Shihe three remaining in, pig up the fallen Jōnin's sword.

  "So, you want to avenge your captain? e get some."

  The three in exged gnces. None of them dared to make a move.

  This kid was creepy. He'd already killed one of them and taken down their captain.

  They weren't about to uimate him now.

  "Fine, I'll e to you then."

  Shin vanished into the darkness. Ihick forest, his speed and trolled ferocity, much like Toji Fushiguro, rendered him untraceable.

  "Watch out!"

  But it was too te. Shin's sword pierced the in's heart before he could finish his warning.

  Shin withdrew his sword and dashed towards the in.

  "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"

  Sensing the dahe in swiftly formed hand seals, eng himself in a sphere of water for prote.

  The Water Prison Jutsu was a k Jutsu that could trap enemies or be used defensively.

  "You think that stop me? How naive."

  Shin eled Chakra into the sword, enhang its pierg power. The water prison shattered like a fragile bubble as the sword pluhrough, impaling the in's heart.

  Another one down.

  "Just o."

  Shin looked at the st in. Killing these elite in was starting to feel like swatting flies.

  "Kakashi graduated and became a Genin at five, and everyone called him a genius. I'm five, and I'm wiping the floor with elite in. What does that make me? A prodigy? A monster?"

  Shin muttered to himself.

  "Monster! You're a monster!"

  The st in poi Shin, his eyes wide with terror. He turned and fled.

  "You're the monster! And you're not getting away."

  Shin stomped on the ground, creating a small crater. He shot forward like an arrow, chasing after the fleeing in.

  This guy was crucial to his mission; Shin couldn't let him escape.

  And for his and Kushina's safety, he couldn't leave any witnesses.

  "Die!"

  Shin quickly caught up, swinging the sword. It wasn't ideal for sshing, but with Shin's strength, it would cleave the in in two.

  The sword ected, and just as Shin rexed, the figure he'd struck transformed into a log. A Substitution Jutsu.

  "Substitution?"

  Shin hadn't expected the in to use a Substitution Jutsu at the st moment.

  "Adamantine Sealing s!"

  Chakra s erupted from Shin's back, snaking through the forest and ensnaring the fleeing in.

  "strict!"

  The s tighteearing the in apart.

  Shin's face paled as he looked at the gruesome sight. He quickly turned away.

  He was used to blood, having hunted animals in the forest. He hadn't felt anything when he killed the first in.

  The few deaths had caused a slight ripple in his emotions, but this st one... this was too much.

  The Chakra s dissipated. Shin leaned against a tree, gagging.

  He swore he'd never use the s like that again. It was too brutal, even for him.

  "gratutions, Master. Mission plete. You have been awarded one Advanced Replication Card."

  "Whew, finally got the reward." Shin posed himself and called out to Kushina. "e out, Kushina. It's over."

  Kushina emerged, looking bewildered. It was over?

  It was too dark, and she didn't have the Sharingan. She hadn't seen anything.

  She walked over and saw the Jonin's body. "Shin, how did you do it?"

  "Doesn't matter. Let's see what loot we got."

  Shin started rummaging through the Jonin's pouch while Kushina stood back, a little scared.

  Even though the ninjas were dead, she was still frightened. It was a good thing she hadn't seen the in Shin had torn apart with the s; she might have fainted.

  Shin found several Explosive Tags, a valuable odity.

  There were also Kunai, Shuriken, and two Jutsu scrolls.

  "B-rank Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu and Water Style: Hiding in Mist Jutsu."

  Shin frowhese Jutsu gave him a clue about the attackers' identities. They were likely from Kirigakure.

  "Looks like Kirigakure is behind this atta Uzushiogakure."

  Only the Five Great Nations had the strength to attack the Uzumaki . Konoha was an ally; they wouldn't be involved.

  Sunagakure and Iwagakure were too far away; attag Uzushiogakure would be logistically impractical.

  That left Kumogakure and Kirigakure, both of which could unch attacks from the sea.

  Kirigakure's involvement was firmed. He wasn't sure about Kumogakure, though.

  If there was one vilge with the most ambition, it was Kumogakure. Their involvement was highly probable.

  After all, the Uzumaki's Sealing Jutsu were something Kumogakure would covet. No, not just Kumogakure, every vilge would want them.

  Possessing powerful Sealing Jutsu that others feared and desired, yet g the strength to defend themselves, was the reason for Uzushiogakure's downfall.

  Having something valuable without the power to protect it was a recipe for disaster, no matter the world.

  "I wonder if Konoha had a hand in this."

  Shin was suspicious of their supposed ally. After all, Konoha had Danzō.

  To think Danzō wouldn't be ied in the Uzumaki's Sealing Jutsu was ughable.

  Shin shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. He collected the pouches of the other two in a with Kushina.

  He left the st in's pouch where it was. The sight was too gruesome; he'd lose his appetite if he looked at it.

  He led Kushina to a small stream in the forest, the same one where they had practiced Water Walking.

  "Are you tired? If yet some sleep. We're safe now," Shin said.

  Kushina shook her head. After everything that had happened, sleep was the st thing on her mind.

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