Grabbing the Root shinobi he'd just knocked unconscious with a Ripple-enhanced Healing Palm Strike, Ishiki Kujo turned and looked toward Magician's Red, standing less than two meters behind him.
A torrent of flames erupted from the Stand's body. Crimson, furious, unrelenting—Magician's Red became an artillery turret of pure firepower, engulfing the last two Root operatives in a sea of heat.
They fought back with desperation—but Ishiki knew: even without his help, Magician's Red alone could burn them down. It wasn't that these Root shinobi were weak. It was that Ishiki's attack had been instant—his arrival too abrupt—and the Stand's onslaught too overwhelming.
Regular shinobi needed hand seals to channel chakra. Magician's Red needed nothing.
It was firepower incarnate.
The blazing Cross Seals rained down in rapid volleys, giving the two no space to breathe, much less counter. The only reason they weren't already charred corpses was because the Stand was controlling the flame's intensity—dialed down just enough to keep them alive.
Ishiki didn't want corpses. He wanted prisoners. Before they could give in to despair and commit suicide, he dashed into the inferno and struck.
The battle was over the moment his hands touched them.
First—Chakra Sealing Technique. Then—Chakra Auscultation, a diagnostic jutsu to detect poison or hidden anomalies. His suspicions were confirmed: both had poison rapidly spreading through their systems.
They must've taken the dose the moment Magician's Red had pinned them down. Smart. But not smart enough.
Ishiki's Ripple energy surged into them—vital, golden chakra reinforcing their bodies, halting the poison's spread. Then came the Fine-Toxin Extraction Technique, pulling the venom out through their pores.
One final, non-lethal strike each ensured they'd stay unconscious.
Four Root agents, neutralized in under five minutes.
But now came the real problem—exfiltration. How the hell was he supposed to carry all four?
This was active enemy territory. No chance of summoning Reo—the tiger's sheer size would draw every bird-based scout in a fifty-mile radius.
And those hawks and falcons overhead? Ninja familiars. The moment they spotted something, their handlers would know.
Ishiki had anticipated all this. He already had a plan. Risky and probably insane, but the potential reward? Huge.
Expose Danzo. Escape the Land of Grass. And shake the entire shinobi world.
High risk, high reward. Ishiki's favorite kind of game.
He bound the four tightly and waited.
He trusted his strength. Before departing, he left an instruction with his shadow clone: wait thirty minutes, then find Ze.
It worked. Less than an hour later, Inuzuka Ze, Hyūga Tokuma, and Aburame Muta arrived at the scene.
The four unconscious Root operatives lay before them, secured and alive.
"I'll be drawing the enemy's attention," said Ishiki's shadow clone flatly. "You'll use that window to get these four out of the Land of Grass."
"You're insane," Ze muttered, eyes wide.
One man, luring away over three hundred Iwa-nin? And possibly more? This was suicide.
"No. I've got this," the clone replied simply. "Get these men to the Hokage. Only then can Danzo's mask be ripped off. This is for Konoha."
Since they couldn't confirm which one was truly Root, they had to bring all four. No exceptions.
The clone dissipated in a puff of smoke.
"Can we track Ishiki?" Ze asked immediately, already sniffing the air.
But it was hopeless. The air stank of scorched earth. There was no trail.
"No," Muta said darkly. "He erased all traces."
Tokuma activated his Byakugan, but even he felt helpless. For once, his eyes weren't enough.
"We can't fail him," Ze said at last. "We finish this mission."
Ishiki's courage had been undeniable. Now, it was their turn.
As the three departed with the unconscious captives, Ishiki had already reached his designated location near the border.
The return of the shadow clone told him the team had succeeded.
He wasn't worried about them looking for him. By now, they would've figured out what they had to do. More importantly, Ishiki knew all three carried the Will of Fire—strong and unshakable.
He didn't care much for that Will himself… but it was damn useful.
Dawn broke, painting the sky with pale silver. Ishiki stepped into the open plains.
He removed his forehead protector. Slid a wide-brimmed hat over his head. Threw on a billowing windcloak.
His entire body now hidden beneath cloth and shadow.
Overhead, the birds noticed him. Screeched. Calling out to their masters. The prey had appeared.
Ishiki didn't care.
He bit his finger, drew blood, and smeared it into his palm.
Summoning Technique.
When he'd first signed the contract, Tairo had told him that Turtle Island was just one of many within the summoning clan of the Turtle Sage lineage.
To summon a creature of that size required an obscene amount of chakra.
But after feeding off the chakra of Matatabi—the Two-Tails—Ishiki had it.
His chakra reserves now rivaled a Jinchūriki's.
So the question was—if he dumped nearly all his chakra into a summon, would Turtle Island answer?
He didn't need the Turtle Island. Even a turtle bigger than Reo would do.
As his hand slammed to the ground, Iwa-nin began appearing on the horizon—forming ranks, surrounding him.
Summoning Technique: Turtle!
BOOM.
With an ear-splitting detonation of smoke, the world shook.
Ishiki was thrown skyward—upward—as a mountain surged from the earth.
But it wasn't a mountain.
From the air, you could see it clearly: a gargantuan sea turtle, its shell covered in craggy peaks and even living trees.
Turtle Island.
The same beast that should've been floating somewhere off the coast of the Land of Lightning. And now?
Now it was here.
Ishiki stood atop its head—tiny, almost invisible.
The colossal turtle slowly lifted its gaze to the sky, eyes scanning briefly before lowering again, disinterested.
It had noticed him. Acknowledged him.
And then ignored him.
Ishiki chuckled.
Perfect.
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New translation : Naruto: I Can Use Corpse Release !
Give power stones to that new story if you want bonus chapter in all current translated fanfics !
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