Chapter 32: My First Battlefield — Fighting a Kaguya Clan Jonin

Within the Land of Fire—

At a stronghold originally guarded by Konoha shinobi, the situation had already changed completely.

The Konoha shinobi who had been stationed there had been slaughtered.

"My lord, we can’t advance any farther. We’re already deep inside the border."

A Kirigakure Chunin pleaded anxiously with the man standing before him.

The man had sunken eye sockets and two black circular markings between his eyebrows.

His face was filled with the satisfaction of someone who had just indulged in battle and slaughter.

A member of the Kaguya clan and a Jonin, he casually shook the blood from the bone blade in his hand and spoke impatiently.

"Are you finished yet?"

"You’ve already said that twice."

The Kirigakure Chunin’s expression froze.

So he actually remembers how many times I’ve said it...

But they really were already quite far from the border.

If Konoha shinobi surrounded them here, they would all be finished!

He reluctantly tried to persuade the Kaguya Jonin a few more times.

However, the man’s increasingly impatient responses left him with no choice but to give up.

In the end, he could only return to his companions and arrange even more traps to prepare for the attack that might come at any moment.

Not far from the stronghold—

"The stronghold ahead is our target. The enemy has already occupied it."

"Although you’re quite strong, combat during ordinary shinobi missions is completely different from a life-and-death battle on an actual battlefield."

Sarutobi Korin spoke in an unpleasant tone.

Reiji frowned slightly but said nothing.

Does this guy have something wrong with him?

Why has he been targeting me ever since we met?

Can’t he just speak normally?

As for Sarutobi Korin—

Whenever he looked at Reiji, he couldn’t help feeling jealous.

Barely ten years old, and he had already passed the Chunin Exams alone while possessing such incredible strength.

Korin himself had decent talent within the Sarutobi clan and could even be considered a minor genius.

Yet he was already twenty years old and had only just become a Special Jonin.

Meanwhile, Reiji...

He would probably become a true Jonin at around twelve years old, just like Kakashi.

How could Korin not be jealous?

The darker emotions in his heart gradually grew.

He even wished that Reiji would simply die on the battlefield.

Earlier, Korin had hoped to watch Reiji embarrass himself because this was his first time on a battlefield.

Unfortunately, he had been disappointed.

Reiji had detected the various traps ahead with considerable experience and avoided them effortlessly.

Suppressing his complicated emotions, Korin looked toward the enemy stronghold before turning back to Reiji.

"You go and lure the enemies out."

"We’ll hide nearby and ambush them when they come."

Reiji glanced at his two temporary teammates.

Both of them were also members of the Sarutobi clan.

Neither objected.

At that moment, Reiji felt that he finally understood why so many Uchiha had such a poor opinion of the Sarutobi clan.

Let someone else take the risk while I reap the benefits.

And they could say it so openly and shamelessly.

"We don’t need to go through all that trouble."

Reiji shook his head.

He turned toward the stronghold ahead.

His chest suddenly expanded violently as he drew in a massive amount of air.

Then—

"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

BOOM!

A vast sea of flames erupted.

The entire stronghold was engulfed in fire.

The walls were blasted apart by the flames, while all the traps hidden along the approach were instantly burned to nothing.

Many of the Kirigakure shinobi inside didn’t even have time to scream before they were swallowed by the inferno.

"This..."

Sarutobi Korin’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Such an enormous-scale Fire Release!

And what had he just heard?

Majestic Destroyer Flame?

As a member of the Sarutobi clan, which also specialized in Fire Release, Korin naturally knew about many of the Uchiha’s most powerful Fire Release techniques.

A technique like Majestic Destroyer Flame should only be usable by the true elites of the Uchiha clan.

So how had this little brat used it so effortlessly?

And without even forming hand seals?!

Korin had heard that this Uchiha Reiji could perform ninjutsu without hand seals.

But he had never imagined that even a technique on the level of Majestic Destroyer Flame could be performed without them!

"Don’t just stand there."

"The surviving enemies are coming out."

Reiji glanced at his stunned temporary commander and teammates and frowned.

Is this really their level?

They actually had the nerve to mock me for being a first-time battlefield participant?

Sarutobi Korin finally recovered.

His face flushed with humiliation.

He angrily glared at his temporary subordinate for being so disrespectful.

At that moment—

From within the gradually disappearing sea of flames, a powerful figure burst out.

His body was covered in pale-white bones.

His movements were incredibly agile.

"Finally!"

"Some worthy opponents!"

"I can finally have a satisfying battle!"

The Kaguya Jonin emerged from the flames with an ecstatic expression.

His eyes swept across Reiji and the others before settling on Sarutobi Korin, who appeared to be the leader.

"Was that Fire Release just now yours?"

As he spoke—

His body suddenly exploded forward like a cannonball.

BOOM!

He slammed directly into Sarutobi Korin!

"Gah!"

Korin hurriedly raised the short sword strapped to his back to block.

But the Kaguya Jonin’s bones smashed straight through the weapon.

The short sword snapped.

Korin was sent flying backward along with it!

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

His body continued flying backward until he crashed through a tree behind him.

Only then did he finally stop.

Jonin!

A genuine Jonin!

And not an ordinary Jonin.

A Kaguya clan Jonin who specialized in physical combat and possessed the Kekkei Genkai known as Shikotsumyaku—the Dead Bone Pulse!

Sarutobi Korin realized this.

But it was already too late.

From the ruins of the stronghold, several surviving Kirigakure shinobi staggered out.

Their bodies were covered in burns, but they were still capable of fighting.

The other two temporary teammates immediately felt their danger instincts screaming.

The thought of retreat instantly appeared in their minds.

Their enemy had a Kaguya clan Jonin.

And he had crippled their Special Jonin commander in a single exchange.

On top of that, several other Kirigakure shinobi were still capable of fighting.

They couldn’t possibly win!

"...So it wasn’t you."

The Kaguya Jonin twisted his neck.

His gaze swept across the remaining Konoha shinobi.

Then—

"Your opponent is me!"

Reiji suddenly exploded forward.

His speed reached its peak in an instant.

His fist shot toward the Kaguya Jonin with overwhelming force!

"Hahaha!"

The Kaguya Jonin laughed wildly.

He threw his own fist forward at the same time!

BOOM!

Their fists collided head-on.

A violent shockwave erupted.

Dust and smoke were swept outward by the resulting gust of wind!

The Kaguya Jonin’s expression suddenly froze.

He lowered his head.

His body was slowly being forced backward.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

In terms of pure strength...

I was actually suppressed by this kid?!

If you want to read 60 Chapters ahead of the public release, head over to: Patreon.com/RedString