Chapter 80: The Mysterious Anbu Ninja

Witnessing such a scene with one's own eyes, Yu finally understood that Guy's temporary surpassing of Kakashi in the later stages was not without reason. One was a genius ninja renowned throughout the village since his youth, while the other was a late bloomer without any Ninjutsu talent since his early years.

For those familiar with Naruto, they know that Kakashi was undoubtedly a prodigious ninja in his youth. Graduating from the Ninja Academy at the age of five, a record that remains unbroken to this day, he became a Jonin at the age of twelve. During this time, he independently developed the A-rank Ninjutsu, Chidori, making him the center of attention.

However, everything changed after Obito's sacrifice and later, when he personally killed Rin. Kakashi fell into a state of deep despair, and from that time onward, for more than a decade, his strength only grew from a Jonin to an elite Jonin, stagnating along the way.

In the later stages, he was completely surpassed by three of his disciples, and during the Fourth Great Ninja War, he became a hindrance to the main characters. Uchiha Madara took away his Sharingan, leaving him powerless to resist.

Although in the final battle, Team 7 forcefully intervened, even bringing Obito back to lend Kakashi a pair of Sharingan, it couldn't conceal the pale state of Kakashi's mid-to-late-stage strength.

As for Guy, who lacked ninja talent from a young age, he gradually caught up with Kakashi's pace through day after day, year after year, of relentless effort.

Although he always proclaimed his desire to defeat the genius ninja Kakashi, Guy quietly unleashed the formation of the Eight Inner Gates in the later stages. His combat power once surpassed that of Uchiha Madara in Six Paths mode, stunning countless spectators!

Anyone putting in effort deserves respect. Even though Guy's current strength might not match his own, he reminded Yu through his actions: Never slack off in one's own progress.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!"

Just as Yu was deeply engrossed in watching Might Guy's training, sharp sounds suddenly rang through the air. Six black flashes, shaped like shuriken, swiftly shot towards Yu from various angles.

"Clang, clang, clang!!"

Not only that, but the six shuriken collided with each other in mid-air. They instantly changed trajectories in a way that caught people off guard, and midway through, they shifted to a different angle, aiming directly at Yu.

Observation Haki sensed this sudden attack. With a slight sway of his body, Yu narrowly avoided all six sharp shuriken, which fiercely embedded themselves into the ground beneath him.

"An ANBU Ninja?"

Examining the Ninja who had just attacked him, wearing a cat-faced mask, Yu couldn't help but furrow his brow.

However, in the next moment, as he took in the ANBU Ninja's Familiar stature, Yu seemed to realize something, and a faint smile crept onto his lips.

"Puppet Jutsu: Manipulating Attack Blades!"

Despite the surprise in the eyes of the ANBU Ninja, Yu's hand movements remained fluid. His right hand's five fingers danced gracefully, and suddenly, five blue Chakra Threads shot out from his fingertips.

Lifting the five shuriken from the ground, he swiftly manipulated them through the air, creating sharp arcs aimed at the ANBU Ninja!

This was the essence of Puppet Jutsu as recorded in Chiyo's Puppet Scroll, and Yu had already mastered it over the past two months.

"You actually used Chakra Threads to manipulate my shuriken?"

Clearly, the ANBU Ninja hadn't anticipated that Yu would employ Sand's renowned Puppet Jutsu to control his shuriken.

In the split second he was taken aback, the Chakra Threads manipulated five shuriken had already reached him. Their speed and agility far exceeded those of ordinary thrown shuriken.

"Body Flicker Jutsu!"

However, the ANBU Ninja's reaction was not slow. At a crucial moment, he directly executed the Body Flicker Jutsu, avoiding the shuriken that Yu continued to manipulate and shoot at him.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Under the manipulation of Chakra Threads, the five shuriken in the air relentlessly pursued and attacked. The ANBU Ninja continuously employed the Body Flicker Jutsu to evade, appearing somewhat disheveled.

