27. International Environment

"Interesting. Minato boy, do you know where that Chinese man is? Take me to see him."

Minato Meijin thought this was unwise. "Lord Nin-o, I do not doubt your strength, but the opponent is a large military camp of China. Beyond their abundant heavy weaponry, they also possess immortal cultivators who have reached Grade A..."

"Are you suggesting we bring more people?" Nin-o smiled slightly. "There are only the four of us left. During the dozen days you spent exploring the secret realm, the international situation has undergone significant changes."

"This invasion plan has failed. In a few days, Abe, Hachi-shaku, and I will join forces to retrieve the Ghost Realm Crystal and then return to Fuso."

Upon hearing this, the Three Ninjas were stunned. Wasn't the advantage with them?

"Let's talk on the way."

Ever since the signal transmitter was decoded in Tianjing, the information gap between the two nations had vanished. China was able to arrange its strategy with ease, suppressing the Fuso forces firmly in Min Province and forcing Fuso to surrender through international pressure.

The decisive factor in Fuso's surrender was that China, without relying on the power of wishes, had successfully mass-produced Gundams, even surpassing them by integrating immortal puppet techniques.

With the massive disparity in national power and the loss of their informational advantage, Fuso's defeat was certain.

"Surrender... what price will we pay?" asked Tasuke.

Nin-o did not answer.

Haru-sakura was indignant. "Our strength is so immense; it’s just international politics—why should we care about such things?"

Minato Meijin remained silent. The roots of immortal cultivation lay in China. If what Xu Fu said was true, the three major professions of Fuso could not possibly stand against immortals. He felt a sense of despair for the ninjas and for Fuso.

"I heard that our much-anticipated Gundam squadron in space was annihilated. China's foundation is truly formidable," Nin-o remarked with a sigh.

Haru-sakura scoffed, "Those fools playing with machines—if they’re wiped out, so be it. Hmph."

They reached the camp and stopped their idle chatter. As they observed from the shadows, Xiao Rong flew directly out of the camp and shouted at them from a distance, "What petty thieves are these!"

"Such great potential. Getting rid of this little girl today will remove a major enemy for the future of Fuso." Nin-o smiled, preparing to strike.

Suddenly, an aura appeared that made even Nin-o feel its power.

"Uchiha Ichigo, do you intend to violate the surrender agreement?" A burly, middle-aged man stood in mid-air, arms crossed, blocking Xiao Rong’s path.

"Wan Hao!" The calm expression on Nin-o’s face finally cracked. "How did you get into the Ghost Realm?"

Without warning, Nin-o pressed his palms together. "Planetary Devastation!"

The heavens and earth shook, the ground cracked, and countless boulders rose into the air to suppress Wan Hao. The Three Ninjas, needing no further instruction, used the chaos to infiltrate the camp.

"The opponent is at my level. I can hold him off for ten minutes at most—go retrieve the Susanoo bloodline."

Wan Hao roared, his shiny bald head glowing with immense radiance. With a single punch, he shattered the hill-sized stone sphere created by Nin-o Uchiha Ichigo’s Planetary Devastation. He took the initiative to engage, showing no regard for his opponent.

"My fist can shatter the heavens! It can shatter the earth! Taste my punch!"

Two powerful forces collided in the air, the explosive shockwaves nearly sweeping Xiao Rong away.

Inside the laboratory, Liu Fei'er and Liu Lang were startled by the tremors.

"What’s happening?" Liu Lang tried to get up to investigate.

Liu Fei'er glanced at the scrambler, which had another half-hour of function left, then grabbed Liu Lang’s collar and pulled him back down, determined to make the most of their time together. She truly wished the world would end right then, so she and her beloved would never have to be separated again.

Upon entering the lab, the Three Ninjas were first met with the sight of countless ninja organs. Many of the missing ninjas they recognized had their heads floating in glass jars.

Xu Fu, hiding in Minato Meijin’s mind, sensed the environment with great sensitivity. "Truly demonic arts!"

The Three Ninjas cared little for whether it was demonic or not; seeing this scene, their eyes burned with rage. For a moment, they cast aside the order to capture the Susanoo bloodline alive, wanting only to kill for vengeance.

Haru-sakura fired a kunai that pierced the unsuspecting Liu Fei'er. Liu Lang watched as the high-vibrating Liu Fei'er stopped as if her batteries had been pulled.

"Damn it!" Liu Lang’s dagger flew out, stabbing toward the intruders.

Though Liu Fei'er was a vampire, being caught off guard and run through was no minor wound.

"Darkness Domain."

All light vanished from the Three Ninjas' vision, and they were plunged into absolute darkness—a skill Liu Fei'er had learned with Daili's help. Liu Lang did not miss the opportunity; gathering all his strength into the dagger, which surged to two meters in length, he swung with all his might.

Just as he was about to cut the Three Ninjas in two, a giant snake appeared out of thin air to block the blow. Haru-sakura’s fist grew to a massive size and sent Liu Lang flying with a single punch.

"It’s the famous jutsu of Tousen Kaname from the Shadow Village—Darkness Domain! As long as the caster doesn't stop, we will remain in this darkness!" she shouted to alert her companions.

Tasuke’s giant snake decomposed into countless smaller snakes, slithering in all directions. "My snakes can provide coordinates."

Minato Meijin unleashed the Great Fireball Technique, and a massive flame engulfed Liu Fei'er and Liu Lang.

"Water Domain." Liu Fei'er unleashed a new skill. Water generated out of thin air, extinguishing the flames.

The fireball was merely a smoke screen; the true lethal blow was the jutsu Minato Meijin had been preparing while buying time—the Big Ball Rasengan!

The destructive power of the Big Ball Rasengan instantly shattered the effects of the Darkness Domain, restoring their vision. However, the Three Ninjas found themselves unable to move, bound tightly by long, slender shadows.

"Shikamaru Nara’s Shadow Possession Jutsu from Konoha Village!"

The Three Ninjas hesitated. They could feel that Liu Fei'er’s skill had a heavy ninja influence, yet it felt slightly off.

Liu Fei'er tossed aside an empty test tube and wiped the remaining blood from the corner of her mouth. "Familiar, isn't it? Daili said these famous ninjas caused us great casualties."

As she spoke, she tore away a black cloth, revealing the heads of famous ninjas—the heads of Tousen Kaname and Shikamaru Nara were among them.

"You!" The Three Ninjas were incensed.

"My ability is that if I drink your blood once, I can use your abilities once." Liu Fei'er smiled, though her heart was pounding. In reality, she only possessed Grade D strength; facing three Grade B ninjas meant certain defeat if the fight dragged on.

Taking advantage of the binding, they had to run. Liu Fei'er transformed into a swarm of bats, wrapped around Liu Lang, and flew out the window.

A few seconds later, the Three Ninjas broke free from the Shadow Possession. In a fit of rage, Minato Meijin hurled the Big Ball Rasengan.

The building shattered into fragments upon impact, and the Big Ball Rasengan pursued Liu Fei'er and Liu Lang. Liu Fei'er frantically searched her pockets for a blood reagent that could help, but it was too late.

At the critical moment, Liu Lang unleashed his Susanoo. A massive skeletal frame grew outward, and a pair of bone hands covered in blue spiritual energy blocked the Big Ball Rasengan.

The gap in grade was an insurmountable chasm; the Susanoo began to crack under the pressure.

"Amaterasu!"

The blue flames that burn everything ignited the Big Ball Rasengan! As the Susanoo was on the verge of collapse, the flames of Amaterasu finally consumed the Big Ball Rasengan entirely.