Assassination

Shiyu immediately spun around with the momentum, both hands already raised behind him to block. One hand grabbed the Kirigakure rogue ninja's kunai firmly, while the other palm slammed into his chest.

The Kirigakure rogue ninja showed no fear and thrust at Shiyu with all his strength.

In his eyes, how much damage could a kid's palm possibly do?

"Hmph!" Shiyu snorted. With one hand, he struck the Kirigakure rogue ninja's left chest with Gentle Fist.

"Pfft!!!" The rogue ninja instantly spat blood, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

His brain seemed unable to control his body anymore. As he lay dying, he still couldn't understand how Shiyu had been capable of killing him.

"You bastard. You actually dared to use the Hidden Mist Technique. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken your life with Gentle Fist in front of everyone!" Shiyu sneered and walked over to his teammates.

"Shiyu! Are you hurt?" Kurenai asked with concern as soon as she saw him.

"Your hand is bleeding! Where's the enemy?" Kurenai asked next.

Nao was also holding Gray Fang and surveying the area.

"I'm fine. I already killed that Kirigakure rogue ninja. These injuries are nothing." Shiyu reminded them, "I wonder how the fight is going on Teacher Hizashi's side."

"Hidden Mist Technique: Release!" Shiyu had just copied the Hidden Mist Technique, so naturally, he'd learned how to dispel it in an instant.

The thick mist immediately cleared, revealing Hizashi Hyuga and the Kumogakure rogue ninja fighting fiercely in the distance.

Both were Taijutsu experts. The Kumogakure ninja mainly used Lightning Release, while Hizashi Hyuga relied on his Byakugan and Gentle Fist. The two appeared evenly matched.

"Hm?! Useless! You couldn't even take care of a Genin?" As the mist cleared, the Kumogakure rogue ninja immediately spotted his teammate's body lying on the ground.

"Hmph!" The Kumogakure rogue ninja threw countless shuriken, and Hizashi immediately used Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven.

The shuriken were knocked away one after another. As Hizashi came to a stop, the Kumogakure rogue ninja threw several kunai, each one carrying an Explosive Tag.

"Look out, Teacher Hizashi!" Shiyu shouted as soon as he saw them. Then, anticipating what would happen, he swiftly formed Hand Seals.

Hizashi immediately retreated, while the Kumogakure rogue ninja turned and prepared to flee.

Shiyu finished forming his seals and immediately shouted, "Wind Release: Wind Style: Wind Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The predicted jutsu shot toward the Kumogakure rogue ninja. He frowned, but could no longer escape.

He crossed his arms, apparently intending to tank the B-rank Wind Release jutsu with his body.

Looks like I guessed right. This Kumogakure ninja specializes in Lightning Release, which is countered by Wind Release, and he doesn't know Fire Release.

"Then, in that case!" Shiyu finished forming Hand Seals once more and instantly breathed out scorching flames.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The wind dragon hadn't disappeared when the fire dragon appeared. The wind fed the flames, and the flames rode the wind. In an instant, the two dragons merged, forming the Third Hokage's signature Compound Ninjutsu.

"Compound Ninjutsu: Wind and Fire Dragon Bullet!"

"What?!" The Kumogakure rogue ninja was stunned and immediately strengthened his defenses.

Though they were two B-rank jutsu, Shiyu's execution instantly raised their power to A-rank. Even the Kumogakure ninja, famed for his formidable physique, was left covered in injuries by the jutsu's onslaught.

"I never expected there'd be such a strong kid in the plan! Heh heh!" The Kumogakure ninja chuckled, then vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Don't chase him, Shiyu!"

"Well done!" Hizashi Hyuga dismissed his Byakugan and nodded at Shiyu, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Besides the bandits and brigands, ninjas are now involved. Those two rogue ninja were probably both Jonin-level. But I have a feeling there's someone else behind them."

Hizashi looked over at Noguchi and saw the guilt and pity in his eyes. He couldn't help but sigh.

"The mission was only C-rank to begin with, but now we've encountered not only a bandit group but also several Jonin-level rogue ninja. I can't imagine what sort of enemies we'll face next. For now, the mission's actual rank is provisionally B-rank. This is already a Jonin-level mission. You can withdraw here and still count the mission as completed."

Hizashi continued gravely, "From here on, even I can't guarantee the safety of all four of you. If we stop here, there's still time."

"I'm the client. No matter how dangerous it gets, I still have to go to the Land of Artisans. I can't withdraw!" Noguchi declared.

"I want to go. My skills can only keep improving if I keep fighting," Shiyu said honestly.

"What about you?" Hizashi asked.

"We're a team. We're going together!" Kakashi Nao replied.

"Me too."

Though Kurenai was the only girl, she spoke with equal determination.

"Good! Team Seven, we're moving on! Our destination is Artisan Village in the Land of Artisans!" Hizashi Hyuga then set off with the four of them once more.

Real combat had made Shiyu's skills improve rapidly. Even with the blood of the Otsutsuki Clan, he couldn't unlock its full potential without weathering the storms of actual battle.

"Body Flicker Technique, Hidden Mist Technique, Water Clone Technique. They may not be powerful, but they're all extremely useful jutsu. The Body Flicker Technique especially, even though it's only a D-rank jutsu, has made countless shinobi famous—like Body Flicker Shisui!" Shiyu kept practicing the Body Flicker Technique as he traveled.

A week passed. The five of them took turns keeping watch at night and hurried along by day. At last, they crossed the northeastern border of the Land of Fire and entered the Land of Artisans.

"We're finally here!" Kakashi Nao breathed a sigh of relief.

The journey had kept all five of them on edge, but they hadn't encountered another attack.

Hizashi Hyuga had also found time to train Hinata Kurenai and the three Genin in chakra control.

Practicing chakra control meant learning to climb trees and walk on water. Shiyu's chakra control was naturally flawless. Like a miracle, he finished faster than the other three, leaving Hizashi Hyuga utterly astonished.

As Hizashi had put it, "Uchiha Shiyu really is exceptionally talented. Even as a Genin, he can defeat Jonin. He's composed and levelheaded, and makes use of all kinds of tactics. He's truly rare in this world. If we compared him to the legendary Madara Uchiha in his youth, I wonder which of them would shine brighter? If anything, it wouldn't surprise me if he became even stronger than Madara Uchiha."

Shiyu had no idea his teacher praised him so highly. He kept practicing every day as usual, working on the jutsu he'd copied not long ago.