Shinka and Makoto had an easy time with their targets but Beni had to face a significantly more powerful opponent.
A true Elite Jonin and though it was a single rank of difference, the gap in strength was, in actuality, quite huge.
There was a reason that Shiki himself had to rely on his double edged amps to fight at that level. If he did not resort to self harm, an Elite Jonin could take him out relatively simply depending on their actual skillset.
This would be a true test of the little girl's abilities but so long as she held on long enough, Shinka and Makoto who finished their battle almost instantly, would be able to rush to her aid.
Unfortunately, Benihime had engaged her targets significantly ahead of the other two so there would still be a significant delay . . .
*
'Shura Style: Chikage'
A reddish black flash suddenly severed the air, lopping off the head of the regular Kumo Jonin accompanying Dodai.
It appeared that, unlike most samurai, the Kurogane clan's Shura were not only willing, but also very capable with ambushes.
Though their expertise in concealing their chakra and the Shuigan's illusory capabilities should have already clued everyone in to that truth.
The Kumo shinobi pair never saw it coming.
Going for Dodai, the Elite Jonin, first might have resulted in a failed first strike so Beni opted to play it safe and get rid of the weaker, but still problematic variable, leaving herself in a tense, face to face standoff with the Lava Release user.
'Am I cursed with having to deal with abnormal demon children!?' The Kumo shinobi questioned with irritations.
'I was never one to bully children so does the world seem to be intent on throwing utterly overpowered four year olds at me!?' He wondered.
Outwardly however, Dodai maintained a stone cold expression.
He couldn't let the unreasonable situation get to his nerves and keep calculating the best move.
'If I got intercepted then the other three probably were as well. Sending a lone prodigy was more to stall me than to guarantee a kill so the other squad is probably gone and whoever took them out will definitely come to reinforce this one.'
'I need to handle this fast or disengage.' Dodai thought to himself.
It occurred to him that he had been "forced" to retreat far too many times lately. It was a poor showing for his comrades and village while his mentality was also suffering.
Recently, even the man himself had started to wonder if he was in fact a coward, only under denial.
Perhaps because of these doubts, Dodai made the decision to stand his ground and fight, thinking it was "Now or never!".
'Lava Release: Liquid Rubber'
A hot jet of molten rubber meant to trap and maim was released from Dodai's mouth.
Her Shuigan gleaming with bloody crimson light, Benihime saw through the movements of Dodai's body and chakra, effortlessly maneuvering around the attack.
The girl's proficiency with pure Shukuchi was even greater than Shiki's. Clearly, this was not a method she had learned from watching him but a part of her clan's inheritance, a relic from a time before chakra became commonplace.
'Shura Style: Chikaze'
A tempest of countless bloody red slashes flew from Benihime's blade, cornering Dodai with erratic paths through the air.
'Lava Release: Rubber Ball'
The Kumo shinobi unerringly fell back to his tried and true rubber defense.
The bouncy shell surrounding him was knocked around but remained unpenetrated, however, this too, was part of Beni's plan.
With Dodai trapped in his rubber ball, pinned by the storm of flying slashes unleashed through Chikaze, all the girl had to do was release a focused strike to punch through the defense and take the man out instantly.
'Shura Style: Chikage'
A single reddish black flying slash, cleaved the rubber ball in two.
But rather than relax, Beni immediately dashed from her spot with Shukuchi as spears of hard earth emerged to the ground to pierce through her previous location.
With a grave expression, Dodai emerged from the ground.
His timing with the Substitution Jutsu to escape the rubber ball had been perfect yet his enemy had not fallen for the bait and effortlessly dodged his following counterattack.
It was clear to him. He had been completely seen through.
'Those glowing red eyes . . . An unknown dojutsu?' Dodai wondered.
A shinobi's eyes changing from their jutsu was not that rare but actual known dojutsu were limited to the Great Three, the Sharingan, Rinnegan and Byakugan.
There were records of others but most had fallen to anonymity or relegated to myth and legend. Even the Rinnegan was doubted to truly exist despite its fame.
Dodai knew of one other, the Ketsuryugan, but Benihime's eyes did not match it in appearance or abilities.
Insight had never been the Ketsuryugan's claim to fame when its wielders, the Chinoike clan, were still active in the shinobi world.
'A new unknown dojutsu. Truly terrible luck to encounter such a rarity.' Dodai complained.
Though the chance to bring such a prize back to his village . . .
'If I can obtain this girl and not just her eyes . . . All of my failures will be made up for and more.' He thought to himself.
'This must be what those mercenaries were hunting for.' The Kumo shinobi realized.
Suddenly, his resolve to stand his ground and fight wavered.
This was important intel.
If he could inform Zee and Toroi, the three of them might be able to capture this prize. Whether for negotiations with Konoha or just as an offering to the village leadership, Benihime was an incredibly valuable prize.
WIth this thought, Dodai immediately body flickered away.
With her Shuigan, Behime easily determined that the Kumo jonin was heading towards his comrades and since her job was to take care of stragglers and interloopers, the girl only put on a token pursuit, making sure the Kumo Jonin truly headed back towards Zee and Toroi's position.
With his Byakugan, Makoto also saw what was happening and so, he directed Shinka to support the ambush squad for Kumo while he once again assumed his surveillance position, coordinating with Benihime from a distance.
*
As the battle went on in the rocky terrain of the inner territory of the Land of Valleys, in the north sea border of the country, at a port, an impatient kunoichi tapped her foot impatiently.
"What is that idiot doing? I told him to keep regular contact and send a message immediately in case something happened." She complained out loud to herself.
It was a beautiful young sounding voice, fitting for a slim and lithe beauty like the kunoichi, her straight, shoulder length, blonde bob swayed with the wind while her steely silver eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
The aura of intimidation surrounding the young woman was undiminished by her average to short height.
"Did you lose your head literally by getting offed or figuratively by not following my orders . . ." The woman wondered.
A few more silent minutes passed.
"Screw this! I'll check it out myself. You better have a good reason to break contact or the value of your Typhoon Release will not be enough to save you." The kunoichi declared.
'Swift Release: Shadowless Flight'
In a blur of motion, she was gone, moving at speeds far surpassing any type of Body Flicker.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -