The crescent moon hung high in the sky. Despite Konoha's usual silence, figures leaped across the rooftops. From their outfits and attire, it was easy to tell that they were Anbu Ninja belonging to the village.
One hand signal after another was formed as they passed information among themselves.
They seemed to be searching for and pursuing something.
Accustomed to waking at four in the morning, Veigar went to the riverside where he usually set his fishing traps on the third day after quitting his job at the slaughterhouse.
Veigar slowly walked onto the surface of the river and had just drawn the Ninja Sword strapped to his back, preparing to train, when he suddenly became alert.
"Who's there?"
An unfamiliar presence had entered the range of his perception. The turbulent Chakra inside that person told Veigar that the man seemed to have just gone through a battle.
Veigar quickly turned around and stood with his sword in hand.
Veigar saw an adult man wearing a black conical hat that obscured his face. A single-shoulder satchel hung diagonally from his waist, and he had stopped at the riverbank.
When the man saw Veigar on the river, he warily glanced around, as though suspecting that some danger lurked nearby.
"Who are you?"
Veigar was also staring warily at the man on the bank. Judging from his rapid breathing, Veigar determined that the man was on the run.
A fugitive? A spy? Or a Rogue Ninja?
There was too little information, and Veigar had no way to know. But he was certain that the person before him was dangerous and meant no good.
"Kid, you can only blame your bad luck!"
After confirming that there was no ambush nearby, the man secretly made up his mind.
The killing intent he had been concealing suddenly erupted, and he formed Hand Seals with both hands.
"This is bad!"
Seeing the man form Hand Seals, Veigar was enveloped by the killing intent that burst from him. A chill ran through his body, and he completely confirmed that the man was an enemy, not a friend.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm."
The man uttered the low syllables. At the same time, having completed his Hand Seals, he thrust a palm toward Veigar, sending a powerful current of air rushing at him.
Although Wind Style: Gale Palm was only a C-rank Ninjutsu, Veigar did not dare take it head-on. He quickly leaped sideways to dodge, while also using the Clone Technique he had prepared in advance.
At the same time, Veigar did not dare let the man's figure leave his sight, keeping his eyes fixed on the man's movements.
The strike missed.
The man quickly formed Hand Seals again and cast another Ninjutsu.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Bullet."
The moment he struck, he used a killing move, intending to end the battle quickly. A bullet-like blast of air shot straight through Veigar's head.
"Bang!"
However, the Veigar by the river was merely a clone.
Seeing that he had only struck a clone, the man did not panic. Instead, he quickly pulled out a Kunai and held it in a reverse grip, scanning his surroundings for Veigar's whereabouts.
Seeing how easily Veigar stood on the surface of the water, the man understood that he was not a helpless child. He could be considered a qualified Ninja.
Moreover, with Veigar holding a Ninja Sword, the man judged him to be a Sword Technique Ninja.
"One-Sword Style: Iaido Slash."
Using the Clone Technique to hide beneath the water, Veigar quickly approached the man. He leaped out of the water and swung his sword straight at the man's heart.
This was Veigar's first time using Sword Technique in actual combat, but that did not stop the move from displaying tremendous power in his hands.
"Clang..."
The collision between the Ninja Sword and Kunai sent bright sparks flying through the night.
After blocking Veigar's counterattack, the man used the force of the impact to flip backward and retreat.
"His strength is impressive, and his Sword Technique is powerful."
"I can't fight him at close range."
After only one exchange, the man had gathered considerable information about Veigar's strength. This also showed how rich his combat experience was.
Before he even landed, the man had already completed his Hand Seals and once again used Gale Palm.
"Wind Style: Double Gale Palm."
A current of air even more powerful than the previous one surged toward Veigar. Veigar had intended to press his advantage, but in the face of the violent airflow, he could only pull away and retreat.
Seeing Veigar forced back, the man produced three Kunai and hurled them at him.
The Kunai pierced through the gale, aimed straight at three vital points on Veigar's body. Veigar was forced to dodge desperately, falling completely onto the defensive.
Even when Veigar wanted to counterattack, he could not find an opening.
In the distance, the Anbu Ninja who had been conducting the search also noticed the disturbance on Veigar's side and hurried over one after another.
The man now understood that he could not defeat Veigar quickly, and he grew anxious. He was being pursued by Konoha's Anbu Ninja and could not stop running. Otherwise, the only thing awaiting him was—death.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
Having decided to retreat, the man continuously pulled out the Shuriken he carried and hurled them all at Veigar in one go.
"Kid, I admit that you're strong, but I will definitely kill you."
Veigar had no time to pay attention to what the man said. More than a dozen Shuriken shot toward him, forcing him to retreat again and again.
Two of them came too quickly for him to dodge. Veigar could only avoid his vital points, and his left forearm and right thigh were slashed.
He landed steadily on the river's surface. Veigar was frantic inside, but he did not dare attack first because he knew it would be difficult to get close to his opponent.
Veigar was now considering how to escape or stall for time, and how to preserve his life.
The former meant saving himself; whether he lived or died would depend solely on him.
The latter meant being rescued; whether he lived or died would depend on whether Konoha's pursuers behind the man arrived.
However, choosing to stall was extremely risky for Veigar, who did not know that the man was being pursued.
If he guessed wrong, or if he was killed before the pursuers arrived, everything would be meaningless.
Therefore, Veigar chose the former.
"I can only save myself."
Veigar's expression did not change, but he frantically thought of a way to escape.
For a moment, the two people, both trying every possible method to escape, simply stared at each other without moving.
Time seemed to halt for an instant.
Five seconds later.
"Bang!"
The man in Veigar's sight suddenly vanished with a "Bang!" Only then did Veigar realize that the enemy who had just been making threats had disappeared long ago. All that remained before him was a clone.
At the same time, an Anbu Ninja wearing a Boar Mask appeared behind Veigar in the blink of an eye, pressing a Kunai against his neck.
"Don't move."
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