at least create an opening for Guy to escape.
However, Shin had not only sidestepped Raikiri but had also precisely captured Kakashi's wrist. His reaction speed and perception were far beyond what Kakashi had anticipated.
And worse still, as with Guy, Shin began to siphon chakra directly from Kakashi's body. This chakra-draining ability rendered any close combat with him disastrous; few shinobi could continue fighting after such an encounter.
Kakashi's chakra, while considerably improved over the past three years without the strain of the Sharingan, was still at the average Jonin level. Within seconds of contact, he could feel his strength leaving him.
"Kakashi! Guy! Release them!" A voice rang out as the ground erupted with thick vines, attempting to bind Shin.
However, a layer of dark energy encased Shin's body. The resilient vines creaked and splintered upon contact, unable to restrain him.
Shin shrugged off the vines with a slight movement, snapping them effortlessly, then casually tossed Kakashi and Guy to the side.
Two Anbu shinobi, marked by their animal masks, blurred into motion, catching Kakashi and Guy. Clearly, the village couldn't ignore the commotion any longer; a formidable presence had arrived.
The soft hum of multiple kunai filled the air as a large group of Konoha shinobi surrounded Shin. Among them were two Uchiha sporting three-tomoe Sharingan, the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Third Hokage himself, and several members of the Hyuga clan, led by Hiashi.
And the one who had used the wood release jutsu earlier was Anbu standing beside the Hokage—a young shinobi known as Yamato.
Shin couldn't help but feel amused at the sight. Last time, when he had dismantled Root, Yamato had survived the attack. Now, it appeared he had become an elite Anbu under the Third Hokage's command.
But with such a weak wood release, it's no wonder they said, "The First Hokage's wood release conquered the world while Yamato's wood release is for forest restoration."
Danzo had likely pinned high hopes on Yamato's wood release. But compared to the legendary power of the First Hokage, Yamato was no more than an elite shinobi.
"Kurogami, what business do you have here in Konoha again?" The Third Hokage brandished the Adamantine Staff, his expression fierce.
However, Shin could see through his display. Typically, a threat like Shin would warrant an immediate, decisive attack. Yet, despite his seemingly aggressive words, the Hokage's tone was cautious. He hoped Shin hadn't come to Konoha seeking retribution and held no real intent of exacting vengeance upon him.
Shin smiled, letting the words hang in the air. "What I'm here for is beside the point. Let's have a little warm-up, shall we?"
Without waiting for a response, Shin shifted, evading Nara Shikaku's Shadow Possesion Jutsu with ease, and then launched a powerful punch.
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