Yoru Mizuzuki (3)

"I never expected that the dignified Jiraiya would actually know the names of the six of us," Yoru Mizuzuki said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Jiraiya-sensei, what kind of organization is the Six Rogue Ninjas?" Uchiha Matsuri asked, feeling a bit confused upon hearing the name. It didn't seem to have appeared in the original story.

"The Six Rogue Ninjas is a team composed of three former members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and three rogue ninjas from Kirigakure. Among the six, the most formidable are the three carrying the great swords; the remaining three are each nearly at the level of a jonin," Jiraiya explained patiently.

Dozens of meters away, seeing that Jiraiya and his group were not launching a preemptive strike, the six rogue ninjas immediately began running toward the caravan.

"The three of us will hold off Jiraiya. Yoru, Cheng, Jin, you three take out those brats and immediately start moving the cargo," the leader commanded.

"Understood," Yoru Mizuzuki and the others replied.

Upon reaching the front of the caravan, the three leading rogue ninjas immediately surrounded Jiraiya.

Seeing that the three men encircling him were each carrying a great sword, Jiraiya immediately understood the deployment of the Six Rogue Ninjas.

"Jiraiya, let's have a contest to see whether the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are stronger or the Sannin are!" a dark-faced rogue ninja shouted, hoisting his great sword.

Facing the provocation, Jiraiya did not respond, instead quickly entering a combat stance.

The other three rogue ninjas ran toward Uchiha Matsuri, Minato Namikaze, and Kiba Inuzuka respectively.

They're coming so fast! Uchiha Matsuri thought to himself.

A few seconds later, a female rogue ninja with long purple hair stood before him.

"Oh my, oh my, I never expected Konoha to send such a little handsome guy this time," Yoru Mizuzuki said with a bewitching smile upon seeing Uchiha Matsuri. "If you're willing, why don't you just join our team? Big sister will take good care of you."

"If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste so much breath?" Uchiha Matsuri replied with a frown.

Seeing that Uchiha Matsuri didn't appreciate the offer, Yoru Mizuzuki wasn't angered and continued to tease him, "Don't be so stiff, little brother. Why don't you reconsider?"

"I wouldn't join the team of an ugly hag like you. Either fight or get lost," Uchiha Matsuri said impatiently.

"Ugly hag?" Hearing Uchiha Matsuri call her that, Yoru Mizuzuki was overcome with rage. "You little brat, how dare you be so ungrateful! Today, this lady is going to slash your face to ribbons!"

"Then let's see if you have the ability to do it!" With that, Uchiha Matsuri launched an attack.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Matsuri spat out a massive fireball ten meters high. It flew rapidly toward Yoru Mizuzuki, who dodged it with a single movement.

"The power is decent, but it lacks agility," Yoru Mizuzuki shook her head.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

A massive volume of water erupted from Yoru Mizuzuki's mouth, overwhelming the forest in a split second and gathering into a small lake.

"Fighting you like this will be much more comfortable," Yoru Mizuzuki sneered.

Seeing Yoru Mizuzuki instantly create a lake, Uchiha Matsuri felt a sense of dread.

For a ninja skilled in Water Style, a lake was an inexhaustible weapon and a source of energy. Without a water source, many ninjas would be unable to use their Water Style techniques.

Yet this person had artificially created a lake, which secretly increased her strength significantly.

"Little brother, if you surrender now, it's not too late!" Yoru Mizuzuki looked at the frowning Uchiha Matsuri with a smug expression.

"Not a chance!"

Flatly rejecting her "recruitment," Uchiha Matsuri formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Over a dozen fireballs were spat from Uchiha Matsuri's mouth, heading straight for Yoru Mizuzuki.

"Is that all you've got?" Yoru Mizuzuki mocked disdainfully, then formed her own hand seals.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

The water in the lake was suddenly swept up by a mysterious force, forming a waterfall dozens of meters wide and high, forcefully blocking Uchiha Matsuri's Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.

"Little brother, don't you know that in terms of chakra nature, water beats fire?" Yoru Mizuzuki sneered.

"And what if I do?" A cold voice came from behind her.

"What?"

Yoru Mizuzuki whipped her head around, only to see that Uchiha Matsuri had already reached her.

Bang!

Yoru Mizuzuki was sent flying by Uchiha Matsuri, her body slamming into a nearby tree trunk.

"I was careless," Yoru Mizuzuki muttered, looking slightly disheveled. "I didn't expect him to use the Clone Technique while my vision was blocked."

Nearby.

After dispelling the clone, Uchiha Matsuri took advantage of Yoru Mizuzuki being knocked back and unable to use ninjutsu, his hands moving rapidly through seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Individual fireballs were spat from Uchiha Matsuri's mouth, flying rapidly toward Yoru Mizuzuki, who was several meters away.

Boom, boom, boom.

The large trees caught fire upon impact.

However, Yoru Mizuzuki seemed to have vanished, for there was no sign of her near the burning trees.

"Hidden?" Uchiha Matsuri looked around in confusion.

Dozens of meters away, Yoru Mizuzuki was quietly concealed within the dense branches of a large tree.

That was close. Thank goodness I used the Substitution Technique, Yoru Mizuzuki thought. Heh, if he approaches this tree, I'll launch a surprise attack and finish him in one blow.

Seeing Uchiha Matsuri walking closer and closer, the corners of Yoru Mizuzuki's mouth curled upward slightly.

However, just as Yoru Mizuzuki was about to leap out with a kunai to deliver a fatal strike, a massive fireball suddenly flew toward the tree where she was hiding.

BOOM.

The tree was instantly torn to pieces and set ablaze. Yoru Mizuzuki, who had been hidden within, was forced to reveal her position as the tree was struck.

"How did you find me?" Yoru Mizuzuki asked, looking at Uchiha Matsuri in confusion.

"What do you think?" Uchiha Matsuri suddenly looked up, revealing his blood-red eyes.

"This is..." Yoru Mizuzuki stared at Uchiha Matsuri's eyes in shock. "The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan?!"

"You guessed right," Uchiha Matsuri sneered.

Just moments ago, in order to find the hidden Yoru Mizuzuki, Uchiha Matsuri had been forced to release his Yin Seal and activate his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

With the Sharingan activated, Uchiha Matsuri had immediately detected the water-attribute chakra hidden in a tree dozens of meters away.

"I never expected you to be from the Uchiha Clan. It seems I was too careless," Yoru Mizuzuki said, a look of regret appearing on her face.

"However, even with the Sharingan, you still won't be able to defeat me," Yoru Mizuzuki said, suddenly flashing a sinister smile.