c29: Kenbunshoku Haki Awakens
As Chiba's body ignited and split into flickering flames, the tokubetsu jōnin's eyes widened in disbelief. He staggered back, stunned by the surreal sight unfolding before him.
"W-What the hell kind of jutsu is this?!" he gasped. His instincts screamed at him to retreat but it was too late.
He was engulfed in Chiba's firestorm.
"You're wondering how I can do this?" Chiba's voice echoed through the flame, cold and emotionless like the voice of death itself.
The flames roared violently, forming an expanding inferno. Suddenly, the fire twisted, condensing into multiple spear-like projections Katon: En Yari (Fire Style: Flame Spears) and hurled themselves at the immobilized enemy.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Despite his durability, the tokubetsu jōnin couldn't fully resist the volley. Several spears pierced his limbs and torso. He grunted in agony, blood spurting from his wounds, staining his flak jacket red.
Still trying to escape, he stumbled back, but his body gave out. He collapsed, gasping, bleeding heavily from at least a dozen gashes.
Chiba reformed beside him in a swirl of smoke and embers. His face was cold, devoid of emotion completely unlike a child. He stood over the fallen man like a silent reaper.
"Tokubetsu jōnin... that's all you amounted to?" Chiba said, his tone hollow.
Without hesitation, he reached into his pouch, pulled out a kunai, and hurled it downward. It spun through the air, aimed directly at the ninja's throat.
Shk!
The blade sank deep into flesh. A gurgle followed. Blood erupted from the tokubetsu jōnin's mouth. He tried to speak, one hand rising to his neck, but the light in his eyes faded quickly. His body fell still.
A high-level shinobi, known for his strength, was slain in a matter of moments completely outmatched by the monstrous abilities of Chiba.
Without a pause, Chiba turned and dashed toward Uchiha Mina's position.
The situation there had grown dire. She was under pressure, fending off a skilled chūnin along with three rogue ninja. If Chiba had delayed any longer, she would have been overwhelmed.
"First kill confirmed: Tokubetsu jōnin. Awarding skill Kenbunshoku Haki. Keep going," came the notification from the One Piece system, its voice clear in Chiba's mind.
Kenbunshoku Haki observation-type perception sharpened his five senses, allowing him to detect chakra, read emotions, and anticipate danger. Though not directly offensive, it drastically improved awareness and evasion.
Chiba didn't complain. Mastery of it could tip future battles.
He activated Shunshin no Jutsu, his form blinking across the battlefield toward Mina's location like a crimson shadow.
Uchiha Mina was struggling, flanked by a skilled enemy and three rogue ninjas. Though she fought fiercely, deflecting attacks with the Sharingan's predictive power, she was at her limit.
If Chiba had waited even five seconds longer, she might have fallen.
He burst into the skirmish like a phantom. Without a word, he launched himself toward the nearest rogue, his kunai already slicing through the air.
The thug didn't even see him. One second he was upright the next, blood sprayed from his throat as Chiba's blade slit clean through it.
The man collapsed, choking on his own blood.
Chiba didn't stop. His movement was seamless. He vanished again and reappeared behind the second rogue, his kunai flashing.
Thump!
The blade struck home, piercing the man's chest. Blood spurted as he fell back, eyes wide with shock.
Like a wraith, Chiba flickered forward again, appearing before the final rogue. This time, he raised his palm, igniting his chakra into a focused flame spear.
Fwoosh!
He thrust the flaming spear through the man's abdomen, launching him backward in a charred heap.
In less than ten seconds, the three enemies lay dead silenced before they even registered what happened.
Now, only Uchiha Mina and the remaining chūnin were locked in battle.
The enemy chūnin was stunned. He'd seen Chiba earlier, facing off against a tokubetsu jōnin someone whose strength surpassed his own. And now that same boy had appeared here, having clearly won that fight... and slaughtered three more.
"W-What the hell are you?!" he shouted, his composure cracking. His hands trembled. Panic clouded his chakra.
Chiba's expression didn't change. "That's not something you'll live long enough to find out," he replied icily.
He stepped forward, joining Mina's side.
Though Mina had been slightly overwhelmed earlier, her Sharingan gave her a significant edge. As a genin of the Uchiha clan, she had already awakened her single-tomoe Sharingan providing her with enhanced motion tracking and the ability to cast basic genjutsu.
Now that Chiba joined her, the tide turned instantly.
Chiba struck with incredible speed, aided by shadow clones. It was as if three versions of him attacked simultaneously, forcing the enemy into complete defense.
The chūnin couldn't keep up. His counters were too slow. Chiba's relentless offense broke through his guard in under a minute.
Crack!
A well-placed kick from Chiba sent him flying backward, crashing to the ground and skidding across the dirt.
Before he could rise, Chiba blurred forward once more using Shunshin, kunai in hand.
Shk!
He drove the blade deep into the man's chest, piercing his heart. Blood surged from the wound. The chūnin gasped once, then went still.
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