The forest was eerily silent.
Swish~ Swish~
Through the dim light filtering through the trees, two figures moved rapidly side-by-side, leaping through the branches.
These were Kyoko and Anko Mitarashi, arriving stealthily.
However, just as they crossed a stretch of woodland, both women abruptly halted, their expressions turning grim.
Not far ahead, blocking their path, stood Kazuma alongside three other radical members of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve.
Swish~ Swish~ Swish~
Simultaneously, the sound of movement echoed from behind and to their left and right. Three more figures converged, surrounding them. Two of these were also Guardian Shinobi Twelve members; the third was Kazuma's subordinate, Fudo.
Judging by the formation, the enemy had clearly anticipated their arrival.
Both women felt a flicker of confusion. They had been extremely cautious on their way here.
Anko stared hard at Kazuma, her face tight with anger. "How did you discover us?"
Kazuma smirked sinisterly. "You were far too confident in your tracking abilities. We noticed you long ago."
Though he spoke with bravado, a deep sense of unease flickered in Kazuma's eyes. This was careless!
He recognized one of the kunoichi before him – Anko Mitarashi. She was once the apprentice of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin! According to the intelligence Kazuma had gathered, this woman was from the same generation as Asuma, a Tokubetsu Jonin of Konoha. To think she tailed us all this way without me noticing! If Fudo hadn't been left on watch outside the cave, and if Anko hadn't clearly relaxed her guard as she departed, they might never have known she'd been there at all.
As for the other kunoichi, Kazuma didn't recognize her at all. She didn't appear in any of the detailed intelligence files he had compiled on Konoha ninja; he presumed her strength couldn't be too significant. The only one they truly needed to focus on was Anko, the Special Jonin.
His side numbered seven in total, giving them an absolute advantage in numbers. This battle is ours!
"Hmph! So what if you found us! What are you people doing sneaking around our Konoha Village instead of staying by the Daimyo's side?" Anko shot back, a flash of chagrin crossing her face, but showing no fear as she loudly challenged Kazuma.
"You know who we are?" Kazuma's pupils constricted slightly as he stared intently at Anko, his voice low.
"Of course! How could we not know the Guardian Shinobi Twelve who serve the Fire Daimyo!" Anko declared, lifting her chin proudly.
Beside her, Kyoko had already drawn a kunai, her eyes carefully scanning the surroundings. Thanks to Tatsuya's rigorous training, Kyoko was long past being the naive little lamb she once was. Though she disliked combat, she didn't fear it.
Because she was Akimichi Tatsuya's woman.
"Since you know, then we can't let you leave alive!" Kazuma sneered coldly, waving his hand to signal his men.
Before Kazuma's words even faded, Kyoko and Anko preemptively struck.
Swish~ Swish~
Their forms vanished from their spots, becoming twin afterimages that launched attacks towards the left and right flanks.
Not good!
Bang! Bang!
Kazuma's eyes widened in shock as the two women disappeared from the branches. Before he could even shout a warning, two heavy impacts echoed through the air – the sound of brutal fist-and-foot collisions.
Two figures were sent flying backwards, crashing hard against the trunks of large trees. They were Otake Shun and Harada of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve. As their bodies slammed into the wood, expressions of terror and utter disbelief remained etched on their faces. The speed of these two Konoha kunoichi was simply terrifying, and their striking power was astounding. They, elites recruited by the Fire Daimyo from across the land, members of the prestigious Guardian Shinobi Twelve, each possessing considerable skill, had just been sent flying by a single kick from these women. While their own carelessness played a part, it couldn't mask the undeniable fact of Kyoko and Anko's formidable strength.
"Everyone, attack together! Take them down!" Seeing his comrades instantly overwhelmed, Kazuma didn't dare be careless. Roaring the command, he charged forward, brandishing a chakra scalpel. The remaining three Guardian members followed close behind.
After sending their respective opponents flying, Kyoko and Anko didn't pause for even a fraction of a second. Pivoting sharply in mid-air, they simultaneously launched themselves towards Fudo at the rear.
Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling!
Fudo's expression changed drastically. His hands flew through seals, and he ripped a massive boulder from the earth beneath him, hurling it towards the oncoming Kyoko and Anko.
Whoosh~
The giant rock screamed through the air towards them. Anko twisted sideways to evade it, but Kyoko met it head-on, neither dodging nor retreating. Leaping into the air, Kyoko's right fist suddenly expanded enormously.
BOOM!
With a single punch, Kyoko obliterated the massive boulder, shattering it into countless fragments. Dust and debris filled the space. Undeterred, Kyoko shot through the obscuring cloud, driving another punch directly towards Fudo.
The enormous fist rushed towards Fudo at incredible speed. Fudo retreated rapidly, his hands a blur as he formed more seals.
Earth Release: Hardening Technique!
Completing the seals, Fudo crossed his arms defensively before him, his fists and forearms transforming instantly into hardened rock.
BANG!
Amidst the violent collision, Fudo's body was also sent flying backwards.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
While Fudo was still airborne and unable to dodge, Anko attacked from the side. Several enormous snakes shot forth from her right arm, instantly ensnaring the helpless Fudo. The serpents constricted tightly, dragging Fudo towards Anko.
A cold glint flashed in the air.
Spurt!
Blood sprayed as Anko, kunai held firmly in her left hand, slashed across Fudo's exposed throat. Trapped tightly by the giant snakes, Fudo struggled desperately to save himself, but couldn't break free.
"Fudo!" Kazuma roared in fury upon seeing this, swinging his four-bladed iron claws towards Anko.
Hmph! Anko snorted dismissively. Effortlessly controlling the snakes binding Fudo with one hand, she flashed backwards, evading the attack.
With a whistling sound, Kyoko's giant fist once again descended upon Kazuma. Having witnessed its destructive power, Kazuma didn't dare face it directly and hastily retreated. The three men behind him scrambled to dodge as well.
BOOM!
The massive fist smashed into a large tree, felling it instantly.
After this brief, intense exchange, both sides temporarily disengaged.
Standing perched on the branch of a large tree, Anko casually tossed aside Fudo's lifeless body. Nearby, Kyoko stood alert, kunai in hand, ready. Throughout the rapid series of clashes, her kunai had served as nothing more than an accessory.
Opposite them, Kazuma and the five remaining Guardians landed on the branches of several trees. Otake Shun and Harada, who had been kicked away earlier, had rejoined the group. All of them stared at the two women, their faces extremely grim.
Since when did Konoha kunoichi become such monsters?! Kazuma seethed internally. Although the fight had been short, his side, despite having superior numbers, had been completely dominated. Not only were Otake and Harada humiliatingly kicked aside, but his own subordinate, Fudo, had been swiftly eliminated on the spot.
Kazuma's gaze fixed intently on Kyoko. "Are you," he asked, his voice low and heavy, "from the Akimichi clan?"
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