Thump, thump, thump!
A lone carriage was stopped in a small puddle, surrounded by numerous small water pits, all created by Lin Yu and the Water Release Ninjutsu of the Ninja named Murata.
The battlefield was already scattered. The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes was pressing the three Konoha Chunin away from Lin Yu and his group, preventing them from regrouping or offering assistance.
Clang!
The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes, wielding a shuriken, was overwhelming the two Konoha Chunin, while nearby, the body of a Konoha Ninja floated in a puddle.
The fight had been going on for a while, and the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes had only just managed to deal with one Chunin, suggesting his strength was, at most, that of a Special Jonin.
They could still barely resist, but it was a pity about those two Genin, especially Uzumaki Lin Yu.
To master the Mystical Palm Technique at such a young age, only to meet misfortune right after leaving the Village—what a tragedy. Chunin Matsuno thought silently about their escape route while struggling to fend off the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes's assault.
Bang!
Chunin Matsuno blocked a kick from the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes with both arms, his body reeling backward. Cold sweat drenched his rough face as he shouted to his nearby teammate, "Retreat! The mission failed. If we continue, we will all die. We can still make it out now."
"Trying to leave? Did you ask me first?" The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes produced two Shadow Clones to restrain Matsuno and his companion. He then quickly performed hand signs: Ox - Monkey - Rabbit - Rat - Boar... a total of forty-four signs.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Water from the various puddles scattered across the battlefield rapidly gathered, gradually forming a ferocious water dragon that roared as it lunged toward the two Konoha Ninja.
"Damn it! There's no way to dodge a technique this widespread. Are we going to die?" Matsuno had just burst a Shadow Clone and didn't even have time to catch his breath when the savage water dragon plunged down from the sky, filling his heart with the fear of death.
In this critical moment, a slightly immature voice rang out: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A similarly ferocious, sky-blue water dragon shot out from the other side, directly colliding with the water dragon in the sky.
Boom!
The water dragons canceled each other out. The spray from the collision fell like heavy rain. Matsuno and his companion stared blankly at the dissipating water dragons in the air, allowing the impact of the collision to knock them back. They felt fortunate, but then a sharp pain hit their heads, and they passed out.
"Who is it!" The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes sharply turned his head to look in the other direction.
A slender figure stood there, his long, fiery red hair gently lifted by the air currents caused by the blast. Three black tomoe swirled within his blood-red eye sockets. His increasingly handsome face held a hint of strange malevolence, and his entire body radiated a cold aura.
Lin Yu had intentionally controlled the water dragon to knock Matsuno and his companion into the trees. After all, he wasn't used to fighting while wearing goggles, and he didn't want to expose his Sharingan so quickly. He wondered what Brother Tuzi was thinking when he was young.
"It's you! You actually managed to kill Murata and Takeda!" The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the young boy before him.
Without wasting words on the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes, Lin Yu instantly flashed forward. A strong sense of danger, like a needle prick, came from behind, and the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes turned back to block with his Kunai.
Staring viciously at Lin Yu, he sneered, "You're too green to kill me!" He fiercely kicked toward Lin Yu. Lin Yu twisted with the momentum, turning around to punch the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes.
The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes quickly turned his head, and before Lin Yu could withdraw his fist, he clawed his fingers and grabbed Lin Yu's arm, chuckling, "I've got you!"
Lin Yu remained expressionless, fiercely lifting his leg to kick the opponent's vital area, while simultaneously slashing at him with the Kunai in his right hand.
"What the hell, this kid is vicious!" The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes cursed internally.
His actual movements were not slow, however. He released Lin Yu's arm to guard his lower body, and the Kunai in his right hand clashed against Lin Yu's.
Clang! A crisp sound rang out. Lin Yu twisted his wrist, loosened his grip, and the Kunai quickly spun away to the left. Using the momentum, he grabbed the enemy's Kunai directly. Pfft! Blood pierced and flowed from his palm. His left hand seized the opportunity to take the Kunai and fiercely slashed forward.
