Chapter 65 – Anko and Hayate's Progress
Nan noticed the wary expressions on the enemy shinobi and couldn't help but smirk. He dismissed the earlier warning from the Sand jōnin with silent disdain.
Not looking into your opponent's eyes during a fight? That's fine if you're Might Guy, able to read an enemy's every move by watching only their feet. But most shinobi? Without eye contact, you'll never predict movements accurately.
In truth, Nan didn't even need the Sharingan to deal with two mere chūnin. He had used it at the very start to instantly take down one opponent for two reasons.
First, to conserve energy. He had learned in earlier skirmishes that some Sand shinobi were so intimidated by his name alone that their morale collapsed the moment they realized who he was. While it wasn't as extreme as the Iwa-nin, who would abandon missions outright upon hearing "Namikaze Minato," it still rattled them badly enough to sap much of their fighting spirit.
By revealing his identity and overwhelming one target with the Sharingan, Nan knew he would shake the resolve of the remaining three.
Second, to save time.
Sunagakure had dispatched a flood of shinobi to infiltrate the forests around Konoha's camp. Judging by their overall level, most were likely low- to mid-rankers, with very few jōnin mixed in. This squad's leader, though technically a jōnin, didn't seem particularly formidable. Kosuke could easily handle him.
The real concern lay with Anko and Hayate. They were still only genin, and facing two trained chūnin was no small task. Nan had planned to finish his opponent quickly, then move to back them up.
But when his eyes shifted to their side of the battlefield, Nan's expression softened in pleasant surprise.
The two were holding their own.
Despite being genin, they were trading blows evenly with their Sand counterparts. It was a stark contrast to their past battles, where Nan and Kosuke would crush enemies instantly, leaving Anko and Hayate little chance to even participate.
Against a squad of this level, if not for the need to capture them alive, either Nan or Kosuke alone could have ended the fight—even against several times their number. The only reason the genin were engaged at all was because many killing techniques were off-limits during a capture mission.
Even so, their growth was undeniable.
Hayate had always favored kenjutsu, and Kosuke, being a seasoned swordsman himself, had occasionally offered pointers. Combined with relentless practice and the crucible of real combat, Hayate's skill had advanced rapidly.
Anko, meanwhile, was Orochimaru's disciple, much like Nan himself. The jutsu she learned from their master, Nan had also studied—and often surpassed. His own rapid progress had, in turn, inspired Anko, pushing her forward. She now fought at the level of a competent chūnin.
At this rate, the two of them would likely pass the Chūnin Exams without much difficulty and earn their promotions officially.
Still, their opponents were experienced chūnin. Holding their ground was one thing—winning outright was another. And in wartime, especially here on the frontlines, Nan knew it was dangerous to drag a skirmish out too long.
Decision made, he prepared to intervene.
Hayate's body was still recovering; prolonged battles could aggravate his condition. Nan decided to target Hayate's opponent first.
The Sand shinobi noticed Nan rushing toward him and went pale. His comrade had already fallen to Nan's Sharingan—he knew what that meant.
"You'd think you'd rush to help the girl first," Nan remarked casually, his words slipping like a knife into the man's concentration. "What's the matter? Prefer boys?"
The jibe distracted him just long enough. His guard slipped, his movements slowed—and Hayate seized the moment.
With a sharp cry, he lunged forward and slashed his blade across the man's side.
The Sand shinobi wasn't entirely unprepared; years of battlefield experience had honed his instincts. He twisted at the last second, minimizing the damage. But he wasn't fast enough to avoid the strike completely.
Blood welled from the cut. Though not a fatal wound, it was deep enough to weaken him considerably. His strength and rhythm faltered, tipping the once even fight in Hayate's favor.
From here on, Nan knew, victory was only a matter of time. Even without his intervention, Hayate would win. The man would bleed out his stamina long before he found a way to recover.
Nan had already charged in—there was no turning back now.
The Sand chūnin remembered his jōnin captain's warning from earlier and dared not meet Nan's gaze. But that hesitation doomed him. He was no match for Nan to begin with—without looking at his eyes, he couldn't even guess what Nan's next move would be, let alone defend against it.
"Katon: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Nan deliberately called out the name of the Uchiha clan's signature fire jutsu as he unleashed it, almost mocking the enemy's refusal to meet his eyes.
The Sand shinobi didn't question it. Many ninja habitually announced their techniques. Since Nan had declared his jutsu, he thought he had a counter.
"Fūton: Great Breakthrough!"
Desperation lent the man speed, and he managed to complete his hand seals quickly. Though slower by a beat, his wind release still clashed with Nan's flames in time, snuffing out the fire. Nan hadn't poured much chakra into the jutsu, so it dispersed easily.
Relief washed over the Sand-nin—he had blocked Uchiha Nan's attack.
But his moment of hope vanished in the next heartbeat. Out of the dying embers streaked several shuriken, hidden within the flames.
The Phoenix Sage Fire Red Technique—a deadly Uchiha combination of ninjutsu and precise shuriken-throwing. A feint disguised within fire.
The man didn't react in time—whether from ignorance of the technique or sheer terror at Nan's reputation. He barely had the presence of mind to raise his arms and shield his face. The shuriken sank into his body, ripping screams of pain from his throat.
That was the opening Hayate needed. He dashed forward and thrust his blade straight into the man's chest.
This time, the Sand shinobi couldn't react at all. The sword pierced deep, and he collapsed into a spreading pool of blood.
With that threat eliminated, Nan turned his attention toward Anko's fight. Unlike Hayate, she wasn't faring as well. Whether from lack of battlefield experience or because her opponent was the stronger of the two, she had already fallen into disadvantage during the brief moment Nan looked away.
The Sand-nin, emboldened by his upper hand, began plotting. If I can capture her alive, maybe I can use her as a hostage to escape even Konoha's feared Thunderbolt.
He struck hard, forcing Anko off balance, then lunged to grab her.
But the instant he stepped forward, his leg froze. He couldn't lift it.
From beneath the ground, a calm voice spoke:
"Doton: Headhunter Jutsu."
Nan had slipped underground unnoticed, seizing the Sand shinobi from below. By the time he surfaced, the man was buried chest-deep in earth, only his head left exposed.
Anko's lips curled into a cold, merciless smile—a smile eerily reminiscent of Orochimaru.
Helpless, the Sand-nin could only watch in terror as her summoned snake lunged forward. His screams ended abruptly as the serpent's jaws closed around his head.
Even Nan shivered at the sight.
So that's Anko, huh… Cute and cheerful on the surface, but when it comes to enemies, she's as ruthless as Orochimaru himself. No wonder he chose her as his disciple.
With three chūnin eliminated, only the jōnin leader remained.
But as that jōnin watched his comrades fall one after another, panic gnawed at him. Desperation took hold, and he frantically searched for a way to escape Kosuke's relentless assault.