The river water exploded violently.
The water mist in the air took on a distinct purple hue under the moonlight.
Explosive poison mist devices had also been set up on both banks of the river.
After a series of banging explosions, poisonous smoke surrounded the area.
The Black Gorilla Squadron was instantly enveloped in the poison mist.
Salamander populations lived around Amegakure, and salamanders were highly venomous. Rain-nin were adept at using poison, rivaling the puppet masters of Sunagakure in this skill.
Everyone in the Black Gorilla Squadron swallowed an antidote pill.
The antidotes equipped by the Anbu were targeted against Iwa-nin poisons. No one expected the Rain-nin to join the battle, so the antidotes were not effective.
After rushing out of the poison mist, coughing fits erupted throughout the Black Gorilla Squadron.
"Cough! Cough!" White Sheep's voice was full of apology as he said, "I'm sorry, Squadron Leader, I didn't detect the enemy lurking in the river."
Black Gorilla said, "It's not your fault! Capturing them alive took too much time! Cough! Cough! Retreat!
Cover the retreat in sequence! We must bring back the 3 prisoners we captured!"
The people running beside him were stumbling, all affected by the toxin.
Yōkō felt he was doing alright.
The physique enhancement from the Senju of the Forest Bloodline gave him higher poison resistance.
"Leaf Monkey Squad, cover the retreat!"
The newly formed Leaf Monkey Squad stood their ground without hesitation, turning to cover the retreat.
The other squads fled desperately.
Yōkō looked back and saw the poisoned Leaf Monkey Squad hold out for over ten seconds before being wiped out by the Rain-nin.
Before they died, they traded their lives, killing five or six Rain-nin.
The Rain-nin continued their pursuit.
Black Gorilla looked at Yōkō, his eyes filled with resolve.
Yōkō understood Squadron Leader Black Gorilla's intention.
He and Fox were the two strongest in the squadron. He wanted to cover the retreat together with Fox, buying an opportunity for the prisoners and the sensory ninja White Sheep and the others.
If the chase continued like this, everyone would grow weaker from the poison, and they would fail the mission.
Squadron Leader Black Gorilla was too eager to prove he had fully recovered, too eager to complete the mission.
Yōkō nodded to Black Gorilla, then turned to Purple Cat and said, "You three, carry the prisoners and keep going forward. Follow White Sheep Squad Leader's commands from now on!"
"Squad Leader..." Purple Cat's words were swallowed.
Anbu missions were always this Cruel.
Yōkō and Black Gorilla stopped simultaneously, turning to face the pursuing Rain-nin.
Black Gorilla steadied his breathing and took out a box.
Yōkō looked over; it was the Akimichi clan's secret medicine, the Three Colored Pills.
Black Gorilla said, "Fox, assist me from now on."
"Understood."
Black Gorilla skipped the Blue Calorie Pill and directly took out the more potent Yellow Curry Pill.
Seeming to sense Fox's confusion, Black Gorilla said:
"The Rain-nin's poison seems to find the weaknesses in my body. My leg, which just recovered from surgery, feels numb and itchy inside; the bones and muscles are very uncomfortable.
Before my leg is destroyed, I must defeat these Rain-nin."
Yōkō nodded, understanding Black Gorilla's plan.
The comminuted fracture had affected Black Gorilla's combat strength.
Yōkō said, "Let's go, Squadron Leader. For your first mission since recovering."
Black Gorilla lifted a corner of his mask, swallowed the Yellow Curry Pill, and said, "If I get injured again, I'll probably have to retire. Fox, how does it feel to be the Acting Squadron Leader?"
"Squadron Leader, Princess Tsunade is at the front lines. You won't retire even if you're injured."
Black Gorilla said no more, focusing on the fight.
Visible chakra steam appeared around his body.
"Partial Multi-Size Technique!"
His right hand instantly enlarged, his palm a full ten meters wide, his arm elongating like a club.
The massive hand swept across, directly swatting away five Rain-nin who couldn't dodge in time.
Yōkō seized the opportunity, throwing kunai to kill the swatted and stunned Rain-nin.
Black Gorilla transformed into a massive Human Bullet Tank, rolling and charging towards the Rain-nin.
The Rain-nin squad leader shouted, "Don't be afraid! He's poisoned by the Salamander toxin! He can't last long! Wear him down!"
