The rain of steel slowed for a heartbeat.
Yoshi was bleeding from the arm, panting hard.
His captain was on one knee, sword trembling in his hand.
The Jonin stood a few paces away calm, unreadable, his blade glistening red under the dying fire.
"Still standing?" the Jonin said quietly. "Impressive."
Yoshi gritted his teeth. "You'll pay for this."
The Jonin tilted his head. "You? You can barely lift your sword."
The captain coughed, blood on his lips. "We… we're not done yet."
The Jonin's expression didn't change. "Yes, you are."
Then the spy stepped out from behind the shadows, smirking.
He twirled his dagger, the blade still dripping. His voice dripped with mockery.
"I think my work is finished," he said. "I gave intel to the Kaminokawa Empire... revealed the location of your precious hideout… and of course"
He glanced at the wounded captain and grinned wider > "brutally stabbed the Captain of Team 6."
Yoshi's eyes widened with fury. "You"
The spy raised his hand. "Ah, ah. Don't thank me yet."
He took a slow step back, voice turning cold.
"I'm off now. See you, Yoshi… Captain…" he smiled cruelly — "farewell."
Before Yoshi could move, the spy leapt into the trees, vanishing into the dark.
"Coward!" Yoshi shouted, but the Jonin blocked his path.
"Forget him," the Jonin said. "You won't live long enough to chase anyone."
The fight resumed fast, violent, desperate.
Yoshi and his captain struck together; the Jonin parried both blows at once, sparks flying like fireflies in the mist.
The captain staggered but still swung, cutting through one silent shinobi.
"Yoshi… stay focused!" he shouted.
"I won't let them take you!" Yoshi roared back, slashing wildly.
But the Jonin was faster his movements sharp, efficient. He ducked, twisted, slammed his knee into Yoshi's stomach, then raised his sword for the final strike
[Cut to the Forest - The Spy's Fall]
The spy raced through the fog, breathing hard, branches whipping past his face.
He was grinning, whispering to himself.
"Perfect… all perfect. They'll all die before dawn."
He didn't see the foot sliding silently into his path.
A split second later, his boot caught it his balance snapped and he crashed forward, face-first toward the dirt.
Before he hit the ground, a fist shot out of the darkness and smashed into his face.
The impact echoed through the trees sharp and clean.
The spy hit the ground, stunned.
Through his dazed vision, he saw a mid-sized figure step from the shadows calm, solid, unseen till now.
The spy tried to rise, clutching his jaw.
A calm, deep voice came from the darkness.
"Well done, Ryu… and Benjiro."