Asuma's eyes were filled with confusion.
Based on the faint humanoid outline in the smoke earlier, he was certain the enemy had been hit by his Fire Release jutsu, "Burning Ash."
To cover a wider area, the jonin had combined their Water Release with Kakashi's "Lightning Blade," successfully striking the target.
He couldn't fathom how the enemy could counterattack so quickly after being hit by his "Burning Ash" and Kakashi's "Lightning Blade"!
Swish
At that moment, the bloodied arm that had pierced Asuma's chest was withdrawn.
The blood on the arm flickered in and out of visibility under the camouflage of "Transparent Release," creating an eerie effect.
Then, with a flick of their arm, the enemy shook off the blood, and as the blood left their body, their presence vanished completely, leaving no trace.
"Damn it!"
Asuma collapsed to his knees.
"Asuma!"
Kurenai froze for a moment before rushing toward him recklessly.
Kakashi's heart raced with alarm. "Be careful!"
As expected, before Kakashi's warning could fully land, Kurenai was lifted off the ground as if something had grabbed her by the throat.
"I've got you!"
Struggling to speak, Kurenai formed hand signs and activated her genjutsu, "Tree Binding Death"!
Clearly, she knew rushing toward Asuma would provoke an attack, but it was the only way to make contact with the enemy and trigger her genjutsu!
As the genjutsu took effect, a large tree materialized behind the enemy, its branches extending to bind them, revealing a faint, transparent humanoid shape.
Kurenai, brimming with killing intent, drew a kunai. "I'm going to see what you really look like!"
But as she thrust the kunai toward the enemy restrained by "Tree Binding Death," the opponent suddenly extended a hand, firmly grasping her kunai!
Then, the branches binding the enemy scattered and dissipated, as if they had never existed.
"How?!"
Kurenai was stunned. She hadn't expected the enemy to break her genjutsu without leaving a trace.
After seizing the kunai, the enemy snapped the steel-forged weapon in half with a clang and stabbed the broken half toward Kurenai!
Swish
At that moment, a figure darted past, pulling the stunned Kurenai to safety.
"Kakashi!"
Still shaken, Kurenai realized it was Kakashi who had saved her.
Setting her down, Kakashi said, "This guy's strong. Everyone, be extremely careful!"
No reminder from Kakashi was needed. The enemy had withstood Asuma's Fire Release and Kakashi's "Lightning Blade" without apparent injury, instantly dispelled Kurenai's genjutsu, and snapped her kunai with their bare hands.
This wasn't just "strong"—it was unimaginable.
If the enemy hadn't been using "Transparent Release" and remained silent throughout, Kakashi might have suspected it was Hiruko.
Swish swish swish
At that moment, Shizune arrived with a large group of Anbu.
Seeing Hayate and Asuma gravely injured on the ground and Kakashi and the other jonin on high alert, she asked, confused, "What's going on? Where's Naruto and the others?"
Kakashi warned, "Be careful, there's an enemy!"
"An enemy? Where?"
Shizune and the Anbu scanned their surroundings warily.
Genma Shiranui explained, "The enemy has mastered a highly advanced 'Transparent Release'!"
"Transparent Release!?"
Shizune's expression darkened.
With Hayate, a master of "Transparent Release," lying gravely injured and Kakashi, with his Sharingan, looking so serious, she understood what Genma meant by "advanced."
At that moment, Pakkun leapt onto Kakashi's shoulder and pointed to a nearby clearing. "There's a scent of blood in that direction!"
As Kakashi's gaze shifted, a whoosh brought a gust of force toward his face. His heart lurched, and he instinctively leapt backward without hesitation.
Swish
A blade narrowly grazed his throat!
"There!"
Kakashi's close call gave the others time to react. They immediately unleashed ninjutsu, bombarding the area directly in front of Kakashi.
Boom boom boom
Instantly, Fire Release, Lightning Release, Wind Release—various ninjutsu rained down, filling the area with thunderous explosions and clouds of dust!
Retreating dozens of meters, Kakashi wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his eyes locked on the dust cloud.
Witnessing the scene, Shizune finally grasped the enemy's danger. Without hesitation, she shouted to the Anbu beside her, "Hurry, notify the barrier team! Send a squad skilled in sensory barriers!"
Bang
Before she could finish, Shizune was kicked away, crashing into a nearby tree.
At the same time, an Anbu who had turned to request reinforcements was slashed across the throat and fell from the tree.
Facing this ghost-like enemy, the jonin and Anbu collectively gasped.
If they couldn't devise a countermeasure, none of them might survive.
Aoba Yamashiro shouted, "What do we do now?"
"Where is he?"
Yamato clasped his hands, ready to unleash "Wood Release," but he struggled to locate the target.
Kakashi cautioned, "Everyone, stay calm!"
Kurenai glanced at Asuma and Hayate on the ground nearby and shouted, "If we delay any longer, I'm afraid Asuma and Hayate won't hold on!"
Kakashi's peripheral vision caught the scene, and his heart sank.
Asuma and Hayate had undoubtedly been struck in vital areas, evident from the pooling blood. Any further delay could cost them their lives.
But the situation demanded composure. If they panicked, saving anyone would be impossible, let alone protecting themselves.
So Kakashi quickly replayed the recent battles in his mind, analyzing as he spoke to the group. "The enemy's speed resembles 'Swift Release,' their monstrous strength in snapping the kunai seems like 'Steel Release,' and their ability to ignore our ninjutsu might come from 'Dark Release.' Combined with 'Transparent Release,' that's four Bloodline Limits! No normal person could possess so many, so it's likely they underwent a Bloodline Fusion Ritual like Hiruko…"
"So that's it!"
"No wonder they're so fast!"
"Akatsuki?"
Hearing Kakashi's analysis, the group gained a preliminary understanding of the enemy, no longer blindly panicking.
"The enemy likely has another Bloodline Limit, one that can see through Hayate's 'Transparent Release' and break Kurenai's genjutsu. It's probably some kind of dojutsu Bloodline Limit…"
Kakashi continued his analysis while secretly preparing his own dojutsu.
He deliberately spoke loudly to lure the enemy into targeting him, hoping to create an opening to counter with his Mangekyo dojutsu, "Kamui."
Listening to Kakashi's analysis, Ranmaru, hidden nearby, couldn't help but feel a surge of panic—a sense of having all his secrets exposed.
Boom boom boom
Just as Ranmaru prepared to strike Kakashi to stop his analysis, a loud rumble came from the sea of trees nearby.
Following the sound, his "Hogan" vision caught sight of Shinji. Ignoring Kakashi and the other jonin, Ranmaru vanished in a flash, speeding toward the source of the noise.