Juzo Biwa's Oppressive Aura

The sunlight struggled to pierce the dense forest, and the few dappled rays that managed to filter through were insufficient to illuminate the dim undergrowth.

Juzo Biwa carried the massive blade on his shoulder, yet his speed remained unhindered as he followed the guidance of the summoning creature perched upon him, heading straight for Genye's squad.

Snap.

As he took a step, Juzo's expression shifted abruptly; he swung his great sword in front of his face and retreated with a violent burst of speed.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Seven or eight Explosive Tags detonated simultaneously, sending a heatwave laden with terrifying force crashing toward him.

To think he could detect my presence and set a trap in advance...

Juzo moved his long blade aside with a gloomy expression; the explosion, which would have been enough to kill several ordinary ninja, had caused him no real harm.

"Squeak, squeak!"

At that moment, the summoning creature on his shoulder chirped softly, and Juzo's face changed instantly.

"You say there was poison in that smoke?"

Juzo hurriedly relocated to a safe area, set down his blade, and checked his current condition.

"Hah..."

A moment later, he let out a sigh of relief.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had all undergone brutal poison-resistance training; although the gas he had inhaled was highly potent, at most, it would only slightly hinder his performance.

"I haven't encountered any decent opponents since arriving in the Land of Fire. Juzo Biwa, you've grown careless."

Silently admonishing himself, Juzo Biwa hoisted his long blade once more and, with his vigilance raised to the maximum, gave chase to Genye and the others.

Daring to ambush him, Juzo Biwa? He would make this Konoha squad regret the day they were born!

BOOM!

The moment the sound of the explosion reached them, Asuma let out a sigh of relief, his pace subconsciously slowing down.

"Genye, Kurenai, you don't need to worry anymore," Asuma said, seeing the lingering concern on his teammates' faces.

"Shimura Hofu said that the poison was enough to kill an ordinary jonin instantly. That idiot behind us took the hit, so there's no way he can keep chasing us."

Earlier, the three of them had used the Explosive Tags and the poison sac left behind by Shimura Hofu to set several traps along their path as a final gamble.

Clearly, their plan had worked.

"Don't be too optimistic. Juzo Biwa is a top-tier combatant from the Mist Village; he won't be taken down so easily."

Genye activated his Byakugan fully, his perception rapidly extending behind them, taking in everything in the surroundings.

A moment later, his expression turned grim. "That guy... he's still catching up!"

"What?! Damn it, is he even human?" Asuma cursed.

"Kurenai, create some distance and try to use genjutsu. If it's ineffective, flee immediately to find reinforcements," Genye said, looking at Yuhi Kurenai.

"The explosion was loud enough that other squads should already be heading our way. Asuma, you and I will do our best to stall him."

"Right!" Kurenai and Asuma nodded heavily, following Genye's instructions.

Sigh.

Genye sighed inwardly, leaving one thought unspoken: I just fear... that he might have reinforcements too.

Asuma silently donned his trench knives, and Genye drew his nunchucks.

This was his first brush with a life-or-death crisis since crossing over; he took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

"What is this? Just a few brats? Is Konoha running out of people?"

Heavy footsteps approached, and Juzo Biwa appeared, carrying the Kubikiribocho, looking thoroughly displeased.

To be ambushed by a few wet-behind-the-ears brats—if word of this got back, those other six would laugh their heads off.

"If I kill you all, no one will ever know!"

Juzo Biwa's arm strength was astonishing; he raised the Kubikiribocho with one hand, pointing it viciously at Genye and the others.

"Genjutsu: Mirage!"

"Genjutsu: Three Absolute Cherry Blossoms!"

"Genjutsu: Falling Cherry Blossom Sight!"

Kurenai hid behind Genye and Asuma, pouring every ounce of her chakra into casting various genjutsu at Juzo Biwa.

Yet, as each illusion landed upon him, they vanished like stones cast into the sea, failing to stir even the slightest ripple.

