Is This True Combat?

Sasuke Uchiha walked on the flank of the formation, his hands shoved into his pockets, his sharp gaze scanning the surrounding environment. He viewed this mission as a true test of his abilities, maintaining constant vigilance.

Sakura, meanwhile, struggled to keep up with Sasuke's pace, though she was more concerned about whether this long trek would result in a sunburn.

Kakashi followed leisurely at the rear, the Icha Icha Paradise in his hands barely ever closing. He appeared nonchalant, yet the peripheral vision of his single exposed eye covered the entire squad and the surrounding terrain.

Ling Xuan walked in the middle of the formation. While his movement appeared steady, his Eye of Truth was already operating at a high level of intensity.

He recorded every environmental factor—terrain, vegetation, and climate—as foundational data for constructing a combat environment model. At the same time, he kept a close watch on his teammates.

He could detect Naruto's nearly irrepressible excitement, see the taut muscle lines beneath Sasuke's calm exterior, and perceive the nervousness Tazuna could not hide beneath his drunken grumbling.

Ling Xuan's gaze swept over the client's hand, which was trembling slightly as it gripped a wine bottle, and he understood everything in an instant.

The mission details were a lie. Tazuna was being hunted by a threat lethal enough that a C-rank escort mission was nowhere near sufficient to handle it.

Kakashi-sensei must have realized it as well, Ling Xuan glanced at the jonin at the back of the squad. The reason he hasn't pointed it out is perhaps because he wants to use this mission as our first real-world combat test.

Having figured this out, Ling Xuan stopped focusing on Tazuna and instead poured more energy into monitoring the surroundings. He knew the real test could arrive at any moment.

After walking for about half a day, a puddle appeared on the path ahead.

The weather was clear and it hadn't rained for several days; for such a puddle to appear out of thin air on a dry dirt road was inherently irrational.

Naruto stepped right through it carelessly, noticing nothing. Sasuke's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if he sensed something wrong, but he did not investigate further.

Only Ling Xuan, the moment he saw the puddle, received an alert from his Eye of Truth.

[Warning: Anomaly detected in the puddle ahead. Trace amounts of chakra residue present. Two life signs suppressed to an extremely low level are located beneath the puddle. Chakra flow patterns indicate Kirigakure ninja; status: lurking.]

A trap.

Ling Xuan understood the situation but did not sound an alarm. He needed a real battle to test the results of his recent training and to see how this makeshift squad would perform when faced with a life-or-death moment.

Thus, he remained silent and followed the team calmly, walking past the puddle.

Just as the entire squad passed the puddle, a sudden change occurred!

"Splash!"

Two dark shadows lunged from the puddle. They wore Kirigakure headbands, their faces wrapped in bandages, and their arms equipped with vicious metal gauntlets. A chain glinting with cold light connected the two, coiling toward Kakashi at the back of the squad like a venomous snake!

"First one!" one of the ninja sneered.

The chain tightened instantly, and accompanied by the sound of metal claws tearing through flesh, Kakashi's body was shredded into pieces!

Blood... did not splatter.

It was a Substitution Technique!

The two Kirigakure ninja, the Demon Brothers, Meizu and Gozu, were startled. But they had no time to think, for their next target had already shifted to the most conspicuous member of the squad: Naruto!

"Second one!"

The chain struck again, aiming straight for Naruto's vitals.

"Naruto!" Sakura let out a terrified scream.

Naruto was completely stunned by the sudden turn of events. He stood frozen in place, his mind blank, watching the chain of death hurtle toward him.

Is this... real combat? Fear, like cold seawater, instantly engulfed him.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal colliding rang out.

Sasuke Uchiha's figure had appeared in front of Naruto at some point. He used a kunai to precisely block the whistling chain. However, the opponent's strength far exceeded his expectations; the massive impact forced him to retreat repeatedly, his arm going numb.

"Are you just going to stand there shaking? Loser," Sasuke said coldly without looking back, though his eyes were grave as never before.

"Sa... Sasuke..." Naruto looked at the back blocking his path, his lips trembling.

"Hmph, not bad, brat from Konoha," the Demon Brothers sneered at Sasuke.

"Gozu, you go finish off the one with the kunai. I'm going to kill the client!"

"Right!"

The two shook their chains and separated instantly. Gozu swung his clawed chain at Sasuke, while Meizu bypassed the group, lunging straight for the rear where Tazuna was being protected by Sakura.

"Protect Mr. Tazuna!" Sakura, though her legs were weak with fear, summoned her courage and spread her arms to block Tazuna.

Yet, how could a newly graduated genin withstand the assault of an experienced chunin? Meizu's claws grew larger in Sakura's eyes.

It's over.

At this critical juncture, a figure shifted silently, stepping in front of Sakura and Tazuna.

It was Ling Xuan.

He didn't even look back at the two behind him, his gaze locked calmly on the incoming Meizu.

[Target: Kirigakure Chunin, Meizu. Chakra level: Standard Chunin. Specialties: Water Release, assassination techniques, coordinated chain attacks. Attack method: Poisoned claw on right hand. Trajectory: Linear, targeting the two behind me; does not view me as the primary threat.]

"Another one looking to die!" Meizu sneered, his claws lunging toward Ling Xuan's face without hesitation.

Ling Xuan did not dodge or retreat. Just as the claws were about to make contact, he twisted his body at a strange angle, evading the lethal strike. Simultaneously, he brought his right hand together like a sword, pale cyan light gathering at his fingertips, and struck at the wrist joint of Meizu's swinging arm.

"Snap!"

A soft sound rang out. Meizu felt a numbness in his wrist as a subtle, ingenious force penetrated his defenses, causing his claw-swinging motion to come to an abrupt halt.

Such incredible speed! Such precise strikes! Meizu was inwardly shocked and hurriedly retreated.

On the other side, Sasuke faced Gozu's attacks alone, appearing exceptionally strained. The Demon Brothers' coordination was seamless; even when separated, their movements echoed one another. Every slash from Gozu seemed to account for Meizu's positioning, making Sasuke feel as though he were being attacked by both of them simultaneously.

"Damn it!" Sasuke gritted his teeth, barely dodging the chain sweeping toward his lower body with a backflip, looking rather disheveled.

Ling Xuan steadied his stance without pursuing. His Eye of Truth had already taken in the dynamics of the entire battlefield.