Task Completion

"Cough, cough. Truly a fine tactic."

Shirokumo Hayama slowly turned his head, his voice sounding somewhat weak.

There was a hint of unwillingness in his tone, yet he remained remarkably calm. Having roamed the ninja world for many years, he had long since anticipated the possibility of defeat and death.

The frost on the ice sculpture behind Shirokumo Hayama gradually flaked away, revealing Uesugi Shinji hidden within. Having been pierced through the chest by Shirokumo Hayama's weapon, he was severely wounded, his face pale and devoid of color.

Just moments ago, after being stabbed in the back by Shirokumo Hayama, he had immediately turned his back to his opponent and unleashed two ninjutsu.

The first was to use the ice shards scattered nearby to form an Ice Release clone, intended to draw Shirokumo Hayama's attention.

The second was to use Ice Release chakra to freeze himself into an ice sculpture, making himself appear as an Ice Release clone and leading Shirokumo Hayama to believe he had only struck a decoy.

Had it been any other type of clone, such as a Shadow Clone or Earth Release clone, Shirokumo Hayama would have relied on the tactile feedback from his weapon to make an immediate, accurate judgment.

However, due to the unique nature of Ice Release, Uesugi Shinji could instantly freeze his body solid, physically taking on the properties of ice. Not only did no blood flow when he was struck, but the sensation transmitted to Shirokumo Hayama was that of piercing hard ice rather than a human body.

It was this momentary miscalculation in the heat of battle that caused the battle-hardened Shirokumo Hayama to fall into the trap and ultimately lose to Uesugi Shinji!

Uesugi Shinji offered no response to Shirokumo Hayama's final sigh before death.

As the saying goes, "villains die from talking too much." When holding an absolute advantage, one should speak less and decisively reap the rewards!

An arc of blade light flashed, and with a swift motion, Uesugi Shinji decapitated Shirokumo Hayama.

His movements were incredibly rapid, fluid, and seamless. One second he was swinging his blade, the next he had already sheathed it, Shirokumo Hayama's head now held firmly in his hand.

"Shirokumo Hayama... these renowned elite jonin are truly not to be trifled with."

Uesugi Shinji sighed softly, then coughed violently, spitting out blood mixed with shards of ice.

As a fellow jonin, he knew his raw strength was a notch below Shirokumo Hayama's; in reality, he had only secured this victory by exploiting a massive tactical advantage.

Shirokumo Hayama had possessed no intelligence on the Kirigakure attackers and was unaware if other enemies were lurking in the shadows. He had needed to end the fight quickly to assist his comrades, placing him at a severe psychological disadvantage.

Normal ninja combat is often more of a psychological game; once deceived by an enemy's ninjutsu, the outcome is frequently a miserable death on the spot.

Had they been in a fair, controlled environment where Shirokumo Hayama could play to his strengths, it might well have been Uesugi Shinji who ended up dying in regret.

But this world grants no one the luxury of "what ifs"!

Uesugi Shinji briefly treated his wounds and immediately set off in the direction where the other two Konoha ninjas had retreated.

His injuries were not light; although Shirokumo Hayama's blade had missed his heart, it had pierced a portion of his lung.

However, relying on his brain-computer interface and Ice Release, Uesugi Shinji could precisely seal the injured areas within his body with Ice Release chakra, ensuring no damage to the surrounding tissues, thus granting him the ability to continue moving and fighting.

A short while later.

Uesugi Shinji successfully rendezvoused with his squad members. In addition to Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been his partner in the engagement from the start, there was now a female ninja with long black hair tied into a ponytail.

This female ninja was about the same age as Uesugi Shinji, wearing a cool expression on her beautiful face, looking every bit the emotionless assassin. Her name was Rin Onodera, the support member who had remained hidden in the shadows of their three-man squad, a ninja possessing the Shadow Release Kekkei Genkai.

Shadow Release is a very peculiar Kekkei Genkai ability. Unlike the Nara clan of Konoha who manipulate shadows, Rin's Shadow Release is a special ability that allows her to hide within light and shadow.

The "light and shadow" here is not limited to the shadows cast by objects; it even includes reflections on mirror surfaces and water.

In fact, before Kirigakure went through the dark history of the "Bloody Mist Village," the village had the highest variety of Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world, including many that were incredibly powerful and bizarre. It was only after the Bloody Mist era that most of the Kekkei Genkai clans and ninjas of Kirigakure were wiped out, vanishing into the long river of history.

Due to the unique nature of her Kekkei Genkai, she usually hid in the shadows of Uesugi Shinji or Kisame Hoshigaki, waiting for the right moment to strike and provide support.

"It seems the target has been dealt with. Let us return to report as soon as possible."

Watching Kisame Hoshigaki carry a corpse wearing a Kirigakure ninja uniform on his shoulder, Uesugi Shinji said slowly.