Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Following his instincts, Hideki chose one group, fired a volley of shuriken, and widened the distance at the same time.
Sure enough, the Root youths in the other directions all scattered, though they vaguely sealed off Hideki's escape routes.
Hideki did intend to run, but not yet.
The two youths each dodged the shuriken. One charged forward with a kunai in hand, while the other began forming hand seals where he stood.
"Tch!" Hideki spat. All this time, the three of them had been the ones teaming up to gang up on others. Who would have thought retribution would catch up with him today?
If he fought at close range, he had to worry about ninjutsu coming from behind. If he kept retreating, he would fall into a passive position.
Hideki made a swift decision. He needed to play to his strengths.
"Water Release: Water Chain Bullet!"
Thudthudthudthudthud!
Hideki rapidly formed hand seals, so fast he practically wanted to rub sparks from his fingers.
The water bullets shot out almost the instant they formed. Both their attack frequency and coverage were top-notch. Hideki currently had plenty of chakra, so he intended to maximize his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."
But at that moment, the hand seals of the Root youth in the rear suddenly changed, and he pressed both hands to the ground.
Almost at the same time Hideki launched his counterattack, the earth trembled slightly and an earthen wall abruptly rose. Though it lacked a dog head and thus seemed soulless, it still blocked every one of Hideki's water bullets.
"This..." Hideki's face darkened. Right now, he desperately wanted to ask whether he could choose his opponents again.
They had clearly come prepared!
Puff— Hideki ended his ninjutsu and formed hand seals again. A Shadow Clone appeared and, within half a second, formed a Rasengan before charging toward the earthen wall.
Boom!
The earthen wall finally crumbled under the strain, but the Shadow Clone dissipated with it.
Hideki frowned. Based solely on the feedback from the Shadow Clone, he did not even know how it had been taken out.
Only when Hideki saw the earth spikes slowly retracting from the wall did he understand.
"Both of them are Earth Release users. One uses Earth-Style Wall, the other Earth Spear... A combination ninjutsu?"
This truly taught Hideki a lesson.
Combination ninjutsu was not his exclusive specialty. Even ninjutsu of the same nature could be combined.
For example, the Earth-Style Wall now had thorns layered over it, making it both offensive and defensive.
Hideki could not help looking toward the other three groups of Root youths.
If nothing unexpected happened, they likely had similar coordination.
"Don't make that expression. They... are merely Root apprentice ninjas. They were temporarily paired up, and they have been practicing together for less than two days."
The Root ninja behind him spoke up, unexpectedly providing live commentary.
"Just as I said before, Root's battlefield is more advanced. Compared to conventional slaughter, we make full use of every advantageous factor. The enemy's habits, the enemy's weaknesses, even the enemy's bonds..."
"Root follows an elite path, emphasizing efficiency and coordination. Your two teammates have a high degree of mutual understanding with you, but in Root's eyes, it only takes one plan to defeat you separately."
"Like now, every one of your ninjutsu has been exposed from the moment you begin forming hand seals. They will immediately employ countermeasures to suppress and retaliate... This is Root."
That was showing off. It was absolutely showing off.
Hideki was certainly unconvinced, but he had to admit that Root's methods were indeed quite efficient.
Yes, he believed what this Root ninja said.
But that did not mean he would simply admit defeat.
"Root, what a capable bunch you are.
"If my master's wife were here, would you still dare brag like that?"
Hideki mockingly said in a low voice, and the voice behind him instantly fell silent.
But Hideki was not merely planning to act tough with his words... What he was about to do would be quite brutal.
It might be a little risky.
Setting aside whether it would succeed, even if it did, it would only deepen Danzo's greed for him.
Hideki began forming hand seals.
At the same time, the Root ninja behind him suddenly shouted, "Interrupt him!"
It was a little dishonorable, but Hideki did not care. He had figured it out: this Root ninja's role was to mess with his mindset.
Whether Hideki could win or not, this entire process itself was a demonstration of "joining Root."
In the end, they would probably still force him to join. He had already seen through everything.
Whoosh—
The two Root youths attacked again, moving incredibly fast as they came from the left and right. Yet both were forming hand seals at the same time, and their seals were identical.
That inevitably made one wonder whether they were joining forces to unleash a powerful move, or whether one was a feint while the other launched the real attack.
"Heh." Hideki smiled disdainfully.
"Trifling tricks dare to show off before an expert!? Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Hideki roared with imposing momentum. Combined with the long string of seals he had just formed, the eyes of the two Root youths narrowed, and they immediately pressed both hands to the ground!
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"
The two spoke in unison. Multiple Earth-Style Walls was not as simple as one plus one.
It was one plus one plus one plus one plus one—four full earthen walls stood before Hideki!
Yet the expected water dragon never appeared.
Hideki's mouth stretched into a wide grin, revealing all his gleaming white teeth.
"Sorry, Lord Hokage just gave me that technique, and I haven't had time to practice it yet. But... thanks for trusting me."
The Root ninja's expression instantly turned utterly livid. This was already the second time he had been played!
Then, accompanied by Hideki's mockery, three successive puffs rang out as Hideki's plan began.
The first two were Shadow Clones—Shadow Clones wielding Double-Yellow Rasengans. The final sound was from a smoke bomb, the sort of dirty trick used by a sixth man.
Hideki's advantage was not his chakra reserves, nor was it Hydrogen Release or the Rasengan. As always... it was his brain!
Konoha's sixth man, transform!
"Surround him!"
The Root ninja made a decisive call, practically carving the words "no honor" onto his mask. The remaining six Root youths immediately surrounded the smoke.
But they did not attack, clearly worried that Hideki would escape.
After Root took custody of that Kumogakure ninja and confirmed his identity, they had immediately investigated the scene. They had some understanding of the tactics Hideki's trio had used at the time.
At this moment, Hideki was alone and could not perform that combination ninjutsu. But in this Root ninja's eyes...
He was trying to run!
"I told you, before you defeat them, you have no right to leave." The Root ninja sneered.
Meanwhile, the two Earth Release youths displayed the results of their training. Working together, they quickly caused Hideki's two Shadow Clones to dissipate.
The two exchanged a glance and, without hesitation, charged straight into the smoke!
But right then...
Hideki's voice rang out from within the smoke.
"I told you too... don't show off trifling tricks before an expert. Behold my Mighty Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Heh!" The Root ninja scoffed. He really was just a child, always... Hm!?
From within the smoke, a majestic azure water dragon suddenly appeared with a roar!
The water dragon roared and rampaged. The six Root youths around it, along with the two who had just rushed in, had no time to react. In a single exchange, they were swept away and scattered by the water dragon!
It was not over yet. The water dragon circled once, then soared upward. It had already begun dissipating during the process, but it still charged toward the Root ninja!
"You dare attack me? Do you know the consequences!?" The Root ninja roared furiously, but his body honestly began forming the seals for the Substitution Technique.
Hideki did not answer. Instead, he silently took out two Explosive Tags, each attached to a kunai, and fired them in two different directions.
"You people think you can make me join? I should be the leader instead! Trash!"
Hideki did not hold back with his words, but his body was even more honest. The moment he finished his threat, he immediately fled!
Meanwhile, within the shadows.
An old man wearing a cheap, buy-one-get-one-free mask from a roadside stall silently watched everything unfold.
"Brat..." The old man chuckled softly, shifting his gaze away from the water dragon striking the substitution log and the Root ninja who would face an explosion the instant he landed.
He raised his head and looked toward the bright moon overhead.
"You really are like him..."
Before you continue