Engagement
In the ninja world, the "authority" of most ninjutsu is actually very low. Many techniques carry no conceptual weight beyond their raw effect. Only a few exceptional jutsu possess true "authority"—techniques such as the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei), which forcibly binds souls to the living plane, or certain space-time jutsu like the Flying Thunder God.
Sealing Techniques, however, are different. Even a basic C-rank fūinjutsu carries a binding force that interacts with chakra on a conceptual level. Yet sealing is notoriously difficult to master; only a handful of clans, like the Uzumaki, are renowned for it.
Because of this, Shirō didn't need to worry about his Noble Phantasms being negated in the shinobi world—for now.
---
As Shirō eliminated his target with a swift strike, Taiyi and Nakamura also finished their battles.
Taiyi had activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, its heightened perception amplifying both his genjutsu and taijutsu. With a single glance, he caught his opponent in a genjutsu, stepped in, and slit their throat before they even realized they'd been bound.
The breakthrough had come from the harsh battles they had endured earlier—stimuli that pushed his Sharingan's evolution. With three tomoe, his visual prowess was now at the peak of the normal Sharingan, placing him on the threshold of jōnin-level combat ability. Though his ninjutsu and physical ability were still developing, the Sharingan compensated by covering his weaknesses.
Nakamura, meanwhile, had a harder fight. Unlike Shirō and Taiyi, he had no kekkei genkai or clan secret techniques to rely on. His skills were those of a conventional shinobi—substitution, elemental ninjutsu, and weaponry.
His initial attempt, a Decapitation Technique (Doton: Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu), failed when the enemy slipped away with a Substitution Jutsu. But Nakamura pressed the attack relentlessly, and before the Iwagakure Anbu could counter, Nakamura's kunai struck true, ending the fight cleanly.
Thus, the Iwa targets were eliminated quickly under their surprise assault.
But it had not been "easy." Their efficiency was the result of careful planning—by Shirō and Shikamaru, this counted as long-term preparation—and the vital intelligence provided by Gray Snake. Without that, even skilled fighters like them would have struggled. After all, they were facing Iwagakure's Anbu, not ordinary shinobi.
Once the battlefield was cleared, the team regrouped with Shikamaru. Just as they were about to move on, Gray Snake slithered up with new information: it had located the Star Ninja.
"Shikamaru, Gray Snake found the Star Ninja. Who should we deal with first?" Shirō asked.
Shikamaru frowned as he studied the map. "No. That one's too far. We deal with the Kumogakure squad first. If we wait, it may be too late. Have Gray Snake keep shadowing the Star Ninja for now."
His reasoning was sound. Kumogakure's Anbu were far more dangerous than a lone Hoshigakure shinobi. Star techniques were strange, but their users lacked the raw power of the Cloud. Four Cloud Anbu on the move meant a serious threat.
And they were four against three. Shikamaru was not yet at the level of a jōnin—at best, he could distract an enemy briefly. The presence of Blue Snake gave them some additional leverage, but because this mission required stealth, Blue Snake had suppressed its size with jutsu. That made it less conspicuous but also reduced its physical advantage. Aside from the Snake Binding Illusion, it had little to offer.
Even so, Shikamaru believed it could provide crucial support.
---
When the team arrived, they were a step too late—the Cloud shinobi had already moved on.
"Shirō."
"Understood, Captain."
"Summoning Technique: Phosphor Snake!"
With a puff of smoke, a sleek serpent appeared, bowing its head.
"As you command, Shirō-sama."
Phosphor Snake was an excellent tracker—less capable than Gray Snake, but still far superior to any human scout. Within moments, it slithered back with its report.
"They departed not long ago, in this direction."
Shirō leapt to higher ground, scanning the terrain. The traces were faint, fading quickly, but still fresh enough to follow. In less than a minute they would vanish, but that was more than enough.
"Good work," Shirō said. He had Phosphor Snake continue tracking, while the team moved swiftly after it.
Soon they caught sight of their targets. Delaying would only give the Cloud shinobi time to regroup. They struck immediately.
---
This time, however, the difference in strength was clear. Unlike the Iwa shinobi, the Kumogakure Anbu fought like veterans. Their speed and power pushed Shirō onto the defensive, his projected weapons blocked again and again. Against raw lightning-imbued taijutsu, he was slightly outmatched.
If not for his Noble Phantasms, he would already be dead. But he couldn't unleash them recklessly—repeated use strained his magic circuits dangerously.
Still, hesitation was death. As he slipped inside his opponent's guard, Shirō instantly projected a dagger.
"Ruler Breaker!"
The cursed blade pierced cleanly, its concept unraveling the opponent's chakra-enhanced defenses. Blood sprayed, the lightning armor flickered out, and the Anbu collapsed.
But the cost was steep. Shirō staggered, clutching his arm. The strain of consecutive projections left his circuits screaming. For the moment, he couldn't risk projecting another Noble Phantasm.
On the other side, Taiyi struck down his target with ruthless efficiency—until his Sharingan was noticed. From then on, the Kumogakure shinobi avoided his eyes entirely. Though Taiyi's Sharingan tracked their movements, his Lightning Release Body Flicker lacked polish. His speed fell just short, forcing him into a deadlock.
Shikamaru tried to support him, but the clash of high-speed taijutsu was too fast for him to intervene.
The Cloud shinobi, veterans of many battles, knew well how to counter Sharingan genjutsu—avoid eye contact. But Taiyi had prepared for this. Ever since their losses during the Chūnin Exams, he had trained to cast genjutsu through other mediums: reflections, weapons, even the glint of steel.
Their blades clashed.
Clang!
The sound rang differently this time, carrying a subtle distortion. Kumogakure Anbu's eyes widened in alarm.
"Not good—genjutsu!"
And then, reflected in the gleam of his own weapon, a pair of blood-red tomoe stared back at him.
Visit patreon.com/MexxyWave to get access to 30+ chapters