ASFUCITWON Chapter 207: The Battle Begins 8

As if something greater than the universe itself, something impossible to imagine, had sliced through this world with an invisible blade.

The ships that once stood firm like steel fortresses now shattered without resistance, split in two with a loud crack, destroyed like pieces of wood battered by a raging storm.

The sea exploded into the air, shooting high, then seemingly frozen in the sky as if in fear of that power.

The waves that opened on either side revealed the dark, rocky seabed, as if the underwater world itself gaped in chilling silence, witnessing Reiji's might.

The ninjas trapped on the ships had no time to jump.

They were paralyzed by a paralyzing fear, unable to move, unable to escape.

They could only watch with wide eyes as their world shattered.

Some of them screamed, while others fell silent, their bodies helplessly plunging into the sea.

Some cried out loudly, clutching their fallen friends, while others could only weep in despair.

Reiji stood calmly, his sword resting on his right shoulder.

His face remained flat, expressionless.

Reiji gazed at them all with an incomprehensible look—so empty, so calm, yet so dangerous.

"So... do you understand what you have done?" Reiji's voice echoed again, filled with painful meaning.

"Damn it! You will die!" shouted a ninja from Sunagakure, charging at Reiji with red, furious eyes.

The man's desperation was evident.

He no longer cared about his life.

Now, he only wanted revenge—even if it meant dying.

Soon after, other ninjas from the three great villages rushed in the same direction, their faces filled with confusion and suppressed fear.

They knew Reiji was stronger, more terrifying than anything they had ever faced.

Yet, they kept running—toward the inevitable.

On the other side, Tatsuya, Yukina, and Daiki remained silent.

They could not move.

Their faces were stunned, as if all hope they ever had had vanished in an instant.

"No... this can't be..." Daiki whispered, his eyes wide.

Where Daiki still couldn't believe what had just happened.

The event was so fast, so extraordinary, that Daiki's mind couldn't grasp the reality before him.

Yukina remained silent, her sharp eyes observing every movement of Reiji with deep fear.

This event—this was no longer about fate.

This was the truth they had to face.

Yukina snorted in anger, and in an instant, she ran toward Reiji, her steps filled with determination.

Yukina's usually calm face was now creased with deep anger.

Where Yukina could not remain still, even knowing the risks.

Meanwhile, Tatsuya remained silent, only staring at the Iwagakure ninjas who seemed unsure of what to do next.

Cold sweat trickled down Tatsuya's temples, and his heart raced.

Where Tatsuya did not know if this was the end of everything, or if there was another way to confront Reiji.

...

...

...

The sound of the wind mingled with the heavy footsteps echoed over the rippling sea.

Ninjas from the three great villages surged forward, their feet striking the water with agile techniques, creating small splashes that quickly evaporated in the heat of the chakra filling the air.

It was not the ground that cracked, but the water that split and roiled wildly, splashing in all directions, mingling with the searing heat of the chakra that burned in the already scorching day.

The air trembled, as if the world itself was trying to hold its breath.

In the midst of the deafening chaos, Reiji stood still.

The only figure unmoving amidst the sea of chaos, as if time slowed just for Reiji— the world relaxed, seconds crawled slowly around his personal silence.

Where Reiji glanced upward.

The sun was directly at the zenith of the sky, scorching the skin and causing sweat to trickle down his temples.