Under the Rain-nin squad leader's command, the Rain-nin scattered in all directions.
The Human Bullet Tank charged back and forth among the Rain-nin, its momentum fearsome, but its effectiveness dwindled.
The Rain-nin continuously threw explosive tags, bombing the Human Bullet Tank.
Seeing this, Yōkō circled the periphery, looking for an opportunity to strike.
A Rain-nin, forced to jump back by the Human Bullet Tank, landed right near Yōkō.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears!
The Rain-nin had just landed when he found his abdomen pierced by an earthen spear.
He turned his head with difficulty and saw an Anbu wearing a fox mask, his hands forming the Ram seal.
Yōkō was very satisfied with the performance of the Earth-Style Rising Spears. Few hand seals, and it was a mid-range offensive jutsu, not requiring Yōkō to risk himself.
No wonder many shinobi, once their chakra reserves increased, switched from being taijutsu specialists to ninjutsu specialists.
Using mid-to-long-range ninjutsu greatly improved one's own safety.
Taijutsu shinobi were like dancing on the edge of a blade; one mistake could mean serious injury.
The Human Bullet Tank rolled back and forth over ten times, coordinating with Yōkō's ninjutsu, killing over ten Rain-nin.
After the final Human Bullet Tank charge, Black Gorilla gasped for breath and fell to the ground, his body shrinking back to normal.
Black Gorilla's fingernails were turning purple, a sign of severe toxin Erosion.
Nearby Rain-nin charged at Black Gorilla, some already drawing kunai and steel senbon.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Yōkō appeared in time, blocking the projectiles for Black Gorilla.
Seizing the chance to catch his breath, Black Gorilla took out the final pill, the Red Chili Pill.
"Squadron Leader, are you going to burn all your fat...?"
Black Gorilla was going all out for the mission.
This was his last resort.
After swallowing the Red Chili Pill, a visible chakra surged violently around Black Gorilla.
The obese Black Gorilla suddenly slimmed down, his figure becoming lean but filled with a sense of power.
Black Gorilla's combat strength rose another level.
He sprang up and charged towards the Water Formation Wall.
As the Water Formation Wall fell, the three Rain-nin opposite hadn't yet reacted when they saw a fist coming at them, growing larger.
Yōkō thought to himself that Black Gorilla was fighting too desperately to prove his worth for the mission.
During his month of recuperation, Black Gorilla had heard some rumors; the Anbu higher-ups had considered having him leave the Anbu.
However, the Akimichi clan needed to maintain its influence within the Anbu. The Ino–Shika–Chō trio clans had been good friends with the Sarutobi clan, who were the witnesses and teachers for each generation's Ino–Shika–Chō combination.
Black Gorilla would not admit defeat easily.
The battle instantly became one-sided, with Black Gorilla crushing and slaughtering the Rain-nin.
Taking advantage of the brief boost from burning fat into chakra, Black Gorilla headed straight for the last remaining Rain-nin squad leader.
The Rain-nin squad leader took an umbrella-shaped tool from his back.
Black Gorilla was too fast. The Rain-nin squad leader didn't use the umbrella surface to block Black Gorilla, but instead opened the umbrella and swung it sideways at Black Gorilla.
Black Gorilla charged directly into the Rain-nin squad leader's embrace.
The umbrella-shaped tool also swung around to Black Gorilla's back.
The Rain-nin, despite taking serious injuries, closed the umbrella-shaped tool.
The meter-long rib spikes from inside the umbrella-shaped tool stabbed into Black Gorilla's back from behind.
Yōkō hurried forward, but it was too late.
The previously missing Iwa-nin squad leader rushed out, slashing at Black Gorilla's head with his sword.
As the Iwa-nin squad leader's blade fell, Black Gorilla raised his only free arm outside the umbrella to block.
Black Gorilla's only remaining right arm was severed by the ninja sword.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears!"
An earthen spear pierced through the Iwa-nin squad leader's heart.
Yōkō rushed over, killed the Rain-nin squad leader whose bones were broken all over, and rescued the armless Black Gorilla from the umbrella-shaped tool.
"Squadron Leader!"
Both arms lost, his back pierced by steel needles, every wound spurting purple, poisoned blood.
Squadron Leader Black Gorilla had fought too desperately. For the sake of the Akimichi clan, was it really worth it?
(End of Chapter)