As the two groups of ninja faced off, Shirokumo Hayama suddenly spoke. "Once I break through this ice prison, retreat immediately."
The other two Konoha Ninja nodded. One of them quickly asked, "What about you, Captain?"
Shirokumo Hayama stared at Uesugi Shinji and said gravely, "I'll stay behind to cover your retreat, of course."
His voice dropped even lower. "And give our poor fallen kids the justice they deserve!"
The faces and laughter of the young ninja who had just died before his eyes surfaced in his mind. His resolve to kill Uesugi Shinji with his own hands only strengthened.
Suddenly, a powerful stream of blue-green air burst from Shirokumo Hayama, making his hair and clothes whip in the wind. The currents were formed from the Wind Release chakra surging within him. He was clearly preparing a powerful Wind Release Ninjutsu.
Seeing this, Uesugi Shinji swiftly formed Hand Seals. He had to take Shirokumo Hayama down before the man completed his technique and broke through the ice prison!
"Ice Release: Ice Thorn."
Countless razor-sharp Ice Spikes sprouted from the pillars surrounding the Konoha Ninja, instantly filling the entire interior of the ice prison. If the Konoha Ninja had no way to counter them, the spikes would pierce their bodies full of holes.
Kisame's lips curled into a faint, triumphant smile.
This wasn't his first time working with Uesugi Shinji. In past missions, whenever Shinji completed this combination of techniques, every enemy without exception had died on the spot. As far as Kisame was concerned, the Konoha Ninja and their target inside the ice prison were already dead beyond recognition.
But just then, Uesugi Shinji's voice suddenly rang in Kisame's ear.
"Move!"
Trusting his partner, Kisame immediately dodged sideways to the left. Uesugi Shinji moved in the opposite direction, to the right.
The moment they cleared the area, the ice prison and the Ice Spikes within it exploded. A violent gale surged skyward, sweeping through the area and completely destroying the Ice Release Ninjutsu.
At the same time, a razor-sharp wind blade appeared within the gale. It moved so fast it was almost impossible to see, shooting toward the spot where Uesugi Shinji and Kisame had been.
Thanks to Shinji's timely warning, neither he nor Kisame was struck by the blade.
Once he regained his footing, Kisame turned and saw that the wind blade had sliced through a large swath of trees behind him. He couldn't help feeling a flicker of fear.
There was no doubt that the future Kisame Hoshigaki would become a powerful S-rank ninja. But he hadn't been a jōnin for very long. Though he was already one of the most outstanding among them, his abilities still fell well short of what he would display as a member of the Akatsuki.
"Goodness, the star of Konoha's elite jōnin really lives up to his reputation. You're not so easy to kill, are you?"
Having quickly recovered, Kisame drew his sword and raised it in a defensive stance, while also making sure to get in a few words.
Before the mission, they had confirmed their target's identity. The one who concerned them most was naturally the leader of the squad, Shirokumo Hayama.
Shirokumo Hayama wasn't a Kekkei Genkai user, but his fundamentals and overall abilities were top-tier. With his unyielding nature and cautious temperament, he could be counted among Konoha's finest jōnin.
Now, Hayama had not only defended against their killing move but also launched such a fierce counterattack. It was unexpected, yet still within reason.
As the gale that had destroyed the Ice Release Ninjutsu gradually faded, Uesugi Shinji and Kisame, poised to attack nearby, could just make out the Konoha Ninja through the swirling dust.
One figure burst through the dust and charged toward Uesugi Shinji. The other two moved in the opposite direction, vanishing into the woods in the blink of an eye.
The charging figure was clearly Shirokumo Hayama, staying behind to cover their retreat. The other two were the Konoha jōnin who had fled, carrying their target away from the battlefield.
"Trying to run?"
Uesugi Shinji narrowed his eyes and hurled the Wakizashi in his hand forward. Wrapped in pale, freezing mist, it shot through the air and reached Shirokumo Hayama in an instant. Hayama burst through the dust and immediately raised his sword to block it.
Metal rang out sharply as Hayama's blade stopped the incoming Wakizashi.
The Wakizashi had been thrown with such force that Hayama couldn't knock it away outright. For a split second, the weapons locked together, slowing his charge.
In that brief moment, a shadow flickered before Hayama's eyes. His enemy, Uesugi Shinji, had used the Body Flicker Technique to appear right in front of him.
Their eyes met. Murderous intent flashed!
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