Juzo Biwa had been bathed in blood since childhood, fighting his way to the pinnacle of the Village of the Bloody Mist. With countless souls lost to his blade, his mental fortitude was ironclad; naturally, he was unaffected by genjutsu.

Seeing that her techniques were useless, Kurenai turned to flee without hesitation.

"Trying to run? Did you ask for this old man's permission?!"

Juzo Biwa appeared instantly behind Kurenai, the Kubikiribocho raised high, and swung it down viciously toward her neck.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—Double!"

At the critical moment, Genye struck out with a burst of chakra from a distance, actually deflecting the heavy, powerful slash from Juzo Biwa.

"Snowflakes Covering the Peak!"

Taking advantage of this brief opening, Genye arrived at Juzo's side and swung his nunchucks fiercely toward the man's head.

"Oh?"

Juzo was slightly surprised. He used the Kubikiribocho to parry the strike with a backhand motion, stepped back twice, and began to size Genye up with keen interest.

"For someone so young, your strength is unexpectedly good. I... most enjoy slaughtering geniuses like you!"

Juzo grinned hideously, turned his body to the side, and kicked away Asuma, who had attempted a sneak attack. Ignoring Yuhi Kurenai as she fled, he lunged straight at Genye.

If he could kill this brat before him, it would be worth more than slaughtering ten Konoha squads!

Watching Juzo pounce toward him, Genye remained fearless and shouted, "My Door Is Always Open!"

Juzo Biwa: "???"

Is this kid eating a pancake?

Overflowing chakra surged through his entire body, and Genye felt his spirit lift, sensing his limbs filled with power.

[All attributes increased by 20%! You have been buffed, go for it!]

Swish!

The Juzo before Genye's eyes suddenly vanished, reappearing behind him in a flash, the Kubikiribocho sweeping out horizontally in an attempt to cut him in half.

So fast!

Genye hurriedly dodged, swinging his nunchucks behind him to barely block the strike.

Even with the 20% boost, he could only just barely keep up with Juzo's speed.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Asuma puffed out his chest, aimed carefully to avoid Genye, and spat a scorching stream of flames toward Juzo.

Boom!

Juzo vanished once more; the fire dragon lost its target and slammed into the ground, blasting a massive crater into the earth.

"Where did he go?!" Asuma searched frantically for any trace of Juzo.

"Asuma, watch your back!" Genye shouted.

A gust of wind struck from behind. Asuma's pupils constricted sharply; with no time to think, he instantly dove forward into a roll.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

In his haste, Genye fired a loosely formed ball of chakra, barely managing to obstruct the great blade as it hacked down toward Asuma.

Clang.

The Kubikiribocho instantly shattered the chakra ball and continued its momentum, striking the rolling Asuma and leaving a deep, bone-exposed wound across his back.

"Arghhhhh!"

Asuma pressed against his wound as he rolled, blood splattering the ground. The agonizing pain from his back left him nearly breathless.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—Double!"

Genye unleashed another Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, the refined chakra ball aimed directly at Juzo Biwa, forcing him to pull back his blade to block.

"Wind Style: Dust Cloud Jutsu!"

Seizing the opportunity, Asuma gritted his teeth against the pain, formed hand seals, and spat out a massive cloud of chakra-infused dust, instantly enveloping Juzo Biwa.

If we aren't a match, find a chance to run. If one can get away, let them go; don't stay behind and be a burden.

As Genye's earlier words flashed through his mind, Asuma gritted his teeth and turned to flee into the distance.

Genye, you must survive! Asuma thought to himself. I'll be back with reinforcements soon!

Clang!

Genye reappeared before Juzo Biwa, swinging his nunchucks to block Juzo as he attempted to pursue Asuma.

"Your opponent is me!" Genye said coldly. "If you dare turn your back on me again, my next palm will take your life!"

"Heh." Juzo Biwa's teeth were sharp. He tilted his head and revealed a hideous grin. "You seem to have misunderstood. I have no interest in those small-fry."

"Right now... I only want to kill you!"