WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch⏰ Resets Monday!
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Wu Gang stood with his back to Chiba, a scalpel sliding from the medical kit into his hand. A dark, malicious gleam flickered in his eyes.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!"
But before Wu Gang could finalize his plan to have Chiba die by Sand ninja hands, a barrage of howling wind blades tore from the dense forest toward them.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Two Leaf ninja reacted instantly. Hands flying through seals, they slammed their palms to the ground. Two thick, curving walls of earth erupted, intercepting the wind blades' path.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The moment the wind blades were blocked, over a dozen Sand ninja burst from the treeline, charging the Leaf position without hesitation.
CLANG!
As the distance closed, both sides drew their blades in unison. Steel met steel.
CLINK!
Sparks flew. In the first clash, three or four from each side fell, never to rise again.
The Sand ninja held the numerical advantage. In the blink of an eye, they shredded the Leaf's defensive line. Three or four of them broke through, ignoring everything else, their sights locked on the medical ninja in the rear.
"Bastards! Don't you dare touch my team!" roared Nohara Hiroshi. He gripped his katana tightly and surged forward, intercepting a Sand ninja himself.
"Chiba, behind you!"
Wu Gang had been holding his ground behind Chiba, blocking any retreat. Only when a Sand ninja charged did he suddenly sidestep, his shout a feint of panic.
"Huh?"
Chiba glanced sideways. A Sand ninja, a longsword in hand, was charging straight for him. Just a few paces away.
Ugh, I really didn't learn how to kill people! Chiba thought, annoyance flaring.
Across from him, the Sand ninja's eyes scanned the white armband on Chiba's sleeve. A cold smirk touched his lips.
"What a pity. Any other day, I might've let you live. But now… just die quietly."
Facing a few ordinary medics was no pressure. Especially this kid—a complete rookie who'd never seen real combat. The other medics at least held their blades, pretending to be ready. This one was so flustered he hadn't even drawn his weapon, just standing there dumbly. He probably wouldn't have the guts to stab someone even if you put the knife in his hand.
"Sand-Style: Gale-Severing Slash!"
The Sand ninja took a step. His figure blurred, reappearing at Chiba's side in an instant. His blade swept in like a gust of wind, aiming to cut the boy in half.
"…Huh?!"
His sword sliced through empty air. No resistance. No impact. His perfectly-timed strike had missed.
"Uchiha-Style: Shadow Dance Step."
In the instant the enemy closed in, Chiba's toes lightly tapped the ground. His body shifted like a phantom, graceful and weightless, landing behind the attacker. To an outsider, it might have looked like a strange, macabre dance.
"Shit!"
Even without a blade in Chiba's hand, the Sand ninja's instincts screamed danger. Every hair on his body stood on end.
He never got the chance to turn.
A small, pale hand had pierced through his chest.
"Chakra Scalpel!"
"Wh— what?"
The Sand ninja's pupils contracted violently. His face twisted in horror as he looked down. The light faded from his eyes.
He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary kid to have mastered the advanced A-rank technique, the Chakra Scalpel.
He definitely hadn't expected Chiba, in his first real fight, to grasp the combat rhythm so precisely, to move with such lethal efficiency…
"Chakra Scalpel!"
"Chakra Scalpel!"
"JUST DIE ALREADY!"
It was his first fight. Panic was inevitable. Unsure if his target was dead, Chiba's hand kept stabbing, unstoppable.
STAB! STAB! STAB!
He may not have learned how to kill, but he could map a human body's vital points with his eyes closed. Every thrust aimed for a major artery. The Sand ninja was a blood-soaked ruin in seconds.
"I'm just a medic!" Chiba groaned between thrusts, a mix of agony and fury in his voice. "I just wanted to heal people! I didn't want to kill anyone! Why are you forcing me?! WHY?!"
SPURT! SPURT!
Blood gushed from the Sand ninja's body like a fountain, drenching Chiba from head to toe.
Nohara Hiroshi finally subdued his own opponent after a grueling struggle. He turned, ready to check on his team.
