The four ninja charged at Team 3 from four directions.
The members of Team 3 had never truly faced real combat against ninja before. Tenten panicked completely, clutching Yasu's hands and trembling uncontrollably.
Hyuga Neji was the first to react. He formed hand signs, and his Byakugan activated, the veins around his eyes bulging with intensity.
"One of the Hyuga clan's kids… should we let him go?"
"Our mission doesn't allow us to reveal ourselves. Besides, I know this kid—he's from the Hyuga branch family. Killing him won't matter!"
Hearing this, the normally composed Neji immediately exuded a killing intent that seemed to pierce the sky.
"Underestimating the branch family, huh? Then die here!"
Neji charged straight at the two ninja.
Rock Lee also rushed forward to fight, but having no real combat experience, he was quickly suppressed.
The remaining ninja sprinted at Yasu and Tenten.
Tenten, terrified, clung to Yasu's arm, trembling violently.
Yasu, already struggling under heavy weights on his hands and feet, now had the extra burden of a huge sandbag, making movement nearly impossible.
Seeing the ninja closing in, Yasu gritted his teeth and grabbed Tenten, using all his strength to perform the Body Flicker Technique.
In an instant, they vanished from sight—but not far, they fell to the ground.
The ninja couldn't help but smirk.
"At a time like this, and you're still flirting? Soon, you'll be dead. Maybe you can flirt all you want in hell."
Tenten finally realized she was nothing but a burden, unable to help and only hindering Yasu. She quickly pushed him away, creating some distance.
"Yasu, don't worry about me! I can fight!"
Yasu gave a bitter smile.
Whether Tenten could actually fight or not, he didn't know—but he knew he himself couldn't. The weights on his hands and feet had severely reduced his fighting ability.
Even if he could barely perform the Body Flicker Technique, any attack he tried to land would throw him away with his own force. He would become an easy target.
"Lee, help block that ninja!" Yasu shouted to Rock Lee, then turned to Tenten.
"Tenten, help me undo the weights!"
"Okay, but I can't hold out long," Lee nodded, bracing himself to face the ninja in front of Yasu.
Tenten heard Yasu's call and rushed over.
Soon, the weights on Yasu's hands and feet were removed, leaving only the one around his waist.
The waist weight was the heaviest, tied tightly with several death knots by Might Guy himself.
No matter how hard Tenten tried, she couldn't undo them.
"Yasu, are you done? I can only hold out for thirty seconds at most!" Lee said with difficulty.
Yasu looked up—Lee was already covered in injuries.
The green jumpsuit was torn beyond recognition, and even from a distance, Lee seemed unsteady.
Yasu's heart tightened. Lee's "thirty seconds" meant the enemy would reach Yasu's body by then.
He hadn't expected the seemingly simple-minded Lee from TV to be so selfless in reality—willing to sacrifice himself for his friends.
Tenten also understood the situation but couldn't undo the weights, even with a kunai. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"The branch family… even if you die here, no one would care. Too bad, with the Caged Bird Technique means that even your Byakugan will be destroyed when you die."
Yasu saw Neji lying on the ground, battered and bloodied.
Some injuries were so severe that Yasu could faintly see the white bones beneath.
The ninja kicked Neji's wounds again.
Neji's face twisted in pain—but he did not make a sound.
Looking at Yasu, Neji gave a faint smile and shouted with his remaining strength, "Yasu… don't forget our promise!"
Yasu clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms, blood dripping.
"Don't worry about your promise! This kid's about to die too!"
The ninja sneered and stepped toward Yasu.
Suddenly, his foot was grabbed. Looking down, he saw Neji, barely clinging to life.
"I wanted to let you live a few more minutes,, but… forget it," the ninja said.
Tenten, desperate, bit at the rope with her tiger teeth, ignoring the blood trickling from her mouth.
"Tenten, you—" Yasu said, surprised by her sudden action.
"Shut up! There's no time for that! I'll get these weights off!"
The ninja sneered again and kicked Neji harder.
"Still flirting now? These are your last few moments!"
He drew a kunai, coldly eyeing Neji.
Suddenly, a green figure leaped forward, delivering a kick that sent the ninja flying several meters.
"Neji! Are you okay?!" Lee shouted, shaking him.
Neji slowly opened his eyes—but instead of gratitude, he roared in anger.
"Why did you come here? What about Yasu?!"
Lee realized, turning to see the two ninja advancing on Yasu step by step.
As Lee prepared to rush back, a sharp pain shot through his waist, and he was flung backward.
"Might Guy really taught a good student… but it's a pity he's about to die!" the ninja said coldly.
Lee lay on the ground, coughing up blood, but still smiled weakly at Yasu.
"Yasu… if I ever get the chance, teach me your kenjutsu!"
Yasu wanted to charge and kill them all—but the waist weight severely limited his mobility. Charging now would be suicide.
Tenten grew even more frantic, biting at the weights with all her strength, unaware of the blood on her lips.
Finally, the stubborn weights loosened. Tenten's eyes lit up.
"It's undone!"
The weight fell to the ground with a thud, raising dust.
Yasu stood amidst the dust, eyes like a viper, glaring at the four ninja.
"Today, you'll see what happens to anyone who dares bully me or my friends!"