This fancy maneuver caught the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes off guard. A streak of blood dripped from the air, and the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes vanished from sight.
"Too bad, I didn't slice his throat." Lin Yu regretfully looked at the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes nearby, who was clutching his neck. A thin, shallow line of bright red blood was still steadily oozing out.
"Kid, you're good with a Kunai, but that's all. I can tell your combat experience is poor; your body can't keep up with your eyes, you're restrained, and you lack strength. Hmm? I remember those eyes..."
Lin Yu frowned slightly at the side, "Why so much nonsense!" Two golden chains suddenly shot out from behind him. How could the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes have predicted that Lin Yu knew Adamantine Sealing Chains? Didn't he have the Sharingan and belong to the Uchiha Clan?
He had no time to dodge. The two golden chains quickly wrapped around the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes, locking his entire body and dragging him before Lin Yu.
"What is your objective?" Lin Yu looked up at the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes.
"Hmph, I won't tell you, kid you..."
Pfft! Another golden chain pierced straight through his heart. The Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes's eyes widened. Why no torture? Why not capture him for interrogation? This wasn't how prisoners were supposed to be treated! Unwillingly, he closed his eyes as his life force dissipated.
Lin Yu looked at the corpse of the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes and said flatly, "I only asked out of habit. Whether you answered or not didn't matter."
Lin Yu looked at the two people who were about to wake up nearby, sighing internally. Time to act again.
He smeared some of the blood from his hand onto his face, fiercely pounded his chest a few times, and his complexion instantly turned pale. He then walked tremblingly toward the two men.
Chunin Matsuno had just regained consciousness. As his memories returned, he abruptly jumped up defensively to observe his surroundings. He only saw a young boy squatting on the ground, coughing intermittently, next to a badly mangled corpse in black clothes.
He cautiously walked over. After confirming it was the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes, Matsuno sighed in relief, then couldn't help but ask Lin Yu, "Little Brother Lin Yu, did—did you kill him?"
"Cough, cough! I over-drafted my life force and used the Uzumaki Clan's forbidden technique, Adamantine Sealing Chains, to barely manage this lucky victory." Lin Yu's pale face was completely drained of color, and his trembling body looked like it would collapse at any moment.
"This... I won't say much. Little Brother Lin Yu, I, Matsuno, owe you a life. If you ever have a request, I will absolutely not refuse!" Chunin Matsuno's expression shifted for a long time. Being saved by a Genin was not glorious to admit, but he was a man of his word and meant what he said.
The other Chunin beside him also repeatedly thanked Lin Yu.
Lin Yu waved his hand, catching his breath before saying, "We are all part of Konoha. In battle, it's either kill or be killed. I would have done this for my own sake too."
Matsuno still affirmed his commitment but said no more. After briefly cleaning up the battlefield and sealing their comrade's body in a scroll, they continued forward. The spoils of war all belonged to Lin Yu, after all, he had saved their lives.
Inside the carriage, due to his status as a "patient," Lin Yu no longer had to stand guard. He was happy about this and lay down, reflecting on the recent battle.
That Jonin was right. I lack experience, and my physical reaction speed is too slow; I can't keep up with the rhythm of the Sharingan.
But that was normal since I only acquired it recently, and there was no chance for real combat in the Village. The same goes for the Sharingan—that Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes was foolish enough to dare make eye contact with it.
If only I knew even one Genjutsu, resolving the Upper-Rank Ninja in Black Clothes would have required just one glance! I don't expect to resolve Orochimaru with a single glance like Itachi, but I only wish to resolve one Jonin with a single glance!
Later on, I'll resolve an Ōtsutsuki with a single glance! That seems a bit difficult... The carriage rocked gently. The road ahead gradually widened, and they could vaguely see green tent tops with shadowy figures moving between the tents.