Troublesome Women

"You've already made your move. Are you still hiding in the woods, waiting to ambush us?"

"People of Kumogakure."

In his black-and-white vision, two chakra silhouettes were clearly visible behind tree trunks in the distance.

"One burly black man and one beautiful lady."

"Is this how you people from Kumogakure say hello?"

"..."

Only silence answered him.

There was no movement in the woods, not even the chirping of birds or insects.

Trying to act mysterious, huh?

Hyuga Qinglan narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling the soreness throughout his body.

There still hadn't been enough time. His body couldn't take it.

Fortunately, though, there was only one Chunin, another Chunin whose chakra was close to a Jonin's, and a woman who had barely reached Jonin level.

The woman could be left to Ino-Shika-Cho. Gentle Fist would be enough for the rest...

With that in mind, Hyuga Qinglan pulled out a kunai, left them with a brief instruction, and headed forward.

"Lu Yan, protect the Son of the Daimyo."

"Yes."

Nara Luyan was amazed by Qinglan's speed, but he knew what mattered most right now. He exchanged a glance with the other two. Their years of working together meant they understood one another without a word.

The three shifted their feet and discreetly formed a triangular defensive formation around the Son of the Daimyo.

"Why is it another black man..."

The Son of the Daimyo's voice still trembled slightly. His gaze swept over the fallen guards, then settled on the black man nearby, whom Hyuga Qinglan had kicked into a hole.

It had been the same last time.

A black man had claimed to be a bandit from the Land of Fire, leading a gang of underlings to rob him.

And now it was happening again—only this time, they were even more brazen.

They'd gone straight for him.

At the thought, the Son of the Daimyo's fear was pushed aside by a surge of anger.

"Luyan, are you confident? Make sure you capture them alive..."

"..."

The corner of Nara Luyan's mouth twitched. He nearly lost his composure.

This wasn't like last time, Your Highness.

Those men last time were bandits. These were real Kumogakure ninja.

He complained silently to himself, while keeping his expression calm.

"We'll do our best..."

"That's all right. Good luck!"

The Son of the Daimyo quickly ducked back into his palanquin, then ordered the remaining guards to tighten their formation.

"What a pain..." Nara Luyan muttered, but he didn't let his guard down for a moment.

"Timon, watch out!"

Yamanaka Santian suddenly snapped his eyes open, his pupils contracting as his shout shattered the silence.

"On your right!"

"Whoosh!"

A flash of cold light appeared.

The blade's shrill whistle tore through the air, reaching them almost at the same time as the warning. Wrapped in Lightning Release chakra, it aimed straight for Akimichi Timon's neck.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique."

Akimichi Timon reacted just as quickly.

His right hand swelled several times its normal size in an instant. He raised his bracer and forcibly blocked the lightning-wreathed katana.

"Zzzzt—"

The stench of flesh seared by electricity filled the air as white smoke rose from the point of contact.

But before Timon could do anything, the woman's figure suddenly turned into lightning. The current coursed along the blade and surged into Timon's ample body.

"Ahhh..."

Timon was caught completely off guard by the shock.

But it wasn't over. The real Shaziyi charged out from the side with both hands on her sword, slashing at Akimichi Timon's exposed neck.

Before the blade could reach him, its fierce pressure had already carved a shallow line into the ground.

At the critical moment—

"Shadow Possession Jutsu."

Nara Luyan formed the Rat seal with both hands. Sweat ran down his forehead and along his cheek.

"Success."

"Thud!"

The dull sound of a blade slicing through skin rang out especially sharply in the silent woods.

Blood sprayed from the wound, only to be cauterized by the intense heat of the Lightning Release chakra.

Blackened scabs and fresh red blood mingled in a gruesome sight.

"I thought you didn't care about your companions."

Hyuga Qinglan put away his bloodstained kunai, calmly assumed the opening stance of Eight Trigrams Palm, and looked at the two black ninja opposite him.

"Maybe you should take a look at your own companions before saying that!"

The black man who was still in good condition sneered and cast a cold glance behind Hyuga Qinglan, at Ino-Shika-Cho, who Shaziyi had pinned down.

He reached out to support his companion, who was breathing somewhat unevenly.

"Druid, can you still fight?"

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, their Lightning Release chakra faintly resonating between them.

"Dekai, I can still fight."

Druid gritted his teeth, enduring the burning pain of Lightning Release chakra searing his wound.

"I don't know why you can use Lightning Release Armor, but I do know this: you and your companions will all die here!"

As he spoke, the two unleashed their chakra at the same time.

Blue lightning surged from their bodies once again.

In the next instant, they hurtled forward like twin bolts of lightning, attacking from opposite sides.

Hyuga Qinglan activated his Byakugan and carefully watched the direction of their attacks.

Unlike Kumogakure's wide, powerful Nintaijutsu, his movements were so light they seemed almost elusive.

Whenever the Kumogakure brothers were about to reach him, he drifted away like a leaf on the wind. It looked like a close call, but he remained completely at ease.

"Is this guy using us to practice?"

Shock appeared once more on Dekai's dark face.

If using Lightning Release Armor could be chalked up to luck—

then staying so composed while the two brothers attacked him from both sides, even finding time to use them as practice partners, was no lucky fluke.

It could only mean that Konoha had produced another... genius!

"We have to nip him in the bud!"

Dekai clenched his teeth, a look of grim resolve flashing in his eyes.

"Even if it kills me!"

His chakra surged again, blue lightning nearly engulfing him. His hair stood almost on end.

Even though he could barely manage to activate the initial stage of Lightning Release Armor—

For Konoha not to produce another Namikaze Minato.

For their leader to restore Kumogakure to its former glory...

He was willing to die!

"Lariat Elbow Strike!"

The brothers unleashed their signature move almost simultaneously, striking at Hyuga Qinglan from both sides with overwhelming force.

"Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin."

Purple chakra surged around him, forming a rapidly spinning sphere of absolute defense.

The instant the brothers' signature attacks hit, it was like striking an iron wall. An irresistible force sent them flying.

Rotation?!

He could do that too?!

Dekai was hurled into the air by the chakra. His body tumbled through the sky, but the pain he felt was nothing compared to the tumult raging inside him.

His pupils contracted. He could only watch as Hyuga Qinglan thrust out a palm.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm."

A wave of purple chakra roared out, shooting straight toward Druid.

"Druid!"

As the words left his mouth, Druid was blasted away by the palm strike. His already badly injured body suffered another fatal blow.

Blood traced an arc through the air.

Thud!

He finally collapsed limply to the ground, motionless.

"You're next."