Danger Approaches

Everyone was startled and hurriedly looked around, but there was no sign of Sasuke.

"Over there!"

At that moment, Hinata, with her Byakugan activated, pointed in one direction and cried out, "Sasuke seems to be fighting two unknown monsters!"

Everyone's expressions changed at once, and they immediately became vigilant.

"Ino, use your empathy link to contact Naruto. Then you all go after Naruto first. I'll help Sasuke deal with the enemy and catch up with you right away."

Yamei gave the order and suddenly dashed toward Sasuke.

The situation with Naruto's enemies was unknown. Ideally, they should all go so they could watch each other's backs.

As for Sasuke's side, Yamei alone would be enough.

Knowing that both Yamei and Sasuke were strong, the others did not argue and began acting according to Yamei's instructions.

"Hey, you up ahead, stop right there!!"

In the dense forest, Naruto glared furiously at the armored youth fleeing ahead of him.

Just now, while he and Sasuke had been patrolling around the camp, two Armored People had suddenly appeared and launched a sneak attack on them!

After Sasuke lured the Armored People away, Naruto had rushed back into the camp to warn everyone that there were enemies. But then this knightly youth had suddenly appeared!

With a longsword in hand, he had fired an energy attack straight at Naruto! If Naruto had not reacted quickly, he might have been seriously injured!

Now that Naruto had seen his companions were awake, the youth had actually tried to run. How could Naruto let him get away? He immediately gave chase.

After all, unlike those cold chunks of iron, this guy was a living person! If Naruto captured him, he might be able to uncover everything!

This was a great chance for Naruto to prove himself! After all, he had confidently declared yesterday that they would finish the mission today.

"Naruto, report your location. We're behind you!" Ino's voice rang out in his mind.

Naruto was startled, then immediately replied, "We're heading toward the shore! This guy is really fast! Hurry up!"

After saying that, Naruto accelerated again.

"Lightning God's Thunderclap!"

In an instant, thunder exploded. The knightly youth raised his longsword high, and a powerful surge of energy came hurtling toward Naruto!

"Rasengan!"

A shadow clone appeared beside Naruto, rapidly forming a spinning sphere in his hand before fiercely slamming it into the attack! At the same time, Naruto's real body leaped over the explosion and continued the pursuit.

"Damn it! I can't shake him? Looks like I can only lead him to the fortress!" The knightly youth shot Naruto an ugly glare before his figure flickered forward at high speed.

Before long, the forest ahead opened up, giving way to a beach!

On the sea, a massive Sea Fortress was docked. Below it, on the beach, one Armored Person after another was busily at work.

The youth's expression brightened. He shot Naruto a vicious look over his shoulder, then ran toward the fortress.

Naruto burst out onto the beach at that moment and immediately spotted the enormous Sea Fortress!

"Wh-what the heck is that thing?! It's huge!!"

Naruto was stunned, but when he saw the youth rapidly nearing the fortress, panic surged through him.

"Damn it! How can I let you get away?! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Naruto after Naruto appeared, joining hands and flinging the others forward like stones toward the fleeing figure.

One Naruto after another was hurled ahead to block the youth's path. The youth's expression hardened. "You forced me to do this! Lightning God's Thunderclap!"

Violent energy blasted outward in all directions, transforming into bolts of lightning! The repeated poof poof sounds of shadow clones dispersing rang without end.

The tremendous commotion also caught the attention of the Armored People on the shore! Their crimson eyes all turned toward them.

"Soldiers!"

The youth roared. The Armored People jolted, each pulling a massive iron hammer from behind their backs and charging toward him.

"Not good!!"

Naruto had barely steadied himself when a massive iron hammer came crashing down in front of him, carrying a heavy gust of wind!

Boom!

A huge crater suddenly appeared in the ground. The soldier stared blankly at Naruto's corpse within it...

Poof...

A log!

Before the soldier could react, a powerful force struck from its left.

"Kidney Punch!"

Bang!!

The twisting, violent force blasted a huge hole through its hard body. Its shattered form collapsed limply to the ground, yet its hand continued struggling!

"So tough!"

Naruto's heart trembled as he looked at the dozens of strange armored soldiers closing in around him.

"Wind Style: Thousand Faces Wind!"

Not daring to be careless, Naruto formed hand seals and unleashed a wide-range ninjutsu!

Hundreds upon thousands of small wind blades materialized and swept continuously toward the Armored People!

The wind blades that could tear apart trees only left gashes across their bodies!

As though they felt no pain, those soldiers continued advancing with their crimson eyes fixed on Naruto and their iron hammers raised.

"Naruto! Watch out!!"

At that moment, Sakura's cry came from behind him!

Naruto felt an extremely dangerous instinct surge through him. Looking up, he saw a soldier suddenly flash right up close, its massive iron hammer smashing down and stirring a faint breeze against his face!

I'm done for!!

Naruto's heart skipped a beat...

"Shadow Imitation Technique!"

The hammer stopped just a finger's width from Naruto's face, and the breeze stirred his golden hair...

"Whew... Good thing I made it in time!"

Shikamaru let out a long sigh of relief. Behind him, Choji, Ino, and the others appeared one after another, their expressions grave as they surveyed the scene.

"Sakura, Shikamaru, you finally made it! These guys must be the ones behind everything! Once we take them down, our mission will be complete!!" Naruto said excitedly.

Shikamaru's mouth twitched slightly at that. Looking at the massive fortress, he said in a grave voice,

"Naruto! Get over here, now! This mission may have exceeded its rank! We have to retreat immediately!"

"Want to leave? We haven't agreed to that yet."

Before Naruto could answer, a teasing voice rang out. Everyone looked up to see a youth and an armored woman slowly approaching.

"Timsi, this little brat is the one who left you in such a sorry state? That doesn't sound like you!"

The woman sized Naruto up and kept shaking her head at the youth beside her.

"Rank, this isn't the time to talk about that. There's a strange power inside this guy. It's very strong."

A hint of heat flashed in Timsi's eyes. "We can capture him and take him to see Lord Hyde. Maybe he can join us and help realize our ideals!"

The woman named Rank nodded. "I saw it too. I think Lord Hyde would indeed be interested."

"Hey, hey, hey!! Are you ignoring me, the person involved?" Naruto pointed at the two of them in annoyance.

Rank froze for a moment, then sneered. "Brat, are you planning to resist? What can you possibly use to resist?"

As she spoke, a terrifying pressure of lightning suddenly erupted from Rank's body!

"So strong!"

Naruto's heart jumped, and Shikamaru and the others behind him also changed expressions.

In that very instant, Rank suddenly attacked and charged toward Naruto!

"Not good!"

Shikamaru and the others' expressions changed as they used the Body Flicker Technique and rushed forward.

However, the surrounding soldiers had already blocked their path, giving them no chance to reach him.