Hearing that the other party intended to release snakes, Mei Terumi, who was hiding in the bushes, rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The mist limited her vision, allowing her to see only a vague silhouette in the distance. Still, from the voice alone, she could tell it was a young Konoha ninja. Did he really think he could take on enemies alone?
She was still young and needed to conceal her abilities, so stepping in was not an option. However, the woman beside her, Ado, was different. Ado had already defeated multiple jonin within their clan and was widely regarded as a genius by Mei's father.
Did that Konoha ninja even understand what a true genius meant?
Did he realize how frightening one could be?
Mei pouted, her mood already sour. The day had gone terribly from the start. Her father had not given her any gift, she had been mocked at the academy, and now Kirigakure was under attack.
Irritation welled up inside her.
She turned her head, intending to let Ado step in, defeat the intruder, and capture him alive for the village.
But the moment she looked, she froze.
The supposedly invincible Ado was standing stiffly, her expression tense as if facing a powerful enemy.
Before Mei could even process what was happening, Ado frowned, threw several smoke bombs to the ground, grabbed Mei by the shoulder, and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Why did it have to be him?
Ado felt a wave of regret.
The Terumi clan compound was located far from the commercial district. With explosions erupting across the village, she had assumed Konoha was launching a full scale assault. To avoid the chaos, she had chosen a less traveled route.
She had never expected to encounter Uchiha Hayashi here.
The commander of Konoha's front line appearing in Kirigakure made no sense to her.
From behind, Hayashi watched them retreat, a faint smile forming on his lips. He had already sent another Shadow Clone after the Six Tails Jinchuriki through a summoned snake. For now, he chose to deal with the enemies in front of him.
Chakra surged beneath his feet as he gave chase.
Moments later, Ado, who was repeatedly using the Body Flicker Technique, suddenly felt a sharp and overwhelming killing intent closing in.
Her reaction was immediate.
With a swift motion of her left hand, she tossed Mei into a nearby bush. At the same time, she pivoted mid air, her body turning in a smooth arc before descending rapidly. Just before landing, her hands had already completed the necessary seals.
"Water Release, Water Bullet Barrage Technique!"
Streams of water shot out like a scattered storm, firing in all directions toward Hayashi. Each projectile was guided by her chakra, making them extremely difficult to evade completely.
However, Hayashi's combat experience was far beyond ordinary.
Even while pursuing, he had remained wary of a counterattack.
He placed his hands on the ground, and a sturdy earth wall rose instantly to shield him.
The defense lasted only a moment.
The water attack ceased, replaced immediately by an intense surge of heat.
"Lava Release, Lava Monster Technique!"
A combination of fire and earth nature chakra, the technique expelled molten, highly corrosive lava capable of overwhelming a wide area. It was one of the Terumi clan's kekkei genkai.
The extreme heat melted the earth wall almost instantly, turning it into liquid that dripped to the ground with a sharp sizzling sound.
Hayashi was now within the range of the attack.
Without hesitation, he tapped the ground lightly with his foot and slid backward, creating distance while forming hand seals at remarkable speed.
Ox, Monkey, Rabbit, Rat, Boar, Rooster, Ox.
A technique that normally required dozens of seals was condensed into only a few. In an instant, a water dragon surged upward beside him.
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
This time, he did not release it immediately.
His chakra shifted again, transforming into Lightning Release. A bright surge of electricity gathered in his right hand.
"Lightning Release, Lightning Serpent!"
The lightning pierced into the head of the water dragon, merging with it.
Using his left leg as a pivot, Hayashi spun his body rapidly. The water dragon followed his motion, spiraling around him with increasing force.
Then, with a powerful release of momentum, he launched it forward.
The Water Dragon Bullet surged ahead, now infused with lightning, creating a devastating hybrid attack.
A Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.
The combination enhanced not only its destructive power but also added a paralyzing effect. Its speed and force far surpassed that of a normal Water Dragon.
Seeing the attack rushing toward her, Ado increased her chakra output, raising multiple lava walls in defense.
But she knew it would not be enough.
Without hesitation, she leaped to the side, intending to retreat and shift the battlefield, buying time for Mei to escape.
At that exact moment, Hayashi moved.
Chakra burst beneath his feet as he closed the distance in an instant, his speed surpassing hers completely.
Before Ado could react, his knee struck her mid air with brutal force.
She was sent flying, her body crashing violently as the impact nearly rendered her unconscious.
At that moment, Mei Terumi, who had been watching from hiding, finally acted.
Despite her young age, her timing was precise.
She opened her mouth and released a fireball.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique!"
The size was comparable to the one Uchiha Itachi had used as a child, but this attack carried an additional trait. It was infused with Boil Release, making it far more dangerous.
Even so, it remained a fireball.
And a fireball alone could not defeat Hayashi.
The instant Mei revealed herself, he vanished.
In the next moment, he appeared behind her.
His hand moved swiftly, fingers gripping her forehead as he lifted and tossed her into the air.
He held back his strength, so she was not injured, but the sudden motion left her disoriented.
Before she could regain control, she realized in shock that he had already appeared behind her again.
A sharp kick struck her back, sending her crashing to the ground face first.
Her world spun from the impacts.
Before she could even recover, she felt herself being lifted again.
Hayashi had grabbed her by one leg, suspending her upside down in mid air.
Her kimono shifted with gravity, though thankfully she was wearing additional clothing underneath.
Meeting the gaze of his scarlet Sharingan, Mei felt a wave of humiliation and fear.
Her body ached, her limbs felt numb, and though she was still young, she was still a girl.
She had never been treated like this before.
She wanted to resist, but her chakra had already been completely drained by her previous attack.
Worse, her instincts screamed at her.
If she attempted to fight back now, he would kill her without hesitation.