True Blood, True Fear

The female ninja's deployment in the Valley was enough to show that the bandits knew enemies were attacking.

Someone from the Elite Class had carelessly been discovered by the enemy.

They had assumed they were only a few minor thugs, and as a Chunin, the female ninja had intended to have some fun.

Unexpectedly, she had capsized in a gutter.

If not for the special properties of the All-Killing Ash Bones, getting hit would have meant certain death.

It was still impossible to say who would win or lose in the battle between Tōka's group of four and the female ninja.

At that moment, the Valley was like a lit powder keg, suddenly erupting into chaos.

The clanging of battle could be heard everywhere.

Konoha's advantage was that they were all ninja from the Elite Class. A ninja's strength could not be judged by age.

The Elite Class students varied in strength, but the Three Transformations, Shuriken, and traps were not things ordinary people could handle.

The bandits, however, barely held on through sheer numbers and bloodlust.

Tōka, Gai, and Kurenai did not choose to enter the battlefield directly. Instead, they swept through the outskirts, picking off isolated enemies.

Since things had unfolded as Tōka predicted, with the enemy's strongest Chunin already dead, all that remained for them was defeat.

Besides, being forced to use a secret technique to kill a Chunin had already drawn attention to Tōka, who wanted to keep a low profile.

So for the coming battle, Tōka decided to merely go through the motions and get by.

"Tōka, Gai, there are two isolated enemies at two o'clock!" As a genjutsu-type ninja, Kurenai's perception far surpassed Tōka's and Gai's.

The moment she spoke, no further instructions were needed.

Tōka and Gai sprang forward, racing toward the two o'clock direction Kurenai had indicated.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!

"Two grown men. Should we go straight at them?" Hidden in a large tree, Kurenai asked.

"It is time to test our strength." Gai clenched his right fist, flattened his left palm, and smacked them together.

"Kurenai, don't use genjutsu yet. Let the two of us try!" Tōka's eyes flickered. He wanted to test the taijutsu training he had undergone over the past half year.

"You two..." Kurenai's expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to persuade them, she saw the pair staring like young lions that had spotted prey, green light practically glowing from their eyes.

Honestly, why did boys always love showing off!~

She clearly had genjutsu to support them. They could have taken them down in the shortest time possible...

"Gai, let's go!"

"Okay!"

Their bodies suddenly lowered as they gathered power in their legs, pressing the branch beneath the three of them down.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Tōka and Gai shot out one after the other, each taking an opponent.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

A fierce sweeping kick instantly separated the two bandits.

Tōka and Gai each intercepted one opponent. Their gazes met, their eyes overflowing with fighting spirit.

"You scared the hell out of me. You're just two brats?"

"Hmph, quit talking and kill them!"

A man with a scar across his face gripped a cleaver and charged directly at Tōka.

In his eyes, this short runt was easier to deal with than that green-skinned kappa.

"You're really charging in so carelessly?" Tōka raised an eyebrow and held up one hand.

A trace of chakra flashed through his body.

Splat!

The large blade fell, cutting three inches into flesh. Blood ran down the scarred man's arm.

He let out an excited, strange laugh. "These little brats are really tender when you chop them!"

The scarred man's companion held a sharp katana. He noticed that the green-skinned kappa had assumed an attacking stance, showing no grief whatsoever over his companion's death.

A wave of unease immediately rose in the katana wielder's heart.

"Watch out!" The katana wielder had barely shouted.

A ghostly shadow drifted strangely behind the scarred man.

"Seeing how decisively you struck, you seem quite used to blood." Tōka stared at the scarred man expressionlessly.

Those who killed would inevitably be killed.

As a ninja, one had to be prepared to be killed. As a bandit, one had to be prepared to be killed as well.

"What?! A ninja!" The bandit stared in shock at the wooden post he had cut. It was a ninjutsu!

"Though you're a little ugly, you'll do."

Splat!!

Tōka gripped a Kunai tightly in his right hand, braced its hilt with his left, and shoved hard.

The Kunai plunged directly into the scarred man's neck, blood spraying out like a fountain.

It splattered all over Tōka's delicate little face.

"Dynamic Prelude."

With a loud shout, Gai kicked his enemy in the jaw.

The katana wielder's body stiffened, his eyes rolling back as he was launched into the air.

"Konoha Strong Gale!" Gai shook his head from side to side and let out a strange cry.

Then he leaped into the air and unleashed a spinning back kick with astonishing speed and power.

