106 Solving Problems, Starting with People

All the ninjas moved while forming hand seals. Some used Water Wall jutsus, others cleansed the ground with Great Waterfall Techniques, but without exception — none could stop the enemy.

Water Wall?

One slash.

The sharp Wind Style chakra easily sliced through the Water Wall. The next moment, another blade, ghostlike, struck.

Clang!

A Kirigakure Jonin blocked the attack, but he vaguely saw that what he blocked wasn't a real blade, but something resembling an ice spike or ice blade.

However, he had no time to ponder. After blocking one attack, he quickly retreated, only to be hit by another.

This time, it struck his shoulder.

"Help me! My arm..."

It was too fast!

There was no time to form seals.

Moreover, the most terrifying part was that his arm seemed to be out of his control.

Not just the injured left arm...

His chest veered left, his body's state was in utter disarray, including his neck, which seemed stiff and sluggish.

What kind of technique was this?

He was terrified and could only seek help from his teammates.

But there was little they could do, as they couldn't discern the enemy's location amidst the chakra-infused dense mist that obscured their vision and perception.

They used Body Flicker Technique non-stop, and though the island wasn't large, at that moment, it felt like an unending maze.

Everyone regretted their choices.

If only they had known, why bother showing off?

Why not just retreat!

Seeing the Jonin in a bad state, the others didn't hesitate —

In a word.

Flee!

Unless absolutely necessary, they didn't want to abandon a comrade, but now, the power difference was too vast. Moreover, this was just Kyōichi acting alone.

Hayama Shirakumo and Might Duy were at the perimeter, ready to stop their escape, and also to block any potential reinforcements from the enemy.

Kyōichi didn't kill the Jonin affected by the disarraying impact. Instead, he punched him towards Asuma and others.

This punch also carried the effect of disarraying impact.

It could be said, that Jonin was practically done for. If they couldn't kill even a Jonin of this caliber, then Shisui and others had no business being on the battlefield.

The next moment, Kyōichi used Body Flicker Technique and opened the Eight Gates, turning into a blur in an instant.

No chakra boost, just sheer, overwhelming speed.

One slash.

Two slashes!

Sss...

The last Jonin's throat spurted blood, while another elite Chunin was slain by Kyōichi with the Thunder God's Sword.

How could they outrun Kyōichi?

After the screams, the mist dispersed.

The remaining Kirigakure ninjas, filled with terror, saw three of their four Jonin dead, surrounded by Earth Shore Return walls, with dozens of exploding tags fluttering above.

Not far away, the abandoned Jonin from Kirigakure was being attacked by six children.

Meanwhile, they sensed two Konoha ninjas ahead, with at least Jonin-level aura.

Insult!

Absolute insult!

Their blood boiled with anger.

The Leaf's intention was clear — they were using them as stepping stones for training their Genin.

The eleven surviving Chunin exchanged glances.

Without saying a word —

Let's do this!

These six were just Genin, nothing to fear, and they could buy time until Yagura arrived.

Why not?

They turned back, charging towards Might Guy and others.

Kyōichi leaped onto the city wall.

"Is this okay? Should we kill a few more?"

Hayama Shirakumo approached him.

Eleven Chunin, plus that crippled Jonin, made twelve — not a small number.

"That Jonin is useless. Their enemies are eleven Chunin. I don't expect them to kill, just to hold on for a certain time."

Moreover.

He had left slug clones on each of the six.

As long as they weren't dead, they could be saved.

As he spoke, that Jonin was decapitated by Shisui with one swift strike.

Kyōichi looked towards the sea.

Yagura was almost here.

So.

The fight would soon begin.

Six against eleven, Asuma's palms were sweaty. He held a kunai in each hand, with Wind Style chakra flickering unstably on them.

Vacuum Blade!

He exchanged a glance with Might Guy.

"Go!"

As Guy opened the Eight Gates, he charged instantly.

The opponents were all Chunin.

Without going all out, they couldn't win.

Asuma followed.

Might Guy's speed was incredible.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the frontmost Chunin —

Shadow Dance of the Leaves!

One kick.

The enemy was sent flying.

The next moment.

Shisui appeared, forming seals, covering the area with Great Fireball Technique.

Behind them, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu threw a handful of shuriken.

Their targets weren't the ones above but the enemies surrounding Might Guy. Asuma also moved forward with kunai, helping to fend off enemies around Might Guy.

Kurenai began to cast genjutsu with her hand seals.

The six unconsciously coordinated.

"Look, their cooperation isn't bad."

Kyōichi smiled.

The two teams had been patrolling and training together for some time, building good rapport. At least in the first clash, they didn't falter, ambushing and killing one.

Hayama Shirakumo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

It seemed...

They weren't at a disadvantage for now.

But.

The opponents were all Chunin, after all, not of the same strength, and it wouldn't be long before the tide changed.

Kirigakure ninjas, known for bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Faced with six children, they gained confidence. Although one of their comrades was killed in the ambush, it wasn't a big deal — if they couldn't beat Kyōichi, could they not beat these kids?

