Renegade Ninja

Boom! The Explosive Tag went off in an instant. With nowhere left to hide, the two figures finally revealed themselves.

"Ha ha! Who would've thought? The Jonin leading your team is from the Hyuga Clan! Maybe I'll get a Byakugan as a trophy this time!"

At last, one of the figures appeared before them. The symbol on the ninja's Forehead Protector marked him as being from the Land of Water, but a line had been slashed through it, marking him as a rogue ninja from Kirigakure Ninja Village.

The other ninja had Kumogakure's symbol on his forehead, also crossed out by a line.

"Two rogue ninjas!" Hizashi tensed, ready for battle.

"Don't get your hopes up. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is incredibly difficult to obtain. If they know they're going to be captured, they'll use a secret technique to destroy their own eyes!" The Kumogakure rogue seemed better versed in the secrets of the ninja world. He only watched Noguchi and the four others as he spoke.

"Take care of those three Genin however you like. I'll handle the Hyuga Jonin!" the Kumogakure rogue ordered.

In his eyes, Genin were insignificant, so he left them to the Kirigakure rogue, who was weaker than him.

"Hmph! How cunning! You kept the interesting one for yourself!" The Kirigakure rogue then turned to the three of them. "Sorry, but I'm going to finish you off as quickly as possible!"

"He's coming! Watch out!" Kakashi Nao warned.

As soon as he spoke, the Kirigakure rogue had already thrown a volley of shuriken.

"Shuriken!" Shiyu warned. He swung the Kunai in his hand, knocking the incoming shuriken out of the air.

"Hmph! Brats will be brats!" The Kirigakure rogue used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared right between the three of them.

"Take this!" Kakashi Nao swung his Gray Fang, blocking the Kirigakure rogue.

"Gentle Fist!" Hinata Kurenai wasn't about to be outdone. While Nao held the Kirigakure rogue back, she struck with a Gentle Fist.

Shiyu reacted fastest. Seizing the opportunity, he scooped up Mr. Noguchi and retreated.

"Hmph! You brats are quick, but you still won't escape!" The Kirigakure rogue immediately formed Hand Seals and performed a ninjutsu.

"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Thick fog instantly swirled around them, obscuring everything from view.

"Careful! This is Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique! Keep an eye on your surroundings!" Shiyu warned.

"Brat, you know quite a bit!"

"Since that's the case, I'll make sure you have a quick death!"

The Kirigakure rogue's voice came from all around them, making it impossible to tell where he was.

"Open your eyes!" Shiyu silently activated his White Rinnegan. The fog could interfere with the Sharingan, but his Byakugan-like Scouting Eye let him see the Kirigakure rogue's position clearly.

This guy actually dared to use the Hidden Mist Technique right in front of me! Shiyu's lips curled slightly. He could see the rogue's movements and the chakra pathways in his body with perfect clarity.

He's not weak. His chakra seems almost on par with a Jonin's! Shiyu quietly watched the Kirigakure rogue and thought.

He must have noticed me. I'll turn the tables on him! Shiyu quietly used the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Hmph! Brat, so this is where you are!" The Kirigakure rogue had clearly spotted "Shiyu." He suddenly raised his Kunai and thrust it toward a vital point.

Boom! To his surprise, Shiyu turned into a Shadow Clone and vanished.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Shiyu instantly finished forming the Hand Seals and launched a ninjutsu attack on the Kirigakure rogue.

"Water Style: Water Wall!" The Kirigakure ninja formed Hand Seals just as quickly and immediately blocked Shiyu's Great Fireball. As the fire met the water, the fog around them grew even thicker.

"You're no ordinary brat!" The Kirigakure rogue no longer dared to underestimate Shiyu.

Shiyu wasn't discouraged by his failed ambush. He called out, "Hatake, Kurenai! Protect the bearded man! Leave this guy to me!"

"So now I'm being looked down on by a brat!" The Kirigakure rogue gave a sinister laugh, then swiftly finished forming Hand Seals. "Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!"

Three Kirigakure rogues appeared before Shiyu.

"Water Clones?" Shiyu observed them without hesitation with his White Rinnegan.

Neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan could tell the real one apart from a Water Clone or a Shadow Clone, but a Water Clone would disappear as soon as it was hit.

Shiyu's lips curled. "Making clones at a time like this? I don't know whether to call you stupid or an idiot!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon Bullet!" Shiyu finished forming Hand Seals and spewed an enormous Lightning Dragon Bullet from his mouth.

The Lightning Dragon spread out through the front, middle, and rear, charging at the Kirigakure rogue.

"This brat! He knows Lightning Release as well as Fire Release?!" The Kirigakure rogue frowned.

"This kid's definitely no ordinary brat!"

"Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!" With no other choice, the Kirigakure rogue used Earth Release. The Five Element Ninjutsu followed a cycle of counters: lightning overcame water, water overcame fire, fire overcame earth, earth overcame wind, and wind overcame lightning.

His only options were the Water Formation Wall or the Earth Wall. If he used the Water Formation Wall, he'd be electrocuted for sure. The Kirigakure rogue didn't have Wind Release chakra either, so he had no choice but to hastily use Earth Release.

The Kirigakure rogue raised an Earth Wall to completely protect himself, but even so, it soon collapsed. Both were B-rank ninjutsu, yet Shiyu had smashed it apart with a single attack. The power of his Lightning Dragon Bullet was astonishing.

"This brat's ninjutsu is incredibly powerful! I can't trade ninjutsu with him!" The Kirigakure rogue instantly changed his strategy and once again chose close combat.

"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"

The Kirigakure rogue used the Hidden Mist Technique again, making the fog even thicker. Shiyu immediately understood what he was planning.

"Hmph! You want to fight me up close? This time, you won't get away!" Shiyu quickly devised a strategy in his mind to kill the Kirigakure rogue.

Shiyu pretended he still couldn't see the Kirigakure rogue. The rogue had clearly fallen for it. He no longer hesitated, though he still approached Shiyu cautiously.

This guy's really cautious! He must've killed plenty of people by catching them off guard!

Shiyu pretended to look around in every direction, then turned his back to the Kirigakure rogue.

"Hmph! This is perfect! The brat's dead for sure this time!" Confident of victory, the Kirigakure rogue approached Shiyu even more boldly.

He's taken the bait! Shiyu's White Rinnegan gave him a full 360-degree view. He clearly saw the Kirigakure rogue gripping his Kunai and moving toward him faster and faster.

Shiyu suddenly noticed the Kirigakure rogue had stopped, like the calm before a storm.

Here he comes! Shiyu suddenly saw the Kirigakure rogue lunge at him like a hungry tiger, thrusting his Kunai toward him.