Naruto hid behind a tree as the enemy's short sword went "thunk, thunk, thunk," embedding itself in the tree right in front of him.
"Isn't it about time you gave up...?"
the enemy said.
"I've had enough of this game of hide-and-seek."
Naruto bent down and reached into his weapon pouch. All that remained were kunai and smoke bombs.
Naruto immediately pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it behind the enemy.
With a "bang," the smoke bomb exploded, instantly enveloping the enemy in smoke.
Naruto emerged from the shade of the tree and took aim at the enemy's silhouette in the smoke.
"Clang! Clang!"
The sound of blades striking each other echoed through the woods.
"Ha!"
Naruto unexpectedly lost his strength and dropped to his knees. When the smoke cleared, what appeared before him was the enemy's short sword.
"Give up."
the enemy said.
Naruto braced himself against his knee with one hand, desperately trying to straighten his body a little more.
"Can I say one more thing?"
"I have no interest in listening..."
After saying that, the enemy swung his short sword and stabbed at Naruto.
"Die!"
Naruto's body collapsed onto the branch behind him.
"Give up on something like that..."
In the next instant, with a bang, Naruto's body turned into smoke and vanished.
Then Naruto's original body suddenly appeared behind the enemy.
"Don't think you'll make me—"
Naruto brought the edge of his hand down on the back of the enemy's head, sending him crashing to the ground.
"...give up!"
"So it was a Shadow Clone... Damn it!"
The fallen enemy wore a vicious expression.
"Even if you defeat me, the next assassin will still attack this village... Hehehe, as long as we live in this cursed Ninja World... peace is destined to elude us..."
"Then