The ten quickly adjusted their state, regaining coordination.

The mist began to thicken again.

"Don't be afraid."

Kurenai shouted.

She had the enemy under a genjutsu! Ninjutsu interrupted.

Shisui immediately understood and teleported behind the enemy using the Hidden Mist Technique. Just as he was about to strike, the enemy's companion reacted.

Damn it!

He refrained from using his Sharingan.

In the blink of an eye, the enemy recovered from the genjutsu and even counterattacked Shisui.

Shisui had no choice but to use the Blade Swarm Mirage for distraction.

The next second, one of the enemies teleported right beside him.

Had Shisui not been planning to retreat, he might have been ambushed by now.

Cold sweat dripped down Shisui's forehead.

Watching his teacher cut through enemies like slicing vegetables, he had underestimated the Mist ninjas.

Facing them head-on, he realized...

Even as Chūnin, they should not be underestimated, as they were not yet fully developed.

After killing one initially, they began to retreat.

And then.

As the side effects of Might Guy opening the gates hit, they had to contract their defense, barely holding on with five people, as Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were in danger...

Kurenai no longer hesitated.

She formed hand seals, gathering Chakra for Chakra Enhanced Strength.

Following that.

Boom! With one punch.

Three attackers were forced back; one, who was too close, had his arm bones dislocated by the force of Kurenai's punch and the Chakra flow.

However.

Kurenai paid a price too.

Her right tendon was strained, temporarily losing combat ability, but fortunately, she had already gathered healing chakra in her left hand for self-healing.

This punch gave Might Guy an opportunity.

He immediately opened the Rest Gate.

Stamina restored!

Life Gate, open!

The next moment—

Whoosh!

He rushed towards those three, not to defeat them, but to gather them in one place.

Might Guy didn't know why, but an idea struck him, and he just did it.

Kurenai's eyes brightened.

While healing her right hand, she moved closer to the action.

The Mist ninjas were no fools.

Kurenai's move was clearly Tsunade's signature technique. Only a fool would stand in her way.

They made a decisive choice—

Water Formation Wall, Water Prison Technique.

Even the one with the dislocated arm bore the pain; the priority was to stay alive.

However.

The next moment, they saw dozens of Leaf ninjas jumping onto a dirt wall.

A few seconds later.

Twenty, thirty...

A bunch of Leaf ninjas stood atop the high wall, looking down at them, all with a spectator's gaze.

They were dumbfounded.

At about the same time, Yagura and the remaining Hidden Mist ninjas arrived on the island, but they faced Kyōichi, Might Duy, and Hayama Shirakumo.

Others might not recognize them, but Yagura did.

These were the three mentioned by Hōzuki Mangetsu—Chakra weak, but terrifying in Taijutsu when forbidden jutsus were activated, and the powerful kenjutsu skills of Kamida Kyōichi.

Even the relatively weaker Hayama Shirakumo was a skilled Jōnin, capable of holding off two members of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist for a short time.

Such strength.

He would be insane to attack first.

Yagura took a deep breath and stepped forward, asking, "Jōnin Kyōichi, my Hidden Mist Village has decided to withdraw. Why does Konoha continue to pressure us?"

"Withdraw? Heh, you think I believe that?"

Kyōichi squatted on the wall.

Yagura replied with a wry smile, "You've killed six of our Seven Swordsmen. What else can we do?"

"No, what I mean is, you want to fight when you want, and not when you don't? Are you still thinking about bargaining when the Kumogakure and Iwagakure attack from the north?"

Kyōichi replied with a cold laugh.

The intentions of the Hidden Mist were no secret.

The young man was handsome and idealistic, but he seemed to forget this was the Land of Fire!

"How could that be? I, too, wish for a quick resolution, but the elders in the village don't agree..."

Yagura took a deep breath.

This Kamida Kyōichi was indeed not easy to deal with. What exactly was happening in the Leaf now? Had the Third Hokage stepped down?

Come on, be useful!

He knew such thoughts couldn't fool anyone.

But.

According to the Third Hokage's style, he would normally choose to be conservative and conciliatory at such times, stabilizing the northern and northwestern battlefields.

However.

The current approach was nothing like the Third's.

It was recklessly aggressive.

"Well then, you go and hurry them up. The elders have problems, can't you solve them? If not, if the problems can't be solved, then solve those who create the problems."

Kyōichi chuckled, then said, "Hurry up, and the Seven Swordsmen can still form a group of four. Delay, and you might have to start from scratch."

"What do you mean? Who else is alive?"

Yagura's heart skipped a beat.

Then, recalling Kyōichi's use of the Hidden Mist Technique, his face grew even grimmer.

No wonder...

He didn't doubt the loyalty of the Mist ninjas, but the abilities of the Yamanaka Clan of Konoha were well-known; anyone involved in intelligence knew their prowess.

Whether there was a leak or not was not up to those three to decide.

"Jinin Akebino, Jinpachi Munashi, Kushimaru Kuriarare, think about it yourself."

"As for these ten Chūnin, I won't kill. Let them go as a gift."