Published at 21st of September 2024 12:10 pm

Chapter 145 Echoes of the Forgotten Clan: 3 Clash in the Rain

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The clouds above swirled ominously, and the first drops of rain began to fall as Ryo stood his ground outside the Hidden Leaf Village gates. The two masked shinobi faced him, their stances low and prepared for combat. The tension in the air was thick, and Ryo could feel their sharp intent—these weren’t ordinary bounty hunters or mercenaries. Whoever sent them knew exactly who he was and what he was capable of.

“Void Release, huh?” one of the masked figures said, his voice low and gravelly. “Looks like the rumors about the Takeda clan were true.”

Ryo’s kunai gleamed in his hand as the rain began to fall harder, pattering against the stone walls of the village. His eyes narrowed. These shinobi were dangerous, but there was something else—something off about them. Their chakra signatures were faint, almost as if they were being cloaked by a technique Ryo hadn’t seen before.

“You should have stayed hidden,” the second figure said, stepping forward, his hands forming quick seals. “But now you’ve forced our hand.”

With a sharp exhale, the shinobi unleashed a wave of fire, the intense heat momentarily cutting through the downpour. Ryo leapt into the air, narrowly dodging the blaze as it scorched the ground where he had been standing. The heat singed his skin, but he had no time to think about the pain. In mid-air, Ryo flicked his wrist, sending a series of kunai toward his attackers.

The two shinobi moved with perfect coordination, dodging the blades effortlessly. Ryo landed on the wet ground, his feet sliding slightly, but he kept his stance balanced. He couldn’t afford to underestimate them.

Suddenly, the second shinobi rushed forward with blinding speed, his blade flashing as he aimed for Ryo’s throat. Ryo blocked the strike with his kunai, sparks flying as the weapons clashed. He spun to the side, aiming a kick at the man’s midsection, but his opponent countered with equal speed, forcing Ryo to leap back.

The other shinobi was already forming more hand seals. Ryo recognized the technique a moment too late as the ground beneath him erupted into thick vines that shot up and coiled around his legs, rooting him in place.

“Damn it,” Ryo muttered under his breath as he struggled against the bindings. His opponents were well-prepared—likely scouts sent to capture him before he could unlock the full potential of the Void Release.

“Your struggle is pointless,” the first shinobi said, his voice calm despite the growing storm around them. “You’re outmatched, and you know it.”

Ryo gritted his teeth. He was cornered, but he wasn’t out of options. He glanced down at the vines wrapping tighter around his legs and focused, his chakra beginning to shift.

“Let’s see about that,” he muttered.

A faint, almost imperceptible hum filled the air, and the space around Ryo began to warp. The vines binding his legs suddenly disintegrated, breaking down into nothingness as the power of the Void Release surged through him. The two shinobi froze, their eyes widening in surprise.

Ryo exhaled slowly, his heart racing as he felt the familiar pull of the Void—a power that connected him to something beyond this world, a force that could bend space and time. He had only just begun to tap into it, but already it was overwhelming.

Without warning, Ryo flickered from view, his body vanishing from sight for a split second. The shinobi barely had time to react before Ryo reappeared behind them, his kunai slashing through the air. The second shinobi managed to block the strike at the last moment, but the sheer force of Ryo’s attack sent him skidding backward.

The first shinobi quickly formed seals again, summoning a gust of wind to push Ryo back, but the Void chakra around him absorbed the force of the attack, distorting the air like a ripple in a pond.

“What kind of jutsu is that?” the shinobi hissed, his voice laced with frustration.

Ryo didn’t respond. His mind was focused, his movements precise. The Void Release was a dangerous tool—one that he hadn’t yet mastered. Using it too much would drain him, and there was always the risk of losing control. But he didn’t have the luxury of holding back.

With another pulse of Void chakra, Ryo dashed forward, faster than before. His kunai slashed through the air again, aiming for the masked shinobi’s arm. The man dodged, but not fast enough—Ryo’s blade grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.

The second shinobi lunged at Ryo from the side, but this time Ryo was ready. He spun, his hand forming quick seals as he unleashed a wave of Void energy. The air seemed to shimmer, and the shinobi was thrown back as if hit by an invisible force.

Panting, Ryo stood still for a moment, feeling the strain on his body. The Void Release took its toll—it wasn’t like ordinary elemental chakra. Every use of it pushed him closer to a dangerous threshold.

But the two shinobi weren’t done yet. Despite the injuries, they regrouped, standing side by side. Their chakra signatures flared to life, more intense than before. Ryo’s eyes widened in shock as he realized what was happening.

“They’re amplifying their chakra,” he muttered under his breath. The faint chakra signatures he had sensed earlier—it wasn’t just a cloaking technique. They had been holding back this entire time.

The masked shinobi ripped off their hoods, revealing identical markings etched into their skin—strange symbols that glowed faintly in the rain. Ryo’s heart skipped a beat. These weren’t ordinary shinobi—they were using some kind of forbidden technique to enhance their strength.

“We weren’t sent here to capture you, Takeda,” the first shinobi said, his voice taking on an eerie calm. “Our orders are to eliminate you. You’re too dangerous to live.”

Ryo’s grip on his kunai tightened. The rain fell harder, and the storm intensified, lightning flashing in the distance. He could feel the pressure mounting. These shinobi weren’t just after the Void Release—they had been specifically trained to counter him.

Without a word, the two shinobi charged. Ryo braced himself, his mind racing for a strategy. He couldn’t afford to get caught in another binding jutsu, and their amplified strength made them far more dangerous in close combat.

As the first shinobi closed in, Ryo dodged to the side, barely avoiding a lethal strike. He countered with a kunai thrust, but the second shinobi was already moving to block him. Their coordination was flawless, like a pair of predators working in perfect sync.

Ryo’s body screamed in protest as he pushed his Void chakra further. He summoned the energy into his hands, feeling the fabric of space itself warping around him. It was a gamble—a technique he hadn’t yet perfected.

With a sharp cry, Ryo released the jutsu. The air around them distorted violently, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to freeze. The shinobi staggered, their movements sluggish as if trapped in a temporal stasis.

Taking advantage of the opening, Ryo slashed through the air, landing a direct hit on one of the shinobi. The man cried out as Ryo’s kunai pierced his side, and he collapsed to the ground, his body twitching.

The second shinobi turned to strike, but Ryo was already gone, flickering out of sight once again. He reappeared a few meters away, breathing heavily, his vision blurring. The Void Release was taking its toll, but he couldn’t stop now.

His remaining opponent glared at him, his eyes burning with fury. But Ryo could see the hesitation. The man knew he was at a disadvantage now, and he wasn’t willing to risk his life for a losing fight.

Without a word, the shinobi leapt back, retreating into the shadows. Within seconds, he disappeared, leaving his fallen comrade behind.

Ryo stood in the rain, his breath ragged, his body trembling from the strain. He had won—but only barely.

As the storm raged on, Ryo looked down at the fallen shinobi, his mind racing with questions. Who were these people? And why had they been sent after him?

He knew one thing for sure: whatever forces were hunting him, they weren’t going to stop. The Void Release wasn’t just a relic of the past—it was a power that could reshape the world, and too many people were eager to control it.

But Ryo wasn’t about to let that happen.

He glanced up at the darkened sky, his thoughts turning to the northern mountains and the ancient shrine that awaited him.

The real battle was just beginning.

Share