Hunter Reversal

Yajima Jyunin never believed in luck.

Before obtaining the intel and preparing to make his move, he harbored the resolve to go all out against his target, to kill them without mercy.

However, As he truly set foot in the place he had chosen as the target's grave, This alleyway, three hundred meters long, His heart suddenly trembled slightly.

It wasn't just because he saw the ferocity and strangeness emanating from the kid's pure white eyes, but also because—

The environment had changed.

This was an ordinary Konoha street.

Precisely because it was ordinary, the houses weren't like the uniform, neat Japanese courtyards within the Hyuga Clan's compound.

They lacked unique architectural features, mostly adhering to a principle of practicality, blending styles like Hakka, cylindrical, pagoda, and Japanese torii gates, with varying heights and a staggered layout.

The only commonality was that these houses were at least four stories high, and the entire alleyway was oriented southeast.

As the sun dipped west, the shadows cast enveloped the entire alleyway.

For the assassin, this place was sparsely populated and poorly lit, an ideal spot for surveillance, assassination, and concealing bodies.

But, The situation had now shifted slightly.

If the target perceived the assassin's intent, this environment would become their natural and excellent sanctuary for evading pursuit.

Just like now, "Shu!"

As soon as Yajima Jyunin stabilized himself and fixed his sinister gaze on the Byakugan kid not far away, A kunai, utilizing the shadows cast by the houses, drew a sharp, cold arc towards his throat!

Relying on ninja instincts etched into his muscles, Yajima Jyunin immediately raised his hand, hooked a kunai from his ninja tool pouch, and swung it out!

Clang!

The two kunai collided, sparks flying, emitting a crisp sound in the desolate alleyway.

However, a subtle difference in feel made Yajima Jyunin's heart skip a beat. His gaze involuntarily followed the kunai that had been deflected and fell to the ground—

A paper-wrapped pellet was tied to the end of the kunai.

The splashing sparks hit the pellet, The next moment, "Bang!"

Intense smoke erupted from it!

Yajima Jyunin held his breath and covered his nose, pushing off the ground with his toes to leap out of the smoke-filled area. Mid-air, he rapidly scanned his surroundings, trying to locate the target.

However, When he looked back to where Hyuga Yu had been, he could only see an empty alleyway and...

A pair of discarded shoes?

"That kid... escaped?" Yajima Jyunin's expression, hidden beneath his cat face mask, shifted slightly.

"No!"

Yajima Jyunin reacted instantly.

According to the intel, Hyuga Yu didn't know the Body Flicker Technique, and the "swoosh" sound it made was quite loud.

Ruling out the possibility of Hyuga Yu using the Body Flicker Technique to escape, and seeing the shoes on the ground, Yajima Jyunin quickly formed a judgment—

"He threw a smoke bomb to obscure vision."

"During that time, he quickly removed his shoes to move and hide, avoiding making noise with his footsteps."

"Since he couldn't escape, he hid in the shadows of the buildings, attempting to blend in and get away."

Yajima Jyunin took a deep breath, his gaze turning icy.

"But,"

"Unfortunately, you chose a dead end!"

He fixed his gaze on the shadows of the alleyway not far away.

The alley formed a "T" shape. Yajima Jyunin had arrived later and blocked the rear section leading to the apartments, and Hyuga Yu's speed wouldn't have allowed him to escape from the other end in such a short time.

Therefore, Yajima Jyunin deduced that the kid was currently hiding in the dead-end alley in the middle, perhaps behind a trash can, or maybe he was so desperate he was praying to the gods, using a clumsy transformation jutsu to turn into a utility pole or a wooden fence, covering his mouth and sobbing, hoping not to be discovered.

Yajima Jyunin curved his lips slightly, revealing a mocking smile.

"Tap, tap!"

He began to move, his grip tightening on the kunai's handle, his gaze cold and sharp, the man like a butcher about to take the life of a sacrificial lamb.

And as he took a step, The next instant, From within the mist, Yajima Jyunin, a ninja skilled in Kirigakure's techniques and possessing excellent hearing honed by killing in fog, He faintly heard a subtle sound behind him, "Creeeak... creeeak..."

A sound like that.

