"Light Sound, six o'clock direction."
Under the detection of his Ultrasonic Radar Technique, the movements of the Special Jonin Puppet Master—who had just used a Puppet Substitution Jutsu to leap away—were laid bare.
"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Following the tactical guidance of his shadow clone, Akimaru Light Sound instantly cast a D-rank illusion, striking the puppet master with pinpoint accuracy. Enhanced by the Akimaru clan's Kekkei Genkai in genjutsu, the Special Jonin was immediately plunged into a nightmare of terror.
At that moment—
Umino Yoru's body tensed violently. Veins bulged on his forehead as faint blue markings spread beneath his skin, followed by a surge of wind-natured chakra.
"Wind Breathing: First Form—Slicing Fish Strike!"
With a burst of the Body Flicker Technique, he shot forward like lightning, flashing past the puppet master in an instant.
A cold gleam of sword light flashed—
And a nearly imperceptible line appeared on the puppet master's neck.
By the time the Special Jonin broke free from the Hell Viewing Technique, he could only cough violently as blood sprayed from his throat.
"Cough... So fast..."
He collapsed to the ground, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Hah..."
Umino Yoru quickly deactivated Wind Breathing Mode, swallowing several honeyed energy blocks before activating Gluttony Technique to rapidly restore his chakra and stamina.
"Just in time."
According to his Infrasound Radar Technique, Sunagakure Jonin Kazekiba—rushing back to reinforce his allies—was less than two kilometers away.
Repeating his earlier tactic, Yoru had his shadow clone take control of the fallen Special Jonin's Salamander Puppet, disguising itself alongside two other transformed shadow clones as a Sunagakure puppet squad. They formed a defensive formation, blocking the endless hail of kunai and shuriken flying from the mist.
Soon, Kazekiba arrived at the mist-covered riverbank.
But instead of charging in recklessly, the seasoned Jonin swiftly formed hand seals—clearly preparing a mid-to-high-level Wind Release jutsu to carve a safe path through the fog.
Then—
"Aaaagh—!"
A scream tore through the air.
It came from the fraudulent Special Jonin overseer—even with his tongue cut out, the agony forced out a bloodcurdling shriek.
Hearing the scream from ahead, Kazekiba halted his seals.
"Kazekiba, was it? Your 'Lord Sabaku' has been captured. If you want him back... come in and fight me yourself."
Hidden in the mist, Umino Yoru taunted him, "Wind Blade" drawn and ready.
As Kazekiba hesitated, another scream rang out.
Finally, resolve hardened in the Suna nin's eyes. Slowly, he drew his sword, murmuring:
"Wait for me...Maki."
Then, with an explosive surge of unyielding shinobi will, Kazekiba stepped into the mist—advancing steadily toward the chaotic battlefield where his comrades fought.
His footwork was deceptively calm—seemingly slow, yet blindingly fast, with irregular strides that defied prediction.
Like a sheathed wind blade, his presence alone seemed to part the mist around him.
"Damn... he's strong."
Umino Yoru's eyes narrowed, his pulse racing.
But instead of fear, excitement burned in his chest.
The moment Kazekiba's back was turned—just ten meters away—
"Wind Breathing: First Form—Slicing Fish Strike!"
Yoru struck with his strongest technique, aiming for a lethal sneak attack.
His blade sliced through the air—inches from Kazekiba's neck—
CLANG!
Yet, impossibly, the Suna nin countered mid-motion, blocking the strike.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A flurry of masterful swordsmanship followed, forcing Yoru onto the defensive. Without Wind Breathing's enhancements, he would've been overwhelmed instantly.
Seeing their creator outmatched, Yoru's hidden shadow clones hurled a barrage of kunai and shuriken, disrupting Kazekiba's rhythm.
Seizing the opening, Yoru disengaged, vanishing back into the mist.
"Hah..."
He exhaled sharply.
This guy's on another level compared to those Chunin fodder.
"Not bad for a Konoha Jonin," Kazekiba mocked. "But your swordsmanship istrash."
A taunt—meant to provoke.
But Yoru stayed silent, biding his time.
Another opportunity came. His clones launched another wave of projectiles as distractions.
"Wind Breathing: First Form—Slicing Fish Strike!"
This time, three blades descended at once—Yoru and two clones attacking in unison.
Shrouded by the Mist Technique, their assault carried the essence of the Three Crescent Moon Dance.
Kazekiba reacted instantly.
His sword shattered the left clone in a puff of smoke.
A twist of his wrist deflected the right clone's strike.
And just as Yoru's real blade neared his throat—
WHOOSH!
Kazekiba released his grip, letting his sword fly—
BAM!
—impaling the right clone mid-air.
But Yoru's slash connected.
SCHLICK!
The blade bit into Kazekiba's right shoulder—
Yet failed to cripple him.
At the last second, the Jonin's left hand flared with wind chakra, intercepting the strike and preventing a clean amputation.
Though blood dripped, the wound was shallow.
"Shit—!"
Yoru's instincts screamed.
He tried to retreat—
But Kazekiba's left hand clamped onto the blade, trapping it.
Then, with a murderous glint, the Suna nin raised his right hand—
"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
A flick of his fingers—
And razor-sharp gusts erupted toward Yoru.
"Mist Teleportation!"
Abandoning his sword, Yoru blurred away just as the storm of wind blades shredded the space he'd occupied.
Hidden once more, he gasped for breath.
Too close.
If not for Maruboshi Kosuke's training—enhancing his Mist Teleportation—he'd be mincemeat right now.
And if not for his past-life memories, he might've hesitated before dropping his weapon.
A lesson learned:
Against a monster like this…
Half-measures mean death.
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