Chapter 54: A Strategic Retreat
The tables had turned in an instant!
Aizen, who had been playing the part of the overwhelmed and cornered prey, now stood with his former teammates, the dynamic of the fight completely reversed by their seamless, coordinated assault.
The combined offensive of the four Konoha genin landed simultaneously, forcing the Sound trio onto the defensive. A deafening crash of colliding energies echoed through the forest.
The arrogant gleam in Zaku's eyes was gone, replaced by a panic that struck at his very core. For the first time, he felt a genuine threat to his life, and his overconfidence evaporated. Kin and Dosu felt it too—a cold, creeping dread that made them reconsider their position. When they tried to create distance, they found their escape routes choked by a swirling, black cloud of Shino's insects, a living, buzzing prison.
"Now!" Dosu barked.
Refusing to be trapped, the three Sound ninja bit down their fear and performed the Body Flicker Technique, their bodies blurring as they attempted to force their way through the insect swarm.
But they weren't fast enough to escape completely. As they flickered away, Hinata's Gentle Fist strikes, precise and debilitating, connected solidly with their backs. Concentrated chakra poured into their tenketsu points, disrupting their chakra networks with jarring force.
"Ugh!"
All three grunted in pain, their escape turning into a stumbling, graceless retreat. They had avoided the full brunt of Aizen's Great Fireball, but they were now nursing internal injuries from Hinata's strikes—a costly trade-off.
Huff... Huff...
The Sound ninja no longer looked arrogant, only grim and hostile as they faced the reassembled Team 8. A wave of bitter regret washed over them. Why didn't we finish Aizen off immediately? they thought. We should have eliminated him when we had the chance.
The speed of the reversal was something even they, with their elite training, had not anticipated.
"Heh. The famous Sound ninja aren't so tough after all," Kiba taunted, scraping the tip of his nose with his thumb, his confidence radiating.
"Aizen," Shino said, his voice calm but carrying a new, steely edge. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but the cold, protective killing intent around him was unmistakable. "Shall we eliminate them?"
Though usually quiet, Shino valued his comrades above all else. The month of shared training and missions had cemented that bond. Aizen, with his humble demeanor, monstrous talent, and relentless effort, was, in Shino's eyes, the ideal partner. For the sake of that bond, Aburame Shino was prepared to kill for the first time.
"Let's finish this!" Aizen replied, his voice laced with a convincingly feigned fury. A flash of righteous indignation crossed his face, perfectly selling the narrative of a proud prodigy humiliated by his earlier predicament. "If you hadn't arrived in time, I'd be dead by their hands!"
"Then let's not waste time!" Kiba urged, his bloodlust rising. He was eager for the fight, hungry to see it through.
"Damn it, Dosu! What's the plan?" Kin whispered, her voice shaky. She was beginning to lose her nerve. While they were strong, the opposition now numbered four, and their teamwork had effectively closed the individual power gap.
"We retreat," Dosu decided, his single visible eye locked on Aizen with intense focus. "It's pointless to throw our lives away. Do not forget our primary mission!"
Their purpose in approaching Aizen had been to gather intelligence. And they had succeeded. The ninja info card in Dosu's possession now contained detailed notes: Aizen Sōsuke. Proficient in Fire Style ninjutsu. Mastery of the Body Flicker Technique is exceptional, far beyond standard genin level. Overall combat strength: average. Survival and evasion skills: high.
But Aizen was a secondary target. Their true mission, the one given directly by Lord Orochimaru, involved Uchiha Sasuke. The Uchiha heir with the Sharingan was the prize their master truly coveted.
"Retreat!" Dosu commanded.
In a display of their own practiced synchronization, the three Sound ninja took a simultaneous leap backward, their bodies dissolving into the Body Flicker Technique.
Team 8, though willing to pursue, was a fraction of a second too slow to react. They could only watch as their injured opponents vanished into the dense foliage, escaping with their lives and their precious information.
"What a shame, letting them get away," Hinata murmured, shaking her head in frustration. She clenched her fists, feeling responsible for not being able to stop them.
Aizen turned to her, his expression softening into a comforting smile. "It's alright, Hinata. From what I understand, the next stage will be preliminary matches. I'm certain we'll have another chance to face them then."
"O-okay," Hinata stammered, her face flushing a delicate shade of pink under his direct gaze. She lowered her head, a shy smile touching her lips.
"Alright, enough standing around," Kiba said, stepping forward and pointing into the distance. "Let's get to that tower!"
It was time. They were going to pass the second exam.