I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 378 378 Isshiki is Running Away

Amegakure.

Rain mercilessly washed over the ravaged earth, merging bloodstains and ashes into dirty streams that flowed into the already ruined port waters.

The once somewhat prosperous northern district of Amegakure had now completely turned into a graveyard of rubble and wreckage. Only a few twisted metal skeletons stood in the rain, narrating the fierce battle not long ago.

Yahiko stood in the mud, his orange hair wet and plastered to his forehead.

He directed Akatsuki's members, Kanon, and some surviving Amegakure's Ninjas, desperately digging through collapsed buildings, searching for possible survivors.

Everyone's face was a mix of fatigue, sorrow, and a trace of lingering shock.

Not far away, under a temporarily erected rain shelter, the bodies of more than ten Anbu's members and Hanzo lay quietly. A rough white cloth covered them, concealing the final horror of that Demigod of the Ninja World.

"Hanzo-sama... is really dead?" A young Amegakure's Ninja muttered to himself, his voice almost inaudible in the rain, yet expressing the sentiment of all the Amegakure villagers around.

The collapse of faith was even more complete than the collapse of buildings. The hero who had protected them for a decade had actually fallen in his own village in such a brutal manner. How could they accept this?

The suppressed grief quickly transformed into doubt and anger.

Several Amegakure's Jonin, leading a group of Ninja, walked with gloomy expressions towards Yahiko and the others who were assisting in treating the injured.

The leading Jonin with a scar on his face, his gaze sharply staring at the disheveled Yahiko, sternly questioned: "Yahiko! The powerful enemy you Akatsuki keep talking about, where is it! Why do we only see Hanzo-sama's and the Anbu's bodies, but no trace of the enemy? Is all this your doing!"

The Akatsuki's members immediately gathered behind Yahiko. Kyusuke's feline-like slit pupils contracted in anger. He stepped forward, rebuked angrily: "Stop making baseless accusations here! Hanzo-sama died fighting to protect the village!"

Yahiko raised his hand, signaling Kyusuke to calm down. He deeply inhaled the icy air, trying to keep his voice steady: "I know this is hard to accept... but the fact is just like this. Hanzo-sama died bravely fighting to stop the invaders."

"Bullshit!" Another Amegakure's Jonin shouted excitedly.

He forcefully swung his arm, pointing at the surrounding ruins: "Hanzo-sama was the Demigod of the Ninja World! Even if the elite Anbu of the Five Great Nations launched a surprise attack, they couldn't possibly kill Hanzo-sama and his most elite Anbu in such a short time, right inside Amegakure!"

"The enemy you speak of? Where is it?! I think it's you guys harboring malicious intentions!"

As he spoke, more and more Amegakure's Ninjas gathered around. Suspicious, angry, hateful gazes pierced towards every Akatsuki's member.

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Chakra began flowing inadvertently. Kunai and Ninja Swords were tightly gripped.

Daibutsu, with his burly build and benevolent face, now showed none of his usual kindness. He glared at the leading Amegakure's Jonin, his voice like muffled thunder: "Then you tell us! If we Akatsuki had the capability to kill Hanzo-sama, would we still be here helping you rescue the injured? We would have already occupied Amegakure!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, sobering some Amegakure's Ninjas whose heads were clouded by anger.

Indeed, while Akatsuki had unique ideals and had accumulated some reputation in the village, their overall strength was still far behind Hanzo's direct forces.

Especially in top-tier combat power, only Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were Jonin. Kyusuke and Daibutsu were only Tokubetsu Jonin.

To say they could instantly kill Hanzo and his dozen-plus elite Anbu without a sound was simply a fantasy.

Just as both sides were deadlocked, a sudden anomaly occurred!

Inside the rain shelter where Hanzo's remains lay, a portal with dark red glowing edges abruptly appeared there.

A figure staggered out, dropped to one knee, emitting heavy, painful pants.

Everyone was instantly attracted. Gazes uniformly turned towards the uninvited guest.

It was an extremely bizarre humanoid creature.

Its skin was a sickly pale. Its hair, eyebrows, and short beard were all gray-white, presenting unnatural serrated patterns.

From its forehead to the back of its head grew a pale long curved horn like a crown.

Even though the white feather robe it wore was tattered and torn, appearing disheveled, the terrifying Chakra oppressive force it emanated around it made every Ninja present feel difficulty breathing, their hearts as if gripped by an invisible hand.

"You... who are you?!" The Amegakure's Jonin who had earlier questioned Yahiko, forcibly suppressing his fear, stepped forward a few steps holding his Ninja Sword, sternly demanded.

The anger from his comrades' tragic death and Hanzo's demise temporarily overpowered his fear of the unknown.

Isshiki slowly raised his head. That golden Kokugan indifferently swept over.

He didn't even make any obvious movement. Merely a slight flash of light in his pupil, and an invisible immense force violently struck that Amegakure's Jonin!

"Ugh ah!" The Jonin was sent flying backwards, violently crashing into a pile of ruined walls and debris, stirring up a cloud of dust. No more sound.

"How is this possible!"

Instant deathly silence, followed by greater commotion.

The Amegakure's Ninjas were both shocked and angry, but no one dared to step forward easily.

Kanon's face turned deathly white. Her spiritual sensing found her sensing ability completely unable to capture any trace of the other party's Chakra, as if no one was there at all!

She immediately shrieked: "Careful! He's the enemy who was fighting Menma-sama earlier! He's the one who killed Hanzo!"

Even though Isshiki's appearance was quite different from the earlier Jigen, that oppressive force above all living beings and the ability to manipulate black rods made Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and the others instantly confirm Kanon's words.

"Avenge Hanzo-sama!" Someone shouted. The grief-stricken and indignant Amegakure's Ninjas once again mustered courage. Over twenty people simultaneously launched attacks.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

"Shuriken Throw!"

