Scarlet red veiled his eyes.
A thick, pungent stench of blood invaded his nostrils.
This was Kyohiko's first time killing someone.
He couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
The next instant, a blade flashed before his eyes.
Kakashi's White Fang Short Blade killed the incoming ninja like a gust of wind.
"Don't get distracted!"
He gave a brief warning, then charged at the next opponent with his blade.
Kyohiko came back to his senses.
That was right!
This was a battlefield. There was no room for distraction.
Fortunately,
Kurenai's genjutsu and Kakashi's swordsmanship were both helping him avoid danger.
Kyohiko came back to his senses.
"Kakashi, work with me."
"Hm?"
Kakashi didn't understand at first, but he knew how Kyohiko wanted him to cooperate.
He quickly formed Hand Seals.
Lightning Style: Earth Flash!
Before the seals were complete, Kyohiko had already acted first. A vast torrent of water gushed from his mouth and surged toward their enemies.
Several quick-moving ninjas escaped with the Body Flicker Technique.
But
a few of the slower ones couldn't avoid the rushing water.
Then electricity surged through it!
"Ahhh!"
The powerful current made those who hadn't managed to escape dance in the water, their screams coming in fits and starts.
Kyohiko had already cut off the jutsu.
The ninjas attacking them were fast and ruthless. When they saw their comrades paralyzed by the current and unable to move, their first thought wasn't to save them, but—
Whoosh!
Steel needles rained down, piercing the bodies of those who hadn't managed to escape.
Kyohiko and Kakashi immediately used substitution and the Body Flicker Technique to switch places.
When they emerged after everything had gone quiet, their attackers had vanished without a trace.
Shizune stared from a distance, dumbfounded.
Until now, she'd only had a vague idea of Kyohiko's abilities. But now...
No wonder he'd become Lord Jiraiya's student!
What incredible speed.
What powerful Water Style!
"To reach this level, he must have practiced Water Style for a long time, right?"
Shizune murmured to herself.
Kurenai glanced at her and sighed. "He's been at it for half a month."
"Huh?"
Shizune looked utterly disbelieving.
Half a month?
How could that be?
Many Chunin couldn't reach that level of skill with ninjutsu.
Kurenai sensed the area for a moment.
"They ran off quickly. Let's check whether Kyohiko and Kakashi are hurt."
"Oh, right!"
Shizune came to her senses—
Everything that had just happened was so shocking that she'd forgotten they were still in the middle of a fight.
"Kakashi, Kyohiko, are you all right?"
Kurenai and Shizune hurried over.
Kurenai was still holding Kyohiko's leg weight—
The thing was surprisingly heavy!
"We're fine. Shizune, can you see if these people can still be saved?"
Up ahead, all five people who'd been paralyzed by the current were lying on the ground.
"Mm."
Shizune nodded and walked toward the group behind the old wall.
Kakashi and Kyohiko flanked her, protecting her in case anyone who wasn't quite dead tried a surprise attack.
Unfortunately—
Shizune checked several of them, but they were all already dead.
"The needles were coated with poison!"
A few seconds passed.
"This one's still barely breathing. We have to treat him immediately!"
"I'll go get Lady Tsunade."
Kakashi sheathed his sword and started back the way they'd come.
If they could save a prisoner, they might be able to dig up some information.
Shizune hesitated for a moment. In the end, she didn't explain anything. Instead, she did her best to use medical ninjutsu to preserve what little life remained in him and tried to draw out the poison.
But unfortunately,
she hadn't yet mastered the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
A few seconds later, Jiraiya and Kakashi arrived, while Tsunade stayed farther away.
Jiraiya took one look.
"Don't waste your chakra. He's beyond saving."
He crouched down.
Then Jiraiya turned to Kyohiko.
"You and Kakashi actually fought them, so you know their style and methods best. What do you think their background is?"
"Their style and tactics seemed like those of Sunagakure ninja, but I don't think they were the ones behind this... Earlier, they shouted that they'd capture us and trade us for someone. But do these skills look like those of wandering ninja?"
Kyohiko shared his thoughts.
It didn't make sense.
Sunagakure had also suffered heavy losses in the Second Shinobi World War. Many of its key forces had fallen, so the best choice now was to recover and rebuild.
Besides,
the Third Kazekage was still alive and well. For them to attack Konoha now...
That would be asking for trouble.
Jiraiya surveyed the scene, then took out a Sealing Scroll and sealed all the bodies inside.
"Let's take them back and have the experts examine them. They might find some clues."
He couldn't tell who they were either.
Outside, Tsunade asked calmly, "What happened?"
"Hard to say, but they don't look like wandering ninja to me either. Maybe some other ninja village is trying to frame Sunagakure and make us fight them," Jiraiya replied.
That was Kakashi's judgment, too.
After all, their attackers' fighting style was so conspicuous that it seemed almost deliberate.
But
Kyohiko's thoughts shifted, and he realized this could be his opportunity.
He raised his hand.
"Teacher."
"Go ahead."
"We only arrived in Tanzaku Town today, and we're here to complete a C-rank mission. There aren't any proper ninja in the Land of Rivers, and Hirakawa Ken isn't anyone important."
Kyohiko looked at Tsunade, hesitating as he spoke. "Could they have been after Lady Tsunade?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Kid, do you think people like them could take me down?"
"Of course not, but Shizune might be another matter."
Kyohiko opened with that, then quickly laid out his reasoning.
"I've heard a few things about you. You've been away for over a year. You must have run up debts beyond what you owe the Blue Flower Pavilion, right?"
Tsunade's face darkened.
Well, damn!
Gambling was just her little hobby. How was it that everyone seemed to know about it?
She shot Jiraiya a suspicious look.
Though she said nothing, Jiraiya understood what she meant and hurriedly waved his hands.
"I didn't tell him!"
"You think they want to capture Shizune and force me to pay my debts?"
"They might have other goals, too—like making you research ninjutsu for them, or teach them your techniques," Kyohiko said.
They hadn't managed to capture those wandering samurai, after all.
The attackers might have learned some information from them.
Tsunade fell silent.
What he'd said wasn't exactly far-fetched.
Outsiders didn't know her circumstances, but with Shizune at her side, she could indeed become Tsunade's weakness if something went wrong.
Jiraiya grew serious.
"Tsunade, Kyohiko has a point. You know your own situation. You need to think about Shizune's safety."
"Lady Tsunade..."
Shizune turned pale.
Was Tsunade going to send her back to Konoha?
"Shizune, maybe you should go back to Konoha."
"Tsunade, you're not safe out here on your own, either."
Jiraiya's tone grew firmer. "You should return to the village. Think of it as a visit. I'll ask the Old Man to investigate what's going on. You can leave again once the dust settles."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment.
Since leaving the village more than a year ago, Shizune had taken care of her daily needs.
If Shizune went back...
Tsunade wasn't sure she'd get used to it.
"If Shizune goes back, she probably won't be assigned to a ninja squad anytime soon. Would she be sent to the Ninja Academy?" Kyohiko asked quietly.
Jiraiya secretly gave him a thumbs-up—
The kid was sharp. He'd completely got Tsunade right where he wanted her!
Shizune might usually act more like an attendant, but Tsunade surely thought of her as family. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left the village with only her.
Tsunade definitely cared a great deal about Shizune's safety and future.
Tsunade fixed Kyohiko with a hostile stare.
She had to admit—
He'd hit the mark.
"It's late. No matter what, we should spend the night in Tanzaku Town."
Before you continue