Explosion Release Bloodline

For the time being, Hiruko was the kind of person who made no effort to hide his emotions.

His impatience with this mission was written all over his face.

Even as he led Genitsu and the others back and forth, he remained extremely irritable, his face gloomy as he made it clear that they would all have to repay him.

The group darted through the forest.

"We've already moved far away from the western front camp and entered the heartland of the Land of Fire..."

Along the way, Genitsu silently followed behind Hiruko, constantly calculating the distance.

By all rights, they were basically safe once they reached this point. Even if they occasionally encountered enemy covert infiltration squads, they should have been able to wipe them out with ease.

Yet Genitsu remained vigilant the entire time. He caught up to Hiruko and struck up a conversation for no reason.

"Lord Hiruko, I heard from Lord Minato that you and the Three Sannin were close friends? That you grew up playing together?"

Genitsu asked with a smile.

"Get lost, brat. I'm not interested in talking to you." Hiruko's expression stiffened, turning even uglier.

It seemed that question had struck directly at the darkness in his heart.

In truth, that question alone had already given Genitsu a good idea.

Hiruko... in some respects, he was the same type as Orochimaru. Both were exceptionally skilled researchers, especially when it came to human experimentation...

As Genitsu pondered this, he glanced over from the corner of his eye and happened to see Hiruko turn to look at him.

Their eyes met, then quickly shifted apart.

Time passed.

Faintly, figures rapidly weaving through the forest approached at high speed.

"They really came... Iwa ninja, or Suna ninja?"

Genitsu formed hand seals. Within the area where his radiation spread, more than a dozen figures were rushing toward them.

"Genitsu..."

"Everyone, be careful. We've encountered enemies, and they're powerful ones!" Genitsu remained calm. "Lord Hiruko, should we stop and face them?"

"No. Keep moving."

Hiruko frowned and glanced back, his expression somewhat ugly.

Swish, swish, swish!

A large number of figures moved swiftly.

"Lord Gari, the targets have been located. They're five hundred meters ahead."

"Good. Pick up the pace. No matter what, we have to kill that brat. This is a perfect opportunity!"

The Iwa ninja squad sped up. Even if they had to force their way through the radiation Genitsu had left behind, they gritted their teeth and charged forward.

As long as they could kill those people ahead... it would all be worth it!!

"Shiranui Genitsu, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Kazue... They only have an ordinary jōnin leading them right now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!!"

The leader of the Iwa ninja, Gari, had bloodshot eyes.

As long as they succeeded in this battle, they could cripple the people most likely to rise to the top of Konoha over the next five to ten years!!

The distance between both sides steadily closed.

Hiruko's frown deepened and deepened. After cursing under his breath, he turned back and said coldly, "You brats are far too slow!"

"There's nothing we can do. We're just a bunch of chūnin and genin. Sorry for holding you back, Lord Hiruko. The situation is so dangerous now, and we have no reinforcements. Since you're the fastest, how about..."

Genitsu spoke with a smile, his tone somewhat hesitant.

At that point.

Kakashi and the others silently prepared for battle, determination in their eyes. That was right, Genitsu was right. Under these circumstances, if Lord Hiruko went ahead to find reinforcements first...

Even Hiruko showed deep hesitation and reluctance on his face as he was about to say, "I think..."

"...how about you stay behind and fight the enemy to the death, Lord Hiruko, buying us a chance to escape? Once we get back to the village, we'll definitely bring reinforcements back to help you!"

Genitsu wore a look of utter resolve.

"...?"

"???"

Were you serious? Such terrible words... really came out of a brat's mouth?

You studied the Will of Fire from childhood to adulthood, and this was all you learned?

"Brat, you really are clever... I almost want to tear you to pieces right now." Hiruko sneered.

"You're too kind, Lord Hiruko. Please consider my suggestion carefully." Genitsu was exceptionally polite.

By then, the Iwa ninja assault squad had already closed in on Genitsu and the others. A fierce battle was unavoidable.

"Hmph, we caught up to you... You brats are all going to die!!"

A deep chill appeared on Gari's face as he shifted his gaze directly onto Hiruko.

"You are... Gari?! The one with the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai? I never expected to run into you here..."

Hiruko's face lit up with delight.

Gari frowned and gave Hiruko a suspicious look. "Hiruko... according to the intelligence I have, you're just an ordinary Konoha jonin. Don't hesitate. Kill him!"

More than a dozen elite Iwa shinobi sprang into action, closing in on Genitsu and the others from every direction.

Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Wall!

Layer after layer of barriers burst from the ground, surrounding Genitsu and the others in the middle.

"Die, geniuses of Konoha. And this mediocre Konoha jonin too." Gari revealed a cruel smile.

M-Mediocre?

Hiruko's expression immediately turned sinister, his fangs bared in a vicious snarl.

"At my age, I'm still just a mediocre jonin? My apologies... You damned bastard, I'll tear you to pieces soon enough!!"

Hiruko snapped!

He had originally been torn between risking his life to escape with these brats or fleeing on his own, but now there was no need to think about it.

Right here, he would obtain what he wanted!

The next moment, the two sides collided.

Hiruko directly used a Water Release technique to blast through several layers of Earth Flow Walls.

Then he charged straight at Gari.

"Get lost. My targets are those brats. If you run away now, I can spare your life!"

Gari sneered and threw a vicious punch.

Explosion Release: Landmine Fist!

Gari pushed his Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai to its limit, launching a ferocious blow at Hiruko.

Hiruko's heart jolted in alarm. He hurriedly used the Substitution Technique, using a block of wood to take the punch.

BOOM!

The instant the fist struck the wood, a terrifying explosion erupted.

"So this is Explosion Release... what terrifying power..." Hiruko still felt lingering fear, but an even greater greed flared in his eyes. The stronger Gari was, the more excited he seemed to become.

But how to kill Gari was another major problem...

"Hey, Nuclear Release brat, can your Impurity Absorption Technique take this guy down?" Hiruko shouted.

"Not in a short time. This guy has created a layer of chakra protection around himself. My power can't penetrate it."

Genitsu was under attack from three Iwa shinobi and appeared to be in grave danger.

The others were also being attacked by Iwa shinobi, while the overlapping Earth Flow Walls cut them apart, doing their utmost to divide their squad.

"Tch, then there's no helping it..."

Hiruko's expression flickered between light and shadow.