Various Ninjutsu and weapons rained down on Isshiki like a torrential rain.

A trace of extreme impatience flashed on Isshiki's pale face. He spat lightly, like swatting flies: "Truly a bunch of annoying insects."

He raised his right hand, palm facing forward.

The next moment, countless pitch-black black Chakra Rods appeared out of thin air, shooting forth at a speed hard to capture with the naked eye!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The dull sounds of blades piercing flesh were continuous, accompanied by short screams.

The over twenty Amegakure's Ninjas who had charged forward, whether Chunin or Jonin, their Ninjutsu, kunai, and shuriken were all shrunk to an undetectable fineness. Their bodies were accurately pierced through vital points by black rods, nailed to the ground or ruined walls.

Blood instantly dyed the accumulated water red. A heavy smell of blood spread.

The surviving Amegakure's Ninjas and Akatsuki's members all froze in place, cold sweat instantly soaking their backs.

This wasn't a battle at all, but an utterly one-sided massacre!

The other didn't even move his feet, easily annihilating over twenty elite Amegakure's Ninjas.

Just then, Isshiki's pure white left eye slightly turned. His gaze went past the crowd, locking onto Nagato at the back.

Especially Nagato's purple eyes with ripples around them drew a flicker of interest.

"The Rinnegan?" A trace of surprise flashed in Isshiki's heart.

'A native of this planet, and that despicable woman's descendant, actually awakening these eyes? Could one of that guy's targets be these eyes?'

As this thought flashed through his mind, his figure had already vanished from his spot.

"Nagato, careful!" Yahiko and Konan almost simultaneously exclaimed.

But their warning came too late.

Everyone just saw a blur before their eyes. Isshiki's pale figure had already appeared before Nagato.

A hand clamped onto Nagato's throat, easily lifting his entire figure off the ground.

Nagato struggled with all his might, both hands grabbing Isshiki's arm, trying to pry open those iron-vice-like fingers. However, the other's strength far exceeded his imagination. A sense of suffocation rapidly surged to his brain, making his vision darken in waves.

The Rinnegan was filled with anger and panic. He tried to mobilize Chakra to counterattack, but due to the suffocation and that terrifying oppressive force, he found it difficult to concentrate.

"Let go of Nagato!" Yahiko's eyes nearly burst with rage. Roaring, he drew a kunai, his figure charging swiftly, directly stabbing Isshiki's flank.

Konan had countless paper sheets flying and gathering around her, turning into sharp paper spears, attacking Isshiki from the flank.

Kyusuke and Daibutsu also brandished their weapons, pouncing from left and right.

Facing the encirclement, Isshiki didn't even look at them properly.

His right hand clamped on Nagato's throat didn't budge. His left leg, like a whip, casually swung backward, accurately kicking Yahiko's abdomen.

Thump!

Yahiko flew back even faster than he charged, heavily smashing onto the ground, splashing a large amount of muddy water. He couldn't help but spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Simultaneously, several black Chakra Rods again appeared out of thin air, accurately piercing through the arm Konan used to gather paper spears, and the thighs of Kyusuke and Daibutsu as they charged forward, nailing them firmly to the ground. Blood gushed out, instantly rendering them immobile.

"Kanon!" Yahiko shouted while enduring intense pain.

Kanon gritted her teeth: "Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Two dazzling golden Chakra Chains roared forth from behind her, entwining towards Isshiki.

This powerful sealing technique of the Uzumaki Clan was enough to restrain Tailed Beasts.

However, Isshiki just lightly glanced at the incoming chains. His free left hand raised, the black Kama mark on his palm dark light flickered.

An invisible suction force generated. Those two golden chains imbued with powerful sealing power, actually like thrown into a bottomless abyss, were instantly devoured by his palm, not even raising a single ripple!

"What?!" Kanon was dumbfounded. This was the first time she encountered an enemy who could easily break even the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Isshiki's gaze turned to Kanon, recognizing this red-haired girl who had appeared with Menma.

Thinking of the Ten-Tails being stolen, his forced premature reincarnation and suffering severe injuries, the humiliation made rage surge in his heart.

He flicked his finger. A pitch-black black Chakra Rod carrying death's whistle, shot straight towards Kanon's center of her forehead!

'Too fast!'

Kanon didn't even have time to make any evasive movement. She could only watch helplessly as that black dot rapidly enlarged in her pupils. The shadow of death instantly enveloped her.

At this critical moment—

A golden stream of light appeared before Kanon!

The light gathered. A figure enveloped in a dazzling golden chakra coat simply casually raised its right hand, gently grasping in front of itself, and caught the black rod.

Kanon looked at the completely different Menma, exclaiming joyfully: "Menma-sama!"

"Sorry, I'm a bit late." Menma slightly turned his head to glance at Kanon, then exerted force with his hand.

Crack!

That black Chakra Rod, enough to easily leave Kage-level Ninja dead or seriously injured, was by him like snapping a dry twig, easily crushed into countless black Chakra Fragments, scattering in the rain.

Yahiko, Konan, and Kyusuke, Daibutsu who were nailed to the ground, all raised their heads, looking towards that figure who had descended like a golden deity. Hope rekindled in their eyes.

Menma slowly lowered his hand. The golden Tenseigan calmly gazed at Isshiki who still clamped Nagato's throat.

His tone carried a trace of mockery: "I thought you'd been blown to smithereens. I didn't expect you to flee here like a stray dog."

The golden Chakra around him rose like flames. His vast oppressive force and Isshiki's aura clashed fiercely in the air, as if even the falling raindrops stagnated at this moment.

"However—" Menma returned Isshiki's earlier words to him verbatim.

"Your struggle ends here!"