Just as they were discussing, a white streak surged along the water toward them. Squinting, they realized it wasn't just a trick of the light—it was a massive water dragon, and without a doubt, it was an enemy attack.
Shion couldn't help but groan. "Not fire… but water? Your judgment is reckless!"
"Doesn't matter! Move!"
"Head to higher ground!"
Ningji barked orders, guiding everyone toward the cliff.
"I knew you'd try to escape inside," Shizuku's voice rang out from a distance, calm and composed. She had anticipated their move—and the water dragon surged after them, relentless.
When they reached a spacious flat area, Neji positioned himself and the others around Shion protectively. "We don't know which direction the attack will come from. Surround Lady Shion first."
Shion, still complaining, muttered, "Really? Abundant water resources… and this is your best strategy, Neji? The future is looking bleak."
"Damn, my blood pressure's rising!"
"If willfulness is a shield built from childhood, then a sharp tongue must be my core nature," Neji muttered.
"Sometimes, long-held disguises blend with the real personality. People aren't robots. They can't just split into two completely separate selves."
"Exactly. Imagine if you could alter chakra nature to have more tactical options… I'd want to study that. But remember to do it."
"Hum!" came a sharp response from Sasuke.
"Sasuke! You—!"
Meanwhile, Baiyan had already traced the enemy from afar. "Enemy sighted—two figures on the cliff."
Neji's calm voice broke through. "The one using Fire Chakra during the Land of Demons attack… he's here. As a jonin, multiple chakra natures aren't unusual, but his acupuncture points reveal no water chakra at all."
"Even though I already suspected it, the Byakugan is incredibly convenient!" Neji muttered. "You can trace enemies from afar and even distinguish chakra types. Tactical advantages like this are invaluable."
"That's why the Hidden Cloud tried to seize the Byakugan. They failed, of course."
"Hold on—when did our Hidden Cloud ever try to steal the Byakugan? That was Konoha, and they killed us before we got there! You used a Hyuga branch family corpse to trick us!"
"Shamelessness knows no bounds. Kumogakure, you killed Hizashi and still dare to speak!"
"Blame the Third Hokage and the Hyuga clan leader, not us."
Neji's eyes rolled skyward in fury, veins bulging on his face. His murderous glare startled several in the conference room. Kai calmly pressed a hand on his shoulder. "Neji, calm down. Don't let them get to you."
Hiashi, in the Hyuga family hall, clenched his fists, tensing, but lowered his head, controlling his temper.
"There! On the opposite cliff!" Naruto spotted the enemy through Neji's gaze and readied himself to charge.
"No! Stay here!" Neji shouted, but Naruto wasn't the type to obey. "Why? Those are the ones controlling the dragon! I'm going!"
Ignoring orders entirely, Naruto surged forward. Lee reacted instantly. "I'm going with him!"
Neji muttered helplessly, "Lee… these two…"
"Naruto really won't listen!"
"Neji's desperate too, obviously."
"Dividing forces here is a tactic… Naruto's not entirely wrong."
"The problem is tactical—but Naruto refuses to follow any orders!"
"Lee's smarter. He acts independently, but at least he cleans up after Naruto."
"Being their team leader must be a headache."
Even Kakashi, long removed from direct contact with the team, nodded in agreement after watching the sky screen.
"Now we have to rely on just these two," Sakura said, accustomed to their fighting styles.
Shion frowned slightly. "The thick-eyebrowed one and the idiot."
"They're through," Setsuna and Kusu of the Four noted, surveying the remaining three. "Easier for us to handle it this way."
"They're coming," Yoshiyasu and Shizuku called, having lured the snake out. "You handle the Taijutsu user, I'll take the orange-haired guy with the Shadow Clones. Got it?"
"Why not just kill them all at once?" Yoshiyasu suggested, but deferred to Shizuku's plan, launching to meet Lee.
"The villains follow orders, the decent ones act independently. And this is a mission that could determine the fate of the ninja world! Naruto, can you be more reliable?"
"Decent or villain? They're all just tools to complete the mission. You really think the Konoha people are saviors?"
"Why are the higher-ups so angry? The Huangquan group wants to conquer the world. Anyone normal would side with Naruto to stop them."
"Being a ninja now means basic obedience is a must. Is this even worth debating?"