Chapter 23: Breakaway
The moment Hozuki Genren was slain, the expressions of the Mist-nin across the field all shifted.
"Fire Style — Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Especially when they saw the captain-like figure among the Konoha ANBU flicker into the air, forming hand seals with practiced ease. From above, a massive fire dragon roared into existence, surging down toward them. The oppressive flames surged against the incoming tide of water, evaporating most of it outright.
Some Mist-nin immediately wavered.
The Five Elements Cycle—yes, Water trumps Fire.
But that only applies when chakra levels and jutsu ranks are comparable.
When faced with overwhelming power?
Fire can consume water just as easily.
Kakashi, meanwhile, was still suppressing the stinging pain of the lightning chakra surging through his body.
"Whoosh!"
He maintained his breakneck pace, darting across the battlefield like a blur of light.
"Swish!"
A sudden pivot brought him face-to-face with a short-haired Mist-nin. His chakra-infused short blade shimmered with an icy gleam as it slashed downward.
"!?"
Sensing death closing in, the Mist-nin's pupils contracted. He barely raised his kunai in defense, purely out of instinct.
But it was futile.
Kakashi's blade easily batted the defense aside.
"Clang!"
"Rip!"
The blade plunged straight into the Mist-nin's gut.
"Guh!?"
Sparks of lightning danced across the blade, seizing his body in spasms. Blood spurted from his mouth as his organs twisted in agony.
He reached up, trembling, as if to resist.
But Kakashi's eyes held no warmth.
With a sharp tug, the blade carved through flesh.
"Gyaa—!"
A putrid stream of blood splashed out, soaking Kakashi's uniform. The Mist-nin's gaze dimmed, his body collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Killing…
To Kakashi, who had lived two lives, it carried no psychological burden.
Because if he didn't kill, someone else would kill him.
He had no illusions about justice. There was no justice in this world.
Only chaos, bloodshed, and the raw struggle to survive.
To kill—and to live.
That was the only law.
The Mist reinforcements were mostly Genin, without a single Jonin among them. Against an elite Konoha ANBU squad, they were barely a speed bump.
Still, a complete slaughter would take time.
And time was what they didn't have.
Kakashi knew better than to get bogged down here.
There could be more Mist-nin en route.
Their mission wasn't to win a prolonged battle, but to gather intelligence.
The longer they stayed, the higher the risk.
Especially when dealing with Mist-nin—who were known for their bloodlust and madness.
Unlike the Cloud-nin, who always acted with strategic restraint, Mist-nin fought on impulse.
They didn't need a reason.
Sometimes, just a look was enough to trigger a massacre.
Their violent reputation spanned the history of the Five Great Nations.
Even the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, had died in mutual destruction with the Second Tsuchikage—despite their villages being too far apart to normally come into contact.
That was the Mist's nature.
So after their final burst of suppression—
"Foxhound, Phosphor!"
"Yes!"
The two ANBU snapped into motion at Black Hawk's command.
"Earth Style — Earth Flow Wall!"
Both agents formed seals in sync.
A towering wall of earth burst from the ground, cutting clean through the battlefield.
"!?"
"Careful!"
"On guard!"
The Mist-nin were caught off guard, thinking Konoha's squad meant to divide and slaughter them.
But no—Kakashi and his team had already vanished behind the earthen curtain.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Four shadows blurred into the forest, vanishing from sight.
By the time the Mist-nin regrouped, the Konoha squad had long escaped.
And with their speed, chasing was impossible.
Their leader hesitated. He dared not issue a pursuit order—who knew if an ambush lay ahead?
And frankly, they weren't strong enough to deal with Konoha's elite ANBU anyway.
"Where'd they go!?"
Barely minutes later—
Another squad of Mist-nin arrived from a different direction, nearly twenty strong.
Leading them was a man dressed in a traditional hunting robe, with long black hair tied back and a snowflake emblem emblazoned on his clothes.
Those familiar with the Mist's inner circles would recognize it instantly—
The Yuki Clan.
A noble clan with the Ice Release kekkei genkai, known for producing powerful shinobi.
This man's chakra signature alone exceeded the average Jonin threshold among the Five Great Nations.
"Report, Lord Hanrin—they've escaped."
A brown-haired Mist-nin, seemingly the previous squad's leader, stepped forward hesitantly, avoiding eye contact.
"Useless trash!"
Yuki Hanrin's voice was frigid as his glare bore into the man's soul.
"Y-yes, sir…"
Being of noble blood and a Jonin, Hanrin was someone few dared contradict.
Unlike other villages, in the Mist, killing a comrade wasn't exactly "commonplace"—but it was much more frequent than elsewhere.
Especially during missions.
"After them. We cannot let those Konoha ANBU get away!"
Hanrin's voice left no room for argument.
"Our operation must remain secret at all costs!"
"Yes, sir!"
All twenty-something Mist-nin responded in unison.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The pursuit began—blades drawn, hearts cold—under the command of Yuki Hanrin, streaking into the forest after the vanished shadows of Kakashi's squad.