The Power of Modern Weapons

I was far too careless just now! I never expected the Rain ninja to have a coordinated ninjutsu like that!

No wonder they were Rain ninja—treacherous, practical opportunists! Tianyi regretted it inwardly.

Most of his knowledge of Naruto's ninjutsu was still limited to the famous ultimate moves from the original work.

He had been unprepared for these obscure but highly practical combination techniques.

If he made it back alive this time... he had to find a way to learn some systematic ninjutsu!

Relying solely on the Hyuga Branch House's limited taijutsu and Gentle Fist left him far too passive against enemies with bizarre methods and countless ninjutsu.

The Byakugan was top-tier support, but he needed more means that could determine victory or defeat!

Perhaps... he could start with Orochimaru.

But for now, staying alive came first!

The explosion and fighting just now had been loud. Orochimaru must have been held up by some enemy.

Given how much he valued Nawaki, he definitely would have come to help after that attack.

He could not hesitate any longer! It was time to use his trump card...

A resolute gleam flashed through Tianyi's eyes.

His right hand silently reached toward the inner side of his ninja tool pouch at his waist.

Three grenades!

Then he spoke to Kaede beside him:

"Go check on Nawaki and take him away. His condition is critical.

"I'm going to use my trump card next. I might hurt you by accident."

Kaede glanced at Tianyi, nodded, then went to Nawaki's side and hoisted him onto his back.

He retreated toward the camp.

Tianyi stood in front of them.

The Hidden Rain Village Chunin snorted coldly, his speed erupting once more as he used the Body Flicker Technique to close the distance.

"Trying to play the hero? Die!"

The Kunai in his hand stabbed straight for Tianyi's back!

He could tell that this Hyuga brat was the most troublesome of the three. He had to get rid of him first!

The other Genin also circled in from the flank, sealing off Tianyi's escape route.

"Now!"

He pulled a smoke bomb from the side pouch of his ninja tool bag and smashed it onto the ground in front of his feet!

Pfft—!

Dense grayish-white smoke exploded outward from him in an instant.

It spread rapidly, enveloping him and a wide area around him, temporarily obscuring their vision.

As Tianyi rolled aside, he used the Byakugan's penetrating vision.

Without even looking back, he locked onto the two enemies' positions and trajectories.

"Cheap tricks!" the Hidden Rain Village Chunin's voice came from within the smoke.

His charge slowed slightly, but his senses remained locked on Tianyi's approximate location.

The instant the smoke billowed up, Tianyi swung his right arm with all his strength.

A Kunai tore through the air with a piercing whistle, flying toward the Chunin!

"Hmph!" As expected, the Chunin heard it and twisted aside to evade.

The Kunai skimmed past his side and embedded itself in a tree trunk behind him.

And at the instant the Chunin's attention was drawn to the Kunai.

Within the smoke, Tianyi formed hand seals for the Clone Technique, while his real body concealed itself.

The clone made a motion as though fleeing in another direction through the smoke.

"There!" The remaining Genin had sharp eyes and spotted the blurry silhouette.

Eager to claim credit, he was the first to rush into the smoke!

Though the Chunin sensed that something was off, opportunities were fleeting.

His figure flashed, and he immediately cut into the smoke from the other side.

Squelch!

Two Kunai pierced the dim clone almost simultaneously.

With a bang, the clone dissolved into white smoke.

"It's a clone!" the Genin cried out.

At that moment, a grenade with its pin already pulled lay at their feet.

The Chunin's heart clenched as he cursed inwardly. He immediately tried to retreat!

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted!

An explosion far more powerful than an Explosive Tag, accompanied by a terrifying shockwave.

It swept wildly outward in every direction! Scorching air carried countless iron fragments.

Like a deadly metal storm!

"What?!" Terror replaced the expression on the Hidden Rain Village Chunin's face!

He wanted to dodge, but he was too close, and the blast came too suddenly and too quickly.

He could only frantically use what little chakra he had left to activate the Body Flicker Technique and retreat at full speed!

At the same time, he curled up as much as possible, shielding his head and vital points with both arms.

Even so, he was just a fraction too slow!

His entire body was struck head-on as if by an invisible sledgehammer, and the chakra protecting him shattered.

Blood sprayed from his nose, mouth, and numerous wounds across his body as he was violently blasted away.

The Genin who had flanked them fared even worse. He did not even have time to scream.

He was completely swallowed by the explosion's flames and shrapnel, dying instantly!

Tianyi, who had thrown himself to the ground, also felt the blast slam hard into his back.

Scorching fragments shrieked over his head. Aside from his blood and energy churning from the impact.

And his ears ringing incessantly, he had not suffered any fatal injuries.

The smoke and dust from the explosion had yet to disperse, and the scene was deathly silent.

"Cough... cough, cough!"

Violent coughing came from within the smoke.

"What was that?! No hand seals! No chakra!

"And yet its power... its power rivaled an Explosive Tag! What kind of bizarre weapon was that?!"

He was still alive! But judging by his voice, he had clearly suffered severe injuries.

Tianyi immediately got to his feet and hurled a Kunai in that direction.

Then he pulled the pin from another grenade and threw it over there.

Not far away, the Chunin barely managed to knock away the Kunai, only to see a grenade flying toward him.

It bounced a few times by his feet. Then all he saw was a flash of bright light before he lost consciousness.

Boom!!!

The explosion rang out again.

It detonated at virtually point-blank range.

In the distance, all that remained was a charred crater, several bloodstained scraps of torn cloth.

And some unrecognizable remains.

It was over. At least the battle in front of him was over.

He could no longer hold on. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, coughing violently.

The two grenade explosions at close range had also made his vision repeatedly darken, while the ringing in his ears would not stop.

"This time, the grenades really saved me. They're too well concealed.

"If I'd used Explosive Tags, I probably wouldn't have gotten this result.

"I need to prepare more of them in the future. Flashbangs, concussion grenades—I want them all."

He panted heavily and muttered to himself.

Then came an almost imperceptible sound of wind being cut.

He struggled to slowly raise his head.

Orochimaru was already standing silently at his side.

His long black hair drifted in the night wind, his golden vertical pupils sweeping over the area.

At last, they settled on Tianyi, carrying a trace of barely perceptible appreciation.

Just moments ago, he had been held up briefly by an elite Hidden Rain Village squad.

They had not sought to injure him, merely using the terrain and their coordination to impede his movements at every turn.

By the time he had cleared the obstacles with thunderous methods and reached the designated rendezvous area.

He found Moonlight Kaede, with broken ribs and injured internal organs.

As well as Senju Nawaki, whose arm and chest had been pierced through by Kunai, leaving his life in danger.

"Tianyi is covering our retreat. There are two enemies—a Chunin and a Genin—in that direction," Moonlight Kaede said through the pain.

Covering their retreat? Facing a Chunin and a Genin alone? What nerve.

Orochimaru had said nothing then. After quickly checking Nawaki's wounds and confirming that his life was not in danger.

He left behind a Shadow Clone to watch over them, then used the Body Flicker Technique toward the direction from which the final explosion had come.

He had not held out much hope. He had mostly gone to confirm the outcome.

Yet the sight before him slightly exceeded his expectations.

The enemies had all been wiped out, and their deaths were strange.

And this Hyuga Branch House boy was actually still alive, despite his miserable appearance.

For his companions... he went this far? The thought circled through his mind.

For some reason, it reminded him of two figures: one, a white-haired idiot who was always loud and boisterous.

The other, an ill-tempered blond woman. At the thought, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Then he spoke to Tianyi:

"Nawaki is not in mortal danger. You..."

"Did well..."