A Death Line Beyond S-Rank

As the third Root ninja's corpse fell, the joint pursuit team in Konoha completed its final assembly.

Kakashi stood in the center of the training ground and went over the accompanying personnel once more.

Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Hinata Yota.

Besides them, three more ninjas stood in the field.

Torifu Akimichi was tall and broad, his arms folded across his chest. Nara Shikaku crouched beneath a tree, holding the mission files that had just arrived. Yamanaka Inoichi stood beside the two of them, his expression solemn.

After arriving, the three had neither trained nor asked about the mission's details.

They had clearly received their orders in advance.

Kakashi's gaze swept across them.

"The Ino–Shika–Chō Team?"

Kurenai Yuhi was somewhat surprised as well.

"The Third Hokage sent them too?"

Hinata Yota said quietly, "This isn't ordinary reinforcement."

The three Ino–Shika–Chō clans had worked together for a long time.

The Yamanaka Clan handled mental control and intelligence transmission. The Nara Clan restrained enemies with shadows, while the Akimichi Clan possessed formidable frontal suppression capabilities.

On their own, perhaps none of them could be considered Konoha's absolute strongest.

But together, they could exert power far beyond that of an ordinary ninja squad.

They were especially suited for surrounding and killing speed-based enemies.

Nara Shikaku closed the files and looked up at Kakashi.

"Looks like you understand already."

Kakashi nodded.

"Lie Yang's threat isn't limited to his speed."

"What's truly dangerous is that he can make judgments, change direction, and attack while moving at high speed. The moment ordinary restraining ninjutsu activates, he can rush out of its range."

"To catch him, we have to seal off his possible routes in advance."

Nara Shikaku rose to his feet.

"My Shadow Imitation Technique will restrict his movements."

"Inoichi's Mind Body Switch Technique will disrupt his mind."

"Torifu will compress the battlefield."

Kakashi picked up where he left off.

"As long as Lie Yang pauses for even an instant, Guy can get close."

Might Guy raised a thumb, but his face lacked its usual exaggerated grin.

"Leave it to me."

"No matter how fast he is, once he's restrained, I won't give him a second chance to accelerate."

Torifu Akimichi glanced at Might Guy.

"The Eight Gates?"

"I'll open them if necessary."

"How many gates?"

Might Guy fell silent for a moment.

"That depends on how strong the opponent is."

Everyone present understood.

Konoha's current intelligence could no longer accurately assess Uchiha Lieyang's strength.

If he was merely Kage-level, opening the first few gates might be enough to deal with him.

But if he was hiding even greater power, Might Guy would have no choice but to keep breaking through his limits.

The cost would only grow greater.

Kurenai Yuhi spoke up. "Did the Hokage send the Ino–Shika–Chō Team because he thinks our original lineup isn't enough?"

Nara Shikaku shook his head.

"It's not that it isn't enough."

"We just can't afford another mistake."

"Konoha has already lost several squads in succession. This is no longer about assessing Uchiha Lieyang's strength. We'll engage him at the highest danger classification."

Hinata Yota felt his heart sink.

The original pursuit squad had already been exceptionally formidable.

Kakashi, who possessed the Sharingan.

Might Guy, who had mastered the Eight Gates.

Kurenai Yuhi, one of Konoha's finest genjutsu ninjas.

And a Hyuga jonin capable of long-range reconnaissance and seeing through chakra flow.

Now, the Ino–Shika–Chō Team, which had worked together for years, had joined them as well.

This lineup was no longer meant to capture an ordinary rogue ninja.

Even if the target were a Kage-level powerhouse from another hidden village, Konoha would struggle to mobilize so many elite fighters at once.

Yet Kakashi did not relax because of it.

The stronger the reinforcements, the more it proved how wary the higher-ups were of Lie Yang.

That mission file contained only the abilities Lie Yang had already revealed.

Five chakra natures.

Lightning Body Flicker.

One-handed seals.

Swordsmanship.

Genjutsu.

A special Shadow Clone Technique.

The intelligence on the Mangekyō Sharingan had yet to reach Konoha. The higher-ups knew even less about the Gene Lock and Hyperintuition.

Konoha had assembled this team according to the highest standards.

