Sunlight could barely pierce the dense forest. The few shafts that slipped through cast dappled shadows, doing little to brighten the gloomy undergrowth.
Juzo Biwa carried an enormous cleaver, yet his pace never faltered. Guided by the summon perched on his shoulder, he headed straight for Genye's squad.
Crack.
The instant he took a step, Juzo's expression changed. He swung the blade up in front of his face and leaped backward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Seven or eight Explosive Tags detonated at once. A wave of heat packed with terrifying force slammed into Juzo.
"You actually sensed my presence and set a trap in advance..."
Juzo scowled and lowered his sword. The explosion could have killed several ordinary ninja, but it hadn't harmed him at all.
"Squeak, squeak!"
The summon on his shoulder began chattering softly. Juzo's expression abruptly changed.
"You're saying there was poison in that smoke?"
Juzo hurried to another safe spot, set down his sword, and checked his condition.
"Phew..."
After a moment, he let out a breath of relief.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had all undergone brutal training to resist poison. The gas he'd inhaled was potent, but at most it would weaken him a little.
"I haven't encountered a worthy opponent since coming to the Land of Fire. Juzo Biwa, you let your guard down."
After silently warning himself, Juzo hoisted his sword again and continued after Genye and the others, on full alert.
Anyone who dared ambush Juzo Biwa would regret ever being born!
Boom!
The moment Asuma heard the explosion, he breathed a sigh of relief, his pace slowing almost unconsciously.
"Genye, Kurenai, don't worry about it." Seeing that his teammates still looked troubled, Asuma reassured them.
"Shimura Hofu said the poison gas was enough to kill an ordinary elite jonin on the spot. That idiot behind us got caught in it, so there's no way he can keep chasing us."
Earlier, the three of them had used Explosive Tags and the Poison Sac Shimura Hofu had left behind to set several traps along the way. It had been their last gamble.
And it had worked.
"Don't get too optimistic. Juzo Biwa is one of Kirigakure's top fighters. He won't be that easy to take down."
Genye activated his Byakugan again and extended his senses rapidly behind them, taking in everything around him.
A moment later, he said grimly, "That guy... he's still caught up with us!"
"What?! Damn it, is he even human?" Asuma swore.
"Kurenai, hang back and try using genjutsu. If it doesn't work, get away immediately and find help." Genye looked at Yuhi Kurenai.
"The explosion was pretty loud. A squad should be on its way here by now. Asuma, you and I will do everything we can to hold him off."
"Right!" Kurenai and Asuma nodded firmly and followed Genye's instructions.
Sigh.
Genye sighed to himself. There was something he hadn't said aloud: The real problem is... he might have reinforcements, too.
Asuma silently put on his claw knives, while Genye pulled out his nunchaku.
This was the first time since his transmigration that he'd faced a life-or-death crisis. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"What the hell? They're just a bunch of brats. Is Konoha really that short on ninja?"
Heavy footsteps sounded as Juzo Biwa appeared, carrying Kubikiribōchō. He muttered in annoyance.
He'd been ambushed by a bunch of kids who hadn't even grown their first whiskers. If word got back to the other six, they'd laugh their heads off.
"If I kill you, nobody will find out, right?"
Juzo raised Kubikiribōchō with one hand, his immense strength on full display, and pointed it viciously at Genye and the others.
"Genjutsu: Mirage!"
"Genjutsu: Three Absolute Cherry Blossoms!"
"Genjutsu: Falling Cherry Blossom Sight!"
Hiding behind Genye and Asuma, Kurenai pushed her chakra to the limit and unleashed one genjutsu after another at Juzo.
But every illusion struck him and vanished without a ripple, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Juzo had seen blood since childhood and fought his way to the top of the Village of the Bloody Mist. Countless souls had fallen to his blade, and his resolve was ironclad. Genjutsu couldn't affect him.
The moment Kurenai realized her genjutsu had failed, she turned and fled without hesitation.
"Trying to run? Did you ask for my permission, brat?!"
Juzo appeared behind Kurenai in an instant. He raised Kubikiribōchō high and brought it down toward her neck.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—Double!"
At the last possible moment, Genye struck out with a burst of chakra from a distance, deflecting Juzo's powerful slash.
"Snowflakes Covering the Peak!"
Taking advantage of the brief opening, Genye rushed up beside Juzo and swung his nunchaku hard at the man's head.
"Oh?"
Juzo looked mildly surprised. He knocked the blow aside with Kubikiribōchō and took two steps back, studying Genye with interest.
"Quite impressive for someone your age. I've always loved torturing geniuses like you!"
Grinning viciously, Juzo turned and kicked away Asuma, who had tried to sneak up on him. Ignoring the fleeing Kurenai, he lunged straight at Genye.
Killing this kid in front of him would be worth more than slaughtering ten Konoha squads!
As Juzo charged, Genye stayed composed and shouted, "My Door Is Always Open!"
Juzo Biwa: "???"
Was this kid off his rocker?
Chakra surged through Genye's body, and his spirits lifted as strength flooded his limbs.
[All attributes increased by 20%! You've been buffed—go on, get 'em!]
Whoosh!
Juzo vanished from in front of Genye and used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him, sweeping Kubikiribōchō across in an attempt to cut him in half.
So fast!
Genye hastily dodged and swept his nunchaku behind him, barely blocking the blow.
Even with the 20% boost, he could only just keep up with Juzo's speed.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Asuma's chest swelled as he aimed carefully, making sure not to hit Genye, and breathed a stream of scorching flames at Juzo.
Boom!
Juzo vanished again. The fire dragon lost its target and crashed into the ground, blasting a huge crater into it.
"Where did he go?!" Asuma searched in every direction for Juzo.
"Asuma, watch your back!" Genye shouted.
A gust of wind rushed toward Asuma from behind. His pupils contracted, and without time to think, he dropped low and rolled forward.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
In haste, Genye fired off a poorly condensed ball of chakra, barely slowing the great blade as it came down toward Asuma.
Crack.
Kubikiribōchō cleaved through the chakra ball in an instant and continued on, cutting into Asuma as he rolled forward. It left a wound on his back deep enough to expose bone.
"Gaaah!"
Asuma rolled onto his wound, splattering blood across the ground. The pain in his back nearly made him pass out.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—Double!"
Genye struck with another Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm. The concentrated chakra shot straight at Juzo, forcing him to draw back his sword and block.
"Wind Release: Dust Cloud Jutsu!"
Seizing the opening, Asuma gritted his teeth against the pain, formed Hand Seals, and spat out a cloud of chakra-laden dust that instantly engulfed Juzo.
If you're outmatched, look for a chance to run. If even one of you can get away, don't stay behind and become a burden.
Genye's earlier words flashed through Asuma's mind. He gritted his teeth, turned, and fled into the distance.
Genye, you have to stay alive! Asuma repeated to himself. I'll be back with reinforcements soon!
Clang!
Genye appeared in front of Juzo again, swinging his nunchaku to stop him from chasing Asuma.
"Your opponent is me!" Genye said coldly. "Turn your back on me again, and my next palm will kill you!"
"Heh." Juzo's teeth were sharp. He tilted his head and flashed a vicious grin. "You seem to have misunderstood. I couldn't care less about those worthless weaklings."
"Right now... I just want to kill you!"
Before you continue