Four people who were, at most, Chunin-level wanted to destroy a supply depot right under the noses of a shinobi unit that included everyone from Chunin down to Genin and numbered at least twenty. Honestly, this was no longer a matter of skill.
At least, Qi thought it was like walking a tightrope over a volcano, especially since there was a considerable gap between the four of them in terms of strength.
But there was no choice. That was the nature of a special mission. And with a profession like a shinobi's, unless your combat skills and strength reached a certain level, there were always too many variables. That was their chance, too.
"Forget it. We'll take the risk!"
Qi had nearly finished his hand seals just as Kakashi disappeared. In that instant, he cast aside all his reservations and focused on controlling his chakra.
For someone sensing chakra, eyesight was practically irrelevant. On top of that, there was plenty of moisture in the air. Within Qi's range of perception, the sentries—and Kakashi, using Earth Release—stood out like enormous bonfires in the dark. They couldn't have been more conspicuous.
As Kakashi was about to reach the first sentry, Qi seized the moment and used his ninjutsu!
Almost instantly, a wave of cold surged up from beneath the Rock Ninja's feet, freezing him firmly to the ground!
After eight years of cultivation, and a breakthrough in quality some time ago, Ice Release had finally stopped being a useless trick for Qi. It had become one of his main skills...
Only Qi himself could understand the thrill of it. It was like someone who'd always used a birdshot gun suddenly getting his hands on a machine gun. There was no way to describe it!
That said, the Rock Ninja reacted as soon as he was frozen. Ice Release required creating ice, and that chill was no joke. Even an ordinary person would shiver if covered in ice, let alone a shinobi whose senses were ten times sharper than an ordinary person's.
The instant his feet were encased in ice, the Rock Ninja understood his predicament. He opened his mouth to shout and alert his comrades!
"If you can make a sound, won't that make me look incompetent? I don't want Qi saying that about me!"
Just as the Rock Ninja was about to cry out, Kakashi finally appeared—and his entrance was a perfect example of the Hatake Clan's customary fighting style!
Kakashi emerged straight from the earth in front of the Rock Ninja without making a sound. The next instant, he swung his hand, and his short blade cleanly severed the man's head!
That was what it meant to move like flowing water, swift and decisive...
Qi had trained in the Instant Kill Technique with Ogata for several years, but even he couldn't help admiring Kakashi's work. Compared with Ogata's straightforward, speed-based instant kills, the Hatake Clan's ambushes were far more unsettling, striking from where you least expected.
And this was only Kakashi's Earth Release. The White Fang had been terrifyingly skilled with the blade, and he was also a master of both Earth Release and Lightning Release. Just how frightening must he have been?
After that, things were easier. Having seen Kakashi's skill, Qi relaxed. One by one, he used the same method in coordination with Kakashi to eliminate the sentries.
Qi and Kakashi's methods were both rather underhanded. The Rock Ninja Genin couldn't withstand their combined attack. Even if they reacted in time, their feet were frozen and they couldn't get up, while Kakashi was fast enough to strike straight at the neck. Every one of them died in a single stroke, unable to send out a warning.
Even so, the two of them had underestimated the Rock Ninja. Just as Kakashi killed the last sentry, a Rock Ninja in the camp suddenly turned around, his gaze fixed directly on Kakashi's position!
"Captain, something wrong?"
The Rock Ninja's strange behavior immediately caught the attention of those around him.
"Yeah!"
The Rock Ninja they called "Captain" wore a vest that only Chunin were permitted to wear. His gaze was cold.
"I smell blood. Someone's snuck in! Prepare for battle!"
At almost the same moment, Qi realized they'd made a serious mistake.
"Damn it... We've definitely been spotted!"
The commotion among the Rock Ninja in the camp only confirmed it.
"What's wrong, Qi?"
Obito and Ling had clearly noticed something was off, too. The Rock Ninja in the camp had shifted from patrolling to taking defensive positions.
Picking a fight with Rock Ninja who were ready to defend themselves was no joke... Everyone knew that of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the Rock Ninja were the best at defensive counterattacks. If their enemies couldn't break through their defenses, they'd die miserably in the counterattack that followed.
"The wind's blowing this way..."
A look of regret crossed Qi's face.
"The smell of blood's been carried into the camp!"
"What do we do now?"
Obito's expression had turned serious, too.
"Once they're ready, we'll be in danger!"
"No choice. We fight our way in! Straight on!"
In answer to Obito's question, Qi replied with a bloodthirsty declaration that amounted to asking for death.
"What!?"
Not only Obito, but even Ling was startled...
"If we charge now, we still have a chance. Otherwise, once they find Kakashi, we're done for!"
Qi had made his decision in just a few sentences. He stopped hiding and stood up.
"When we attack, the enemy's attention will shift to us. Then Kakashi can use Earth Release to sneak inside and disrupt their formation from within. It's our only chance to survive."
The Rock Ninja were skilled in Earth Release, so naturally they were also skilled at dealing with it. If they searched for Kakashi, they'd find him easily. Without Kakashi, the only one among us who could use Earth Release, the three of us would die trying to charge them head-on. Running wouldn't save us, either.
"Understood. It's our only option. How do we let Kakashi know?"
Obito drew his Kunai.
"If he doesn't know what we're planning, won't we just be throwing our lives away?"
"If he can't figure it out, then he doesn't deserve to be the White Fang's son. If he can't even make that judgment, what kind of shinobi is he?"
After saying this, Qi turned to Ling and told her, "Be careful and protect yourself." Then he began an operation that could only be called "stirring up a hornet's nest"—or "making ourselves targets."
"Rumble..."
A roar immediately drew the Rock Ninja's attention below. Qi had chosen the perfect moment to act: the Rock Ninja were just about to search the area for enemies using Earth Release...
They looked up and saw a white torrent burst out from a cliff and come crashing down over them!
"Water Release? Using Water Release against Iwagakure? What kind of idiot is this?"
The Chunin sneered as the "waterfall" poured down on them.
"Fall back!"
At his command, all the Rock Ninja immediately began using Earth Release without a word. With a single rumble, they all sank underground. Before the "waterfall" could reach them, the area had been left completely empty!
But the water didn't care. It followed only the laws of nature. Even though there was no longer a target below, gravity still dragged it down hard, and it splashed outward in every direction...
Just beyond the furthest point the water could reach, a group of Rock Ninja had already emerged from the ground. They watched the scene with cold smiles.
To Rock Ninja, who excelled at Earth Release, Water Release was probably the least lethal kind of ninjutsu. After all, people like the Second Hokage were exceedingly rare in the Shinobi World. Meeting one was about as likely as winning the lottery...
"Kill!"
With a shout, Tu charged forward. He had appeared before the Rock Ninja alongside that Water Release technique. Ling followed behind him, gripping two Kunai of her own.
By contrast, the Rock Ninja were completely at ease. The Chunin swept Qi and the others with a contemptuous glance, then waved his hand and gave the order.
"So they're just a bunch of brats. Kill them!"
It's been a while since I last wrote Naruto fanfiction. I'm at home reviewing for exams these days, so I thought I'd write a little to keep my hand in. Feel free to skim.
≈ap;1;≈g;.