Chapter 63: Root
"You're not Yun!" the dark-skinned Cloud ninja roared.
Genichi flew forward. After several slashes, the visually-deprived ninja had his throat slit. The other two Cloud ninja, having just broken the genjutsu, saw their comrade's tragic death and immediately roared, charging at Genichi.
On the other side, Namiichi Uchiha was overjoyed. He changed direction and pounced on the Cloud ninja who had been attacking him from the left.
Spurt!
Blood splattered. Namiichi easily cut one down. The other two Cloud ninja had just broken the genjutsu when they were met with Namiichi's crimson two-tomoe Sharingan.
Temporary Paralysis Technique (Kanashibari no Jutsu)!
The two Cloud ninja were frozen. Although one of them broke free after only a moment and retreated, blood was still gushing from his chest where Namiichi had sliced open a deep gash, nearly cutting through his torso. The other Cloud ninja, who failed to break the genjutsu, was kicked away by Namiichi, and then a shuriken accurately struck him in the forehead.
At this moment, the three Cloud ninja on the right, who had been about to continue their pursuit of En, had no choice but to turn back. In just a short exchange, they had lost three comrades. If they left now, the remaining members of their group might also be finished off by these two. After all, "Yun" and his group had been seven strong surrounding the genius who was probably named Genichi, but the result was that the enemy had disguised himself as Yun.
They had been far too careless!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Genichi and Namiichi stood back-to-back, surrounded by six Cloud ninja. Two of them were injured; one had a sword wound on his chest from Namiichi, the other a wound on his waist from Genichi's short sword.
Even so, Genichi felt extremely endangered. None of these Cloud ninja were weak; they were at least at the chunin level. And in this situation, they would not give him time to form hand seals again.
Genichi decided that after this mission, he had to develop a way to perform one-handed seals. But for now, they had to break out. Otherwise, they would probably die here.
As for his master, Sakumo, not only was the situation back in the town unclear, but Genichi estimated that if he didn't arrive in time, the other three Cloud ninja would catch up first, which would be even more dangerous. They couldn't afford a direct confrontation.
"Namiichi, let's break through first!" Genichi said in a low voice.
Namiichi nodded.
But just as the Cloud ninja were about to make their move, figures suddenly appeared.
A black mass of insects swarmed towards them, a shadow stretched rapidly across the ground, and a giant sword swung like a door panel.
The sudden attack caught the Cloud ninja completely off guard, so much so that they couldn't even spare a thought for Genichi and Namiichi.
Reinforcements!
Genichi was overjoyed and immediately sheathed his sword and formed a hand seal.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu).
He once again covered the entire group. Even if the precision was low, at a time like this, it could play a huge role.
While Genichi was forming his seal, Namiichi had already charged out. For a moment, screams rose and fell one after another. In just a few breaths, only two injured Cloud ninja remained, who leaped away to flee.
"Genichi, Namiichi, are you two alright?!" En appeared in front of Genichi.
"We're fine!" Genichi shook his head, his gaze falling on the reinforcements. These people were all wearing masks, clearly from the Anbu.
But... why aren't they pursuing?
Just then, a masked man standing on a tree branch looked at Genichi and spoke. "The intelligence is on you?"
"Return to the village with us immediately!"
Hmm?
Hearing this, Genichi immediately understood. En had lied to these ninja from the Anbu.
"Genichi, they're from Root," En's voice sounded in Genichi's ear.
Genichi's mind raced. He reached into his ninja tool pouch, clenched his fist, and shoved it into En's chest pouch. He then pulled his hand back and turned. "En, you take the intelligence and retreat first! Namiichi, let's go support the captain!"
Namiichi nodded. En also wanted to go with them, but he knew he had to take the intelligence back, not hand it over directly to the people from Root.
Of course, the intelligence had actually been on him all along. He had just lied to the Root members. Otherwise, if this group of Root ninja were only here to support the person carrying the intelligence, they would not have come to rescue him and Genichi.
Of course, perhaps these Root ninja had guessed he was lying. But En knew they couldn't take that gamble.
...
"Genichi, those Root ninja... do you think they knew all along that there was a problem with this mission?" Namiichi asked, his face grim.
Genichi's expression was blank. "Maybe they knew, maybe they didn't."
Even if they were deliberately used as bait, what could they do about it?
"Damn it!" Namiichi had already concluded that Root was up to something. Especially since Root had sent quite a few people—a total of six. They could have easily split off a squad to go with them to support Sakumo, but they showed no intention of doing so.
Genichi also believed in his heart that Root was up to something. Although, for the sake of intelligence security, their actions couldn't be said to be wrong. But one's position determines one's perspective. Why should he consider things from Root's point of view? If they hadn't known there was a problem beforehand, the Root members wouldn't have arrived so coincidentally.
But there was no use talking about this now. The most crucial thing was to support his master, Sakumo. As for the problems with this mission, Genichi would put them on Danzō's tab and settle the score later.
"Namiichi!" As his thoughts spun, Genichi shouted in a low voice and then changed direction.
"Genichi?" Namiichi, who was following him, was puzzled.
Genichi said, "If Sensei is trying to break out, he won't take the same route as us."
Could Sakumo handle all the people surrounding him? It was probably difficult. The Cloud ninja had come prepared this time; the setup in the town was likely the most critical part. Genichi guessed that if Sakumo were to break out, he wouldn't take their path, as that would bring more enemies towards them. Besides, if they returned the way they came, they would probably run into the Cloud ninja who had fled earlier.
So he turned towards the coast.
Leaving the forest, they followed the coastline towards the town from before.
As expected.
After some time, Genichi saw his master, Sakumo, and the Cloud ninja in hot pursuit behind him.
Overjoyed, Genichi immediately stopped and formed hand seals. Namiichi landed on a protruding reef nearby, his sword drawn, ready to strike at any moment.
However, as Sakumo reached the two of them, the Cloud ninja behind him stopped.
Genichi held his genjutsu, ready to cast, while keeping an eye on the Cloud ninja. He asked with concern, "Sensei, how are your injuries?"
Sakumo's face was a little pale, but his voice was still full of vigor. "It's nothing, just a flesh wound."
Genichi breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately changed his hand seal and sent a shadow clone to heal Sakumo's wounds and stop the bleeding.
The Cloud ninja opposite them were restless but did not attack.
After Sakumo's wounds were treated, the three of them immediately retreated. The Cloud ninja followed from a distance.
At the border of the Land of Fire, the three of them finally regrouped with En and the others.
However, the Cloud ninja had also followed them. And their numbers had now exceeded twenty.
Genichi knew that another battle with the Cloud ninja was inevitable. They would absolutely not let them leave just like that.
(End of Chapter)
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