Chapter 33: I Only Wanted to Use You to Gain Real Combat Experience

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The dull sounds of flesh colliding erupted from time to time as the two figures moved so quickly that they were almost impossible to see.

The Kaguya clan Jonin was becoming increasingly horrified as the battle continued.

Whether in strength or speed, he was actually being outmatched!

But how was that possible?!

Looking at the obviously young body in front of him, it was clear that his opponent was at most a little over ten years old.

How could a child barely ten years old possibly compete with a Jonin in taijutsu—and even gain the upper hand?

He was a member of the Kaguya clan!

Taijutsu was supposed to be his specialty!

"Gah!"

A punch slammed into his abdomen.

The agonizing pain forced a mouthful of blood from his lips as the Kaguya Jonin hurriedly retreated.

After casually taking down a Kirigakure Chunin who attempted to attack him, Reiji rubbed his fist.

"What? Keep going."

"Weren’t we having a great time just now?"

The Kaguya Jonin’s face darkened.

He wanted to curse.

What makes you think I was having a great time?

I’ve been getting beaten this entire time!

"...You really are an incredible genius."

The Kaguya Jonin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and revealed a bloodthirsty smile.

"Remember this."

"The one who kills you is a member of the Kaguya clan, wielder of the Shikotsumyaku!"

As he spoke, he raised his arm toward Reiji.

Several finger bones shot out like bullets, accompanied by sharp whistles as they tore through the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Reiji remained completely calm.

Using his kunai, he knocked each bone projectile out of the air one after another.

Sharp metallic impacts rang out continuously.

"...Your bones really are hard."

Reiji glanced at the kunai in his hand, which had been battered almost beyond recognition by the bone projectiles.

He casually threw it aside and drew the short sword strapped to his back.

"I am a member of the Kaguya clan!"

The Kaguya Jonin roared.

A bone blade formed in his hand as he charged straight toward Reiji!

The slender, razor-sharp bone blade tore through the air with a piercing whistle, about to clash with Reiji’s short sword.

A mocking look appeared in the Kaguya Jonin’s eyes.

He actually intends to block a Kaguya’s bones with an ordinary sword?

As the bone blade descended, he eagerly anticipated the sight of Reiji’s sword—and neck—being severed together.

But then—

Zzzzt—!

A sharp, birdlike cry rang out as blue electrical arcs suddenly erupted.

Lightning Release chakra flooded into Reiji’s short sword!

Chidori Katana!

This was an application of Chidori that infused the technique into a weapon.

By utilizing Lightning Release’s piercing properties, it dramatically increased the sword’s cutting ability.

Although Reiji had yet to complete his development of Chidori into its more advanced form, Raikiri, he had already mastered several simpler applications of Chidori.

With Lightning Release reinforcing the blade, the short sword instantly became capable of cutting through metal as if it were mud.

Slash!

The bone blade was cut cleanly in half.

The momentum of the strike continued toward the Kaguya Jonin’s neck!

"!"

The Kaguya Jonin was almost scared out of his wits.

Two bones immediately protruded from his collarbone, catching Reiji’s sword.

Using the brief instant those bones bought him, he performed a Body Flicker Technique and retreated more than ten meters.

Drip.

He touched his neck.

His fingers came away stained with fresh blood.

Although he had defended himself and retreated as quickly as possible, the blade had still managed to graze him.

The Kaguya Jonin steadied himself and stared at the short sword still crackling with electricity.

A lingering sense of fear filled his heart.

If he had been even a fraction of a second slower just now, he would have been dead!

"That is some powerful Lightning Release."

The Kaguya Jonin spoke with lingering fear.

"With Lightning Release of that level... are you Hatake Kakashi?"

"No, that can’t be. The age doesn’t match."

"You don’t need to remember who I am."

Reiji shook the blood from his short sword and charged forward once again.

"After all, you won’t live past today."

"Arrogant brat!"

The Kaguya Jonin was furious.

