One Against Seven Can't Be Done

The Second Hokage, once so powerful, ultimately met his end alone in this primitive jungle, his very body manipulated even in death... In a sense, being a ninja is a profession that allows for no mistakes throughout one's entire life.

After indulging in his thoughts, Yuhara decided to withdraw immediately. Judging by the way he licked the loot bag, it was clear he lacked professional integrity... he didn't even lick it clean. If one were to search the body carefully, they might find something good.

As for the Six Paths Tools Yuhara acquired, he didn't actually appreciate how the Gold and Silver Brothers used them. While sealing enemies that way was very effective, it was contrary to the fast-paced combat that ninjas valued.

Of the four tools, Yuhara felt the only truly useful ones were the Kōtanuki, which served as a sealing container, and the Banjō Senshi, capable of immense destructive power. The Hōrin Kagami and Shichiseiken, on the other hand, were difficult to use in actual combat... In fact, the Gold and Silver Brothers often operated them together when sealing enemies.

Moreover, no matter which tool it was, Yuhara couldn't use them at this stage because they were stolen goods... Using them outside would attract the pursuit of Kumogakure, and internally, he couldn't explain it to Orochimaru.

In short, Yuhara needed to get out of here. His arrival had been exceptionally smooth, and he hoped his departure would be the same, aiming to go from victory to victory.

In fact, Yuhara hadn't expected Konoha and Kumogakure to react so strongly at this time, ready to fight a decisive battle without a word. Thus, he was completely unaware that both sides were currently sharpening their weapons, striving to crush the other's skull within half an hour once the order to engage was given.

The rationality of both sides was like the sphincter muscles before diarrhea; no matter how consciously they tried to control it, they ultimately couldn't resist the physiological urge.

And in the moments before the "floodgates opened," it was the calm before the storm, which is why Yuhara's withdrawal proceeded smoothly.

However, this smoothness wouldn't last forever, because Yuhara always encountered enemies.

Kumogakure's personnel contraction order was issued very hastily; not every squad on an external mission could return in time, or rather, no one could guarantee that every squad would receive the order promptly.

Just then, a four-person Kumogakure squad, which had received the recall order very late for various reasons, was withdrawing near this area. Naturally, they discovered a Konoha ninja operating alone.

"Captain, it's a Konoha ninja... What should we do?"

"A Konoha ninja operating alone? Pursue him. He might have important intelligence on him."

The captain of this four-person squad was named Toroi, an Elite Jonin of Kumogakure. Judging purely by his paper strength, he was stronger than the Storm Release ninja "I" that Yuhara had encountered before.

A ninja like Yuhara, operating alone and withdrawing from enemy territory, was easily judged to be valuable. Therefore, the Kumogakure squad pursued him without hesitation, wondering if the two items on his back were some important tools.

Well, it could only be said that the Kumogakure squad's judgment was largely correct, because Yuhara was currently carrying Kumogakure's "heirlooms." As for what Yuhara was carrying, if they wanted it, they should have made it themselves.

Yuhara, who was happily withdrawing, heard some commotion behind him. He turned his head and suddenly discovered four tails following him.

"..."

He began to wonder if he had just uttered some ominous flag.

Stay calm. Whether to flee or fight, one must not lose composure.

The good news was that Yuhara hadn't consumed much Chakra so far; his "mana pool" was currently above ninety percent. The bad news was that even with full mana, his Chakra level was just that.

If it were a one-on-one fight, Yuhara could even stop and fight right now, but in a one-on-four situation, he really had no confidence.

In an instant, Yuhara made a decision. If he were forced to stop and fight, he would first have to deal with the strongest enemy among them.

Yuhara moved at high speed through the trees, but the enemies quickly closed the distance. Immediately after, Yuhara heard the sound of air being broken from behind him.

Clang!

He half-turned his body, and with a flick of his wrist, used a kunai to lightly deflect the incoming shuriken. He naturally made no mistakes in such a simple block. However, the moment his kunai met the shuriken, Yuhara keenly sensed a slight change within himself.

"Magnetization?"

Then, a barrage of shuriken attacked Yuhara from behind. No matter how he changed direction, those shuriken relentlessly pursued him... These were tracking shuriken.

Toroi, who was pursuing Yuhara, was a Magnet Release ninja from Kumogakure, though Yuhara didn't recognize him at first. He couldn't remember every character from the original work, and weren't all Magnet Release ninjas minor characters?

Puff puff puff!

The shuriken caught up and hit him repeatedly, causing the mid-air Yuhara to instantly lose his balance!

At the same time, another enemy, flashing with lightning, suddenly appeared beside Yuhara as if teleporting, and kicked him towards the ground.

Below was originally soft, damp forest soil, but at some point, sharp earth spikes had risen!

Yuhara threw a steel wire with one hand, binding it to the surrounding trees and forcefully changing direction, attempting to escape that area. However, as he turned, he was met head-on by a large mass of orange-red firelight!

Magnet Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Fire Release – the enemy's attacks rained down on Yuhara, the battlefield rookie, like a storm.

Yuhara burst out of the Fire Release, covered in dust and grime. He seemed to have no obvious burns on his exterior, but the scorching flames had nearly burned his lungs. However, he remained very calm, because he knew that if he lost his composure, he would die.

It wasn't time to counterattack yet. He couldn't counterattack.

Yuhara clutched his side abdomen with his left hand, feigning injury, and without looking at the enemies, turned and continued to flee.

More shuriken flew towards him.

During this time, the battle-hardened enemies had seen through Yuhara's true skill. There was no question of pretense; Yuhara was genuinely a novice, so the enemies became even more aggressive.

The Magnet Release ninja appeared behind Yuhara.

Yuhara stumbled, seemingly about to fall to the ground, but just as he lunged forward, a sudden change occurred! His body twisted rapidly. He, who was originally facing downwards, quickly flipped over, and the figure of the Kumogakure ninja was clearly reflected in his eyes.

A silver sphere had already been thrown out with a flick of his wrist, and it approached the enemy at extreme speed. Then, it exploded like fireworks, brilliantly!

Centered on the silver sphere, countless micron-sized, cold-shining, chilling threads scattered out, embedding themselves into the surrounding trees, soil, and rocks.

In an instant, the mercury ball, originally the size of an egg, had become a small focal point.

The Kumogakure Magnet Release ninja was at the center of this special metal net. Unless he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, he couldn't escape this range of attack.

His body was pierced by the dense threads, and due to the inertia of his forward-moving body, as he moved forward, those threads, far sharper and tougher than any blade, easily sliced through his body.

His right half lay shattered on the ground, while his left half was caught.

The mercury threads were covered in countless condensed water droplets and tiny blood drops, which together scattered a faint glow in the forest. They looked so beautiful, not like weapons, but like...

A mercury lamp.

"Secret Technique: Mercury Lamp" was one of the foundations for Yuhara's return to the battlefield.

Although he was a novice, he had now grasped the essence of ninja combat: treachery, ambushing, and killing in one blow.