Water Style ∙ Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
The scattered water droplets on the battlefield shimmered for a fleeting second—then surged. A roaring dragon formed from spiraling torrents of water materialized out of thin air. Its serpentine body coiled through the sky before diving down toward Asahi like a force of nature, gleaming with compressed chakra.
*Puff!*
Caught off guard by a Kiri ninja's interference, Asahi was struck head-on by the descending water dragon. The impact smashed him into the ground, gouging a deep crater into the earth. Water and mud exploded outward, engulfing the area in a messy spray.
But the four masked Kirigakure Anbu operatives standing nearby did not lower their guard.
They had not forgotten—this was the man who released the Three-Tails inside Kirigakure village, reduced entire districts to rubble, and walked out without leaving a trace. If someone like that could be defeated by a mere Water Dragon Bullet, the Mizukage himself wouldn't have lost sleep over him.
Sure enough, swish!
Asahi's figure reappeared behind one of the Anbu operatives in a blur of motion. A special kunai flew forward as he simultaneously slammed a chakra-enhanced fist toward the Anbu member's spine.
The masked ninja instinctively twisted his body to avoid the kunai and dodged the punch by a hair's breadth. In the same motion, he drew his ninjatō with both hands and slashed from Asahi's blind spot.
But Asahi rushed forward into the ninja's space, closing the distance instantly, and drove his elbow hard into the Anbu operative's chest and abdomen.
A clean hit—backed by Chakra Enhanced Fist.
*Bang!*
The force sent the Anbu member flying like a ragdoll. His body crashed into the earth, fracturing the surface beneath him. After a few violent spasms, he stopped moving altogether. Life slipped from his body, silent and final.
The Anbu were indeed a cut above regular shinobi. The one Asahi had struck was likely a chūnin-level operative, but far more seasoned in real combat than typical chūnin.
Still, once someone was drawn into close quarters with Asahi, it was all over. Unless they had a powerful defensive jutsu or absurd physical resilience, no one could withstand a direct hit from his Chakra Enhanced Strength.
"You dare show your face after what you did?" one of the remaining Anbu snarled, his voice cold behind his mask. "Do you think Kirigakure is a joke to you, Senmei Asahi?!"
Asahi snorted. "Is that how a ninja talks now? This is war. What did you think this was—children's hide and seek?"
"What are you here for this time?" the Anbu member snapped, narrowing his eyes.
"What else?" Asahi shrugged nonchalantly. "Murder. Isn't that what we all do in war?"
His words were dismissive, but inwardly, he took the Anbu's suspicion seriously. Clearly, someone in Kirigakure's upper ranks still had their wits. They were beginning to suspect his sudden reappearance wasn't just a rogue attack—it had purpose.
Indeed, Asahi had stayed hidden in Konoha for three months. Now he was suddenly resurfacing and slaying Kiri-nin in droves. No one with a brain would believe Konoha wasn't up to something.
Because of this, while the masses screamed for revenge, the Kirigakure leadership had split its response—some Anbu squads were hunting Asahi out of fury, while others had been dispatched to figure out what exactly he was trying to achieve.
Officially, Konoha had announced that Asahi was imprisoned during his three-month absence. Most didn't buy it, but it was a gesture—Konoha signaling that it wasn't openly weaponizing tailed beasts in the war. Whether or not it was a lie was secondary; diplomacy was all about appearances.
The masked Anbu exchanged hand signs, silent but deliberate.
"Trying to retreat, are we?" Asahi asked, his voice laced with mockery.
He couldn't read their hand signs precisely, but he knew enough about battlefield communication to guess what they were doing.
They didn't respond.
They knew chasing a space-time user like Asahi was foolish. It would be more valuable to gather intel and report it. Fighting him here risked unnecessary losses.
But Asahi's eyes narrowed. "You'll have to ask my permission first."
With a snort, he bent his knees and launched into the air. In a blink, six Flying Thunder God Kunai whirled through the air, landing in arcs that blocked every possible escape route.
No matter how fast they were—they would never be faster than Flying Thunder God Technique.
He vanished.
One Anbu member barely had time to react before Asahi reappeared behind him, kunai ready. The Kiri ninja twisted instinctively, parrying the strike.
Ninja Art ∙ Hidden Mist Jutsu! — A new Anbu member formed seals rapidly, spewing dense mist that blanketed the battlefield.
*Whoosh!*
A blur of steel cut through the fog. Asahi hardened his body using chakra reinforcement and tanked the ambush head-on. Twin blades scraped against his shoulder guards.
He grabbed one of the attacker's swords, twisted it, and used the momentum to slam into the ninja's torso.
But this time, the Kirigakure Anbu sensed the danger. Abandoning his sword, he pulled two kunai from his pouch and slashed at Asahi's throat in a suicidal counter.
Ready to die together.
Yet before the blades touched skin, Asahi's figure vanished again.
The two Anbu members attempting to flank him from the fog found themselves striking only air.
Despite the thick mist impairing visibility, years of battle-honed instincts told Asahi that the remaining Anbu would use this moment for a synchronized strike.
Earth Style ∙ Earth Dome Prison!
With a surge of chakra, the ground around the three Kiri ninja rose, sealing them inside a solid dome of earth. Not just a prison—it was designed to drain chakra from those inside.
But Asahi's expression darkened.
Something was off.
Only two chakra signatures... and they were faint.
'Water clones!'
He immediately canceled the jutsu and teleported away—just as the real Anbu launched a surprise assault from the fog behind him.
*Clink!*
Kunai scraped his flak jacket. Had he delayed even half a second, his spine would've been pierced.
"Well played..." Asahi growled. "I almost walked into that one."
The coordination between these Anbu wasn't just skill—it was lethal intent.
And just then, pain exploded across his skin. A burning sensation seared his arms and chest, as if acid had touched him.
A chemical attack?
No—something worse.
Without hesitation, he teleported again, reappearing several meters away and skidding across the ground.
He checked his skin. Red. Irritated. Boiling.
'No warning... It has to be...'
'Acidic mist'
His eyes narrowed.
'Is it Terumi Mei?'
If the enemy had brought in a user of Vapour-style, and the HiddenMist Jutsu was masking the acidic vapor, the battlefield had just become incredibly dangerous.
If Mei herself had arrived...
Then retreat might be the only option.
The thick fog concealed too much. Every breath carried risk. Every step could be a trap.
And Asahi had already confirmed that the Anbu were just the first wave.
He stood still for a second, senses extended, heart thudding with adrenaline.
'One wrong move here, and I'm done. Is staying worth the risk?'
*****
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