Yet what they faced might still be only the portion of Lie Yang's strength that he was willing to let them see.

"Let's confirm everyone's combat role once more."

Kakashi swept his gaze over the group.

"Yota will keep the Byakugan active throughout the operation. Track the original body, Shadow Clones, and underground chakra."

"Kurenai will use genjutsu to interfere. Do not make direct eye contact with the Sharingan."

"Shikaku, Inoichi, and Torifu will handle control."

"Guy will lead the frontal assault."

"Guy and I will restrain Lie Yang's speed."

"If anyone notices anything unusual, report it immediately. No one is to pursue alone."

Yamanaka Inoichi nodded.

"What about the Root team?"

"They're waiting for us outside the village."

Kakashi looked up at the sky.

"Move out."

Eight figures leaped onto the treetops at once, swiftly crossing Konoha's walls.

No one spoke along the way.

Might Guy was normally the least able to endure silence.

But today, he merely kept to Kakashi's right, surveying their surroundings at regular intervals.

The sense of danger weighing on his heart had not faded since accepting the mission.

Instead, it grew clearer and clearer as they moved farther from Konoha.

When they arrived at the designated meeting point, only one Root ninja stood among the trees.

The man wore a mask and leaned against a tree trunk, his body completely still.

The instant Kakashi landed, he noticed something was wrong.

"Where are the others?"

The Root ninja slowly raised his head.

His voice was utterly flat.

"The advance reconnaissance team has been wiped out."

Everyone froze at once.

Kurenai Yuhi's brows drew together.

"When?"

"Not long ago."

The Root ninja pulled a scroll from his robes.

"After discovering Uchiha Lieyang's trail, they maintained their distance according to orders and prepared to send back the intelligence."

"Their scheduled contact was not completed."

"A Shadow Clone left at the base confirmed through its memories that all three died shortly after making contact with the target."

Yamanaka Inoichi asked, "No one escaped?"

"No."

"What about the bodies?"

"They have not been recovered."

Hinata Yota looked into the depths of the forest.

"The target actively attacked the reconnaissance team?"

"Unable to confirm."

The Root ninja's tone remained cold.

"In the last memory obtained by the Shadow Clone, the target never appeared in their field of vision."

"The first member was killed by a Shadow Clone."

"The second attempted to locate the original body."

"The third died while retreating."

"Uchiha Lieyang possesses extremely strong sensory abilities. He likely detected the reconnaissance team before they discovered him."

Those words left the newly assembled group completely silent.

The Root squad that had set out ahead had been tasked with locating Lie Yang's trail.

They were not responsible for frontal combat, only for tracking from afar and relaying information.

Yet the moment the two sides made contact, all three had died.

They had not even seen Lie Yang's original body clearly!

Nara Shikaku took the scroll from the Root ninja and quickly reviewed the intelligence inside.

"Did they identify the target's general location?"

"They did."

"How far from here?"

"One hundred and seventy li."

"Has Lie Yang changed direction?"

"Unable to confirm."

The Root ninja paused briefly.

"The higher-ups have issued additional orders."

"The danger level of this mission may exceed the highest S-rank standard currently on record."

"No one is to leave the team."

"If the encirclement fails, prioritize sending the latest intelligence back to Konoha."

Torifu Akimichi asked in a deep voice, "Are you telling us to prepare in advance for mission failure?"

"It is an order."

Kakashi looked at Might Guy.

From the moment they arrived at the meeting point, Might Guy had not spoken.

His fists were clenched tight, the muscles in his shoulders and back taut, while his gaze continually swept the surroundings.

"Guy?"

Might Guy slowly exhaled.

"Kakashi."

"My body has been warning me that it's dangerous ahead."

Kurenai Yuhi asked, "Stronger than when we carried out S-rank missions before?"

"It's not the same feeling."

Might Guy lowered his head and looked at his palm.

"When facing powerful enemies before, I would get excited. I'd want to fight them immediately."

"This time, I don't."

"Since we left the village, all I've felt is danger."

"The closer we get, the stronger it becomes."

Might Guy raised his head, his expression more serious than ever before.

"This is the first time my body has kept urging me to stop before I've even seen the enemy."