A Powerful Enemy Attacks

"Satoru, am I useless?"

Anko raised her head. Her brown-gray eyes were dim and lifeless, devoid of any color.

"Useless?" Hyuga Satoru smiled helplessly. "Honestly, I don't understand why you'd put that word on yourself."

"But I really feel like I'm no use. You and Rin are both so outstanding, and Teacher Shibi is renowned even among Jonin. Only I..."

Anko's voice grew quieter and quieter.

"Why would you think that? Anko, you're already outstanding."

Hyuga Satoru sighed, making his voice as gentle as possible.

"I just want to do something for everyone, no matter how small. When Rin fought Kakashi, I wanted so badly to help, but I couldn't beat Kakashi at all. All I could do was run and find you."

"I really hate that feeling, that feeling of helplessness, when I was clearly standing right there..."

Hyuga Satoru fell silent.

In the original story, Anko had certainly been a genius if Orochimaru had taken her as his disciple. But under his influence, her path had changed. She, who should have become Orochimaru's disciple, now seemed somewhat lost among the crowd.

And compared to himself and Uchiha Rin, that gap had been infinitely magnified.

"Anko."

Hyuga Satoru took a breath and placed both hands on her shoulders, speaking as gently as he could.

"You're already very outstanding. You may simply not be as noticeable among us. As long as you find your own strengths and persist, you'll definitely become an excellent ninja."

"Do you understand?"

"Mm."

Anko nodded and answered softly.

Hyuga Satoru sighed faintly. Perhaps after they returned this time, he should discuss giving Anko special training with Teacher Shibi.

Under Hyuga Satoru's guidance, Anko's mood visibly improved. After resting briefly, the two set out to search for the last stronghold mentioned in the intelligence.

This location was extremely well hidden. Hyuga Satoru searched for a long time without finding any trace of them.

"It seems the ANBU in charge of reconnaissance merely inferred that the bandits' stronghold was somewhere in this area from their movements. They probably never found its exact location either."

"This is a little troublesome."

Hyuga Satoru pursed his lips helplessly and looked toward the place where they had agreed to meet Aburame Shibi. It was already very far from here.

If they found nothing, they could only return to meet up with them first and discuss a solution.

His gaze swept over the surroundings. This place was very close to the coast, offering an unobstructed view. Aside from dense forests, there was only a cliff by the sea.

If the bandits had a stronghold nearby, it should have been easy to spot.

"Strange." Hyuga Satoru could not help frowning.

Beside him, Anko suddenly asked in confusion, "Satoru, I don't understand something. Why did those bandits set up their stronghold here? This doesn't seem like a suitable place for one."

Why had they set up their stronghold here?

A flash of insight suddenly struck Hyuga Satoru, and he vaguely felt that he had grasped something.

Since those bandits had established their stronghold nearby, there had to be something here that served their purposes. He swiftly scanned the area, and his gaze gradually settled on the cliff beside the coast.

"Anko, stay here and don't move. I'll go take a look."

"Mm."

Arriving at the foot of the cliff, Hyuga Satoru looked up at its face and activated his Byakugan. Sure enough, he discovered some clues.

"These bandits actually have this much perseverance."

There were signs of artificial excavation on the cliff. Through the Byakugan, he could clearly see iron spikes, ropes, and other footholds embedded into the cliff face. Following those traces upward, he found a huge hollow at the top of the cliff.

That was why his search had yielded nothing. Unless he came to the foot of the cliff, neither the Byakugan nor Electromagnetic Sensing could reach it.

Hyuga Satoru smiled. "No wonder they chose this place as their stronghold. From the top of the cliff, no merchant ships passing through the nearby waters can escape their watch."

Having figured that out, Hyuga Satoru leaped upward, landed on a protruding section of rock, then leaped again, steadily drawing closer to the top of the cliff.

Those bandits were not particularly strong. Sniping them from afar with his large-caliber rifle would take too much time. Entering the stronghold directly was the faster option.

In the forest.

Anko could not help growing anxious.

"Satoru has been gone for so long. Why hasn't he come back yet? He couldn't have run into trouble, could he?"

They were far from Konoha Village, in the most chaotic region of the Land of Fire, where ninja from other villages often appeared.

That was also why the Hokage had assigned them to eliminate the bandits.

Hyuga Satoru's prolonged absence made her increasingly worried.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out, finally easing her tense heart.

"Anko, let's go meet up with Teacher Shibi."

Hyuga Satoru walked out of the forest and smiled at her.

"Has the mission been completed?"

"Mm. Once we meet up with Teacher Shibi, it'll be over. With his and Rin's abilities, they should have dealt with theirs already."

"Is that so? Come to think of it, I still didn't help at all."

Anko could not help sighing.

"Don't say that, Anko. If you hadn't reminded me, I never would have found their stronghold. I might still be running around like a headless fly."

"Let's hurry and meet up with Teacher Shibi."

"Mm." Anko answered softly.

The agreed meeting place was far from here. After walking for a while, Hyuga Satoru turned back and looked at the gray sky over the sea, where flashes of lightning could faintly be seen.

Hyuga Satoru frowned.

"Looks like it's going to rain heavily. Let's pick up the pace."

The two quickened their pace, swiftly weaving through the forest.

After traveling for some time, Hyuga Satoru's expression suddenly turned grave. He grabbed Anko beside him and spoke in a low voice.

"Wait, Anko. There are two ninja from another village ahead."

Hearing that, Anko stopped as well and looked at Hyuga Satoru nervously.

"Satoru, are they enemies?"

"It's unclear for now, but they're probably very strong."

Hyuga Satoru looked extremely solemn. Just moments ago, he had suddenly sensed two immensely powerful Biological Magnetic Fields entering his perception. They were undoubtedly very powerful ninja.

He quietly activated his Byakugan. When Hyuga Satoru saw the symbols on their forehead protectors and the ninja sword on one of their backs, he involuntarily drew a sharp breath.

"Anko, retreat. They're members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist???

At those words, it felt as though a massive hand had fiercely clenched Anko's heart.

They were the Hidden Mist Village's strongest humanoid weapons. Every one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was an immensely powerful Elite Jonin, and even in the distant Land of Fire, she had long heard of their cruelty and bloodshed.

"Are both of them Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Anko swallowed and asked instinctively.

"No. The other one isn't, but he may be even more terrifying."

Hyuga Satoru silently held his breath. The Biological Magnetic Field of the man without a ninja sword was even stronger than Aburame Shibi's. Even if Teacher Shibi were here, he likely would not dare face the two of them at once.

Not knowing whether they possessed sensory abilities, Hyuga Satoru did not dare make too much noise, afraid they would detect their trail.

The air around them seemed to freeze solid, and their movements slowed as well. Holding their breath, they slowly retreated.

Just then, the two figures in his Byakugan vision moved.

They were incredibly fast, rapidly approaching this direction.

"Damn it! Did they notice us after all?"

Hyuga Satoru's expression turned exceptionally grim.