Chapter 145: Three Chunin vs. Jonin
The Earth Dragon's explosion caused cracks to appear even in the hardened rock. However, the ground absorbed the impact, so the rock dome remained intact.
The next moment, a Vacuum Bullet struck the dome, piercing straight through.
Hayaji, who was channeling chakra into the dome, immediately noticed and shifted right.
He'd been constantly guarding against another sneak attack. However, he didn't have much time to react—although he dodged, the Vacuum Bullet still left a deep gash on his upper left arm as it flew past.
Hayaji frowned but had no time to mind the pain. While dodging the Vacuum Bullet, he could no longer supply chakra to the dome.
Renjiro's shadow clone noticed this and once again placed his hands on the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!"
The ground beneath the dome immediately began cracking. Realizing the danger, Hayaji opened a hole in his dome and exited.
The ground beneath continued fracturing. After cracking for ten meters, the entire dome collapsed inward.
As soon as Hayaji emerged, he was attacked by Vacuum Bullets and Earth Spears. But he successfully dodged them all. Kaito concluded,
It seems long-range attacks won't be enough to kill him.
After Hayaji left the dome, Kaito and Renjiro's shadow clone weren't his only problems.
Hodaka and Mieko also moved, Body Flickering in front of him.
Mieko immediately threw several shuriken, while Hodaka charged forward to seal his tenketsu.
Hayaji immediately dodged the shuriken. Hodaka used this opportunity to close the distance and attack.
Hayaji blocked Hodaka's strike, analyzing as he fought.
How did these kids get here? Did they defeat our chunin? Or did they get help from reinforcements? What about my brother? I need to break free quickly!
Hayaji was backed into a corner. Realizing continued defense wouldn't free him, he decided to go on the offensive, starting with Hodaka.
Unfortunately, the enemy's attacks were too relentless. He tried to gain the upper hand against Hodaka, but his taijutsu was equally matched!
Additionally, he had to watch for Mieko's shuriken, Kaito's Vacuum Bullets, and Renjiro's clone's long-range jutsu.
With Hodaka fighting at close quarters, the Vacuum Bullets became too dangerous to use. While it pressured Hayaji, Kaito didn't think it would be decisive.
So Kaito Body Flickered, joining Mieko and Hodaka in the assault.
Hayaji noticed Kaito and thought,
So it's him. Seems there are no reinforcements. But does this mean all three won their battles?
As he reached this conclusion, his expression turned grim.
We underestimated them. This mission is a complete disaster!
Kaito stayed behind Hodaka, forming hand seals. Hayaji kept close watch on him.
Renjiro's shadow clone observed his students, analyzing. All three are here. So the enemy's four chunin must all be dead.
He chuckled. I didn't expect to be the slowest to deal with my opponent. My main body seems to still be in a stalemate.
Renjiro's clone stayed back, merely observing his students. His presence alone put immense pressure on Hayaji.
He wanted his students to gain experience fighting a veteran jonin. After all, missions often go wrong. Next time, he might not be there to protect them.
Hodaka continuously engaged Hayaji in close combat. Mieko used shuriken to create openings for Hodaka. And Kaito used Air Bullets to prevent Hayaji from retreating.
Hayaji's expression was grim.
These kids are strong. The three of them together can match me. And they don't give me any chance to use jutsu! And that shadow clone is still watching.
But with these kids here, he won't use any major techniques. However, I need to save chakra to deal with the clone, then escape. And I still need to find my brother!
Although many thoughts raced through Hayaji's mind, it didn't affect his fighting. For the next five minutes, the battle remained stalemated.
During these five minutes, Hayaji gave Kaito and Mieko multiple openings for close combat. However, all were traps.
Kaito and Mieko didn't fall for them, instead staying behind Hodaka to provide mid-range support.
Hayaji's situation grew increasingly dire. Although he wasn't seriously injured, he'd had many close calls. Small wounds covered his body. A fatal blow was only a matter of time.
More urgently, his chakra was dwindling. And Renjiro's shadow clone was carefully observing.
He understood maintaining the status quo was extremely unfavorable, so he decided to continue attacking to find a breakthrough.
Just as Hayaji made this decision, a shuriken flew toward him. He tilted his head, avoiding it.
Immediately following, Hodaka attacked with Gentle Fist. Hayaji began moving backward to avoid him.
However, two Air Bullets shot from behind, one aimed directly at him.
Hayaji had no chance to use jutsu for defense and could only charge forward toward Hodaka to dodge the Air Bullet.
Hodaka aimed his palm at Hayaji's chest. Hayaji used his left hand to strike Hodaka's wrist, deflecting the attack.
Hayaji followed with a powerful kick to Hodaka's left side. Hodaka blocked with his left forearm, but the force sent him flying several meters right.
Hayaji immediately ignored Hodaka and rushed toward Kaito and Mieko, thinking,
Even when I provided openings, these kids didn't attack. So their taijutsu must be weak!
Seeing Hayaji rushing toward him, Kaito's eyes widened. He shouted,
"Oh no!"
And immediately ran left, leaving Mieko alone to face him.
Seeing one child flee, Hayaji sneered. Just as I thought. They're hiding behind the Hyuga kid. So they're good at mid-to-long-range combat, not taijutsu. I'll kill this girl before he can save her, then kill the one who ran away too.
Mieko inwardly scoffed at Kaito's "escape." She threw shuriken at Hayaji and grabbed a kunai.
Hayaji dodged the shuriken and also grabbed his kunai, attacking Mieko.
Mieko blocked his attack with her kunai and almost simultaneously kicked his abdomen. Hayaji exclaimed in shock,
Her taijutsu isn't bad!
Just then, Hodaka ran toward him from behind while Mieko attacked from the front.
Hayaji's expression turned serious as he grabbed another kunai.
He blocked Mieko's attack and was about to look at Hodaka when he suddenly felt something on his right side.
He looked and saw the "escaping" boy attacking him with a sword. Kaito swung with such force as if to split his body vertically in half.
Realizing the danger, he increased strength on the kunai blocking Mieko, sending her flying.
Almost simultaneously, he raised his other kunai to block the sword and kicked backward at Hodaka.
The sword collided with the kunai, and the kick landed on two outstretched fingers. Hayaji grunted when he felt Hodaka seal the tenketsu on his foot.
But he soon widened his eyes, seeing the sword pierce through his kunai and chop down toward his head.
He pressed on Hodaka's fingers, using the reactive force to jump away while dodging the sword.
After doing so, his body moved toward Kaito's right side. The sword, originally aimed at the center of Hayaji's head, missed. However, it struck his shoulder and severed his right arm!
Kaito looked at his opponent in surprise.
He used Hodaka's attack to push himself away from my sword! I can't believe he's still alive under such an encirclement!
Hodaka and Mieko were equally shocked Kaito failed to kill him.
However, all three immediately attacked again. Hodaka bypassed Kaito's sword to strike Hayaji. Kaito also moved toward him, swinging his sword again.
Hayaji, who landed only meters away from Kaito, was still in shock! His right arm was severed, and his right foot was injured.
He looked at Kaito's sword in horror, groaning in pain, and retreated.
However, Mieko was right behind him, stabbing him in the back with a kunai.
Hayaji spat blood, stopped, and swung his left fist backward, trying to hit Mieko.
However, Hodaka and Kaito had both already arrived before him. Kaito stabbed his sword into Hayaji's heart, while Hodaka thrust two fingers into Hayaji's throat.
Hayaji looked at Hodaka and Kaito in disbelief. When he entered the Land of Fire, he never expected to be killed by ninja only a third his age!
The Kirigakure veteran jonin, Hayaji, died in battle!
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