Fierce Battle by the Pool

"Damn it, don't tell me we're really going to capsize in the gutter," they muttered. At this moment, their group was surrounded in the middle of a narrow path, with two ninjas blocking the front and two at the rear.

"Who are you people? Why are you blocking our way?" Might Guy couldn't help but frown, his expression darkening. He felt that today's situation might not end peacefully.

Looking at the three students and the client he was escorting, he felt a sense of worry. If a fight broke out in such a confined space, they would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.

If they all died during the mission, he wouldn't know how to explain it when he returned alone. One was from the Uchiha clan and another from the Hyuga clan; the pressure was significant.

"Heh heh, you don't need to know who we are. Hand over Bu Qianfan immediately, or we'll make sure you all die without a burial ground," Water Snake said with a sinister, chilling tone.

Water Snake wanted to keep Bu Qianfan alive because he wanted to know where those valuable blueprints were hidden. If he killed him, it would be much harder to find them.

Of course, had he known those valuable blueprints were sitting right in the bag on Bu Qianfan's back, he would have attacked without a moment's hesitation.

Hyuga Gen and the others shielded Bu Qianfan in the center, watching the surrounding ninjas with vigilance.

What should we do now? Hyuga Gen pondered. With both the front and rear blocked, they had nowhere left to run. The only possible escape route would be across the water.

Of course, if Bu Qianfan weren't here, it would be easier, but with him present, they couldn't just flee; they had to protect him. If they failed to protect him, their mission would be a failure.

However, typically, a C-rank mission shouldn't involve ninjas, yet four had suddenly popped up. Hyuga Gen could tell that these four were not simple opponents.

Especially the one who had spoken; he was likely the leader and probably possessed the strength of a Jonin. Otherwise, Might Guy wouldn't be so on edge. If the enemy lacked Jonin-level strength, Guy would have likely already kicked them away with a few Konoha Hurricanes.

"Tōyama, you aren't scared, are you?" Hyuga Gen teased, noticing Tōyama's hands trembling slightly.

"I—I'm not," Tōyama hurriedly denied, though his voice lacked conviction.

"If you're scared, just say it out loud. There's nothing shameful about it. If you say it, maybe they'll spare your life?" Hyuga Gen continued.

"Hmph, then why don't you say it?" Tōyama retorted irritably.

"I'm not scared. I see you shaking with fear, so your big brother is just pointing you toward a bright path. You don't even know how to thank me," Hyuga Gen said, feigning injury.

Tōyama rolled his eyes. After Hyuga Gen's words, he actually felt less nervous, and his hands stopped shaking.

"You two guys, we're facing a major enemy and you still have the energy to chat?" Uchiha Izumi complained. Unknowingly, her own nervous tension had eased significantly.

Seeing this, Might Guy couldn't help but look at Hyuga Gen with newfound respect. He was doing well; when facing a major enemy, one's mindset was crucial.

"Oh? I didn't expect there to be a Byakugan brat here. My luck is really good today," Water Snake said, looking at Hyuga Gen with a pleased expression.

The Byakugan was a rare treasure, something with a price but no market in the black world. To encounter one today made him quite happy.

As for the three Genin, Water Snake didn't take them seriously at all. He kept his eyes fixed on Might Guy; he sensed that this man in the peculiar outfit was not simple.

"How do you know my name is Bu Qianfan? We don't seem to know each other," Bu Qianfan said, frowning. Facing the encirclement, he didn't seem afraid at all.

"How we know doesn't matter. As long as you hand over the design blueprints, we guarantee we won't take your life," Water Snake added.

Hearing this, Hyuga Gen couldn't help but think of the blueprints in Bu Qianfan's bag. Could it be those? It must be.

"Are you telling the truth? If I hand over the blueprints, you'll let me leave?" Bu Qianfan asked, sounding uncertain.

"That's right. Just hand over the blueprints, and I guarantee I'll let you go," Water Snake quickly replied.

"Can you let them leave together with me?" Bu Qianfan asked, looking at the Konoha group.

"Them? No. Those blueprints can only buy your own life. Don't push your luck," Water Snake said with dissatisfaction. They were already meat on the chopping block, yet he dared to make demands. If not for the value of the blueprints, he wouldn't be wasting his breath here.

"Boss, why are we still talking to them? Let's just—" Before he could finish, Might Guy kicked him away. It was likely a fatal blow.

Might Guy's sudden strike caught everyone off guard. He didn't attack the Jonin directly, but instead took advantage of the minion speaking to kick him away. The strike was incredibly clean.

Might Guy was worthy of being a Jonin; his grasp of timing was excellent. Furthermore, his choice of target was correct. He didn't attack the Jonin directly, but chose the minion beside him.

A Jonin was rarely a simple opponent; a single strike might not cause serious damage to him, but by taking out the minion, he could immediately pressure the Jonin.

As the minion was kicked, Water Snake's eyes widened in horror and disbelief. Watching his subordinate fly away, he knew the man was finished; he had clearly seen the man's chest cave in.

As he suspected, the subordinate flew over a hundred meters away and never moved again.

"Konoha Hurricane."

After kicking the minion away, Might Guy didn't hesitate to attack Water Snake.

"Water Style: Water Wall."

Water Snake was clearly no ordinary character. His reaction was swift; he deployed a defensive jutsu while retreating rapidly to create distance between himself and Might Guy.

An average ninja would have been sent flying by Might Guy, as his timing was impeccable and his movements fluid and rapid. After kicking the minion, he had planted his right foot and immediately transitioned into the Konoha Hurricane—the entire sequence was flawless.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu."

As Water Snake retreated, a water dragon rapidly formed on the surface of the pool, leaped into the air, and lunged toward Might Guy with its jaws wide open.

"Gate of View, open."

Might Guy didn't hold back. He instantly activated the Eight Inner Gates, opening the sixth gate, the Gate of View, and met the attack with a flying kick. They collided instantly.

The water dragon tried to swallow Might Guy, but it was blocked by the chakra overflowing from his body, unable to close its jaws. In an instant, the water dragon shattered—it had clearly been kicked to pieces by Guy.

"How is this possible?" Seeing this, Water Snake's eyes widened in disbelief. At this moment, he began to consider retreating.

He then noticed that his other two subordinates had also been dealt with; their bodies were now floating on the water's surface.

"Water Style: Water Blade."

Water Snake didn't hesitate further. Three water blades slashed toward Bu Qianfan and Tōyama, who had just climbed out of the water.

Might Guy hurriedly retreated into a defensive stance, stepping in front of the two of them to block the Water Blade. At this moment, Uchiha Izumi also crawled out of the water, while Hyuga Gen's head had just surfaced.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique."

Seeing that Might Guy had fallen back to defend rather than pressing the attack, Water Snake let out a sigh of relief and immediately unleashed another water-style ninjutsu.

It had to be said that Water Snake was indeed quite formidable, casting ninjutsu one after another, but he knew he was already at the end of his rope.

He knew he had to escape, or he might very well lose his life here today. Before leaving, he used his remaining chakra to release one final ninjutsu, then stumbled away without looking back.

"Water Style: Water Vortex."