Up in the attic, Kakashi's gaze was grave.
"Mist Village Jonin. Be careful!"
"Abandon the Mist Village ninja. Let them take the hostage and leave."
"What I'm afraid of is..."
Kakashi trailed off.
The enemy might not be here to rescue anyone. They might want to kill their employer, or have some other motive.
He'd sensed earlier that Teacher had apparently slipped out without anyone noticing. On their own, they had no way to deal with an enemy Jonin.
"If it comes to that, we fight to the death to stop them and let Kurenai get away with the hostage."
Kyohiko gritted his teeth.
In the mist, Biwa Juzo sneered.
"You brats. How much is this mission paying for you to risk your lives? Drop your weapons, and I might let you live. Otherwise... I'll slaughter every last one of you!"
They wanted to capture them?
Kakashi's heart sank.
This was the worst possible outcome.
By now, the mist was so thick they couldn't see more than a few steps ahead.
"Stay close to me,"
Kyohiko called quietly.
By sensing the chakra dispersing around him, he could just barely feel his surroundings and avoid stumbling around blindly.
Kakashi nodded without a word, holding the White Fang Short Blade as he stayed behind him.
The next moment, Kyohiko vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
In his place—
BAM!
The Kubikiribōchō sliced through a large section of wooden boards.
Kyohiko and Kakashi both used the Body Flicker Technique. In the blink of an eye, they were beside Kisame Hoshigaki—but instead of running away, they closed in on Hozuki Mangetsu, who was beside him.
Crackle, crackle!
Lightning Style: Earth Flash!
Kakashi responded with perfect timing.
Earlier, when the mist hadn't been so thick, Kyohiko had attacked once, and Mangetsu's body had turned to water. But the second time, when Kyohiko combined his Water Style with Kakashi's Lightning Style, Mangetsu had chosen to dodge.
Maybe he was afraid of Lightning Style!
Hozuki Mangetsu immediately dodged, but at that very moment, the water that had pooled on the ground surged upward, turning into a swirling vortex.
It was a special Water Wall. Under the caster's control, the wall of water spun and contracted.
The difference was—
This time, the Water Wall wasn't meant to defend, so there was no need to control its strength. All it had to do was sweep across like a waterfall and engulf Hozuki Mangetsu.
Kakashi increased his chakra output. Lightning spread in every direction, and the mist and water droplets even filled the air with a paralyzing charge.
The water surged upward, swallowing Hozuki Mangetsu.
He had already used the Water Clone Technique, but the water swirled around him, scattering droplets in every direction.
The powerful current of electricity flowed through them and into his body.
With lightning coursing through him, Hozuki Mangetsu's mind went blank.
Thud!
Hozuki Mangetsu had used the Body Flicker Technique to move a step away, but he dropped from the air and landed awkwardly against Kisame, whose ropes were only half undone.
He hadn't expected...
After only two or three attacks on Kyohiko, his opponent had seen through his weakness and used their techniques with such precision and flexibility that he'd been caught off guard by the Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
Now, he couldn't move.
The wall of water fell. Kakashi charged in with a slash, but Mangetsu's body could still turn to water, so the blade didn't cut him.
Hydrification Technique made him impervious to blades.
Hozuki Mangetsu recovered.
The next instant, a huge sword mercilessly split through his head before coming straight for Kakashi.
In the mist, Biwa Juzo's face twisted into a savage scowl.
But—
Below him, Kyohiko crouched low and gripped a Kunai. He darted forward, and the Kunai pierced Hozuki Mangetsu's body, heading straight for his heart.
So fast!
Biwa Juzo's pupils contracted. He swiftly kicked at the Kunai.
His speed was incredible.
By his reckoning, there was no way his opponent could dodge that kick.
Smack!
Kyohiko's right hand took the kick squarely, and the Kunai was indeed knocked away.
But—
He caught Biwa Juzo's foot with his other hand.
"Look out!"