"You can't escape!"

Staring at the ANBU Ninja, who moved incredibly fast with the Body Flicker Jutsu, Yu's amber eyes burst with light. The Chakra Threads he controlled suddenly flicked!

Observation Haki anticipated the opponent's movements in advance. All five sharp shuriken, under Yu's control, directly struck the ANBU Ninja's body.

"Croak, croak, croak..."

However, accompanied by a chilling cry, numerous black feathers fell to the ground. The ANBU Ninja, struck by Yu, transformed into scattered crows right before his eyes.

Crows?!

Witnessing this scene, Yu widened his eyes in astonishment.

"Bang! Bang!"

At that moment, two faint explosions sounded around Yu. With two clouds of white smoke emerging, the ANBU Ninja directly released two Shadow Clones identical to itself.

"Flash Double!"

After releasing the two Shadow Clones, three identical ANBU Ninjas, each drawing a short knife from their backs, simultaneously executed the Body Flicker Jutsu. They turned into three swift phantoms, charging straight towards the middle of Yu.

This technique, named "Double Flash," superficially seemed to create two Shadow Clones for Taijutsu attacks against the enemy. However, in reality, the original body could freely interchange among the three, using ultra-fast Body Flicker Jutsu in conjunction with exquisite Kenjutsu (Sword techniques). Common ninjas would almost be instantly cut down in the blink of an eye.

"Lightning Release: Chidori Current!"

Confronted with rapid attacks from three directions by the ANBU Ninjas, Yu showed no hesitation and directly unleashed Chidori Current. Intense electrical currents emanated from his entire body.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two of the ANBU Ninjas collided with Yu's Chidori Current, instantly turning into two clouds of white smoke and disappearing.

However, the remaining original seemed to understand Yu's Ninjutsu nature well. Its body abruptly halted just outside the attack range of Chidori Current!

"If my estimation is correct... your technique involves releasing Lightning Chakra throughout your entire body, creating a high-level Ninjutsu that electrifies and subdues close-range opponents, right?"

The ANBU Ninja, standing still and forming hand seals at the original location, stared at Yu. Blood-red eyes gleamed beneath the cat-faced mask, focusing on Yu amid the raging electrical currents.

"Since the last time I suffered a loss, I devised a method... I believe you won't be able to withstand my next wave of attacks with this!"

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

As the words fell, hand seals completed, and the ANBU Ninja directly opened his mouth, releasing two scorching fireballs toward Yu.

"I really shouldn't underestimate you at all..."

Facing the incoming fireballs, with the raging electrical currents on his body not fully subdued, Yu revealed a wry smile.

It turns out that the attacks from the two Shadow Clones earlier were just a decoy—aimed at making him release Chidori Current, allowing the original to attack during his Ninjutsu usage.

"I never expected that, having witnessed me use it just once, he could immediately grasp the attack range of Chidori Current and come up with such a method to counter my Ninjutsu..."

Even Yu didn't anticipate that the opponent, having seen him use Chidori Current only once, could quickly figure out how to crack and counter it.

"Sorry, Yu. Today, I can finally win against you."

Watching Yu about to be hit by the fireballs, the ANBU Ninja couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, really? Take a closer look then..."

Just as it seemed Yu was about to be hit by the fireballs, a playful smile appeared on his face.

Could it be...? The ANBU Ninja felt a shock in his heart.

"Bang!"

As the words fell, Yu, struck by the two fireballs, unexpectedly turned into a puddle of water on the ground.

"Water Clone?!"

Immediately realizing the danger, feeling the fluctuation from above, the ANBU Ninja suddenly looked up and spewed out the last fireball from his mouth.

"Quick reaction..."

"Unfortunately, your movements are too slow!"

Facing the fireball released by the ANBU Ninja beneath him, Yu, appearing in mid-air above, had already completed the hand seals with both hands.

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