Continue to complete this mission!

The three answered in unison, the panic in their eyes gradually replaced by resolve.

Chiyo Umi stood not far away, his hands still held in a hand seal, a mocking smile curling across his lips. "Hmph, a bunch of brats still wet behind the ears dare to challenge me? You really don't know your place!"

His fingers twitched, and the sword-wielding puppet suddenly accelerated. Its blade pierced straight toward Yuhi Shinku's chest with a sharp whistle through the air.

Yuhi Shinku's pupils contracted. As he sidestepped, he swept his longsword out, trying to sever the puppet's arm.

But the puppet's joints were astonishingly flexible. It forcefully twisted its body midair, evading the blade, while three poisoned needles suddenly shot from its other hand toward Yuhi Shinku's face.

"Watch out!"

Kawaki Aoba shouted, driving off the ground and shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

His ninja blade carved an arc through the air, precisely knocking the poisoned needles to the ground. Sparks burst from the blade once more.

"Konoha brat, you've got some skill after all!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Chiyo Umi's eyes before turning cold again. "

But it's not enough to get yourselves killed!"

He controlled the shield-wielding puppet, and its enormous shield came crashing down at Kawaki Aoba. The ground trembled slightly beneath the force.

Feeling the crushing pressure from above, Kawaki Aoba did not dare take it head-on. He quickly rolled backward, evading the shield while slashing his ninja blade at the puppet's leg.

With a crisp clang, his ninja blade struck the puppet's leg, leaving only a shallow mark. It could not inflict any real damage at all.

"Useless! My puppets are made from specially forged alloy. With that little ninja blade of yours, you can't cut through them at all!"

Chiyo