He Must Be Taken Down!

A curtain of water rose from the ground, shielding the two of them and temporarily blocking the incoming wind blades.

He swiftly shifted positions, circling around to the side in search of an opening in the mysterious man's defenses.

The mysterious man snorted coldly, his glowing red eyes abruptly turning toward Kawaki Aoba.

"Kid, your perception is pretty good, but that's all it is."

He raised one hand, gathering a black sphere of chakra in his palm that radiated an unsettling pulse.

"Try this!"

"Not good!"

Kawaki Aoba's heart tightened as he instinctively sensed danger.

He quickly retreated, forming hand seals as he prepared to use a defensive ninjutsu.

However, the black chakra sphere moved far faster than he had expected. It reached him in an instant and erupted with a powerful shockwave.

"Aoba!"

Sarutobi Asuma shouted and turned to rush to his aid, but the mysterious man took the opportunity to close in.

A wind blade grazed his shoulder, sending a spray of blood into the air.

Asuma gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as he swung his blade in retaliation, trying to widen the distance between them.

Kawaki Aoba barely managed to steady himself at the edge of the shockwave. Several tears had been ripped into his clothes, but there was not the slightest hint of retreat on his face.

He took a deep breath and formed hand seals again, his voice resolute. "Asuma-senpai, I'm fine! Let's go together!"

"Alright!"

Sarutobi Asuma grinned, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "This guy's tough, but we're no pushovers either!"

The two coordinated seamlessly. Kawaki Aoba swiftly cast a Water Release ninjutsu, creating a thick mist that obscured the mysterious man's vision.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sarutobi Asuma charged in from the side, his Chakra Blades aimed straight at the