The four Anbu teams surged forward, quickly locking onto the enemy's trail.
Now that they had a confirmed direction, the hunt became far easier.
As they moved, several Anbu glanced toward Tatsuya, their expressions filled with awe and quiet admiration.
He'd been so low-key—just a newly appointed sub-captain—but no one expected him to be this sharp. To have uncovered the hidden infiltration plan of the Cloud Shinobi with just a few clues...
Impressive didn't even begin to cover it.
No wonder he rose through the ranks so quickly.
"You're still as brilliant as ever, Tatsuya-kun," Kurenai Yuhi murmured with a faint smile, running alongside him.
Their formation was tight—triangle-shaped as they weaved through the dense forest. Tatsuya and a Hyuga clan ninja held the center; Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Jiraiya spearheaded the front, prepared to engage first.
They moved with lethal precision.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest...
A group of elite enemy ninja sprinted across the terrain.
"Tch."
A dark-skinned, muscular shinobi snarled. "Konoha's nose is sharper than I thought. They're closing in."
"We're only lucky we've got your Byakugan with us," he added, side-eyeing a blue-cloaked shinobi beside him.
That shinobi—wearing the headband of Kirigakure—narrowed his eyes. "Raikage-dono."
Kirigakure's Ao met the Fourth Raikage's glare without flinching.
"Our goal is the same. Don't let your pride ruin the mission."
"Hmph."
The Fourth Raikage—Ai—clicked his tongue. Even so, he said nothing more.
He didn't like relying on the Byakugan stolen from Konoha, but right now, it was effective.
"Wait."
Ao tensed. "We've got company. 1000 meters. Fast."
Immediately, all ten enemy shinobi stopped and disappeared into cover.
---
On the Konoha side...
"How many?" Jiraiya asked, sharp-eyed.
The Hyuga ninja pressed his fingers together, scanning with the Byakugan. "Ten enemies, all high Chakra signatures."
He hesitated.
"One of them... Their Chakra is monstrous. Easily Kage-level. Like... a Tailed Beast."
The mood turned grim.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke clenched his jaw. "One Kage-level among them?"
Jiraiya didn't hesitate. "Then I'll handle him."
The other Anbu fell quiet, awaiting orders.
Tatsuya turned. "Uzuki, Moonlight. You two focus on support. Do not engage the front lines."
"But—" Uzuki Yugao began to protest.
"That's an order," Tatsuya cut her off coldly.
"...Understood."
Yugao lowered her head, fists clenched. At only 12 years old, she was already in Anbu, but this battle reminded her she still had a long way to go.
"If I survive this… I'll get stronger. Strong enough that Tatsuya won't have to bench me again."
---
Suddenly, the Hyuga ninja's tone shifted.
"There's another Byakugan… on the enemy's side?"
Everyone froze.
"What?!" Shinnosuke snapped. "Are you saying one of them—"
"Has a Hyuga's eyes," the Hyuga ninja finished grimly. "It's Kirigakure's Ao. He's using our bloodline."
That was all Jiraiya needed to hear.
"Move out!" he commanded.
"I'll take the Kage-level. You all delay or eliminate the rest. Prioritize the mission intel!"
Before anyone could respond, Jiraiya vanished in a blur of speed.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke turned to Tatsuya.
"I agree with Jiraiya-senpai," Tatsuya said calmly. "Stick to the plan. Hit fast. Hit smart."
Shinnosuke nodded, and the Anbu mobilized in sync.
Tatsuya glanced into the trees, in the direction Jiraiya had gone.
So this was real combat between titans.
Kage-level ninja didn't need backup. They didn't strategize around fairness.
They just hit harder.
"Only the weak play chess," Tatsuya muttered. "The strong just flip the board."
Still, he smirked behind his mask.
"Too bad, Jiraiya-sama. In a few years, you'll get clapped by a bigger fish. Even you can't F2A your way through everything."
---
Meanwhile, Jiraiya stood high atop the canopy, scanning the terrain.
"Hmm…"
His hands blurred through hand seals.
"Fire Style: Flame Bomb!"
A colossal jet of flame erupted from his mouth, washing the forest below in a sea of fire.
WHOOSH!
Flames tore through trees, igniting brush and lighting up the battlefield. It was one of his signature jutsu—powered by his unique oil-infused Chakra.
In an instant, it looked like hell itself had been summoned.
"Enemy attack!"
"It's Jiraiya of the Sannin!"
"Take cover—Water Style users, move!"
The enemy Jōnin scattered, their movements disciplined and precise. But one kunoichi stepped forward, forming her own hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Barrier!"
A massive column of water surged upward, slamming into the inferno.
BOOM!
Steam hissed violently as fire met water, erupting into high-temperature vapor. Trees hissed and cracked from the heat.
Some nearby wild boars couldn't escape in time.
Sizzle...
"Smells like roast pork," Tatsuya whispered from a shadowy perch nearby.
Yuhi Kurenai gave him a side-eye. "Seriously?"
"Hey, don't judge me. It's that Water Style kunoichi. She's strong."
Kurenai sighed. "Focus, genius."
Tatsuya gave a small chuckle, his eyes fixed on the rising golden lights flying toward him—attribute drops from elite-level combat.
This was what he came for.
💠 [You picked up 100 points of Fire Style talent]
💠 [You picked up 80 points of Water Style talent]
💠 [You picked up 200 points of Chakra]
💠 [You picked up Ninjutsu: Fire Style – Great Flame Bullet]
💠 [Skill Experience Gained: Fire Style – Great Flame Bullet upgraded to Lv.2]
💠 [You picked up 200 points of Water Style – Water Barrier experience]
A brilliant harvest.
And the real battle hadn't even started.
---