A Plan That Nearly Worked

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Asuma had calculated the timing of the enemy's approach and Hand Seals in advance. Seeing someone appear just in time, he was secretly pleased. A two-meter-high fireball shot directly towards the enemy's location, "Sizzle..."

"Um?"

Although there was a sound of impact, it didn't sound like someone was burned at all; instead, it felt like high temperature causing vaporization. "Oh no, it's Water Clone!"

Although it was a pity he couldn't kill the enemy, he still managed to draw his weapon and engage in combat with the pursuing Mist Ninja.

Two more members of the Mist Anbu rushed out from the other side. They froze on the spot as soon as they appeared, as if they were being controlled by something.

When she saw Kurenai maintain the Hand Seals, she knew that her Genjutsu had been successfully activated. However, controlling two Chunin of similar strength at the same time Chunin still a bit difficult, and she probably couldn't hold on for long.

Ishikawa Tatsuki seized the opportunity and threw several Shuriken in an attempt to finish off the enemy, but the Mist Anbu reinforcements arrived just in time to intercept them. "Clang, clang, clang..."

"Whoosh!"

Another person jumped onto the earthen wall and threw ninja tools at the motionless Red, trying to interrupt her Genjutsu release.

Below, Ishikawa Tatsuki seemed to have entered battle mode. He immediately sensed someone on the earthen wall, leaped forward to catch several Shuriken with his body, and charged straight at the enemy. "Hiss..."

"Boom!"

The Earth Clone, adorned with Explosive Tag, grabbed the enemy, followed by a loud bang, and the two clumps of earth on the wall vanished simultaneously.

"Oh no, it's another Water Clone! This is the real body!"

Ishikawa Tatsuki sensed something was wrong. The leader of the opposing force had created two Water Clones to distract them, while the one charging at them with a knife was the real body.

The Mist Jonin seized the opportunity and slashed down with his sword. Ishikawa Tatsuki could only dodge backward with all his might. Although the man was powerful, he was still fast enough to react quickly.

The Kirigakure elites dared not overexploit their chakra, otherwise they might not be able to escape Konoha's pursuit. So they tried to kill Ishikawa Tatsuki and his group with their swordsmanship, but they did not gain any advantage in the short term.

Despite the three Konoha players coordinating well on the field, they inevitably began to fall into a disadvantageous position.

After being forced back repeatedly, Ishikawa Tatsuki knew that Yūhi Kurenai was right behind him, but he was now struggling to withstand her close-range attacks, and things would get worse if he didn't make a decision soon.

"Damn it, I'll fight!"

Gritting his teeth, he stared intently at the trajectory of the Mist Jonin, seized an opportunity to turn and crash into the other's arms, simultaneously tearing open his vest, which was stuffed full of burning Explosive Tag.

"Drink up... Don't underestimate me, the King of Explosions, Ishikawa Itsuki!"

The Mist Jonin twisted his sword, slashing a huge gash across the man's arm, only to discover that this man was acting like a madman, attempting to self-destruct.

Seeing the opponent's desperate struggle, he immediately used his Body Flicker Technique to retreat. Whether it was real or fake, there would be plenty of opportunities to kill this brat later.

Just as I was about to land and steady myself after dodging Ishikawa Tatsuki's "embrace," a figure burst out of the ground behind me with a "thud!"

"Ouch!" Just as another Ishikawa Tatsuki emerged from the ground, it felt as if someone bumped into it from behind. Not far in front of it were two frozen, motionless Mist Ninja.

Without thinking twice, he lunged in that direction, hissing...

"What the hell?" The Mist Jonin was dumbfounded. Why did someone suddenly appear behind him, bumping into him just as he was using the Body Flicker Technique, causing him to stumble? "Oh no, this might be a real explosion!"

With lightning-fast reflexes, he adjusted himself and rolled to the side, "Boom!"

A massive explosion resounded through the forest, several times more powerful than a regular Explosive Tag. The two Mist Ninja were under the influence of Genjutsu, were blasted away, while the Jonin rolled a distance, also suffered some impact.

"Damn, it's blown up!"

Ishikawa Tatsuki felt a sharp pain in his body, followed by a mental curse at his Shadow Clone, "What a fucking idiot! He could have killed that Jonin even without moving..."

This tactic was trained by Shuichi, who then realized that his Earth Release skills were rather poor. When his Shadow Clone went underground, he was unaware of what was happening above him, and he didn't have enough chakra to use Earth Release to reposition himself, which led to this extremely awkward situation.

