A Desperate Battle (Third Update)

"Not good!"

The Shadow Clone's neck hairs stood on end. It was too fast, too sudden—there was no time to dodge.

Blood splattered, and then the Shadow Clone exploded with a bang.

"What a fast blade!"

Gengetsu sprang to his feet, his gaze locked on the sword-wielding figure ten meters away. He looked like an utterly ordinary Wandering Samurai, yet Lightning Release Chakra now flowed along his blade.

"An expert swordsman Jonin was hiding among them!"

"Looks like this is going to be troublesome!"

Gengetsu frowned slightly. That meant he would have to face two Jonin, four Chunin, and four Wandering Samurai—and there was no telling whether any of the remaining samurai were also hiding their true strength.

Hmm?

At that moment, he saw the four Chunin on the wall suddenly move.

Are they trying to surround and kill me?

Gengetsu shifted his gaze. Before he could think further, the five Wandering Samurai and the Jonin on the wall moved as well.

Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!

Gengetsu brought his hands together and spat out a thick fog. Then he formed seals again, creating three Shadow Clones that rushed into the mist.

"Lord Gengetsu, something is wrong! The Shadow Clone says you must retreat immediately!"

Little Katsuyu on his shoulder suddenly warned him urgently.

"Too late!"

Gengetsu's heart sank. As the fog spread, he sensed it too. The four Chunin had already surrounded him, and their seals were complete. Then, his Sensing Ability through the Hidden Mist Technique was cut off.

"Some kind of Barrier ninjutsu? They really came for me!"

In an instant, one figure after another surfaced in Gengetsu's mind. Danzo, Orochimaru, even Black Zetsu.

"But the only ones who know me this well are Danzo and Orochimaru!"

A trace of mockery appeared on Gengetsu's face. "Looks like I'll have to keep a few more cards hidden from now on!"

"Lord Gengetsu, what do we do now? Should we use the Reverse Summoning Technique?"

Little Katsuyu asked.

"No!"

Gengetsu shook his head. "If I leave, they'll certainly do everything they can to kill Teacher Kazuhara and the others in order to conceal the truth. With this kind of force, Teacher Kazuhara and the others definitely won't survive. Then I'd become a coward who abandoned his companions and fled alone. I might even be branded a spy, considering I wasn't born in Konoha!"

A string of deafening explosions suddenly rang out beside him, and Gengetsu turned toward them. Though the thick fog kept him from seeing clearly, he knew the convoy had to be where such violent explosions were occurring.

Sure enough, Little Katsuyu's voice sounded in his ear. "It's the convoy headquarters, but the enemy has been driven back for now!"

Gengetsu immediately said, "Little Katsuyu, please notify the others. Don't confront them head-on; just keep them tied down. If things become impossible, retreat at once. Don't worry about me. If they withdraw, I can still hide in Shikkotsu Forest for the time being. There's no need to fight to the death!"

"Understood!"

"Damn it! Who exactly are you people? Why are you targeting Gengetsu?!"

Uchiha Shinsui roared as he fought and retreated.

"Haha, you naive Kid. Does robbery need that many reasons?"

The close-cropped Chunin wielding a Tachi laughed viciously. He looked rough and reckless, but his attacks were anything but rash. He consistently coordinated with the Jonin leading the assault, deliberately avoiding Uchiha Shinsui's Sharingan to prevent interference from genjutsu.

"The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan truly is terrifying. You took out two of our men right from the start, but Kid, you won't escape today!"

"Your eyes are ours!"

The Jonin in the fox mask attacked with ferocity. Even with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, allowing him to perceive openings in advance, Uchiha Shinsui still struggled against one Jonin and two battle-hardened Chunin. More and more wounds inevitably appeared across his body.

That was only because he had used Raikiri at the start of the battle and swiftly taken down two Chunin. Otherwise, he would never have lasted this long against their encirclement.

"You're targeting Gengetsu, and you covet the Sharingan too. You deserve to die!"

Uchiha Shinsui gritted his teeth. The tomoe in his eyes spun faster and faster, while his speed unconsciously grew swifter as well.

"Hm? He still has strength left!"