As if walking on sand with his toes, despite being as careful as possible, a faint noise was still unavoidable.

Yajima Jyunin found it strange and sharply turned his head back to its limit, 130 degrees.

The dark alley was as desolate as ever. In the distance, the three Hokage faces were gilded with a brilliant golden edge in the twilight.

There was nothing behind him.

"Hoo..."

Yajima Jyunin exhaled, thinking he might have imagined it.

He turned his head back, preparing to step forward again.

But just as he turned his head back, that sound, as subtle as an ant crawling, rang out again!

"Creeeak, creeeak!"

This time, the footsteps were lighter and crisper, as if he had merely taken a small step to the side.

Yajima Jyunin's heart skipped a beat.

This time, he couldn't have misheard.

This was clearly a ninja foot technique called "Nambaho," a technique that could silence a ninja's footsteps, making it impossible to leave any sound even when walking on a creaky, old wooden floor.

However, this was only theoretically silent. For ninjas with hearing far beyond normal humans, ears so sharp they were almost inhuman, even this technique would leave a very faint "trace."

And Yajima Jyunin, a Kirigakure ninja specializing in silent assassination, was precisely such a ninja with acute hearing.

Meaning...

That brat was behind him?!

Thinking this, Yajima Jyunin felt as if ants were crawling all over his back. Without further hesitation, he spun around like a top!

However...

Within his field of vision, behind him, and in front of him, there was still nothing!

His shadow was swallowed by the darkness cast by the buildings, making it impossible to judge the enemy's position by light and shadow.

But Yajima Jyunin was absolutely certain that someone was behind him!

"Creeeak, creeeak!"

The continuous, subtle footsteps, like a death knell, sounded again!

Constantly looking around the empty alley, the creaking footsteps followed the movement of his head, sounding behind him!

Yajima Jyunin's heart pounded faster and faster, his emotions growing more and more agitated.

"Heh!" His face was slightly pale, but he forced a laugh.

"Brat, you think playing these tricks on me will work!?"

"I'll just--"

As he said this, Yajima Jyunin's hands moved faster than his mouth. He swiftly raised his hand and formed the "Ushi-Mi-Hitsuji" hand seals, attempting to quickly activate a ninjutsu to change his current bizarre situation.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

Hidden Mist Jutsu, this ninjutsu was a prerequisite for silent assassination techniques. It involved expelling chakra as mist from the mouth or feet to create a dense fog environment.

At the same time, this mist, infused with his chakra, had a rudimentary sensory effect.

If someone was truly behind him, Yajima Jyunin would immediately mark them and then use the mist to obscure their vision, preventing them from keeping up with his movements and countering their peculiar "invisibility jutsu."

"Hoo!"

A large volume of dense mist was generated by Yajima Jyunin, spreading and expanding!

He finally grasped the situation behind him.

However, What made Yajima Jyunin's blood run cold was--

Behind him, where he now seemed to have eyes, There was still, nothing.

"Ha... ha..."

Faced with this horrifying turn of events, Yajima Jyunin could no longer remain calm. His heart pounded wildly against his chest, threatening to burst, as he gasped for air.

"Where? Where? Where?"

"That brat, where is he!?"

His eyes began to bloodshot, and his Chakra surged uncontrollably.

The intense mist spiraled out of control, continuously generated and expanded by the influx of Chakra. In his desperation to find Hyuga Yu, he spared no expense, not even caring about exposing his identity as a Kirigakure Ninja.

The dense fog enveloped the entire alleyway and buildings within several hundred meters!

Finally, Yajima Jyunin's eyes lit up. He suddenly turned his head in one direction, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"I found you, brat!"

However, the only response he received was—

"Tear!"

In an instant, the wind surged!

Reflecting the last rays of the setting sun, a Japanese Arrow, 1.15 meters long, tore through the surging dense fog!

Under Yajima Jyunin's stunned and uncomprehending gaze, it traced a brilliant, golden arc of killing intent.

With a force far faster, more urgent, and more difficult to dodge than a Ninja throwing a Shuriken—

the arrow pierced through Yajima Jyunin's brow!

And so, Yajima Jyunin, a 32-year-old Kirigakure Chunin, died.