novelcrest Chapter 48 looks very strong.
Chapter 48 looks very strong.
"...Is this a dream? [Jin] is actually attacking our Kusagakure..."
The Grass Ninja's voices trembled, and cold sweat seeped from their palms as they gripped their weapons. One of them pinched himself hard, hoping to wake up from this nightmare.
"No, don't panic! Maybe it's just an imposter using transformation magic!"
"But that ninjutsu... is exactly the same as the legendary technique that destroyed the gates of Konoha..."
Fear spread through the crowd, but doubt followed. After all, how could that legendary being appear in such a small village?
The leading Jonin swallowed hard and forced himself to take a step forward. His legs were weak, but he had no choice but to speak.
"Who exactly are you, sir? Why are you invading Kusagakure? This is an act of war!"
He prayed desperately in his heart, please, it has to be a fake... or even a hallucination or a nightmare! Why did this have to happen to me?!
"【烬】面麻."
Those three simple words made the leading ninja's knees buckle, almost causing him to kneel on the ground. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue negotiating.
"I...I understand...but...as far as I know, [Jin]'s goal is to prevent war through military intimidation...Our Kusagakure hasn't been involved in any diplomatic conflicts recently..."
Menma tilted his head slightly, his gaze beneath the mask sweeping coldly over the crowd. "...Of course. If you want to start a war...you should know the lessons of the past."
The threat in the words was self-evident. Everyone recalled the rumored intelligence—the fate of the Cloud Village delegation.
"So this is just a warning, a deterrent." Menma slowly raised his hand. "At least... I haven't taken anyone's life yet."
"So... what exactly is your purpose...?"
The leader of the ninjas' voices were dry, like sandpaper being rubbed.
"The bloodline of the Uzumaki clan."
The answer froze the air instantly. The color drained completely from the Jonin's face.
"...What?"
"Your village is hiding a mother and daughter with whirlpool-like energies." Menma's voice came through the mask, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression. "Hand them over. Do as I say, and no one will have to die today."
The Uzumaki bloodline?! The Jonin's mind raced. How could such classified information have been leaked? Could it be that [Jin's] henchmen had already infiltrated the village?
He suddenly remembered the rumor—when [Jin] first appeared, he took away ninjas from the Hyuga clan. Now he's targeting the Uzumaki clan... Is this organization collecting bloodline limits?
A commotion began to rise among the Kusanagi ninja. Whispers spread like a plague.
"What a joke..."
"That's our 'medical kit'..."
"What if we get injured during the mission without them..."
Resistance was written all over everyone's face. Ever since they got their hands on that mother and daughter, the Grass Ninja had no more worries when carrying out missions—if they were injured, they could just bite them and be healed in the blink of an eye. They had already tasted the sweetness of this convenience.
Give up now? Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.
Gradually, the eyes of some of the grass ninja began to change. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will take root and sprout.
"maybe..."
"What if it's fake..."
"Anyone can wear that mask..."
They exchanged glances, reaching a silent understanding. Perhaps... this "masturbator" before them was just an imposter coveting the Vortex bloodline?
Menma silently observed the restless Grass Ninja before him. The whispers and increasingly fierce stares—they were using greed to convince themselves, using profit to numb their fear.
"It seems... some people don't want things to end so easily."
The grass ninjas were stunned for a moment, before they could react.
A palpable killing intent suddenly erupted, pouring out from Menma like a dark tide, instantly engulfing the entire space. The air seemed to freeze, and even breathing became a luxury.
Fear descended.
The grass ninja standing at the front row suddenly collapsed to his knees. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and the scene before him began to distort—he saw himself being pierced through the chest by a dark spiral, his internal organs being torn apart, and blood gushing from his mouth.
"Waaah... Waaah..."
He wanted to scream, but it felt like an invisible hand was gripping his throat, and he could only let out choking sobs.
The ninja next to him was in an even worse state. His crotch was suddenly soaked, and warm liquid flowed down his thighs. But he had no time to care about this humiliation—because he kept seeing the image of himself being beheaded, his head rolling on the ground, and he could see his headless body slowly falling down.
"No...don't..."
Some people began to dry heave uncontrollably, while others scratched their faces frantically, trying to wake themselves from the hallucinations.
Even the leading Jonin froze on the spot, his teeth chattering violently. His reason told him it was all an illusion, but his body insisted.
If I take action... I'll die... I really will die...
His knees slammed heavily onto the ground, and he gasped for breath like a dying fish. Cold sweat soaked his back, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it would explode.
Under the shadow of this murderous intent, everyone witnessed their most gruesome death. Some were burned to a crisp, some were torn to pieces, and some were drained of their chakra and turned into dried corpses...
What's most terrifying is that they can clearly sense that this is probably not a threat or intimidation, but a harbinger.
Menma slowly took a step forward, and the Grass Ninja retreated frantically like a swarm of ants, some even collapsing to the ground because their legs were too weak.
"Now," his voice was exceptionally clear in the deathly silence, "no one wants a meaningless sacrifice."
No one dared to answer.
No one dared to breathe.
Faced with such absolute terror, even thinking becomes a luxury.
This skill is really useful.
Menma secretly praised the system's reward. The effect of "top-level pressure" far exceeded expectations—the Grass Ninja who were just restless now all had unusually "clear" eyes.
However, the play still needs to be performed completely.
He slowly raised his hand, palm facing upward. Dark chakra seeped out like a viscous liquid, twisting and swirling in the air, gradually condensing into a chilling sphere.
Spiral wheel.
An ominous dark light flowed across the surface of the sphere, and the surrounding air emitted subtle popping sounds due to energy overload. Occasionally, sparks of chakra would land on the ground, instantly creating a honeycomb-like pattern of holes.
"Ten minutes."
Mianma's voice was eerily calm.
"Bring the Whirlpool Clan here. Otherwise..."
He tilted his palm slightly, letting the black sphere slowly rotate at his fingertips.
"By the time I go find it myself—Kusagakure will have vanished from the map forever."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, waking the stunned Grass Ninjas. They stared in horror at the sphere that was devouring the light, finally realizing the reality.
"Quickly! Bring that woman and her daughter here!"
The leader was shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice distorted.
"Now! Immediately! Right now! Everyone, get moving!"