The Omen Strikes!
There were no grand, sweeping moves. The purpose of a ninja is to take lives.
They are assassins cloaked in darkness.
No one understood where Senju Yukika's wings came from, nor what kind of power that strange light carried. But one thing was clear—if it appeared here, it was the enemy.
The attack came with brutal decisiveness.
Yet Yukika, high above in the sky, didn't show even a hint of panic. They wanted to interrupt his Cero with shuriken and jutsu? Ridiculous.
The body of the Black-Winged Demon wasn't so fragile.
Even the lowest-grade Hierro was far beyond what normal kunai could pierce—something Yukika had already proven during his mission in the Land of Lightning.
And if anyone still thought those wings were just for flight, they couldn't be more wrong.
His expression remained blank as his wings came around and shielded him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Like steel striking steel, the shrill metallic clash sent chills down the spines of all who heard it.
The low-level jutsu didn't even make it past the barrier of his wings.
They simply couldn't break through.
The surrounding ninja exchanged glances, then once again began weaving hand seals. Their first wave had failed. This time, they were going to launch advanced ninjutsu—no longer conserving their chakra.
Too bad.
Yukika wasn't going to give them the chance.
He hated when others sullied his wings.
Besides, his Cero was ready.
Even if he'd only unlocked ten percent of the template, anything unleashed from a being on Ulquiorra's level of Vasto Lorde was still a Cero Oscuras—a King's Flash.
This attack would plunge his enemies into despair.
Just like the small mountain that once stood in his path back to Konoha—it was now a crater.
Of course, such power came with a cost. Firing this blast would completely drain Yukika's chakra and spiritual pressure in one shot. Only someone with the physicality of the Senju clan could endure this level of depletion.
No helping it. Tremendous power always demanded tremendous energy. But that wouldn't be an issue for long. As Yukika grew older and unlocked more of the template, energy would stop being a limitation altogether.
He was still growing, after all.
Under normal circumstances, he would never have used this technique.
BOOM!
The space around him quaked violently.
A brilliant emerald Cero exploded down toward the earth.
Strangely, as soon as that light hit the crowd, the shockwave… vanished.
Just when everyone started thinking Yukika was bluffing—
Terror arrived.
The Black-Winged Demon, the avatar of nothingness, simply snapped his fingers.
In an instant, the pressure returned!
All the shinobi illuminated by the green light were instantly reduced to ash.
And that devouring void? It began to spread—fast.
Death came without warning.
The enemies didn't even have time to scream. Their bodies, and even their souls, were completely obliterated.
That's right.
The essence of a Cero is a dual assault—both physical and spiritual. It destroys flesh and devours the soul.
Anyone Yukika kills with it will never appear in the Pure Land. That much is certain.
But that doesn't mean a Cero is invincible. Its speed is immense, but the ninja world is full of people who can teleport or escape in the split-second before it fires.
But that's just a temporary solution.
Once Yukika unlocks more of the template's power, even space itself won't be able to resist the force of a Cero Oscuras.
Looking down at the fading traces of those who had turned to dust, Yukika took a deep breath and slowly descended to the ground.
This was the first time he'd revealed his true strength.
And the result?
He swept his gaze over the stunned faces of his clansmen—and nodded in satisfaction.
His goal had been achieved.
From this day forward, he would no longer just be a member of the Senju clan.
He would be the one they all looked up to.
Their true clan leader.
Power is the ultimate truth. Always holding back only makes people see you as weak.
You have to show strength—to silence your enemies.
And if you're going to be high-profile…
Then be high-profile all the way!
"Clan members!"
His voice boomed across the field, pulling the Senju men—young and old—out of their daze. This time, their eyes burned with fanatical admiration as they looked upon Yukika.
He had declared he would surpass Hashirama Senju.
He had vowed to raise the Forest Senju back to its peak.
And now—they could see he meant it.
He was moving forward.
He was becoming.
Right now, all they wanted was to follow behind their Clan Leader.
"RAHHH!"
A roar of pride and devotion tore into the sky.
The once-invincible clan of the Warring States Era…
Was waking up again.