Kisame Hoshigaki, still bound nearby, stared wide-eyed.
He understood all too well.
The black-haired brat looked ordinary, but he was the most devious one. The Kunai hadn't really been meant to kill; it was meant to draw Biwa Juzo's attention.
The real killing blow was coming from his other hand!
That terrifying strength was enough to make Biwa Juzo pay dearly for underestimating him, especially in the instant when he kicked the Kunai away.
Biwa Juzo heard the warning, and the hair all over his body stood on end.
He immediately tried to pull his foot back.
Too late!
Kyohiko had caught him with his right hand. Though Juzo quickly broke free, that brief moment was all Kyohiko needed.
His left hand moved even faster.
In an instant, the killing blow was upon him!
The only vulnerable spot in front of him was...
His knee!
Kyohiko made the call at once.
His fist came crashing down.
The gathered chakra erupted, unleashing a terrifying blast of force from his fist.
Crack!
Kyohiko's Strength of a Hundred couldn't match Tsunade's, but it was still a level of power Biwa Juzo could never have imagined.
In an instant, Biwa Juzo's knee buckled.
That single punch nearly knocked his knee out of joint, crushing bone and tearing muscle. He almost lost his balance and fell, but managed to brace himself with his greatsword.
"AAARGH!!!"
He'd let his guard down for a moment, and now he'd been caught off guard.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot, and rage consumed him.
Biwa Juzo wanted nothing more than to cut Kyohiko down with the Kubikiribōchō, but right now, he couldn't focus on killing anyone. He had to protect himself as best he could.
Clang!
The Kubikiribōchō swung aside, blocking Kakashi's White Fang Short Blade.
But—
Kyohiko was even more troublesome, especially with that terrifying Strength of a Hundred.
The veins on Biwa Juzo's forehead bulged.
"Fuguki! Are you just going to stand there? Kill this brat for me!"
"You were the one who told me not to step in. Now you're the one telling me to step in."
Another voice came from beyond the mist.
"Go!"
Kyohiko glanced sideways.
Hozuki Mangetsu was almost recovered.
Kakashi stabbed Hozuki Mangetsu again.
It didn't do much damage, but it was deeply humiliating. The blade was charged with Lightning Release chakra, enough to paralyze Hozuki Mangetsu again and leave him unable to move.
He'd barely recovered, and now he was helpless once more, forced to watch Kyohiko and Kakashi escape with Kisame Hoshigaki.
As for Biwa Juzo, with his current range of motion, he could only reach half a step beyond himself, along with the Kubikiribōchō. Anything farther was simply beyond his reach.
"Biwa Juzo, what a disgrace!"
Suikazan Fuguki laughed mockingly.
For a Jonin—one who'd reached their level, no less—to be tricked by a Genin brat and have his knee injured so badly he couldn't move quickly was laughable.
If Biwa Juzo had just worked with Hozuki Mangetsu to rescue the hostage, they would've already gotten away with him.
Biwa Juzo's expression darkened.
He'd thought he could take them down in one or two moves. Who would've guessed these two brats would be so slippery? They weren't ordinary Genin.
He was in a sorry state now. If he had the chance to do it over, he certainly wouldn't underestimate the black-haired brat.
But first, he had to deal with the situation at hand.
"Jiraiya could return at any moment. We need to hurry and catch them!"
"I don't need you to tell me that."
Suikazan Fuguki moved with incredible speed. Despite his broad, heavy frame, he was remarkably quick. After a few Body Flickers, he had caught up behind Kyohiko and Kakashi.
Then his hair shot forward strand by strand, flying at them like Senbon.
Kakashi's exposed face turned deathly pale.
Their enemy wanted to take them alive!
"What do we do?"
"..."
Kyohiko stepped in front of him and raised the Kisame Hoshigaki he was carrying.
Thud, thud, thud!
Strand after strand of hair pierced Kisame's body.
Despair showed in Kisame's eyes.
Before you continue