Shu-shu-shu-shu-shu!
Suddenly, a barrage of kunai burst out from the river, launching a surprise attack on the resting, unsuspecting group by the riverside!
"Byakugan!" Neji reacted instantly, activating his dōjutsu. But the moment he saw the torrential downpour of kunai and the positions of everyone present, his face changed.
There were fifteen people in total, the convoy workers plus their Team of three. They were divided across three areas: eleven civilians grouped together, Lee slightly up and to the left tying his leg weights, he could probably defend himself. But the problem was Tenten. She was down by the river washing a towel, closest to the oncoming kunai, and in the most danger.
Her weapon techniques required a few seconds to activate, drawing out scrolls, performing seals, summoning the tools. But the kunai were going to rain down in less than a second. She wouldn't make it.
Neji had only two options. One, dash to the convoy and use his all-encompassing ultimate defense, Rotation. Lee might not be able to help, but he could at least survive on his own. But if Neji chose that, then Tenten would-
"I'm sorry… Tenten…"
In less than half a second, Neji made his decision. His body flickered across the clearing and arrived beside the convoy, arms and legs spread wide as he activated Rotation, deflecting the deadly rain of steel for the civilians.
Clang-clang! Lee, reacting fast, drew a pair of kunai from his legs and managed to deflect two strikes, but the sheer density of the attack rendered his defense useless. The rest of the kunai continued to pour down like a hailstorm.
Faced with certain death, Tenten's face went pale. Her heart trembled in terror as the shadow of death loomed over her.
Am I… going to die?
But in that moment of despair, she suddenly felt a strong shove on her shoulder. She instinctively turned her head.
"Kirito… kun?!"
By the time she realized what had happened, her eyes went wide in horror.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
Right in front of her, Kirito's body was riddled by the storm of kunai, turning him into a bloody pincushion. Blood splattered across the ground, his body collapsed in a mutilated heap.
"Kirito-kun!"
Lee, using his agility, darted through the barrage. Even he couldn't escape unscathed, kunai struck his shoulder and thigh, but he managed to avoid any fatal injuries.
"Damn it!" Neji growled, his face twisting in anger as he looked at Kirito's body, pinned to the ground with blood pouring out like a fountain. There was no way he could've survived that.
Even if Neji had always looked down on this so-called "failure" from the Hyuga clan, the man had died saving a comrade.
Fury sparked in his eyes.
"Whoever you are, show yourself, you coward!"
But he didn't finish his sentence.
Neji's pupils contracted. His instincts screamed. He jerked his head to the side.
Shhk! A sharp blade sliced through the space his head had occupied a split-second earlier.
If not for his Byakugan's full-range perception, that attack would have cleaved his skull open. Even so, the blade still managed to slice off part of his ear.
"Oh? So you've got the Byakugan." The attacker narrowed his eyes at Neji, surprised he dodged. But seeing the iconic white eyes, he immediately understood.
Neji gritted his teeth as he focused his dōjutsu on the attacker, his face darkened.
That chakra level… it's definitely Jōnin-tier!
Not on their level at all.
Neji crossed his arms in front of his neck, protecting his vital points just in time.
Bang!
The enemy's foot slammed into him. Though the intended decapitation failed, the force still sent Neji flying several meters, crashing into a tree.
"Gah!" Blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Neji!" Tenten and Lee screamed, eyes wide in disbelief.
They didn't know who this enemy was, but to down Neji, their strongest member, in a single exchange?
Unbelievable.
Lee no longer hesitated. Despite his injuries, he forced open more of the Eight Gates.
"Eight Gates Release! First Gate, Gate of Opening, Open! Second Gate, Gate of Rest, Open! Third Gate, Gate of Life, Open! Fourth Ga-"
Before he could finish, the enemy appeared in front of him like a ghost. A palm strike slammed into Lee's abdomen.
Boom! His chakra flared, then died instantly.
"H-how…?" Lee collapsed, completely powerless.
Two rounds. Neji and Lee were both down.
The attacker, his strength overwhelming, now slowly turned his gaze toward the final one standing, Tenten.
"You're next."
Hff…! Just his glare made her chest tighten. The killing intent of a true Jōnin pressed down like a boulder.
But when her eyes swept over Neji, Lee, and finally, Kirito's bloodied corpse, the fear turned into something else.
Gritting her teeth, she whispered to herself, They risked their lives for me. I can't give up here.
With trembling hands, Tenten grabbed two scrolls from her back and flung them into the air.
The enemy smirked as he recognized the jutsu being used and glanced back at the convoy's crest.
"Oh… that technique, plus that convoy seal…" His grin twisted. "Lucky me. I failed to kill you in the first strike, but I ended up hooking a much bigger fish than expected."
"..."
Tenten's face hardened. He knew. Her identity. Her family's importance. He planned to take her alive, use her as ransom. What had started as a simple heist… was now far more sinister.
But now wasn't the time to panic.
With a determined cry, Tenten unfurled her scrolls high into the air.
"Ninja Art: Twin Rising Dragons!"
Like twin serpents dancing through the sky, the scrolls released a storm of weapons even more intense than the earlier kunai barrage. Blades rained down in a dense, overwhelming tide.
But the enemy remained unfazed.
"Such a flashy technique… yeah, that confirms it. Your identity's real."
He raised one arm lazily in front of him.
"Forbidden Jutsu, Earth Grudge Fear."
Splorchx! His entire arm exploded into a grotesque mass of blood-red tendrils, lashing out in every direction. They formed a perfect dome, blocking, catching, and swatting away every single flying weapon with eerie precision.
"Ahhh… can't beat the classics. These forbidden jutsu are something else."
He was completely unharmed.
Tenten's face went pale. Her strongest technique, completely nullified.
She stared, trembling… until something caught her eye.
The enemy was slowly walking toward her now, grinning wickedly.
"Miss 'Konoha Rich-Girl-Who-Bleeds-Money,' why don't you come along nicel- "
Shhck!
The sound of steel piercing flesh.
The enemy's body froze mid-step.
He looked down.
A blade had pierced cleanly through his chest, from behind.
His eyes widened.
"When… did you-"
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters