"Kid, forget it. I won't betray Kirigakure."
Mei Terumi spoke with absolute resolve.
An instant later, something whistled through the air. Out of the corner of his eye, Yechen spotted a long needle curving in from the perimeter and countered, knocking it away with a single slash.
None of this surprised Kushimaru Kuriarare. He pulled hard with his left hand, drawing the steel wire taut.
Then he flicked his right hand, changing the airborne needle's angle and sending it stabbing toward Yechen again.
This time, it came at Yechen's back from a particularly tricky angle.
Of course, none of this escaped Yechen's senses. As the needle approached, he leaped into the air and twisted, narrowly evading the attack.
"Heh, worthy of your name, Flame Demon Yechen."
Kushimaru Kuriarare chuckled when he saw Yechen evade his attack so easily.
But it wasn't over. Before Yechen could regain his footing, a figure shot up from beneath the sea.
The figure came clearly into view: a Kirigakure Jonin.
The Kirigakure attacker Yechen had killed earlier had merely been a probe. This was the real killing blow.
The attacker wore an Anbu mask like Kushimaru Kuriarare's. Clearly, this was another Kirigakure Anbu Ninja, one who specialized in assassination.
Against an ordinary Konoha Ninja, their tactics might have worked.
But Yechen's mental power offered greater insight than the abilities of those Sensory Ninjas. Nothing within its range could escape his perception.
He had already seen through Kirigakure's plan, so the moment Kushimaru Kuriarare made his move, Yechen had worked out a counter.
"Rasengan!"
The figure emerging from the sea had only just appeared and was preparing to launch a surprise attack when Yechen twisted in midair, Cyclone Force already gathering in his hand.
Crack... crack!
Cyclone Force shredded the weapon thrust toward him, then slammed