Teammate A and Enemy B (5)

Although he did not know exactly which side the attack had come from, Hagoromo still retreated explosively.

Three kunai struck the corpse Hagoromo was using as a shield once more. The smell of gunpowder and Flash Smoke told him these were no ordinary kunai.

They were enhanced kunai attacks.

A thin wire was tied to the ring behind each of those kunai, with a sheet of paper bearing a technique formula attached to it.

This thing was technically called an Exploding Tag.

Overall, Exploding Tags were highly practical ninja tools with considerable power. They could even rival ordinary offensive B-rank Ninjutsu. If someone was caught in one, they would be seriously injured even if they did not die.

Of course, that was assuming they got caught in the blast.

Not even caring about the corpses of their companions—this was war between ninja.

Boom!

After a deafening explosion, Blood Rain fell around Hagoromo and splattered across his clothes, but he paid it no mind.

Hagoromo's body was hurled away by the explosive shockwave. As he emerged from the smoke in a small arc through the air, three Sand Ninja charged at him simultaneously.

Did he really look that much like a helpless target?

The Chidori in his hand transformed into a Light Blade. Hagoromo forcibly twisted his body in midair, then spun rapidly with the force of the explosion. Together with Chidori Sharp Spear, he instantly became a glowing top!

Chidori Shadow Leaf Dance!

The three Sand Ninja who had tried to attack him had barely leaped up before they were effortlessly sliced in two midair.

That ninja had not pursued him. He had watched his companions get killed, then, once Hagoromo's attack ended, he curled up and landed swiftly. At the same time, he pushed off with his legs and retreated again, moving close to his Konoha companions as he confronted that ninja.

Putting aside the sneak attack with kunai and Exploding Tags, the ninja before him was an enemy worth taking seriously.

Before he could count his gains from the last exchange, Hagoromo gritted his teeth and pulled several shuriken from his arm and leg.

Though the Exploding Tags had not caused him any substantial injuries, they had blown him into the air. While airborne, it was difficult to dodge every shuriken.

Hagoromo had avoided fatal wounds, but he had still been hit several times.

Then he pulled several glass bottles from his Ninja Tool Pouch and quickly stuffed several different pills into his mouth.

Besides Blood Replenishing Pills and Blood-Stopping Pills, the most important ones were various antidotes. He had been hit several times just now, and no one could guarantee that the enemy's weapons had not been poisoned.

Because of Granny Chiyo, all kinds of antidotes were standard equipment for Konoha ninja.

Then he took out another bottle, poured out a Soldier Pill, and swallowed it.

Chakra was naturally Hagoromo's weakness. Though he had taken out nearly ten enemies in a single assault, he had already used up more than half his chakra. He desperately needed to recover it.

That Sand Ninja walked toward Hagoromo again. The two had not exchanged a single word so far. In fact, until one of them was killed, neither of them would speak.

It was not because of the universal truth that those who talked too much died quickly. They simply had no need to speak. There was no personal grudge between them, but here, there was nothing except a fight to the death.

Hagoromo narrowed his eyes. He could see the cruel, vicious gleam flickering in the other man's eyes.

He charged at him as well.

Unexpectedly, the Sand Ninja swung his arm forcefully and threw the Longsword in his hand.

This was something Hagoromo had not expected. Generally speaking, it was nothing for a ninja to throw a kunai, but throwing a long weapon was relatively rare.

Still, it was within Hagoromo's reaction speed. He stopped at once and dodged to the right with his head and upper body, easily avoiding the attack.

However, that was not the point.

And the problem was not over yet.

The enemy ninja had originally been holding a Longsword. Now that he had thrown it, the question was, what did he still have in his hands?

The answer was nothing.

When both of a ninja's hands were free, they were at their busiest, because that was when they formed hand seals.

Wind Style: Wind Cutter!

A Wind Blade attempted to slice Hagoromo in two.

At that moment, Hagoromo's body was in an awkward position from dodging the thrown Longsword. Could he evade this Ninjutsu in time?

He could. If he could not, this fanfic would have ended right there.

His right leg hooked in front of his left leg, and then, quite miraculously, he tripped himself.

From the posture alone, it was not exactly graceful...

Fine, there was no need to protect his image. He had face-planted.

But he had avoided the enemy's attack.

It seemed that his prone position had left him unable to fight back, but that was not actually the case.

Just as the enemy was about to rush forward and finish him with another strike, Hagoromo raised his face. That fall had knocked off his mask, exposing his face.

But that was not important. The enemy would not spare him just because he was handsome. More importantly, his mouth was exposed too... There was nothing wrong with that statement. Did anyone's mind wander? Anyone whose mind wandered could go stand in punishment.

He had already prepared his counterattack as he fell.

Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!

A fire dragon shot straight toward the enemy along the ground.

Yes, Hagoromo could use Fire Release. It should have been mentioned before. If it had not, then that information was public now.

He had not expected this Fire Release to take down the enemy. He only hoped it could buy him a little time... enough to get up off the ground.

The restraining effect of this technique was obvious, and Hagoromo even had time to pick up his mask.

But as expected, the Ninjutsu had no effect in terms of lethality.

After witnessing the power of the technique, the enemy immediately gave up attacking and chose to defend.

Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!

The Sand Ninja slapped both hands against the ground. The earth immediately turned to mud, which surged upward in an instant and formed an earthen wall.

In terms of chakra natures, wind countered lightning, lightning countered earth, and fire countered wind. Both sides had attributes that restrained the other.

But the issue was that the quality of their Ninjutsu was not quite the same. Hagoromo's Lightning Release was the very best Lightning Release.

Hagoromo swiftly threw out two shuriken. The shuriken curved in wide arcs toward the enemy hiding behind the earthen wall.

He charged forward again as well. Hagoromo had realized that he could not keep dragging this out with this man. He had to deal with him as quickly as possible.

Trying only to conserve chakra would merely waste even more chakra.

Chidori Current fully activated. In an instant, Hagoromo's speed rose to the absolute limit he could achieve!

The piercing sound of electric current seemed to resound across the entire battlefield.