Chapter 3: Sudden Attack

The moment Hyuga Yuto attacked, Sugisaki Tetsujiro reacted.

As a veteran Chunin who had experienced many battles, he instantly understood Hyuga Yuto's choice –

Ignore the besieged Sato Masahito and concentrate on killing the only Jonin on the opposite side first. It was a race against time to eliminate the opponent!

In a flash, the Kumogakure Jonin dodged the kunai thrown by Hyuga Yuto. With the natural arm span advantage of an adult, he grabbed Hyuga Yuto's elbow first, stopping his attack.

The Jonin from Kumogakure Village was proficient in Lightning Release and taijutsu. In this close combat situation, the twelve-year-old Hyuga Yuto was at a disadvantage.

But the genius of the Hyuga Branch Family wasn't intimidated. Using the Jonin's hand as a fulcrum, he suspended his body and kicked the enemy's chest with both feet.

Tremendous force erupted between the two. Hyuga Yuto's bone strength was weaker than his opponent's, and his joints began to creak as if they were about to break.

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" Suddenly, two hands emerged from the ground beneath the Kumogakure Jonin's feet and pulled him down, leaving only his upper body exposed.

Bam! Sugisaki Tetsujiro emerged from the ground. After temporarily restraining the enemy, his kunai flashed with a cold light, aiming for the enemy's throat.

With his lower body buried in the ground and his arms being held by Hyuga Yuto, the Kumogakure Jonin had no choice but to forcefully throw Hyuga Yuto away and raise his hands to block the kunai.

Puchi!

His palm was pierced, and his metacarpal bones were pinned by the kunai.

"Argh!" In this moment of danger, the Kumogakure Jonin's ferocity was aroused. His formidable physical qualities erupted in an instant. Like a wild beast, he ignored the pain, forcefully pulled out the kunai, spread his arms, and grabbed Sugisaki Tetsujiro's waist.

He lifted the Konoha Jonin, bursting with desperate chakra, his body surging with silver-white electric arcs. He grabbed Sugisaki Tetsujiro and slammed him to the ground with all his might!

Taijutsu: Lightning Explosion!

Sugisaki Tetsujiro's head hit the ground, creating a spiderweb-like crack in the forest floor and rocks.

The Konoha Jonin coughed up a large mouthful of blood, almost fainting.

But a Jonin was still a Jonin. Even when severely injured, he could still counterattack at this moment. Precisely and swiftly, Sugisaki Tetsujiro formed several hand seals.

A very thin stream of ultra-high-pressure water shot out from Sugisaki Tetsujiro's mouth. It was so fast that it instantly pierced the air and accurately hit the enemy's abdomen. This sharp water blade pierced through the Kumogakure Jonin's body and didn't stop until it passed through more than a dozen large trees, turning into a puddle of water.

– Water Release: Water Severing Wave!

This was also Sugisaki Tetsujiro's ultimate technique and the only S-rank ninjutsu he had mastered!

Konoha's offensive didn't stop there.

Hyuga Yuto charged again from behind. Taking advantage of the enemy's moment of weakness, he punched him hard in the temple. Chakra erupted, fully displaying the "Gentle Fist" characteristics of "insidiousness and penetration," completely shattering the enemy's soft brain.

The Kumogakure Jonin only groaned and fell limp, dying on the spot.

Hyuga Yuto panted heavily, sweat evaporating from his body like steam.

Sugisaki Tetsujiro struggled to get up from the ground, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

"Sugisaki-senpai." Hyuga Yuto stood beside him: "I'll take the lead in the next attack. Your cervical spine could break at any moment."

"Okay... Thank you, Yuto-kun." Sugisaki Tetsujiro smiled bitterly, not trying to push himself.

The two faced the remaining enemies.

At this time, the body of the Konoha Genin, Sato Masahito, also slowly fell to the ground.

Both sides had killed the person they were besieging almost at the same time.

The remaining Kumogakure ninja glanced at each other and took formation, waiting for the final battle.

They knew that under the Byakugan, escape was pointless.

...

...

Thirty minutes later.

In the dense forest at the border of the Land of Fire, Hyuga Yuto and Sugisaki Tetsujiro walked side by side, staggering. Neither of them knew medical ninjutsu, so they could only endure the pain and move forward.

They had a few more wounds on their bodies. Even Genin's dying counterattacks couldn't be underestimated.

However, the outcome was ultimately positive. Hyuga Yuto and Sugisaki Tetsujiro worked together to annihilate the Kumogakure side and protect the hard-won intelligence.

"You're truly amazing, Yuto-kun." Sugisaki Tetsujiro suddenly spoke.

Battles could quickly strengthen bonds between men. Initially, Sugisaki Tetsujiro addressed Hyuga Yuto by his full name, but now he could speak in a rather familiar tone.

"Yuto-kun, when our reconnaissance team was formed, I already knew your name." Sugisaki Tetsujiro sighed: "At only twelve years old, you've touched the realm of Jonin and are known as the [Hyuga's Jewel]. You're extremely talented, hardworking, intelligent, and value the honor of the village and your clan above all else... After meeting you this time, I realized that no amount of praise is excessive."

"Tetsujiro-senpai, you flatter me." Hyuga Yuto smiled.

He also changed his address, calling Sugisaki Tetsujiro by name, and replied gently: "You held off most of the enemy's forces and that Jonin. At the critical moment, you even severely injured the enemy with an S-rank ninjutsu. Without you, we would all be dead, but..."

The genius of the Hyuga Branch Family lowered his head, his tone a little low, and his pace slowed, clearly feeling depressed: "Unfortunately, Sato Masahito, Yamagata Reiro, and Hirahara Eiji are all gone. I..."

Sugisaki Tetsujiro also sighed with emotion, but he didn't stop and turn back to comfort him. For ninja, accepting the death of comrades was a necessary experience that no one could avoid. It was a compulsory course for ninja.

"Yuto-kun, look forward. You've made another contribution this time, killing enemies and protecting intelligence. You're worthy of the title [Hyuga's Jewel]."

"Ah... Tetsujiro-senpai, thank you... That intelligence is indeed important, worth the sacrifices we made."

"It's good that you understand this." Sugisaki Tetsujiro suddenly patted his head and reached into his backpack to pull out a cylindrical container, handing it to Hyuga Yuto: "Thanks to you mentioning it, I almost forgot about this... Here, during intelligence escort missions, the main intelligence should be carried alternately by the leading Jonin. Although you're not a Jonin yet, my physical condition is not good now. It's better for us to take turns keeping it... Making judgments based on the situation is also a compulsory course for ninja."

"Okay, Tetsujiro-san."

The young man's gentle and calm voice came from behind.

Sugisaki Tetsujiro felt the weight in his hand suddenly disappear. Clearly, Hyuga Yuto had taken the intelligence scroll.

Almost at the same moment, Sugisaki Tetsujiro felt another sensation –

Pain, extreme pain.

As a Jonin, he instantly knew what had happened:

A kunai stabbed into my body from behind, from top to bottom, inserted between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, severing the nerve center. It's an enemy! But weren't the enemies already...

Before he could understand, the young man's voice reached his ears again.

Still gentle, still calm.

"Tetsujiro-senpai, what are you surprised about? Of course, I wouldn't use the Gentle Fist at a time like this."

[The young Hyuga's Jewel, his voice like calm water, showing his unwavering determination. As a ninja, he wouldn't waver in the slightest.]

Sugisaki Tetsujiro suddenly thought of this sentence.