Battle Begins!

On their side, although they had fallen into another trap, Yei and the others were prepared and escaped injury.

"Are you all right?" Yei withstood the explosion. Though he was forced back some distance, he was not seriously hurt. He used Soru to reach Shisui's side and quickly asked the three of them.

Shisui had already dispersed his Susanoo, and his eyes had reverted to Three-Tomoe. He was now covering his eyes and breathing heavily, the chakra fluctuations around him somewhat disordered.

Clearly, at this stage, the Mangekyo Sharingan placed a heavy burden on him!

The main reason was that Shisui was still young, his physical condition had not reached its peak, and his chakra reserves were insufficient to support prolonged use of the Mangekyo Sharingan!

"We're fine." Asuma and Kakashi both said, turning their gazes to Shisui.

What kind of jutsu was that Shisui had just used?

How could it be so powerful?

Protected by Shisui, they had not suffered a single scratch!

Though curious, they did not press the matter. For now, they were comrades and battle companions. Any questions could wait until after the mission.

"Senior, I'm fine too..." After a few breaths, Shisui recovered somewhat, though his chakra remained turbulent and would need time to settle.

"Shisui, your eyes..." Asuma noticed two trails of bloody tears flowing from Shisui's eyes and spoke with concern.

Shisui touched the bloodstains at the corners of his eyes and shook his head. "It's nothing serious, just some aftereffects..."

"Good, as long as you're fine." Kakashi said, his expression turning grim as he looked toward the lake. "The commotion here has probably been noticed by now..."

Yei nodded. "So close, they definitely would have noticed."

After arriving here, Yei had dispelled his Clone Technique. The memories from earlier had returned, and he now understood the specifics.

"..." Kakashi was silent for a moment, thinking. Just as he was about to speak—

Yei sensed something and his expression suddenly darkened. "They're heading this way. There might be a sensor-type among them. We've been spotted!"

That was right. In Yei's perception, the six people over there were already charging toward them!

"Stay alert!" Hearing Yei's words, Kakashi made a snap decision and had everyone on guard.

Shisui and Asuma both tensed up, focusing completely.

Yei looked in that direction. As Biwa Juzo and the others drew closer, he could make out their appearances.

When he saw Biwa Juzo at the lead and the Executioner's Blade on his back, Yei's heart tightened. He quickly said, "Be careful! That's Biwa Juzo, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"

The village kept intelligence files on notable ninja from other villages. Even without his past-life memories, Yei could recognize Biwa Juzo's face!

"Biwa Juzo? Is he the one who attacked Konoha?"

"But isn't he one of the Mist's Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Is the Mist trying to start another war?" After hearing Yei's words, the others were shaken. Biwa Juzo of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?

This man had quite a reputation in the ninja world—definitely an elite jonin-level powerhouse!

But more importantly, a Mist jonin attacking Konoha at this time—were they trying to provoke another war?

Yei furrowed his brow. He noticed that the forehead protectors on all six men bore a single scratch—the mark of rogue ninja. He spoke gravely, "Their forehead protectors are scratched. That's the mark of rogue ninja. They've likely defected from the Mist. Right now, they're rogue ninja!"

"Whether they're rogue or not, since they've spotted us and are coming straight for us, they're definitely not here for a chat. Prepare for battle!" Kakashi drew a short sword from his back. Behind his Anbu mask, he untied the bandage covering his left eye, revealing his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

Asuma pulled two special kunai from his Ninja Tool Pouch, infusing them with Wind-natured chakra, extending sharp chakra blades from the weapons.

Shisui's expression turned serious as well. Behind his mask, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already activated, staring ahead.

By then, the six Mist rogue ninja had arrived and spotted Yei and the other three.

One of them formed hand seals, his chakra fluctuating violently as he shouted, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

With his seals, the surrounding moisture was suddenly drawn in. Behind him, a water dragon surged forth and slammed fiercely toward Yei and the others' position!

"Evade!" Kakashi shouted, pushing off the ground to leave his original spot.

The others, all experienced, made their judgments instantly and scattered.

Boom!

The moment they left, the massive water dragon crashed down. Waves of water rolled and surged, toppling the trees in that area and clearing a large space!

Yei and the other three landed on different treetops, warily watching the six approaching men.

"Tch, sure enough, Konoha's Anbu rats!" Biwa Juzo, at the lead, also got a clear look at Yei and the others. From their attire, he guessed their identities.

Konoha Anbu!

"Mist rogue ninja? Were you the ones who attacked the Border Outpost?" Kakashi stood on a treetop, his gaze fixed on Biwa Juzo.

Biwa Juzo sneered. "So that's why you're here, huh? Konoha sure moves fast!"

"So it was you..." Kakashi's eyes were cold, his left eye's Three-Tomoe slowly spinning.

"Since you dared to chase us, then... stay here! If we kill you and frame the Mist, it'll cause them plenty of trouble!" Biwa Juzo swept his gaze over the four of them, a cold smile curling on his lips. "Move out. Kill them!"

"Yes!" The other five Mist rogue ninja acknowledged and charged toward Yei and the others.

Among this group, besides Biwa Juzo, there were two other jonin-level fighters!

One was the sensor-type from earlier, named Yagyu Kota. The other was Hideki Yuda. Both were ninja proficient in Water Release techniques!

In fact, due to their living environment, all Mist ninja were skilled in Water Release!

"Besides Biwa Juzo, there are two Jonin, and the rest are Chunin!" Yei's Byakugan swept over the six men as he warned his teammates.

He initiated the attack himself, raising his hand to fling Kunai and Shuriken toward one of the charging enemies.

Through his Byakugan, he could tell that this person's Chakra fluctuations were at the Jonin level.

"Alright." Asuma and Shisui exchanged a glance, then blurred into motion, clashing with the enemies in battle!

The fight erupted in an instant!