He saw the blood-drenched Chiba.
Nohara Hiroshi was stunned.
Since when did Chiba get so strong? Though his mental state seems a bit off…
"Chiba, get a hold of yourself! He's already dead!" Hiroshi shouted.
"Reasonable?! How can I be reasonable?!" Chiba stabbed again, roaring. "Why are you forcing me? WHY? AAAAAH!"
Nohara Hiroshi: "…"
"Help! Someone help me!"
The battlefield was chaos. Cries for help from the medics were constant. But one voice was particularly sharp, shrill with panic.
"Damn it all!"
Wu Gang felt his luck had truly hit rock bottom these past two days.
He'd just been inwardly gloating over screwing Chiba over when he hadn't run far before bumping right into a Sand ninja who'd flanked them.
Quick-thinking, Wu Gang had yanked a nearby, unsuspecting comrade into the path of the enemy's blade. It bought him a few precious seconds to scramble away, screaming for aid.
"Wu Gang, I'm coming—"
Nohara Hiroshi had just finished his fight and was about to assist when a firm, clear voice cut through the din.
"Senior Wu Gang! I'll save you!"
Hiroshi followed the voice. Chiba had stopped his… vigorous treatment of the corpse and was now sprinting toward Wu Gang.
Hm. Chiba is closer. He can handle it.
Seeing this, Hiroshi abandoned the idea of rescuing Wu Gang himself, instead rushing toward a Sand ninja nearer to him.
"Thank goodness, Chiba! Hurry!" Wu Gang saw his savior approaching, barely able to contain the glee in his eyes.
You idiot. Once you save me, I'll—
By the time Hiroshi and another team member took down another enemy and glanced back toward Chiba, the Sand ninja who'd been chasing Wu Gang was already on the ground.
So was Wu Gang.
"I'm sorry, Team Leader Nohara," Chiba said, his face a perfect mask of remorse as he met Hiroshi's gaze. "I was a step too late. I couldn't save Senior Wu Gang."
"Sigh… It's not your fault, Chiba." Hiroshi sighed, unable to bring himself to reprimand the promising junior he'd taken a liking to. "This is war."
Chiba's earlier, relentless efforts, his selfless dedication to saving them had won over everyone present. Who could bear to blame such a good kid?
Besides, quite a few had noticed Wu Gang's little "trip-and-shield" maneuver moments before.
So… who would ever suspect me? Chiba allowed himself a simple, honest-looking smile.
Wu Gang had been targeting him relentlessly the whole way. Did they really think he was blind? Or that he had no temper?
"Chakra Scalpel!"
The few Sand ninja who'd broken through to the medics were swiftly dealt with by Chiba and the others. They died never suspecting that among a flock of white sheep lurked a monster like Chiba.
Seeing the situation turn, the remaining Sand ninja engaging the Leaf squad disengaged. They hurled a few poison sacs that exploded into clouds of gas, then vanished into the trees without a backward glance.
"Those sons of bitches!" a Leaf ninja cursed.
The ambush had cost them five brothers. Though the enemy hadn't gotten off lightly either.
"…Crap! Everyone, get out of here, now!"
A Leaf ninja who'd been checking the Sand corpses suddenly paled, his voice urgent.
"Run! Everyone, run!"
Team Thirteen's medics had many flaws, but they were obedient. No one asked questions. They just turned and bolted.
"What is it? What did you find?" Nohara Hiroshi asked as they ran.
The Leaf ninja who'd raised the alarm looked back, his face pale. "None of them were carrying soldier pills. Those bastards must have a supply base nearby!"
Hiroshi's face turned grim.
Meaning their group of minimally-combat-ready medics had likely blundered straight into the enemy's backyard.
"T-Team Leader… ahead… look!" A medic at the front skidded to a halt, pointing ahead in horror.
Nohara Hiroshi looked.
Dozens of figures emerged from the forest ahead, their faces splitting into savage grins as they watched the fleeing Leaf team.
"Dam… damn it…"
Facing a force that dwarfed their own, Hiroshi felt his throat go bone-dry, words failing him.
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