Bang!

The katana wielder bent over like a shrimp, no longer able to hold his katana.

It fell to the ground with a clatter.

The katana wielder's body shot like a cannonball into the tree stump behind him.

A wisp of white smoke rose. The katana wielder was clearly dead beyond doubt!

"This... really is..."

Kurenai finally revealed herself from the tree, staring at Tōka and Gai in shock.

The guys universally acknowledged at school as dead last?

Dead last had this kind of strength?

Kurenai's little face flushed. Then what did that make her?

She had to admit that whether it was Gai or Tōka attacking, she was not completely confident she could block them.

Just then, Tōka and Gai exchanged a glance before suddenly bending over.

"Bleurgh~~"

The two clutched their stomachs and vomited up a mouthful of sour liquid.

They had thought they were mentally prepared. They had not expected...

"Bleurgh~~" Tōka's face turned slightly pale as he tried to force down the rising sensation in his chest.

It was different from the first time he had used the All-Killing Ash Bones, when the female ninja's body had vanished like shredded paper.

At that time, Tōka had not experienced the feeling of blade after blade drawing blood and cutting flesh.

But just now...

"Bleurgh~~"

"So what? They're only two little brats after all."

Seeing this, Kurenai smiled gently and took out tissues, handing them to Tōka and Gai.

After vomiting twice, Tōka felt much better.

He wiped the corner of his mouth as he straightened up, then indifferently glanced at the corpses lying in pools of blood.

His real first blood...

Gai's thick nerves were also the perfect remedy for his recovery.

Seeing Kurenai's gloating expression, Tōka could not help giving a mischievous smile.

"Kurenai, you're up next."

The sudden words instantly froze the smile at Kurenai's lips.

Then Kurenai put on a miserable expression and glared resentfully at Tōka.

Tōka merely shrugged, unconcerned. That look did not work on him.

It was a hurdle every ninja had to cross!

"Let's go." Tōka and Gai quickly collected themselves, though they still felt somewhat sick.

At least they would not vomit again.

People with seasickness ate until they vomited, ate again once they had emptied themselves, and kept at it until they stopped vomiting. Then they would no longer get seasick.

Killing was the same. Once they saw enough of it, they would get used to it.

The three did not need to deal with the bodies and vanished directly into the depths of the Valley.

Very quickly, twenty minutes passed.

Tōka's group had been wandering aimlessly through the forest in the Valley, yet the surroundings were strangely quiet.

"Stop!" Tōka, walking in front, raised a hand.

The three instantly concealed themselves beneath a large tree.

"Don't you find this strange?" Tōka asked.

"You noticed it too?" A solemn look flashed through Kurenai's eyes.

"What is it?" Gai looked utterly confused.

"It's been twenty minutes. Although we haven't gone toward the central area..." Tōka paused before continuing, "we haven't encountered anyone!"

Not enemies, nor allies.

The three of them had encountered no one.

At Gai's pace, he could circle the entire Valley in ten minutes.

Yet after twenty minutes, the three had not seen a single person.

Although Tōka and Gai had slowed down for Kurenai, this was still extremely abnormal.

"To put it simply, we should be under a genjutsu!" Seeing that Gai still looked unable to understand, Kurenai took over.

"Oh, so that's it." Gai showed a look of realization, then glanced at Tōka with disdain.

After all that pointless talk, Kurenai had hit the nail on the head in one sentence.

Tōka's eye twitched. He wanted to give Gai a thorough beating, but he did not have the strength for that yet.

"Kurenai, want to give it a try?" Not wanting to look at Gai's bowl-cut head, Tōka turned to the cute girl.

"Okay." Kurenai nodded, then closed her eyes and rapidly formed hand seals.

Her chakra surged like boiling water, then suddenly sank and became still.

"Release!" Kurenai opened her eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them.

The surrounding environment wavered. The trees were still the same trees.

Only...

There were now three people directly ahead.

"Jonin vests?!"

Aside from Gai, Kurenai was an academic standout.

Though Tōka had not gone to school many times, he still possessed basic knowledge.

The man in the center, his entire body wrapped in bandages, was clearly a Jonin.

The two beside him were both Chunin!

Including the female ninja Tōka and Asuma's group had killed together earlier.

One Jonin and three Chunin—the standard composition of an elite ninja squad!

All three wore Kirigakure forehead protectors, but each symbol had been slashed through the middle.

"Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure?!" Kurenai recognized the pattern on those forehead protectors.

