Killing Technique in the Mist

"Brat, you're playing with fire..."

Qi's remark, coupled with Obito's oil-on-the-fire behavior, had truly infuriated this Iwagakure Chunin.

To think that he, a dignified elite Chunin, had been threatened by a mere brat due to a moment of negligence—it was simply preposterous!

For a ninja village, reaching the rank of elite Chunin meant one had truly entered the ranks of the village's core elite. This was not something achieved through the mere accumulation of time; it represented a massive chasm in the classification of ninja levels.

An elite Chunin, if placed in a second-rate ninja village, would basically be the head of a clan. Starting from this level, one was considered a true expert, and the famous Anbu of the Five Great Shinobi Countries were primarily composed of such individuals.

After all, Jonin were a scarce resource. Whether one was a Special Jonin, a regular Jonin, or an elite Jonin, they were a precious commodity. Large villages had deep pockets and didn't feel the pinch, but the total number of Jonin in all the second-rate villages combined likely didn't even equal those of a single Great Ninja Village.

Therefore, this Iwagakure Chunin felt extremely annoyed. Given his status, he was a man of some standing in Iwagakure, yet he was being mocked by a brat. If it weren't for the fact that this bastard possessed a valuable secret technique, he would have hacked him to death right then and there...

However, having said that, in this short time, he had managed to piece together some clues about Qi's identity. The reason was simple: he himself came from a bloodline clan, and bloodline clans across all nations had always possessed a cross-border "philanthropic" awareness when it came to gathering intelligence on other bloodline clans.

Thus, he decided that although Qi made him very angry, he still had to capture him alive. After all, if he were dead, his value would not be nearly as high.

"Attack together!"

Thinking this, he turned his head and swept a glance at his subordinates on both sides.

"You lot go kill that brat who uses Fire Release. This bastard is mine!"

He hadn't forgotten that Obito was the one who posed the greatest threat to the granary.

This order also meant that the meaningless negotiations between the two sides had finally broken down. Several Rock Ninja didn't waste words; they first channeled their Hardening Technique throughout their bodies, then, along with the elite Chunin, slowly closed in on Qi, Obito, and Rin.

They were very cautious, their gazes shifting constantly between Qi and Obito. Clearly, as soon as the three showed the slightest opening, they would be met with a thunderous strike. After all, the so-called restrictions were mutual; for Qi and his companions, destroying the granary was also a last resort.

"Qi..."

Obito swallowed hard. He felt the pressure; at the very least, these individuals were not like ordinary Genin.

"Finally, it's time to fight..."

Qi, on the other hand, exhaled. Having followed Ogata for so long, his nerves were much tougher than Obito's. He had encountered worse situations, though those had involved Mist Ninja.

"Obito, protect Rin. That is your only mission."

"What are you trying to do? Don't be stupid! You aren't actually thinking of taking on so many enemies by yourself, are you?"

Obito felt he really couldn't understand Qi. If he were bold, he was actually scared to death of dying; if he were afraid of death, he was crazy enough to do anything.

"If we were outside, I certainly wouldn't do this, but we are in a granary right now."

Qi reached back and sheathed his katana, his hands rapidly forming seals while he explained to Obito, "My fighting style is different from yours. You can't help me."

As if to verify this statement, Qi had already finished his seals. He looked at the approaching Rock Ninja and whispered, "Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu..."

In an instant, a mist rapidly generated throughout the granary. Soon, Obito was surprised to find that his surroundings were completely white. Aside from Rin, whom he could barely see, Qi, who had been in front of him, had completely vanished.

This was the Silent Killing Technique in the mist that Qi had learned from the Mist Ninja, and it was one of the basic combat skills of a Kirigakure ninja. Of course, those who could master it to a high level were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; after all, an easy entry didn't mean it was easy to master.

"This is..."

It wasn't just Obito and Rin who were surprised; the Rock Ninja were as well. After all, their experience fighting Mist Ninja was effectively zero. The vast majority of Rock Ninja were only familiar with the combat styles of Sunagakure and Konoha, while they had only heard of Mist Ninja from the elders.

"So he really is from the Mist!"

The Iwagakure Chunin's reaction was surprisingly calm. He watched the changes in his surroundings with composure. As an elite Chunin, it would be ridiculous if he were shocked by something like this.

"Kid, you're from the Yuki Clan of the Land of Water, aren't you? If I recall correctly, your clan was wiped out by the Daimyo of the Land of Water a few years ago."

"You actually know about the Yuki?"

Qi's voice drifted from the white mist, ethereal and elusive, making it difficult to pinpoint his location, but the surprise in his tone could not be hidden.

Having left the Land of Water for so long, this was the first time he had met someone who could identify his bloodline at a glance.

"What's so strange about that? For those of us in bloodline clans, knowing about similar bloodlines is a matter of course!"

Fusion Jutsus existed in almost all of the Five Great Villages. Iwagakure also had a bloodline known as Explosion Release, and they even had a special unit called the Explosion Corps. This Chunin was a possessor of the Explosion Release bloodline.

For these bloodline clans that also possessed fusion jutsus, while the Yuki name wasn't famous, it wasn't unknown to them.

"So this is the Mist Ninja's Hidden Mist Jutsu? It's my first time seeing it. I hope you're up to the mark and don't disappoint me, brat."

The Iwagakure Chunin gave a cold laugh while continuously sensing Qi's exact position. The Mist Ninja's combat style was notoriously insidious, and he didn't want to capsize in the gutter.

However, he didn't think Qi had the ability to threaten his life. After all, the Hidden Mist Jutsu was just the foundation; the Silent Killing Technique was the higher realm. Once mastered to the extreme, one could even kill a Jonin. Qi clearly didn't have that level of skill, or he wouldn't have hidden in the granary to use the confined space to deploy his mist.

"Talk is cheap. Can you find my position? Although it sounds boastful, if you can't find me, you'll just be killed by me one by one. For example..."

Before the sentence was finished, Qi had already appeared behind one of the Rock Ninja, and without a word, he swung his blade!

"Ah!"

Without the slightest suspense, the Rock Ninja was sliced in two by a strike imbued with wind-attribute chakra, only having time to let out a single scream...

It was no joke... The experience and level he had gained while practicing this were earned with his life, alongside the Mist Ninja who had been hunting him!

And that Anbu leader who knew Ogata had even written down the complete training methods for the Silent Killing Technique in a scroll. With his current strength as a Chunin, if he couldn't kill an ordinary Rock Ninja, he might as well find a block of tofu and smash his head against it!

However, that scream also exposed his position. At almost the same moment, several kunai flew directly toward him, and the other remaining Rock Ninja charged in as well.

But they were destined to be disappointed. After all, they could only judge by sound, their eyes completely unable to see anything, whereas Qi was different. The Silent Killing Technique was a skill unique to the Mist Ninja precisely because they had mastered the method of clearly perceiving their surroundings within the mist.

Thus, in the time it took for these few Rock Ninja to merely turn and dash, Qi had already vacated his original position, vanishing without a trace...

"What are you all doing!?"

The roar of the Iwagakure chunin echoed over, though he did not care in the slightest that his own position was exposed.

"I didn't tell you to go and kill that brat; everyone, back-to-back, gather together and move slowly! This kind of technique usually attacks from behind. If it were a frontal assault, there would be nothing to fear at all!"

The moment his voice fell, a faint sound of air being sliced came from behind him, striking his back with a vicious blow...