"The enemy numbers are lowest in this direction, Clan Leader."
"We've confirmed it already."
The Snow Clan had gathered. They were close together, carefully concealing themselves.
The clan leader was scanning the distance while a young man beside him reported the intelligence they'd gathered.
Their numbers were small. Splitting up to break through would only lower their chances of success.
"Alright," he said. "Wait for my signal."
After speaking, the clan leader signaled with his hand and moved forward first.
Soon, they spotted several Mist Anbu carefully searching the area. Occasionally, they exchanged a few words.
They waited in silence for a moment. More and more Mist Anbu appeared, drawing closer.
"One… two… three… fifteen."
After finishing his count, the clan leader noted there were fifteen Anbu here.
Minato had just been lucky to capture one alone; otherwise, the battle would've begun already.
Still, with one missing, it was only a matter of time before their presence was discovered.
"Fifteen huh..."
The clan leader muttered under his breath. They were barely over a dozen themselves, and several among them were injured.
Even in the direction with the least number of Mist Anbu, successfully breaking through remained uncertain.
"This is our only chance."
"At this rate, we'll be discovered in less than a day."
The young man added urgency to the situation.
"Go!"
Upon hearing that, the clan leader wasted no time. With a sweep of his right hand, all of them rushed toward the Mist Anbu.
"Ice Release, Ice Senbon!"
Countless, densely packed needles of ice shot toward the Mist Anbu, whistling sharply as they flew.
Caught off guard and out in the open, four or five Anbu were pierced through like pincushions.
Before he could even register satisfaction, the clan leader watched as the pierced figures melted into puddles of water.
"They've tricked us! Retreat quickly!"
Instantly realizing the truth, the clan leader shouted. It was an Anbu trap.
"Trying to run? Too late."
With a low chuckle, dozens of Anbu emerged from hiding, surrounding them completely.
"How did you know we were escaping?"
The clan leader shot the young man a suspicious glance.
"It wasn't me, Clan Leader," the young man hurried to explain, panic clear on his face.
"It doesn't matter whether I tell you or not," the Anbu leader replied. "Whether you try to escape or not…"
"You're nothing but fish on our chopping block. You just die a little sooner now."
The Anbu leader stepped forward. This was just a trap he'd casually set, yet it had caught an even bigger prize.
It saved them the trouble of searching further.
"You're aiding a tyrant. What has the Third Mizukage turned Mist into? Is he still worthy of your loyalty?"
The clan leader already suspected his fate—he held nothing back anymore.
"Blasphemy! Who dares slander Mizukage-sama?"
The Anbu leader bellowed.
"Kill them!!"
At his command, the ninja under him charged forward, swords drawn.
"Defend yourselves!"
The clan leader formed hand seals with both hands. The air around him dropped sharply in temperature.
[Ice Release – Demonic Mirroring Thin Ice]
He created multiple Ice Mirrors, enclosing the three Anbu who attacked him.
By reflecting himself in the mirrors, he could appear in any of them at will.
The Anbu trapped within this secret jutsu realized they were in grave danger and panicked momentarily.
They had no clue how to escape this jutsu.
As a storm of senbon rained down from all directions, they struggled to defend themselves and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.
The Anbu leader scoffed at the clan leader's actions. Even if he killed these three Anbu, what difference would it make?
On the opposing side, three or four Snow Clan members died immediately upon engagement.
After all, few could master the secret jutsu known as [Demonic Mirroring Thin Ice].
"Ice Release, Ice Rock Dome!"
After forming several hand seals, the young man instantly created an ice wall that blocked several Water Release attacks aimed at his clansmen.
But it only delayed their inevitable fate for a moment.
"Useless trash. With this many men, you still haven't taken them down yet?"
After several Anbu were killed, the leader grew dissatisfied.
He drew the long sword from behind his back, pushed off the ground with both legs, and launched like a missile into the battle.
In the blink of an eye, two members of the Snow Clan fell beneath his blade.
"I'll kill you."
At that moment, the clan leader who had just defeated the three Anbu released Demonic Mirroring Thin Ice and witnessed this scene.
Letting out a furious roar, he charged toward the Anbu leader, forming an ice blade in his hands.
"Foolishness."
The Anbu leader curled his lips into a cold smile and met him head-on with his sword drawn.
"Ahhh!"
With a pained cry, the clan leader's ice sword shattered into two pieces, and he was kicked backward through the air.
"I'll send you to meet the Shinigami first."
The Anbu leader followed closely behind, delivering the next strike straight toward his opponent's neck.
"Clan Leader!"
Witnessing this scene, the Snow Clan members' eyes burned with fury.
"I found you! Hurry up, Nawaki!"
Before the Anbu leader could react, a strange kunai flew straight toward his face.
He barely twisted his head aside but then noticed a golden figure suddenly appear before him.
In the newcomer's hand was an enormous Rasengan.
He was certain—he'd never seen a Rasengan this large in his life.
[Big Ball Rasengan]!
Minato slammed the massive Rasengan straight into the Anbu leader's body.
A scream of agony rang out as the Anbu leader went flying backward.
His sword lay broken, and his chest was a mess of blood and torn flesh.
When he hit the ground, he was breathing heavily, gasping for air.
This isn't the Boruto era—few could survive a direct hit from [Big Ball Rasengan].
"Ohhh...!"
Please remember to collect "Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade" if you enjoy it:
"You okay? I'm a ninja from Konoha."
Minato turned around with a bright smile, helping the clan leader rise from the ground.
"I-I'm fine."
The clan leader still looked dazed. One strike took down Kirigakure's Anbu leader. This Leaf shinobi was just too strong.
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"Water Release, Dam Repair Jutsu."
Nawaki hovered midair, unleashing a wide-range Water Release technique that swept away and trapped the Anbu before the Snow Clan members.
Indeed, in the Land of Water, where humidity was high, his water techniques grew even stronger.
The forest had been reduced to a barren wasteland, its landscape now dotted with lakes created by Water Release techniques, with over a dozen Anbu lying dead at a glance.
"Someone has come to rescue us."
Ecstatic joy already spread across the clan leader's face in this moment of last-minute salvation.
Minato and Nawaki seemed like divine figures descending from the heavens.
"Don't worry," Minato said. "We'll get you out of here."
As he spoke, Minato noticed the wary Kiri Anbu gradually closing in around them. He swiftly stepped between the advancing enemies and the clan leader, shielding the latter with his own body.
Meanwhile, Yahiko and the others finally arrived at the scene, each employing their techniques to tightly guard the members of the Snow Clan.
"Who are you people?"
"Are you declaring war against our Village Hidden in the Mist?"
After the death of their leader, this Anbu member had become the highest-ranking among them.
He could tell that Minato's group was extremely powerful, and they might not be able to win against them outright, so he tried to use the village's name as leverage.
"Waste no words—we'll crush your Hidden Mist Village anyway!"
Nawaki held deep contempt for the Third Mizukage's actions and refused to waste words arguing with them.
[Water Release – Water Gun Wave!]
Nawaki clasped his hands together, unleashing another powerful technique.
Instantly, swirling torrents of water spiraled upward like tornadoes around the Kiri Anbu.
The water then rose high into the air before spreading outward like a waterfall, crashing down violently.
"Ahh~"
Screams echoed all around as the Anbu sustained heavy losses once again.
Another large river now carved its way into the lake, further devastating the forest.
[End of chapter] If you enjoy *Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade*, please consider bookmarking it: (m.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>