"Hey, hey, hey, look carefully. We aren't from Kirigakure anymore." The middle-aged man on the right pointed at the forehead protector on his head, deliberately reminding them.

"Heh, is that so?" Tōka grinned at the sight, mockery filling his eyes.

"What is it?" Kurenai asked in confusion.

An entire standard elite squad becoming Rogue Ninja together?

Did Kirigakure really think everyone else was an idiot?

In Tōka's eyes, these people were not Rogue Ninja at all.

They had disguised themselves as Rogue Ninja and infiltrated the Land of Fire to cause trouble!

Konoha had already officially gone to war with Sunagakure, while Kirigakure was plagued by internal strife yet still wanted to get involved.

As the head of the Five Great Nations, Konoha possessed deep foundations.

Everyone knew in their hearts that Sunagakure alone was not Konoha's match.

Kirigakure wanted Konoha and the Sunagakure Shinobi to fight each other to the death.

An elite team consisting of one jonin and three Chunin would not be able to accomplish much on the front lines.

But infiltrating behind enemy lines was different.

They could cut off supply routes, ambush medical units, and so on.

By harassing Konoha's rear supply lines, the Sunagakure Shinobi would have room to catch their breath.

As long as the war continued, the losses suffered by Konoha and the Sunagakure Shinobi would be astronomical.

When the two great nations had exhausted themselves too severely, Ōnoki of the Land of Earth would definitely be unable to sit still.

In the end, Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning might even join the war.

That was Kirigakure's plan...

Or rather, that person's plan.

Tōka narrowed his eyes and sorted through all the connections. This was an advantage unique to shut-ins!

"He really seems to have noticed something?" The middle-aged man's expression darkened as he spoke in a low voice.

"Don't worry. Dead men don't talk!" The bandaged man curled his lips into a cruel smile, making the three of them shudder.

Feeling that powerful killing intent, Kurenai could not help shrinking back.

Seeing this, Tōka stepped forward and positioned himself in front of Kurenai, blocking that chilling killing intent.

Although a thin layer of cold sweat had formed on his forehead, this was precisely when he could not back down.

A jonin really was terrifyingly strong!

His mere presence left Tōka unable to resist.

This won't do. I have to find a way to deal with this. Tōka kept a stern expression, but anxiety welled up inside him.

The bandaged man was using his presence to suppress them. They did not even have the courage to fight.

Before long, the three of them would lose the ability to move and be easily killed by their opponent!

"End this quickly!" A cold glint flashed through the bandaged man's eyes.

At his words, the two Chunin suddenly lowered their bodies, then erupted with chakra gathered beneath their feet.

Their speed abruptly surged, and the two transformed into black shadows as they charged at Tōka's group.

"Gai!" Tōka shouted as he rushed out first.

Gai did not hesitate either and immediately sprinted after him.

How could a man be afraid of battle!

His youth would never fade!

"Hmph, two brats who don't know their own limits!" The middle-aged Chunin sneered disdainfully, flicking his wrist and sending a kunai flying.

At the same time, he formed hand seals: Tiger—Ox—Dragon—Rooster—Dragon—Sheep.

"Water Style: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"

Although it was only a C-rank ninjutsu, that depended on who was using it!

Within the dense forest, a visible mass of water transformed into a water shark, baring its fangs as it lunged at Tōka.

Tōka had just leaped aside to evade the incoming kunai. Suspended in midair, he had nowhere to brace himself.

He was instantly forced into a disadvantage. Did he have to take it head-on?

Tōka hesitated, raising his crossed arms before him in defense.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Suddenly, a booming voice rang through the forest.

From atop a nearby tree, an Anbu wearing an animal mask rapidly formed hand seals and spat out a massive fireball.

Water and fire collided with a sharp hiss.

The Water Shark Bullet Technique evaporated into mist, while the Great Fireball Technique vanished as well.

"So you finally decided to show yourself?" Tōka landed safely and silently glanced at the Anbu's back.

If he had not known someone was following them from the shadows, Tōka would have chosen to flee the moment he saw the jonin.

No, not flee.

Tōka called it a tactical retreat.

"You leave this place. I'll handle them." The Anbu was straightforward, speaking in a deep voice.

"You deal with that mummy. Leave the other two to us!"

Tōka shook his head in refusal. He preferred taking revenge himself!

Without the jonin's oppressive presence, Tōka was confident he could take down that middle-aged man! (To be continued)