The violent explosion swallowed all four figures whole.
Hyūga Akira was nowhere to be seen.
The disguised Yuki, Yuka, and Murakami Hana all collapsed into pools of water.
Water clones.
The three real bodies hidden in the distance burst out at that exact moment.
"I've used up all my explosive tags…"
Yuka muttered under her breath, though her movements didn't slow in the slightest as she rushed toward the blast site.
She wasn't the only one hurting.
Yuki and Murakami Hana both wore expressions of pure pain as well.
The only one who hadn't thrown out a single explosive tag was Hyūga Akira.
Hyūga Akira: What explosive tags? Who even issued me explosive tags?
Only then did Murakami realize—
He had never actually issued equipment to Mokuyu in the first place.
So all the losses came straight out of their own pockets.
By the time the three of them reached the blast zone, the four Konoha shinobi—bodies scorched and clothes torn—had already turned and fled into the forest.
Hyūga Akira suddenly popped out from somewhere unknown and tapped the forehead protector on his head.
"They've mistaken us for Iwa-nin. Let's keep chasing."
They had switched to Iwagakure headbands.
If they were wearing Amegakure headbands, those four wouldn't have run at all.
Although the Konoha team had reacted quickly during the explosion, they'd still taken damage.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen to retreat immediately.
"Pursue!" Murakami Hana barked.
The group instantly gave chase.
"I'll take the jōnin," Murakami added coldly.
"You handle the three chūnin."
Ahead, the four Konoha ninja split up to escape.
Naturally, the pursuers had no choice but to split as well.
But—
With his Byakugan active, Hyūga Akira saw something strange.
The so-called "jōnin" had only chūnin-level chakra.
Meanwhile, one of the "chūnin" possessed chakra reserves clearly at jōnin level.
They had swapped identities.
And in such a short time, they'd already reacted perfectly.
The three chūnin stayed relatively close to each other, while the disguised jōnin rapidly pulled away.
Murakami Hana didn't hesitate at all and immediately chased after the "jōnin."
"Fast response," Akira admitted inwardly.
If the real jōnin managed to gain enough distance, kill the three of them, and then turn back—
The entire situation would flip instantly.
Hyūga Akira didn't warn Murakami.
Instead, he hurled shuriken at one of the fleeing chūnin, cutting off his escape route.
In a high-speed retreat like this, there was no time to respond properly.
The formation shattered.
The Konoha team split into three paths:
Murakami Hana chasing the disguised jōnin (actually a chūnin)Yuki and Yuka pursuing the real jōnin (disguised as a chūnin) alongside another real chūninHyūga Akira alone, chasing the remaining chūnin
The real Sarutobi jōnin hesitated for a split second.
He wanted to strike immediately.
But Murakami Hana was still too close—attacking now would expose everything.
That moment of hesitation cost him.
Hyūga Akira and his target had already pulled far away.
The jōnin clenched his teeth and continued retreating with his subordinate.
Hyūga Akira glanced toward the route with more people.
Their figures were already fading from sight.
"If they die, don't blame me," he muttered.
His speed surged—but Bear Overpower only enhanced his arms, not his legs, preventing another burst of acceleration.
Even so, the distance between him and his prey continued shrinking.
Sensing the pursuit and the incoming shuriken, the fleeing chūnin realized he couldn't regroup.
He stopped and formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
Several blades of compressed wind tore through the forest, slicing trees cleanly apart as they shot toward Akira.
At the instant the wind blades were about to strike—
Hyūga Akira vanished.
The chūnin felt a chill overhead.
Akira appeared above him, twisting midair, a bronze blade forming in his hand.
"Bear Overpower! Unknowing Fire! Nen: En!"
Three powers stacked at once.
The blade descended like a falling star.
Slash.
Flames erupted along the edge as the air itself seemed to split.
An arm flew skyward.
At the last moment, the chūnin had twisted his body to avoid instant death—at the cost of his arm.
The two passed each other midair.
"Sorry," Akira murmured.
He twisted his waist, reversed his momentum in midair, and slashed again.
This time, there was no escape.
Akira landed lightly.
The chūnin's body fell in two pieces at his feet.
[Experience gained: 1890]
Akira bent down and picked up the dropped item.
A forehead protector.
[Konoha Forehead Protector: +100 Defense]
"Nice," Akira muttered, stowing it away without equipping it.
There was no time.
He turned and raced toward Murakami Hana's direction.
That was where the real danger lay.
Moving swiftly through the forest, Akira soon encountered Murakami Hana rushing back.
Judging by his condition, he had already realized the trap and doubled back.
"Where are the other two?" Murakami demanded, his expression grim.
"That way," Akira pointed.
"I've already taken one down. I was heading over."
Murakami glanced at him, disbelief flashing across his face.
"You killed the jōnin already?"
Akira shot him a suspicious look, clearly unconvinced.
Murakami's mouth twitched.
Now wasn't the time to argue.
"I was tricked. That one was only a chūnin."
Akira's expression instantly turned contemptuous.
Murakami felt his blood pressure spike but swallowed it and surged forward.
They didn't get far before a massive burst of flames erupted ahead.
"Move!" Murakami roared.
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing strange sealing patterns.
Smoke poured out.
Then—
A black cloud of bees surged forward.
The two closed in fast.
Just in time to see Yuka and Yuki, bodies charred black, falling from the trees.
Standing above them was Sarutobi Naoshi, eyes locked onto Murakami Hana.
The remaining chūnin—the sensory type—was nowhere to be seen.
"You check them. I'll handle him."
Murakami flung his sleeve wide.
The swarm engulfed him, surging toward Sarutobi like a living tide.
Hyūga Akira leapt down and rushed to Yuka and Yuki.
He pressed fingers to their necks.
Their hearts were still beating.
"They're alive…?"
Akira glanced up at the fierce jōnin battle above.
Then—
Flames ignited in both his hands.
He clamped them over Yuka's and Yuki's mouths and noses.
Above, bees buzzed furiously as fire exploded again and again.
Below, two Amegakure shinobi quietly lost their lives in Hyūga Akira's hands.
If they survived—
That would be on him.
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