"Hey! Shino! Can't you focus fire and help me take one down first?!"
Amidst a flurry of blades, Kiba, like an unbridled wild dog, swiftly leapt up and down using the surrounding trees for cover. But the three black-clad figures chasing him also relentlessly pursued and cornered him, giving Kiba a major headache.
Although he had Akamaru use "Man-Beast Clone Jutsu" to transform into his likeness, it was still three against two. "Tekkō-kagi" attacks coming from every angle left him unable to counter.
"If I hadn't been helping deflect the attacks, you'd be on the ground already. Shut up and stop talking so much. Handle your own business before criticizing others."
Unlike Kiba's situation, Shino was dealing with only one black-clad figure. But since Shino had sent most of his Kikaichū to help cover Kiba, his own combat power wasn't very ample, preventing him from quickly defeating his opponent.
Troublesome. Teacher Kurenai seems tied up for now too. Wonder how Yuki's doing. Even during intense combat, Shino constantly observed the surroundings, seeking a way to break the deadlock.
Not far from Kiba and Shino, Yūhi Kurenai and another black-clad figure stood facing each other. A closer look revealed strong chakra permeating the air between them, indicating a genjutsu battle invisible to the eye.
Teacher Kurenai is a genjutsu-specialized Jōnin. Even she can't quickly resolve this? ...But these black-clad figures don't seem intent on killing Kiba and me. If we exploit that, there's a chance of victory.
After some time fighting, Shino realized the four black-clad figures held no lethal intent, merely wanting to cripple their mobility—the biggest vulnerability.
"...!" The next second, the black-clad figure harassing Shino suddenly attacked from his blind spot! Those sinister iron claws aimed straight for Shino's shoulder!
But unexpectedly, the moment before being struck, the glasses-wearing youth suddenly backhanded the kunai in his right hand toward the black-clad figure's face, adopting a mutually injuring stance!
What? Seemingly unprepared for Shino's boldness, the black-clad figure's movements hesitated briefly when both were about to stab. That split-second pause let Shino execute his plan.
"Secret Technique: Insect Clone!"
When the black-clad figure's iron claws blocked Shino's kunai with a metallic clang, the youth before him suddenly turned into a swarm of black Kikaichū! Swarming toward the black-clad figure!
As expected, their orders are likely to avoid killing us if possible, causing hesitation when facing determined attacks... But why this situation?
Watching the distant black-clad figure engulfed by "Kikaichū" begin to scream, Shino, already hidden in shadows, pondered the meaning behind this anomaly.
But after a few seconds, he gave up thinking, because his hyperactive companion nearby couldn't resist trying something big.
"Damn! You three are so annoying! Akamaru! Let's go!"
When sharp "Tekkō-kagi" cut his skin for the seventh time, the pain intensified Kiba's agitation. In a rage, he pulled two soldier pills from his pocket, tossing them into his and Akamaru's mouths. Red ripples appeared over both!
"Take this! Man-Beast Taijutsu Secret Technique: Fang Passing Fang!"
Instantly, man and dog began spinning violently at high speed! Chakra from the "Soldier Pills (Beef Flavor)" covered their bodies, combined with rotational force like two small tornadoes!
Idiot... Using a technique with difficult-to-change trajectory in this forest terrain.
Seeing the three black-clad figures surrounding him instantly scatter when Kiba used "Fang Passing Fang," Shino sighed nearby, yet quickly provided support from the shadows.
"Huh?" Just as the black-clad figure nearest Kiba prepared to hide behind a large tree, waiting for this reckless idiot to crash into it before counterattacking, he found a strand of black insects lifting him midair like a rope!
Next second, a tornado-like impact blasted the unfortunate fellow head-on! Screaming like a frog hit by a stampeding dog pack, he was battered bloody, then fell onto soft ground, never moving again...
"Try running now!"
After eliminating one enemy, Kiba's spinning momentum clearly intensified. Excited, he charged toward the other two enemies, as if that strike was all his own doing...
Meanwhile, as Kiba and Shino jointly dealt with enemies, the first duel between Yūhi Kurenai and the "Akabane Corps" platoon leader nearby officially concluded.
Whew... When Kurenai's spirit returned to her body, she couldn't help but sigh, looking at the opponent who could withstand her genjutsu. "With your genjutsu skill, you're at least Jōnin-level. Won't even give your name?"
"...No need. Everything will end soon."
Looking at this female Jōnin with excellent looks and high skill, the "Akabane Corps" Second Platoon leader, Shinji, spoke in his low voice.
Judging by time, the assassination over there should be done. Almost time to withdraw? His gaze vaguely turned toward the distant lake. After all, their goal wasn't to kill these Konoha ninja, mainly to eliminate that fishing village villager.
From the enemy setup left here, only one genin should be with the target. Such a genin facing a Chūnin-strength squad leader and nine assassins would have no chance to fight back... right?
"Genjutsu: Sakura Triad!"
But as Shinji gauged when to withdraw, Yūhi Kurenai almost unexpectedly unleashed a genjutsu! Blossoming cherry blossoms surged, almost completely covering his vision! But for him, not weak in genjutsu, this wasn't hard to handle.
A vision-blocking genjutsu. Such things are simply... Huh? No! Someone behind?
Before Shinji could form seals to dispel the genjutsu, a bone-chilling gust of wind came from behind!
In that life-or-death moment, the "Akabane Corps" Second Platoon leader immediately displayed strong adaptability. He didn't choose to immediately dispel the genjutsu; instead, with vision obscured, he backhanded a grappling hook from his sleeve, entangling a nearby tree, using the hook's force to leap toward the treetop, barely dodging the attack from behind!
"You! You are..."
After reaching a safe area, Shinji quickly formed seals to dispelled "Sakura Triad's" visual block. Yet when he saw the person attacking from behind was a white-robed youth, his dead-fish-like pupils immediately widened.
Impossible! This genin is the one protecting the target, right? I clearly sent ten assassins there. How did he... Argh!
Before his shock time ended, Shinji suddenly saw Mr. Tenmei standing under a distant tree, and the squad leader tightly bound to a tree!
Instantly, he understood why Yuki appeared here.
"This guy's not bad. Jōnin?" By now, Yuki had reached Teacher Kurenai's side, watching the dangerous-aura figure with an alert gaze.
"Careful. He's been trying to stall all along, hasn't exposed his true strength yet."
Seeing Yuki and Mr. Tenmei safe and sound, Yūhi Kurenai also felt relieved, as this meant the assassins' plan had completely failed.