Being looked down upon so thoroughly by a child this young was an unprecedented humiliation for him.

"Dance of the Camellia!"

With an angry roar, countless razor-sharp bones emerged from his palms, elbows, knees, and back!

His entire body became like a deadly porcupine.

With a ferocious expression, the Kaguya Jonin charged forward.

The sharp clashes between blade and bone erupted repeatedly.

One bone blade after another was severed by Reiji’s Chidori-enhanced sword.

But gradually, the short sword in Reiji’s hand also began to deteriorate.

Reiji retreated and looked down at the blade.

Its edge had already become badly chipped.

He frowned.

This sword is just an ordinary standard-issue short sword.

Its durability is nothing special.

It actually can’t hold up after only a few exchanges.

Seeing this, the Kaguya Jonin finally breathed a sigh of relief and burst into laughter.

"I told you already!"

"I am a member of the Kaguya clan!"

The other Kirigakure shinobi also showed signs of relief.

Earlier, when they had watched their strongest fighter being suppressed by such a young child, they had almost thought they were trapped in some kind of genjutsu.

But now—

It was clear that no matter how talented someone was, being too young still placed limits on them.

What a pity.

Konoha’s future genius was going to die here today.

Sarutobi Korin and the other two Sarutobi shinobi had previously been barely holding their own against the enemy.

But after seeing Reiji’s sword ruined, their fighting spirit nearly collapsed altogether.

Although Korin had been jealous of Reiji and had deliberately targeted him earlier, he understood one thing clearly.

If they wanted to survive today, their only hope was for Reiji to kill—or at least hold off—the Kaguya Jonin.

"If that’s the case..."

Reiji sighed somewhat regretfully.

"Then I suppose we’ll end this here."

This was his first time on a real battlefield.

He had been taking every aspect of the battle seriously, hoping to accumulate as much experience as possible.

Especially genuine, life-and-death combat experience.

After all, he had to prepare for the future Uchiha massacre.

"It isn’t often that I run into an opponent with decent strength."

"You happened to be perfect for helping me gain some real combat experience."

"What a pity it has to end like this."

As he spoke, the air around Reiji’s right hand suddenly distorted.

An enormous amount of high-density Lightning Release chakra began gathering in his palm.

Chirp—! Chirp—! Chirp—!

The sound of a thousand birds rang out.

The Kaguya Jonin’s face twitched violently.

"Use me to gain combat experience..."

"You damn brat!"

He was trembling with rage.

Just how much contempt was hidden behind those words?!

This entire battle had merely been a way for this kid to farm combat experience?!

"Those thousand birds..."

"That is Hatake Kakashi’s technique!"

The Kaguya Jonin quickly recognized the ninjutsu.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Hatake Kakashi had earned a tremendous reputation using the Sharingan together with this very technique.

The Kaguya Jonin did not dare underestimate Reiji any longer.

He immediately employed his strongest defensive technique.

"Dance of the Pines!"

A massive amount of bone erupted from his body.

Layer upon layer of bone covered his entire body, forming an absolute defense that completely enclosed him.

"Let me see what kind of power my improved version has."

Reiji grinned.

He subtly adjusted the flow of Lightning Release chakra.

The buzzing of the Chidori in his hand weakened slightly.

But—

Everyone could clearly tell that the Chidori’s power had become even more terrifying!

His Sharingan locked onto the target.

Reiji’s figure vanished from his original position.

At a speed that was almost impossible to perceive, he appeared directly in front of the Kaguya Jonin.

Then—

He thrust his hand forward.

The Kaguya’s supposedly impenetrable bone armor was practically useless.

The lightning-wreathed hand pierced straight through the bones.

Then through the chest.

The Kaguya Jonin’s face still carried unwillingness as he stared at Reiji from point-blank range.

He wanted to counterattack.

But the light in his eyes gradually faded.

His body finally went limp.

The Kaguya Jonin had died.

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