Take This... You Little Greedy Cat!

In the darkness of night, three Masked Ninja sped through the forest, heading straight for Ishikawa Village.

"Lord Fu," one Masked Ninja said in a low voice as he ran, his voice muffled by his mask. "By now, Tanuki's side should have succeeded, right? One Jonin leading four Chunin against a brat who just graduated—no matter how much of a genius he is, he should have been taken down by now."

"That's right." Another ninja agreed. "From the time we lured away that Wood Release ninja, to the time they sent the signal, and then our withdrawal, they had at least half an hour to act without interference. That was more than enough time to complete the capture."

Yamanaka Fu calmly watched the path ahead, his voice utterly flat.

"Do not underestimate the target. According to the intelligence, his Chakra reserves are abnormal... but as you said, against an absolute gap in strength and numbers, half an hour is enough. Tanuki knows what to do."

Yamanaka Fu's calculations were clear.

Their squad had successfully drawn away Yamato, the most threatening Jonin Instructor.

Even if Yamato realized what was happening and rushed back at full speed, it would still take time.

That time difference was enough for the Tanuki Squad to complete the capture and begin their withdrawal.

Even if something unexpected happened along the way, arriving now would allow them to provide support and ensure nothing went wrong.

"Pick up the pace!" Yamanaka Fu ordered. "Rendezvous with Tanuki as soon as possible!"

The three of them accelerated again, streaking through the forest.

However, when they passed through the last stretch of woodland and reached the designated rendezvous area outside Ishikawa Village, all three suddenly came to a halt. Their eyes widened beneath their masks as they were utterly stunned by the sight before them!

The scene they had expected—an operation completed and a silent retreat—was nowhere to be seen.

What lay before them was a stretch of ruins that looked as though it had been ravaged by a natural disaster!

The once-dense forest had been flattened across vast areas, trees snapped apart and torn to pieces as if ripped apart by tremendous force.

The ground was covered in craters of varying depths. One enormous depression had filled with murky water, clearly the aftermath of a massive Water Release technique.

Broken clumps of earth and stone lay scattered everywhere. Several incomplete yet exceptionally thick Earth Style: Earth Walls stood alone amid the scorched ground, covered in cracks and dents left by powerful ninjutsu impacts.

The muddy ground was mixed with Dark Red bloodstains, while the air was thick with the earthy stench of soil, damp vapor, and a faint trace of blood.

"Th-this... what happened here?!" one Root Ninja muttered hoarsely in disbelief. "Was there... a war here?"

The sheer extent of the devastation left him utterly bewildered!

The other ninja had sharp eyes and suddenly pointed at a conspicuous scrap of cloth in the mud, marked with distinctive dark patterns.

"Lord Fu! Look at that!"

As he spoke, he rushed over, picked up the mud-soaked cloth, and handed it to Yamanaka Fu.

Yamanaka Fu accepted the scrap. His fingers brushed over the familiar material and the dark pattern unique to Root-issued uniforms. His pupils contracted sharply beneath his mask, and his expression turned incomparably grave.

This was a fragment of a Root member's clothing!

And judging by the tear marks, it definitely hadn't been caused by any gentle capture operation!

"This is bad!" Yamanaka Fu said gravely. "Something unexpected happened! Tanuki and the others may have..."

Before he could finish—

BOOM!!!

Another Explosive Tag detonated in the distance!

It was immediately followed by the buzzing roar of violent Chakra clashes and a Shockwave caused by colliding ninjutsu!

That commotion!

Yamanaka Fu abruptly raised his head toward the source of the sound.

"Pursue them! Track them immediately by following the traces and the sound! Move!"

Without further hesitation, he shot forward first.

The other two Root Ninja followed close behind. A heavy shadow had fallen over all three of their hearts.

The situation seemed to have completely slipped out of control!

Either... other ninja had appeared during the capture operation—

Or... the target—Tejima Shinichi—was far more troublesome and... dangerous than they had imagined!

Ahead, the chase continued.

Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!

Earth Release: Earth Spear!

Ninjutsu poured forth as if Chakra were free, blocking the pursuit behind him.

Tejima Shinichi's immense Chakra reserves were the foundation of this extravagant display of firepower.

The Tanuki Jonin cleaved apart the incoming Water Dragon's fading form with a single slash, his face darkening.

Then another Earth Style: Earth Wall suddenly rose up and blocked his advance, leaving him able only to watch as the target pulled farther away once more.

...If this keeps going, we're in trouble! Alarm bells rang in his mind, and a wave of agitation rose within him. This has dragged on far too long! Far beyond the planned schedule!

According to the original plan, they should have succeeded by now and begun their retreat.

Yet in reality, not only had they failed to capture the target, but they had also lost two subordinates and been forcibly stalled here by this brat's shameless fighting style!

Once Yamato returns... the mission will definitely fail!

The thought sent a chill through his heart.

But frustratingly, he could not think of any way to break the deadlock!

This brat was too slippery! He simply would not give him a chance to get close! Whenever they tried to approach, they were met with an utterly unrestrained bombardment of ninjutsu. Those bottomless Chakra reserves made even him, a Jonin, feel alarmed.

Damn it! he cursed inwardly, a sense of frustration surging up within him. Of all opponents, it had to be this kind! I'm completely countered!

He was a typical close-combat ambush-type ninja, and swordsmanship was his specialty.

But against an opponent who refused to fight at close range and relied solely on long-range firepower, he had all his skills but no way to use them.

If only Lord Yamanaka Fu were here... he could not help thinking of that colleague skilled in mental secret techniques. With his ability, a single Mind Transfer Jutsu could subdue this brat instantly. We wouldn't be stuck in such a passive position!

The plan had gone seriously off course!

Or rather, fortune had favored Tejima Shinichi.

Between Ishikawa Village and Kasahara Village, Tejima Shinichi had happened to come to Ishikawa Village...

Damn it, if I'd known...

Before the Tanuki Jonin could finish his regretful thought, an intense sense of danger suddenly gripped his heart!

Then Tejima Shinichi, who had been racing ahead, abruptly turned around!

"Having fun chasing me?"

Tejima Shinichi sneered repeatedly!

"Take this... you little greedy cat!"

Tejima Shinichi let out a low roar. The muscles in his right arm tensed as he suddenly made a throwing motion forward!

Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade!