Hidden Mist Technique

Ryōken's pupils suddenly contracted. He instinctively reached for his sword, but it was already too late.

The kunai tore through the air, about to slice across his throat. A fatal wound was not something the Tenacity talent could heal.

"Courage!"

With no other choice, Ryōken could only silently invoke Courage and activate it himself.

Clang! The sound of metal striking metal rang across the grounds.

Asai Hane felt his palm go hot, and the kunai in his hand nearly flew free. His cold expression abruptly changed into one of utter astonishment.

With a tap of his toes, he borrowed the recoil to shoot backward several dozen meters before finally stopping, staring at Ryōken in shock and uncertainty.

Not far away, Ryōken stood completely still. Yet a layer of light about an inch thick had emerged over his entire body, enveloping him like heavy armor and protecting him completely.

That thrust had only struck the barrier of light. It had not truly hit Ryōken.

No one knew what the barrier was, but it was unbelievably hard. His sure-kill strike had failed without accomplishing anything.

Though Asai Hane had seen much and killed countless people, he had never witnessed anything so bizarre. For a moment, he was stunned.

Only then did the people around them react. They all sucked in cold breaths and stared at one another in dismay.

An assassin had actually infiltrated Konoha Prison—and had nearly succeeded.

"Assassin!"

Morino Shingen roared and immediately activated the signal flare in his hand. A wavering green firework shot into the sky, exploding with a massive bang that echoed throughout the prison.

In the shadows, the ANBU ninja was also startled. The assassin had concealed himself far too well, leaking not the slightest excess trace of presence.

His figure flickered as he prepared to rush out.

Startled awake by the shout, Asai Hane's body flashed. As he retreated, his hands rapidly formed seals, swift as lightning.

Ryōken did not attack, nor did he show any intention of advancing. He merely stood there and watched quietly.

This assassin was dead for sure. Assassinating someone in Konoha—if he succeeded, he might have had a chance to flee. Since he had failed, escape was even more impossible.

Besides, the signal flare had already been launched. The nearby patrol ninjas would arrive shortly.

The ANBU ninja stationed nearby would naturally come as well.

After all, ANBU ninjas were almost all special jōnin or stronger. They excelled in specialized tactics such as killing, tracking, and reconnaissance, and possessed terrifying strength.

What was more, this was Konoha Prison, located in the center of a lava lake. Even with wings, there was nowhere to escape.

Even now, Ryōken still felt lingering fear. Once again, he had come so close to death. Fortunately, when he had first obtained Courage, he had dumped all his Skill Points into it and raised it straight to LV3. That was why it possessed its current strength.

Otherwise, his defenses would likely have been broken, and he would have been killed.

Thinking of this, Ryōken could not help admiring his own foresight.

Sure enough, in this cruel world, staying alive was what mattered most.

Courage passively enhanced the body's defenses, granting Ryōken defensive power nearly on par with a taijutsu jōnin. Even so, it could not fully withstand damage from sharp weapons.

When actively activated, it triggered a barrier of light. Its advantage was instant activation: the faster his thoughts, the faster it activated.

Its drawback was its short duration, and it reduced his movement speed after being cast.

Even at level three, Courage only lasted a mere ten seconds, while its cooldown was extremely long—an entire minute.

Its strength was decent, though. At the very least, it could basically ignore sharp hidden weapons, and it could also take C-rank ninjutsu head-on.

A stronger B-rank ninjutsu would probably use up the barrier in a single strike.

And its duration was still a weakness in the end.

At this moment, Ryōken could see the situation clearly, and naturally, Asai Hane could as well.

Knowing that death was certain, a chill entered his eyes.

If that was the case, Ryōken had to die.

He had slipped out on his own. Though it was for revenge, he had already betrayed Lord Hanzo's high regard.

If he could eliminate Ryōken, Konoha's number one genius, Lord Hanzo would surely be pleased.

Asai Hane finished forming his seals. With a cold shout, a crazed, cruel glint appeared in his eyes as chakra surged.

A large reservoir near the construction site immediately began to churn.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Whoosh!!

Boundless white mist instantly spread outward, shrouding the entire area.

Everyone lost sight of their surroundings in an instant.

The white mist carried chakra, making it so dense that one could barely see one's own hand.

The ANBU ninja's heart immediately sank when he saw the mist, and he felt rather helpless.

He was strong, but he did not know Wind Release.

What he excelled in was Earth Release.

If he entered this thick mist and the assassin was skilled in the Silent Killing Technique, he might die as well.

Thus, faced with the vast white fog, the ANBU ninja was at a loss, growing increasingly anxious.

Ryōken was Lord White Fang's student.

If he were assassinated right in front of him, then even if he killed the assassin afterward, he would have no face to show Lord White Fang.

"Damn it, he's actually a ninja so skilled in the Hidden Mist Technique. Is he a ninja from the Land of Water?"

"With a Hidden Mist Technique this vast, he's at least a special jōnin!"

A cold light flickered in the ANBU ninja's eyes. Ryōken had better not be harmed. Otherwise, I'll make you understand what it means to wish you were dead.

Special jōnin referred to ninjas who had mastered B-rank ninjutsu, or techniques normally only mastered by jōnin, but had yet to master chakra nature transformation. Their chakra had not yet undergone a qualitative change.

Within the dense fog—

The prisoners and Konoha ninjas stood back-to-back, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

They all knew that an assassin waiting to pounce was hidden within the mist.

Suddenly, miserable cries faintly drifted through the fog, broken and intermittent, accompanied by continuous groans.

Everyone's expressions suddenly changed, and a trace of panic appeared in their eyes.

How vicious!

He was actually using such a method to break everyone else's psychological defenses.

In a place where they could not see their own hands, the more panicked they became, the faster they would die.

More and more people died. Cries of agony and groans from those on the verge of death echoed from every direction, horrifying beyond measure.

Yet Ryōken stood quietly, his expression calm and his eyes utterly unruffled.

Although the Duelist Eye could not see through the dense fog, he was not worried in the slightest.

No matter how thick the mist was, it would eventually disperse.

No matter where the enemy attacked from, Ryōken would always be the final target.

Let the winds blow from east, west, south, and north; I alone remained unmoved.

At a time like this, strong mental fortitude was particularly important.

And that was precisely what Ryōken did not lack!

Perhaps he had been mediocre and unremarkable in his previous life, with only ordinary resolve.

But in the nine years since coming to this world, though he had endured endless discrimination and ridicule, it had also forged within him a patience far beyond that of ordinary people.

To keep joy and anger from showing on one's face—that was true composure.

More and more people could no longer endure it. Their minds collapsed, and they ran wildly in every direction. Naturally, they died even faster.

The death cries grew increasingly shrill, leaving everyone in a state of panic.

Too many could not die. They were all valuable combat resources. Too many deaths would affect the mission evaluation.

Thus, Ryōken suddenly shouted in a deep voice, his thunderous words resounding through the thick fog.

"Everyone, stop running around! Find the companions near you and gather together to fend off the attacks!"

His voice echoed in everyone's ears. Ryōken had only just established his authority, and his deterrent effect on them was still considerable.

Hearing his shout, most of them calmed down and realized their mistake.

"Everyone, listen to Lord Ryōken! Don't run around!"

"Only by calming down can we get out alive!"

Honda Tadakatsu and Morino Shingen's voices rang out as well. They actively searched for nearby companions.

They tried to gather everyone together and resist as one.

Their voices could be heard continuously encouraging the others.

Just as Ryōken finished speaking, before he could even catch his breath, a cold glint had already arrived—a kunai stabbing toward him.

The corner of Ryōken's mouth curled upward. Brat, I've been waiting for you.

The wooden-post formation had not been for nothing!

The moment the assassin entered Ryōken's vicinity, he naturally stirred the Sword Intent Ryōken had spread throughout the area.

Ryōken's Sword Intent was already under exquisitely smooth control. Not a trace of its presence leaked out, making it difficult to detect.

It could barely be used for scouting, though its range was somewhat small.

Within arm's reach, everything was under his control.