NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: Chapter 28
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In the world of NARUTO, spies are everywhere.
They gather intelligence, observe the strength of other nations, and conduct reconnaissance. Examples include "double agent" Yakushi Kabuto and "serial agent" Black Zetsu.
Ikeno's abilities soon became known to other nations and villages. The Dead Bone Pulse physique, an immense amount of Chakra, mastery over all elemental attributes, and a quick hand seal ability—these traits made many want to either recruit, experiment on, or even eliminate him.
At this moment, the injured ninja clutching his shoulder was in shock. "He may be a kid, but he's incredibly strong!"
Despite his amazement, the ninja maintained his arrogance. "Hmph! If I wasn't trying to avoid alerting the Anbu, how could I be running from a kid like this?"
His mission was only to identify the target's location; stronger teammates would handle the assassination later.
"Stop!" Ikeno shouted as he pursued him.
The rain lashed the ground like a heavy mist, and the night sky seemed ready to collapse. Ikeno turned on his super-perception, preventing his vision from being blurred by the rain. From a distance, he could see the black figure, who wore neither a mask nor a forehead protector, running toward the edge of Konoha Village.
"That guy is definitely not a Konoha shinobi," Ikeno thought.
In the rainy night, the two figures—one large, one small—chased each other relentlessly.
"Haha, think you can run? I'll make sure there's nowhere for you to hide!" Ikeno used the Body Flicker Technique to close the distance.
The man glanced back, believing he had escaped, but suddenly, Ikeno's voice echoed through the rain: "Stop right there!"
The ninja turned his head, his expression souring. "Damn it! This stubborn kid caught up...and he's fast!"
He threw several shurikens at Ikeno, but Ikeno, with his enhanced perception, easily dodged them. The gap between them narrowed to 20 meters.
"If only the system would reward me with the Flying Thunder God technique…" Ikeno mused, as he rushed forward. His fist, brimming with chakra, slammed into the man's back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The man, who appeared to be in his twenties with dark skin, was a shinobi from Cloud Village. "What does Cloud Shinobi Village want with Konoha in the middle of the night?"
Seeing the shock on the man's face, Ikeno knew he had guessed correctly. "Come on, show me your Lightning Style!" he taunted.
The man gritted his teeth, angry but cautious. In the rain, Lightning Style would conduct electricity too easily, harming even the user.
Without wasting more time, Ikeno sprinted forward and delivered another powerful punch. The man raised his arms to defend, but the sound of bones cracking filled the air. He was flung across the waterlogged street.
Cloud Shinobi had no choice but to admit: "This kid...is strong!"
Ikeno sneered. "So, uncle, what's your purpose here?"
The shinobi, named Kito, gritted his teeth. "I'd rather die than tell you anything. If you want to kill me, then go ahead!"
Ikeno had no intention of killing him immediately. He wanted answers first, for both his own sake and for Konoha's.
Suddenly, Ikeno sensed another presence. He threw several shurikens towards a nearby rooftop. "Ding!" All the shurikens were blocked. A strange voice rang out.
"Haha, the kid's sharp. He noticed us." A skeleton-thin man stood on the roof, looking down at them.
"Kito, how could you mess this up?" a bandaged woman mocked, her face half-covered by long hair.
Ikeno muttered, "Creepy...what's with these people?"
Cloud Shinobi shouted, "Suki, Mizuki, save me already!"
The woman, suki, and the man, Mizuki, exchanged glances. "Raikage said this kid is dangerous. We must take him down!"
Realizing that the trio had come specifically for him, Ikeno gritted his teeth. These weren't ordinary shinobi—they were here to either capture or kill him.
A fierce punch from Mizuki flew at Ikeno, aimed at his temple. Just in time, white bones appeared, forming an armor over Ikeno's body—his "Bone God Armor."
The punch landed on the bone armor, and the skeleton man recoiled in pain. His fist was badly injured.
"Kid's tougher than I thought!" he exclaimed.
"Let's attack together!" Suki said, quickly forming hand seals.
Suddenly, Ikeno found himself lost in an illusion—a vast sea, warm light ahead, and the promise of a paradise. He waded forward, unable to control his body, until he was submerged.
Just as he was about to drown, Ikeno snapped out of the illusion, his black panther, Ritoru, sitting beside him, having broken the genjutsu.
Panting heavily, Ikeno stood up. The Bone God Armor disappeared, but his eyes were cold, filled with murderous intent.
The battle wasn't over yet.
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