Tsunade's mansion was vast, but Haruto Saito's sensory range extended up to three hundred meters in radius. This meant that when he sensed someone rapidly approaching, the intruder was still outside the estate.
The presence carried an unmistakable killing intent!
Haruto's alertness spiked instantly. He halted his steps and quickly formed hand seals. Within a single breath, a plume of white smoke rose around him. His sleepwear was instantly replaced by full combat gear—his black robe wrapped tightly around his body, and the *Blade of Heavy Mountain* was firmly in his grasp!
**Whoosh!**
The shadowy figure closing in had already leaped over the courtyard wall, growing closer and closer to Haruto.
This person was tall and lean, dressed in all-black nightwear. Three blades of varying lengths hung at his waist, along with kunai and shuriken. His face was concealed behind a black mask, his eyes cold and ruthless… Haruto immediately scanned his identity.
**Name:** Rei Shi
**Affiliation:** Special Assassination Tactical Unit, Ame-nin Village (Rain Country)
**Reputation:** 10,091 points
**Relationship:** Extremely Hostile
A *Rain-nin Anbu death warrior*! And his strength was at the terrifying level of an **elite jōnin**!
Ame-nin Village was known as the **Village of Assassins**, the faction with the highest number of death warriors in the ninja world. However, even among all ninjas, death warriors were extremely rare. They had to be conditioned and brainwashed from childhood.
Generally, death warriors were sent on **suicidal missions**, designed to complete objectives with **no chance of survival**. They lacked both **individual will** and **humanity**. No faction would waste talented shinobi by turning them into death warriors—it would be a complete waste.
As a result, most death warriors were **not highly skilled**. Jōnin-level warriors were rare, and elite jōnin-level warriors were even scarcer!
*"Ame-nin… this is a diversion! They're after me!"*
Haruto's thoughts raced like lightning. He instantly understood—the explosion was meant to **distract Konoha**, creating the perfect opportunity for an assassination attempt!
**Slash!**
Rei Shi reached Haruto and struck!
**Boom!**
Haruto clashed with Rei Shi's blade using the *Blade of Heavy Mountain*. The impact sent a powerful shockwave through his body, throwing him backward uncontrollably!
An elite jōnin with over **ten thousand reputation points**, a ninja devoid of humanity—this was far more terrifying than a normal elite jōnin.
*"Damn it!"*
Haruto twisted his waist mid-air, flipping and stabilizing himself.
Rei Shi didn't slow down. Instead, he surged forward at an even **greater speed**, leaping after Haruto. His blade flashed! His speed was **monstrous**, and his strength **terrifying**.
This man was carrying **three swords**—clearly possessing **samurai skills** in addition to ninja techniques. In a pure swordfight, Haruto **was not his match**.
**Flash!**
Haruto's right hand surged with chakra, rapidly forming a spiraling sphere of energy. At the very moment Rei Shi's blade was about to strike down—
**Rasengan!**
**Boom!**
The Rasengan exploded, unleashing a violent shockwave that **blasted Rei Shi backward**.
But he wasn't injured. As Haruto landed and steadied himself, Rei Shi also flipped in midair and landed. Then, his body flickered—leaving behind a **shadow afterimage**—and in an instant, he **reappeared behind Haruto**, twin blades slashing!
Haruto activated his **samurai technique**, spinning around and countering with a **spiraling sword aura**!
**Slash! Boom!**
Once again, Haruto was sent flying.
This time, he had only managed to deflect **one of Rei Shi's blades**—the other, a short sword, **pierced into Haruto's abdomen**!
Blood splattered through the air as Haruto crashed to the ground, rolling before managing to push himself up, one hand clutching his stomach.
**Pain!**
*"Shit!"* Haruto gritted his teeth, his expression slightly panicked. *This guy is too strong!*
Rei Shi **paused for a moment**, his ears twitching slightly as if listening for something.
Haruto sensed it too—**ninjas were rapidly approaching the estate**!
It was undoubtedly **Konoha shinobi** living in the area. This was **Konoha's central residential district**, home to **many high-ranking figures and their personal guards**.
While the explosion had drawn some forces away, it couldn't pull **everyone** from the area.
Haruto and Rei Shi had **only been fighting for a short time**, but the noise had already drawn the attention of nearby Konoha ninjas.
Rei Shi glanced **northward** before suddenly making his move again. This time, he **clasped his hands together**, and then—**boom!**—his body erupted in a **blood mist**.
The blood mist quickly condensed into **two additional figures** beside him.
**Clones!**
A **unique cloning technique!**
Haruto recognized it instantly—Terao had used this before.
It had to be a **forbidden jutsu**, one that inflicted severe damage on the user. But Rei Shi **did not care**. He had no intention of leaving Konoha alive—his only goal was **to kill Haruto!**
**Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!**
Three identical figures **rushed toward Haruto!**
Haruto **retreated rapidly**, forming hand seals as he moved. He **couldn't escape**, so he had to **stall for time**—just long enough for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive.
**"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"**
A bolt of **lightning** erupted from Haruto's hand!
But he **didn't target Rei Shi himself**—instead, he aimed at **one of the blood clones**.
Haruto knew he couldn't **kill Rei Shi** with this technique, so he focused on eliminating the clones first.
**Crackle!** The lightning struck! One of the **blood clones shattered** instantly.
But Rei Shi and the remaining **blood clone** had already **closed in**—one attacking from the front, the other from behind!
Their **blades slashed!**
Unlike regular shadow clones, **blood clones** could **replicate weapons**.
Haruto **swung the Blade of Heavy Mountain with all his strength**. Luckily, his **samurai abilities** allowed him to barely hold his ground… but **only barely**.
**Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!**
In just a few **seconds**, Haruto was **slashed four times**—his **ribs, shoulder, back, and waist** were all cut!
If it weren't for his **Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse)** ability, which made his bones **extremely durable**, he would have been **chopped to pieces**!
Haruto was already **one foot in the grave**.
He was **losing blood rapidly**, and he had **no time** to use a healing item.
**Flash!**
Haruto **blasted Rei Shi away with another Rasengan**, then **took another hit** from the blood clone but managed to **slice it apart with his blade**!
**"Who's there?!"**
**"Damn it! Stop!"**
**"You're dead!"**
Finally, **Konoha shinobi arrived**—three of them, leaping over the **northern wall** into the courtyard.
Rei Shi, knocked back, **glanced at them briefly**—but **ignored them completely** and lunged at Haruto again.
Meanwhile, in the **northern woods**, **two more hidden enemies** emerged from underground!
**Boom! Boom!**
They unleashed simultaneous **Wind Release and Fire Release jutsu**, creating a **firestorm** that **blocked Konoha's reinforcements**!
Haruto's **heart sank to rock bottom**.
This wasn't just an assassination—it was **a well-planned operation**.
Rei Shi lunged again!
*"Bastard, you're forcing my hand!"* Haruto roared, **forming hand seals.**
**A thick mist erupted!**