The Masked Man sensed the change in Uchiha Shinsui's speed, and his expression shifted slightly. He barked, "Careful! This brat still has something up his sleeve!"

By then, the four of them had unknowingly entered a forest. Uchiha Shinsui suddenly took a slash head-on, using the recoil from his clash with the Masked Man to launch himself away.

"Not good, it's a trap!"

The Masked Man suddenly spotted Exploding Tags stuck to the trees. He hurriedly used the Body Flicker Technique to evade, and the other two Chunin's expressions changed drastically as well.

"Explode!"

Uchiha Shinsui, who had landed on a tree, raised one hand. The next instant, a thunderous explosion erupted. Amid miserable screams, flames swelled outward before him. Since it was still raining and the forest was heavy with moisture, the blast immediately sent mist billowing up. It quickly spread, concealing Uchiha Shinsui as well.

Perched on a branch, Uchiha Shinsui's ear twitched. Lightning emerged in his left hand. With the cry of Chidori ringing out, he twisted sharply and attacked to his right.

Squelch!

The Tachi pierced his body. The Masked Man grabbed Uchiha Shinsui's left hand, and his blade pierced straight through Shinsui's heart.

"Cough, cough... The Uchiha Clan truly can't be underestimated!"

The Masked Man coughed lightly. Though he had slain Uchiha Shinsui, he had also been injured by Raikiri, his sternum nearly severed. Even so, the lightning damage had left his whole body numb.

Hmm?

Suddenly, the Masked Man's expression changed drastically. The Uchiha Shinsui who had slipped from his blade and fallen to the ground turned into lightning and dissipated, while Little Katsuyu on his shoulder went poof and became a cloud of smoke.

"Damn it! A Lightning Release Clone and a Shadow Clone!"

The Masked Man heard something cutting through the air behind him. He tried to dodge, only to find that his body was still numb. He stumbled and actually fell from the branch.

The next instant, a dark shadow flashed past him, and a line of blood immediately appeared across his neck.

Uchiha Shinsui and the Masked Man landed at the same time. The Masked Man clutched his neck, his body twitching as blood continuously seeped between his fingers. But Uchiha Shinsui was in no better condition, his vision darkening in waves. His Chakra was nowhere near as monstrous as Gengetsu's. A Lightning Release Clone plus a Shadow Clone had nearly drained him dry. Combined with his untreated wounds and excessive blood loss, he had relied entirely on willpower to deliver that final strike.

"Damn it... hold on!"

Uchiha Shinsui bit through his lip, desperately forcing himself not to pass out. Then he reached for a Soldier Pill to replenish his strength.

"Gengetsu, wait for me. I'll definitely come save you..."

Elsewhere, Sarutobi Kazuhara pressed a hand against his abdomen as he panted lightly, staring at the two Rain Ninja Defectors across from him. He had traded wounds for wounds. The One-Eared Jonin on the other side had one arm broken, and his injuries were far worse than Kazuhara's.

"These people are after Gengetsu. Their objective is very likely the same as the Mist Ninja's. But which ninja village do they belong to?"

"Gengetsu's side shouldn't be too worrying, but I can't let my guard down. It's Shinsui I'm worried about. That kid had better not do anything reckless..."

Sarutobi Kazuhara knew Uchiha Shinsui all too well. He knew that Shinsui seemed cold on the surface, but his heart burned with warmth and love. Especially toward those who had sincerely given to him, he would surely regard them as the most important people in his life.

And clearly, Gengetsu was such a person to Uchiha Shinsui.

Suddenly, a violent explosion sounded in the distance. Sarutobi Kazuhara hurriedly turned toward it. "That direction—it's Shinsui!"

"Little Katsuyu, what happened?"

Sarutobi Kazuhara quickly asked.

"Don't worry, the enemy fell into Shinsui's trap!"

Little Katsuyu hurriedly replied. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "All the enemies have been dealt with, but Shinsui is in very poor condition too. His strength is completely depleted, and his wounds haven't been treated!"

"He really is... capable!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara felt both helpless and delighted. Then he turned back to the two Jonin before him, his eyes sharpening. "Looks like I'll have to risk my life too. I can't let my own student outdo me!"