Haha, So I'm Already This Strong
Tamaki and the other two stopped and started along the way, and before long they reached the outskirts of the city.
As soon as they came out, the three picked up speed, and the seven people behind them quickened their pace as well.
Before long, they reached an open area.
"Careful, someone's underground."
Hearing Kurenai's warning, Tamaki didn't hesitate. He gathered a large amount of Chakra in his foot and stomped down.
Boom—
The Eight Gates Released Formation's secret Taijutsu technique was very effective. Even a simple stomp produced excellent results.
Several cracks split open in the ground within roughly a meter, and blood seeped out. The ninja underground died on the spot.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Three ninja emerged.
The seven pursuing them from behind hurried to catch up. Judging by their speed, Tamaki figured they were elite Chunin at best.
"So there really was an ambush."
Tamaki looked at the leader. It was Sumashi.
"Ten people in front and behind. You really think highly of us."
"Well, we heard an important person was coming this time, so of course we had to give you a proper welcome."
"Asuma, Kurenai, don't hold back."
"I'll take care of the three over here. Kurenai, support me. Asuma, protect Kurenai."
With that, he activated the Eight Gates Released Formation and the Gate of Spirit.
He opened three gates straight away. For the Gate of Spirit, he also opened the gates between his eyebrows and at both temples, and gave the gate near his heart a slight push as well.
Tamaki wanted to gauge the strength of the three-man team in front of him as quickly as possible. If they were very strong, he would immediately take Asuma and Kurenai away.
If they weren't strong enough, he would consider killing a few before leaving.
This mission was very likely to fail, but if they gained enough, that wouldn't be so bad.
Sumashi wasn't a big fish, but he would still be a gain.
In an instant, Tamaki moved toward Sumashi, Kurenai and Asuma.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears."
One of the ninja beside Sumashi used a Ninjutsu.
Bang—
Tamaki shattered the pointed rocks rising from the ground with a single kick.
Sumashi immediately understood that the newcomer might be unknown, but he was no ordinary opponent.
At a gesture—
"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm." ×5
From both front and back, no one used this Ninjutsu.
The technique destroyed all the ground beneath Tamaki and the other two, while fragments of rock both large and small flew toward them.
But Tamaki wasn't worried. Asuma and Kurenai could handle something on this level.
He kept moving forward, rapidly knocking the flying rocks away with his hands.
The only problem was that he had to be fast enough and absolutely couldn't let himself be held up, or Kurenai and Asuma might suffer badly because of the difference in numbers.
"Defend. Leave the attack to me."
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall." ×2
"Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon."
Several stone walls rose before Tamaki in an instant, blocking his movement. At the same time, the walls formed a ring that completely surrounded him.
Meanwhile, a giant dragon of earth and stone created by Ninjutsu swooped down at him from above.
Tamaki didn't hesitate. He quickly gathered Chakra in his right hand and leaped up, colliding with the earth dragon.
"Rasengan."
Boom—
"Did that finish him?"
Before Sumashi could answer, a voice rang out from the air.
"Water Release—"
"Defend, quick!"
"Water Dragon Bullet!"
A water dragon far larger than the earth dragon from before lunged at Sumashi and the two ninja with him.
With no time to spare, the three only managed to create an Earth Style Wall just big enough to enclose them all.
Tamaki hadn't wanted to use Water Dragon Bullet. The Ninjutsu consumed a fair amount of Chakra when it didn't draw on a natural source of water.
But most Earth Release techniques needed the ground to be used, and he was in midair.
At the same time, this was a good chance to attack from above. It would be a real waste not to use a Ninjutsu.
Besides, he couldn't fly. If he didn't strike first with a powerful Ninjutsu to knock away everything coming at him, Sumashi's Earth Release would surely be waiting for him.
Boom—
Another violent collision followed.
The hastily erected Earth Style Wall was quickly swept apart, but once Water Dragon Bullet ended, Sumashi was nowhere to be seen. Tamaki didn't know whether he had escaped with a substitution or something like Subterranean Voyage.
The other two ninja weren't so lucky. They couldn't form their Hand Seals fast enough and were killed on the spot by the impact of Water Dragon Bullet.
Without hesitation, Tamaki turned and headed toward Asuma and Kurenai.
Back in the village, facing Sakumo, he hadn't felt it.
But after dealing with a few ninja from another village, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have gotten a little strong.
Within a few breaths, he spotted the other battlefield.
There, Asuma was using Shadow Clones to close the gap in numbers.
Kurenai, meanwhile, used Genjutsu to distort and shift the images of herself and Asuma. For the moment, they had reached a stalemate with seven Stone ninja, and they had also taken one down.
Hidden in the shadows, Tamaki didn't hesitate and immediately formed Hand Seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Prison."
In an instant, spikes rose from the ground, forming six Earth Prisons.
"Damn it, did Lord Sumashi lose?"
"Impossible."
"Use Ninjutsu to escape!"
But Tamaki didn't give them the chance.
Water Dragon Bullet struck again, aimed at three of the Stone ninja. Then he paid them no more attention.
If any survived, Asuma and Kurenai would deal with them.
As for the other three, he began harvesting them with his Taijutsu.
With his powerful physique amplified by Chakra, one kick shattered an Earth Prison, and the ninja inside it fell silent as well.
By the time he had dealt with the second in the same way, the last one had already disappeared.
It looked like he had used Earth Release to escape.
"How did it go over there?"
"Two weren't dead. We took care of them."
Boom—
Tamaki was about to say something when the sudden explosion caught his attention.
"Let's go take a look from a distance. If that's Sakumo-sensei, we'll join up with him."
Since they planned to watch from afar, Asuma and Kurenai didn't object.
After the three left, Sumashi emerged from a mound of earth.
He was soaked through, with blood at the corner of his mouth. He was in bad shape.
He couldn't understand it. A Special Jōnin had led ten elite Chunin, and now he was the only one left?
Just then, another ninja came out from the other side and approached him.
"Akaki, you're alive! That's great."
"Lord Sumashi, we lost."
"Don't be so discouraged. Lord Gari is still here. We'll set out and join him right away."
"Yes."
With that, the two set off for the planned location as well.
Boom—
"Hahaha! Is running away all Konoha's White Fang can do?"
Sakumo was having a difficult time. He specialized in tactics that combined Ninjutsu and swordsmanship.
But Gari specialized in sweeping, forceful tactics that destroyed the terrain.
Most of Sakumo's ability to infiltrate and assassinate had been rendered useless.
In close combat, the moment Gari caught him, he would immediately lose the ability to fight.
This type of ninja was an extreme counter to him.
The only good news was that the terrain was open and he was so fast that Gari had separated from the main force to pursue him.
Suddenly—
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet."
"Explosion Release: Impact."
Boom—
"Tamaki, where are Kurenai and Asuma?"
"The two of them decided to leave first. They're too slow and would only hold us back here."
"That's good."
Across from them, Gari used Explosion Release to move to another location.
"Another Konoha brat? Did Sumashi fail to stop you, or were you hidden among their ranks?"
"Forget it. It doesn't matter. I just have to finish you all off."
"You're underestimating me a bit too much. I wiped out everyone on Sumashi's side."
"Impossible. You did that?"
Now!
Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!