"Mm, another ten thousand chakra points—nice!" Seimei released his grip, sensing the chakra within him, nodding with satisfaction.
At that moment, the heavy thuds of two fallen bodies echoed as the corpses of two Mist Village Genin collapsed before him, lifeless.
Ignoring them, Seimei's gaze swept the field, fixing on another Mist Chūnin.
This target was currently locked in combat with a Konoha Chūnin.
*Clang!*
Seimei drew the long sword from his waist. Sizing up his opportunity, a blue glow emanated from his body as he executed his "Instant Blade Technique."
In an instant, he was at the Mist Chūnin's side.
Without hesitation, the moment his movement halted, Seimei swung his long blade.
However, perhaps due to witnessing Seimei take down three others before him, this Mist Chūnin was somewhat prepared mentally. As the sword swung, he ducked to dodge.
Not only did he evade the strike, but he also rolled away to create some distance.
His actions were fluid, almost seamless.
But seeing this, Seimei merely shook his head. "It's pointless."
Without further words, he closed in, swinging his sword once more.
This time, his speed increased.
Due to his wariness of Seimei's Sharingan illusions, the Mist Chūnin avoided making direct eye contact and couldn't catch the angle of attack in time.
With both factors working against him, by the time he registered the attack, it was too late to evade.
With no other option, he braced himself to block.
At the last possible moment, he raised a kunai, bringing it up in front of him.
*Clink!*
The crisp clash of metal resounded.
Seimei's blow struck the kunai with such force that the Mist Chūnin stumbled back half a step.
That half-step retreat lost him the upper hand entirely.
In the next instant, Seimei pulled back, his body flickering as he reappeared at the Chūnin's side like a phantom.
*Whoosh!*
His long sword slashed through the air, whistling as it moved.
Sensing the lethal intent, Yoko Onoya leapt back.
Missing his target, Seimei showed no pause, shifting quickly to the other side of his opponent and swinging his sword again.
A deep sense of danger struck Yoko, but with no chance to escape, he was forced into defense.
However, each of Seimei's strikes carried immense force and precise angles, leaving Yoko unable to summon his full strength.
With this back-and-forth, Yoko had no choice but to retreat step by step.
*Clink clink clink!*
The rapid clang of metal echoed like a rainstorm.
Seimei pressed his attack relentlessly.
Finally, a few heartbeats later, Yoko Onoya lost his rhythm.
As Seimei swung once more, Yoko couldn't react in time, losing half his arm to the strike.
"Argh!"
A painful cry escaped from Yoko's mouth.
Seimei was unmoved.
Seizing the moment when his opponent froze from the pain, he used the "Instant Blade Technique" to appear before him, casting the "Demonic Illusion: Shackles of Pain" technique.
In an instant, Yoko was immobilized, feeling as if massive iron spikes had pierced him, pinning him painfully in place.
Seimei ignored Yoko's expression of agony, raised his hand, and formed a sign, executing the "Chakra Absorption Technique."
When Seimei pressed his hand against Yoko's chest, a powerful suction sensation overtook Yoko, draining the chakra from within him like rushing water.
At this point, Yoko managed to remain calm.
But as his chakra was drained dry and the absorption continued, pulling from his physical and spiritual energies, fear finally overcame him, filling his eyes with terror.
Physical and spiritual energy—these are the essence of a person, representing both the body and the spirit. Once depleted, how could someone survive?
The answer was clear.
"No—!"
In his final moments, Yoko's enraged scream shattered Seimei's "Shackles of Pain" illusion.
But it was of no use.
As Seimei withdrew his hand, Yoko's life force faded entirely.
*Thud!*
Yoko's body hit the ground heavily.
Without a glance, Seimei immediately set his sights on another Mist Chūnin.
This one reacted even faster, responding almost instantly.
However, against overwhelming strength, tricks held no weight.
In just a few breaths, Seimei seized an opportunity, immobilizing him and repeating the familiar "Chakra Absorption Technique."
A few seconds later, Seimei had drained his chakra, physical energy, and spiritual energy.
With that, his chakra reserves finally exceeded eighty thousand points.
Increasing further wouldn't be easy, though.
Just then, two Mist Jōnin were closing in on him from a distance.
Clearly, Mist Village was now focusing efforts to take him down.
Seimei was hardly surprised.
He understood that a well-known shinobi like him would inevitably be targeted by enemy ninjas once he appeared on the battlefield.
That's why he acted with such speed and decisiveness—fearful of interruptions.
Now, with his chakra replenished, there was nothing to worry about.
In fact, he was somewhat eager to face these Mist Jōnin.
The reason?
Simple: after the valley battle, his mastery of the "Instant Blade Technique" had increased.
Now at level 6 (8450/10,000), it was close to reaching level 7.
Having a few skilled opponents would save him quite a bit of effort.
So, Seimei had no qualms about the incoming Mist forces.
With this thought, he wasted no time, drawing his long sword once more. A flash of blue light emanated from him as he used the "Instant Blade Technique" to close the distance to the two approaching Jōnin.
On the other side, seeing Seimei rushing straight toward them, the two Mist Jōnin exchanged a glance. Instead of dodging, they spread out slightly, advancing toward Seimei from a pincer position.
Just before closing in, each threw a kunai aimed at Seimei's throat and heart.
Sensing the danger, the three tomoe in Seimei's eyes spun rapidly, locking onto the incoming kunai. He sidestepped one and slashed the other away with his sword.
But the two Jōnin had been waiting for this moment.
Seizing the instant Seimei blocked the kunai, they launched their own attacks—a punch and a kick targeting his head and neck.
Seimei responded quickly, ducking forward to evade both attacks.
The two Mist Jōnin were relentless, immediately pulling out another kunai each, striking and stabbing toward Seimei.
Seimei didn't hesitate. Leaning back, he dodged the incoming strike, then blocked the second kunai with his sword.
*Clang!*
The kunai clinked against the sword's blade.
One of the Jōnin attempted to push Seimei back with sheer force.
However, Seimei stood firm, his chakra anchoring him to the ground without budging an inch.
Not only that, but he angled his blade, causing the Jōnin to overreach, his momentum pulling him forward.
Seimei's eyes sharpened, and he reversed his grip on the sword, swinging upward at the Mist Jōnin as if to slice him in half.
*(End of Chapter)*