The Mist Anbu were completely unprepared for the sudden appearance of a figure on the vast, empty grassland.
This ambush caught them off guard.
Shinji's figure passed directly through one of the ninjas, his wrist twisting as his short blade sliced across the opponent's neck.
Blood sprayed out.
That ninja couldn't even react, feeling only a chill on his neck before incredulously clutching his throat and collapsing to the ground.
"Enemy attack! Spread out!"
The Anbu leader was shocked, shouting a warning while swiftly retreating.
The remaining five moved in coordinated unison, instantly surrounding Shinji in the center.
The Anbu leader didn't even glance at his fallen companion.
Anbu conceal their appearance and identity, discard unnecessary emotions, and focus solely on executing orders.
Only elite village members can join the Anbu.
He gripped two Kunai in reverse grip, his tone icy:
"I don't know how you suddenly appeared."
"But you dare to face us alone?"
"Stay right here."
"Attack!"
The Anbu leader waved his hand.
The remaining Anbu surged toward Shinji like sharp blades unsheathed.
They blocked all Shinji's escape routes, their attacks aimed at vital points, clearly intending to finish him quickly with a single decisive strike.
Shinji, surrounded in the center, showed no panic.
In past battles, he often overcame stronger opponents, every step cautious and meticulously calculated.
But now it was different.
Even with only half his peak Chakra, his strength far surpassed what it was at the Fire Temple.
Shinji's Sharingan suddenly activated, all attack trajectories clearly visible in his eyes.
He held his short blade before him.
"Phantom Body Flicker!"
Over ten indistinguishable real and illusory figures abruptly split off from him.
The Mist Anbu's attacks instantly pierced Shinji's illusionary clones, but failed to touch even a corner of his clothing.
"Fake clones?"
"No, that's the real one!"
"Everyone be careful!"
The Mist Anbu were instantly forced into a passive position, constantly compressed and pushed back, only frantically defending against Shinji's possible attacks from any direction.
Seizing the opportunity, Shinji swapped positions with one illusionary clone, suddenly appearing at a blind spot of a Mist ninja, forcefully thrusting his wrist. The short blade shot out like lightning, precisely piercing the enemy's heart.
A slight twist of his wrist completely shattered the opponent's life force.
In just a few exchanges, another enemy was gone.
Shinji felt his blood boiling throughout his body.
He had never fought such an advantageous battle.
Was this what it meant to overcome from above?
He slowly withdrew the short blade, flicking it lightly in the air, the blood on the blade instantly scattering, leaving only a cold gleam.
The Anbu leader's pupils abruptly contracted, exclaiming in shock:
"Shunshin Shisui!"
He recognized this Body Flicker Technique.
Konohagakure and Mist had engaged in a prolonged tug-of-war near the coast.
Uchiha Shisui had relied on this elusive Body Flicker Technique to crush the Mist forces.
But he realized the next moment—he knew Shisui's appearance.
The person before him wasn't Shisui, but must have deep connections to Shisui, otherwise he couldn't possibly use Shisui's Ninjutsu.
And he was equally overwhelmingly strong.
Immense pressure crashed down; he roared to his companions: "All spread out! Don't look at him! Beware the Sharingan!"
Yet it was already too late.
Shinji's vision had captured everyone's gaze.
Shinji focused his eyes, three Tomoe slowly rotating.
"Gold Binding Technique."
The remaining five stiffened abruptly, limbs locked by invisible chains, emitting muffled growls, unable to bend even a finger, only their eyeballs barely able to move.
Shinji walked slowly to the Mist Anbu leader, Genjutsu silently activated.
The leader's pupils instantly scattered, his expression becoming dazed.
Shinji spoke calmly:
"Tell me Mist's secret base in the Land of Iron, and the purpose of this mission."
The Anbu leader showed no resistance, finally uttering a coordinate.
"North of the Land of Iron, near the coastline…"
"Under Gengetsu's orders, to retrieve the Three-Tails."
Shinji nodded, confirming this was the place he sought.
He looked at the Anbu leader trapped in Genjutsu, then glanced at the others still struggling and growling in place.
"Sorry, to avoid trouble, I'll have to send you off."
Shinji slowly raised his short blade, about to strike down.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
"Lava Release: Dissolving Monster Technique!"
A turbulent water column and viscous acidic fluid abruptly assaulted him from his left side, targeting him directly.
Shinji's internal alarms blared, his foot forcefully kicking off, his body rapidly retreating, flipping and sliding several meters, barely dodging these two surprise attacks.
The attacks missed, hitting nearby and turning into grayish soil chunks.
Two figures, one male and one female, rushed from afar, directly blocking between Shinji and the Mist Anbu.
"Finally caught up?"
The speaker was a man with gray-blue long hair, ear seals, most notably a metal prosthetic covering his right eye.
He inhaled deeply, privately relieved to have saved his companions.
Beside him, a woman with deep brown hair tied into a ponytail reaching her waist, clear and captivating blue eyes, eye corners slightly upturned, though still young, naturally carried a seductive charm.
Shinji slowly stood up, examining the two who suddenly appeared.
He frowned slightly, feeling a hint of astonishment.
Terumi Mei and Ao?
Why were they here?
As Shinji scrutinized them, Terumi Mei and Ao were also secretly observing him.
Terumi Mei lightly wiped residual molten fluid from her lips, curling a playful smile.
"Ao-senpai, is this an Uchiha Clan member? Indeed quite handsome."
Her lips slightly raised, like a hunter spotting prey.
Ao instantly felt headache, directly ignoring Terumi Mei's words.
He pressed his right eye, expression grave:
"He's strong, Terumi Mei, we must be careful!"
"In the Byakugan's vision, immense power surges within him."
He was extremely confident in this eye, a trophy obtained from Konohagakure's Hyuga Clan.
Ao's gaze fell on Shinji's eyes.
Sharingan.
He recalled previously leading a Mist elite squad to ambush Konohagakure, easily incapacitated by Uchiha Shisui's long-range Genjutsu.
This Uchiha before him also emitted suffocating pressure.
He glanced at the stiffly standing Mist Anbu.
"Genjutsu again?"
"Priority is rescuing companions!"
Shinji inserted his short blade back behind him, expressionlessly looking at the two:
"You can leave."
After all, he had obtained the information he wanted.
With Ao and Terumi Mei here providing support, fighting them would waste both Chakra and time.
Ao was momentarily stunned, unable to discern Shinji's intent.
Not fighting anymore?
Logically, he agreed with this plan. He was pragmatic; when facing Shisui's threat, he had decisively chosen retreat.
"Terumi Mei, we…"
His words were interrupted before finishing.
Terumi Mei snorted lightly, battle spirit blazing in her eyes:
"How could we just let you go?"
Her lips curled, tone seductive yet dangerous:
"Then let me give you a kiss that melts."
Ao: "…"
Shinji: "…"