After creating the earthen wall at the beginning, he used Shadow Clone and hid underground with the explosive tag of Shuichi's special Explosion Release as his ultimate trump card. At that time, the Shadow Clone only had a few Mist Anbu with similar figures in his memory, and did not have a deep impression of that Jonin captain.

In order to make use of this super mine, according to the tactical arrangements in Shuichi's manual, when the main body roars loudly, it is the activation signal. Upon hearing this, the Shadow Clone will ignite the explosive tags and rush out to bombard the enemy.

Just as Ishikawa Tatsuki's first wave of Earth Clone attacks missed, the Mist Captain, who was standing on top of the Shadow Clone, rushed over, causing him to hold back his trump card.

He believed that only by eliminating this Jonin be safe, so he didn't choose to blow up the two Chunin, since he didn't have much chakra left.

Ishikawa Tatsuki regretted missing the opportunity due to his lack of experience, but after his acting training, he didn't give himself away. His subsequent gambling-like behavior actually created an excellent opportunity to turn the tables.

Unfortunately, the Shadow Clone was rather clumsy, getting Jonin the Kirigakure and ending up among several Kirigakure members. Since the option of prioritizing eliminating the enemy Jonin wasn't in his mind, he ultimately chose to take down the two in front of him. It just goes to show that battles are unpredictable and ever-changing.

"Damn Konoha brat, you've angered me!"

The Mist Anbu Jonin expected to have brushed with death twice. Fortunately, he was only slightly aching and his injuries were minor. So he got up and charged straight at Ishikawa Tatsuki, intending to kill the annoying green-haired boy with one strike.

On the other side, the Mist Ninja fighting Asuma in close combat no longer conserved his chakra, and kept slashing at his vital points with his long sword, making it increasingly difficult for Asuma to resist.

Seeing the Mist Jonin's incredible speed, Ishikawa Tatsuki, feeling somewhat exhausted, didn't even have time to speak before reaching into his ninja tool pouch and flicking it open—"Flashbang!"

"Flashbang! Bang!"

A blinding white light erupted in the forest, exploding right behind Ishikawa Tatsuki's head, completely obscuring the Mist Jonin, Kirigakure Chunin, and Yūhi Kurenai who were facing the light source.

"Ah..."

Multiple shouts rang out, Mist Captain retreated rapidly, while Yūhi Kurenai covered her eyes and sat down on the ground.

The chunin Chunin the sword froze, startled by the sudden movement, while Asuma, with his back turned, felt he could just make out a dark shadow and instinctively stabbed at it with his Kunai. "Thud!"

A few seconds later, before he could even feel happy, he heard Yūhi Kurenai's slightly pained voice. "Tatsuki, you've blinded me..."

"Yeah, right." Asuma, still shaken, realized that if she hadn't been standing in that spot, she would have been killed by Ishikawa Tatsuki. "Tatsuki, what were you throwing around? I almost got..."

Ishikawa Tatsuki broke out in a cold sweat. It was as if Shuichi had told him to use the Flashbang with caution, otherwise it might indiscriminately affect everyone present. As a result, the first time he used it, he almost killed the Third Hokage's son.

"..."

The Mist Jonin felt his anger was uncontrollable; an entire elite squad had been wiped out.

Just as he was about to continue his attack, several figures suddenly appeared at the sidelines.

"It's Lord Raiga!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, his voice betrayed a barely concealed amusement. These few Konoha brats were about to meet their demise. "The enemy might all be geniuses from Konoha; taking them out might bring even greater merit."

Asuma and Ishikawa Tatsuki's expressions changed drastically. The people from Kirigakure had arrived even faster than the villagers. Were they going to be killed today?

Raiga Kurosuki was about to call him a piece of trash, a ninja beside him spoke up, "That boy is Sarutobi Asuma, the son of the Third Hokage. Looks like we're in luck."

"Real?"

Two long swords were crossed in front of his chest, crackling with lightning. "Then take out the other two, and then take this Asuma with you."

Thinking of the strange events that occurred during today's invasion of the Land of Fire, Raiga Kurosuki seemed to want to vent his anger, unleashing "Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"

The lightning gathered at the tip of the Thunder Swords transformed into a ball of light that struck Ishikawa Tatsuki and Yūhi Kurenai. Just as the two, who were unable to move, were about to perish, a wave of heat came from their side and rear.

Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!

A massive fire dragon shattered the lightning and continued its relentless charge towards the Kirigakure members.

"Spread!"

"Boom..."

Several large trees were leveled, and several ninjas wearing Konoha Forehead Protector appeared behind Ishikawa Tatsuki and the others.

From behind, their clothes bear a red and white ball-like clan emblem, signifying the illustrious Uchiha Clan.

"We're finally saved!"