Chapter 60: The Mist Ninja Attack
Somewhere in the Forest of Death, the Waterfall ninja squad was cautiously advancing.
"This Chunin Exam... I'm afraid it won't be that easy to pass," a Waterfall ninja said to his two comrades, carefully observing their surroundings.
"Hmph, of course, it won't be easy," another one snorted, his expression resentful. "Those ninja from the great nations have had abundant resources since they were children. How can we compare?!"
"Stop your whining," the lead Waterfall ninja finally snapped, hearing his teammates' complaints.
Hearing their captain speak, the two of them finally quieted down a bit.
But not long after, the same Waterfall ninja couldn't help but speak again. "Captain Shisui, if the village had been willing to give us the Hero Water, why would we fear these great ninja villages?"
"The Hero Water..." The Waterfall ninja named Shisui, hearing his comrade utter the words he had longed for for so long, couldn't help but drift off in thought.
Just then, the Waterfall ninja who had spoken earlier suddenly felt an itch on his face. While watching the path ahead, he subconsciously reached up to scratch it.
But the itching didn't subside; in fact, it grew worse.
"Captain, I... I don't feel right," he managed to say, then collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in pain.
"On guard!!!" Shisui's pupils contracted as he saw his comrade's state, and he shouted a warning.
At the same time, his hands began to quickly form hand seals.
Although he hadn't yet found any sign of the enemy, he couldn't be bothered with that now. To be able to take down one of them without any of the three noticing, the enemy's strength was not to be underestimated.
Since he couldn't find them, he would just have to force them out.
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!"
A wall of fire, like a tsunami, suddenly swept through the deep forest in front of Shisui.
This ninjutsu was the highest-level fire-style jutsu Shisui could master. Although his current chakra couldn't fully unleash its power, he could still use it to force the enemy out of hiding.
The sea of fire, after burning the trees in front of him, continued to spread to the surroundings.
And within the sea of fire, small fireballs would occasionally fall to the ground.
These small fireballs, upon hitting the ground, would instantly expand the burning area, consuming everything in their path.
Under such a large-scale ninjutsu attack, Kyosuke's team of three was finally forced out.
Shisui looked at the three figures slowly emerging from the sea of fire. His gaze swept over their unscathed bodies, and a bitter smile touched his lips.
Even a jutsu of this level can't harm them? Shisui sighed, a nameless anger rising in his chest.
Of course, his anger was not directed at Kyosuke and the others, but at the leaders of his own village.
If I had drunk the Hero Water, I could have finished them with that last attack, Shisui thought resentfully.
"I never thought that a random Genin could use a fire-style jutsu of this level. It's truly an eye-opener," Kyosuke said, looking at the defeated Shisui on the ground.
With most of his chakra depleted, Shisui was naturally taken down in an instant by Torune Aburame's poisonous insects.
After looking at the surprisingly strong Waterfall ninja, Kyosuke turned his gaze to the last one.
The remaining Waterfall ninja swallowed nervously, then his trembling hand reached into his ninja pouch and took out a scroll.
This scroll was the one Kyosuke and his team needed.
"Thanks," Kyosuke said with a smile, then prepared to leave with his teammates. As for these three, they could fend for themselves.
Just then, Hyuga Yōmyō suddenly spoke. "There's a squad approaching us at high speed."
"Hmm?" Kyosuke frowned and asked, "Can you see which squad it is?"
"It's... the Mist ninja squad!" Hyuga Yōmyō confirmed.
"The Mist? I thought it would be the Sand," Kyosuke muttered with a strange expression.
"What should we do, Captain? Do we fight, or..." Hyuga Yōmyō asked, looking at Kyosuke. At the same time, Torune Aburame's gaze also turned to him.
"Let's retreat for now and see what the situation is," Kyosuke ordered decisively.
Hearing this, the other two nodded, and the squad set off again.
This time, they did not follow their planned route but took a winding, circuitous path.
But no matter which way they went, the Mist ninja squad followed closely behind.
It was clear that the Mist ninja squad was specifically targeting them.
"Hmph, in that case, let's go and meet them," Kyosuke said, deciding not to run since he couldn't escape.
After choosing a relatively open area, the three of them silently waited for the Mist ninja squad to arrive.
"Captain, they've stopped," Ao suddenly said.
"Very good," Mei Terumī said with a faint smile. She thought for a moment, then turned to Kisame. "Now is not the time to go all out. Kisame, you test him first. If his strength is great, then so be it. But if he's weak..."
She stopped there, not continuing.
But her teammates understood her meaning.
If their target was strong enough, then this attack was just a simple probing. But if the target was a fraud, then they wouldn't mind sending him on his way.
"Alright," Kisame said, stroking the Samehada on his back as he replied softly.
Soon, the Mist ninja squad approached Kyosuke's location.
Just as they were thinking about how to launch their attack, Kyosuke's calm voice sounded in their ears.
"Since you're here, don't hide. Do you really think you can escape the Byakugan's detection?"
Hearing Kyosuke's words, the three of them exchanged a look, then jumped out, landing directly opposite Kyosuke's team.
Kyosuke looked at the three of them, who were on their guard, and said with a light laugh, "What's wrong, Mei? Did you miss me after being apart for such a short time?"
Mei also laughed lightly. "Of course. That's why we couldn't wait to chase after you."
After some pointless banter, Kyosuke's expression suddenly turned serious. "Tell me your purpose."
"It's simple. Our teammate here is very eager to have a few rounds with you. I hope Captain Kyosuke will be so kind as to oblige," Mei said. As soon as she finished speaking, Kisame took two steps forward, his shark-like eyes fixed on Kyosuke.
Strange. Is this move meant to test my strength? Kyosuke thought, frowning at the expressionless Mei, while trying to figure out her objective.
Although the motive of testing his strength was not entirely inexplicable, Kyosuke still felt that there was something off. But he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
However, he knew in his heart that this battle was likely unavoidable.
With no other choice, Kyosuke turned to his teammates, gave them a few instructions, and then stepped forward.
He looked at the somewhat excited Kisame and said coolly, "If that's the case, then I'll play with you for a bit."
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