In the midst of the fierce clash, Shawn suddenly spun and delivered a brutal flying kick.
Boom!
A Cloud Ninja was sent flying, smashing straight through a wall.
The wall collapsed as the man crashed through it, blood spraying from his mouth as he hit the ground—completely unable to rise.
Shawn's raw physical power was terrifying.
That single kick had already crippled him.
"Die!"
The remaining Cloud Ninja seized the opening.
Lightning crackled violently as his chakra-infused blade stabbed straight into Shawn's chest.
Electricity surged through his body.
His muscles went numb.
His nerves screamed.
Yet beneath the mask—
Shawn was smiling.
His left hand lifted.
Wood Release—!
Wooden spikes erupted forward.
The Cloud Ninja's eyes widened. He raised his left arm instinctively—but the spike pierced straight through it, drilling into his shoulder blade.
"You bastard—!"
He hadn't expected Shawn to still be able to counterattack while being electrocuted.
Fortunately, the vital organs hadn't been hit—
Or so he thought.
The wooden spike embedded in his body suddenly sprouted branches.
In an instant, countless wooden thorns burst outward, impaling him from within.
Pfft!
The Cloud Ninja spat out blood, eyes bulging as he stared at Shawn in disbelief.
His grip loosened.
The blade fell.
He collapsed—dead.
Cough—!
Shawn coughed up blood.
His hand trembled as he grabbed the blade still lodged in his chest and clenched his teeth, yanking it free.
Trading injury for a kill.
Worth it.
Zzz— Crackle—
Residual lightning still danced across his body.
Sword in hand, Shawn staggered forward and swiftly finished off the two remaining heavily wounded Cloud Ninja.
The three enemies inside the inn were now all dead.
"Atsu—!"
Suddenly, Inuzuka Ling's furious shout echoed from outside.
Shawn burst out of the inn—
Just in time to see Sarutobi Atsu struck through the chest by a bolt of lightning.
His body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Shawn's eye twitched.
The ground beneath his feet exploded as he launched forward.
A massive torrent of water surged in like a river, slamming straight into him and forcing him back step by step despite his explosive strength.
Just as the Lightning Release Cloud Ninja prepared another attack—
The earth beneath him suddenly softened.
His body sank rapidly.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
The reinforcements had arrived.
Jiraiya. Tsunade. Orochimaru.
The Water Release Cloud Ninja was seized by Orochimaru's extending arms—
and bitten straight through the neck.
Another Cloud Ninja narrowly dodged Tsunade's Heavenly Kick of Pain, but Inuzuka Ling seized the opening.
Fang Over Fang!
The man was smashed into critical condition and immediately swallowed by a swarm of insects.
The battle ended swiftly.
Tsunade rushed to Atsu's side.
After a brief examination—
She silently shook her head.
His heart had been pierced by high-voltage lightning chakra.
Instant death.
Even Hashirama Senju himself couldn't have saved him.
Shawn stepped forward and crouched beside the body.
"Dying for the village… you are a hero of Konoha."
He gently closed Atsu's eyes.
Taking out a sealing scroll, Shawn sealed Atsu's body inside.
Then he stood.
"Withdraw."
Aftermath
They traveled through the night, pushing straight into the Land of Fire.
Only upon reaching Hatake Sakumo's border defense camp did they finally rest.
The night was silent.
Campfires flickered.
Shawn, Inuzuka Ling, and Aburame Feiyi still wore their masks.
Atsu's death weighed heavily on the latter two.
They had lost comrades before—
But grief never truly faded.
As for Shawn—
What he felt was fear.
Fear of how fragile life was.
Fear of how easily it could end.
Stronger.
He had to become stronger.
Not merely superior to others—
But invincible.
Someone no one could threaten.
Across the fire, Jiraiya shifted uncomfortably under the heavy silence.
"Uh… Kou," he said,
"your specialties are swordsmanship and Wind Release, right?"
Shawn came back to himself and nodded.
"And medical ninjutsu too," Tsunade added, glancing at the torn clothing over Shawn's chest.
Shawn nodded again—silent, maintaining his cold persona.
Orochimaru suddenly spoke.
"Do you regret attacking the Cloud Ninja?"
Silence.
Everyone understood the implication.
If Shawn hadn't made that decision—
Atsu wouldn't be dead.
Shawn looked at Orochimaru.
"Everyone dies eventually," he said calmly.
"Some deaths are heavier than mountains."
"Some are lighter than feathers."
"The meaning of life isn't why we live—
but how we die."
Their hearts stirred.
Shawn continued:
"One day, all of us will die."
"In battle. From illness. From old age."
"Which would you choose?"
"A glorious death in battle?"
"A pitiful death from disease?"
"Or a silent death, fading into nothing?"
No one answered.
Shawn stood.
"I'm going to train. Don't follow."
With that, he vanished into the darkness in a few flashes.
Tsunade watched until his silhouette disappeared.
She hadn't expected someone like this to exist under Danzo.
She had… gained a little interest in "Kou."
Behind her, Jiraiya reflected on his destiny child.
And in Orochimaru's heart—
A dangerous thought took root.
Why must people die at all?
Living only to die meaningfully—
That wasn't acceptable.
Resolve
In a secluded place, Shawn stopped.
He exhaled.
"Didn't feel as cool as I expected…"
"Maybe because I didn't take off the mask?"
He rubbed his chin.
As for Atsu's death—
He felt guilt.
But no regret.
That guilt was crushed down—
And transformed into motivation.
He drew his blade.
Training resumed.
Return to Konoha
The next morning, they departed early and returned to Konoha by noon.
Tsunade's group reported to the Third Hokage.
Shawn reported everything in detail to Danzo Shimura.
Danzo snorted coldly.
"So the Cloud Ninja were involved after all."
He showed no reaction to Atsu's death.
Instead, he asked:
"How is your Wood Release?"
"I've mastered the Impaling Technique," Shawn replied.
Danzo nodded.
"For the next half month, you won't take missions. Focus on training."
"After that, you will lead full-scale hunts against all Sky Ninja targets."
Shawn immediately answered:
"Understood!"
Then he added:
"Danzo-sama, I wish to further advance my Wind Release. Please grant me access to Wind-style techniques."
Danzo agreed without hesitation.
"The Root archive contains all of Konoha's Wind Release records."
"I'll authorize you to copy them."
Shawn was overjoyed and bowed deeply.
After lunch, he headed straight to the Root Secret Archive.
The defenses were heavy—but Danzo's order granted him passage.
Suppressing his greed, Shawn went straight to the Wind Release section.
Brush. Ink. Blank scrolls.
He began copying.
Whether he trained them or not—
Every Wind Release technique would be his.
Even unused—
They would become the foundation for techniques he would one day create himself.
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