Escape!

They were just a few Genin brats!

When he spotted Meikyō and the other two, the short Amegakure ninja felt a surge of secret delight.

Earlier, they had encountered a four-man squad led by a Chunin. Aside from the Chunin, the three Genin were not the sort who had just graduated, their bodies not yet fully developed. They had considerable combat experience.

That lineup had cost their four-man Chunin squad one member.

But since these brats before them were merely a group of Genin who looked barely over ten years old, this time, victory should be assured...

Huh? Where had those brats gone?

"Are you looking for me?"

Uchiha Meikyō had appeared behind the Amegakure ninja at some unknown point.

"Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique!"

After using genjutsu to confuse the Amegakure ninja's vision, Inuzuka Ryo suddenly lunged forward like a beast in the next instant, viciously extending his claws toward the man's throat.

The Amegakure ninja could only dodge in haste, but that was precisely what Aburame Nami wanted.

A dense swarm of insects silently burrowed out of the ground and swiftly crawled all over the Amegakure ninja's body.

"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere."

This method greatly alleviated the problem of Nami's insects having their flight hindered during heavy rain.

"What?! These brats!"

The remaining two Amegakure ninja stood back-to-back nervously, gripping kunai as they watched Meikyō's group surround them.

In a single instant, the three brats had used genjutsu and a sneak attack to kill the short Sensor Ninja who had been trailing at the rear of their formation.

The situation was now three against two. Judging from their earlier performance, this Genin squad was no pushover. Their overall level was likely higher than that of the three Chunin.

They had hit an iron wall!

Was this what Konoha called Genin?

No matter how much they complained inwardly, the most important thing now was figuring out how to fight this battle!

That girl who controlled insects looked frail and delicate, but their companion had just been killed by Nami's Kikaichū. She was clearly not someone to be trifled with. Then there was Uchiha Meikyō. The Uchiha Clan Crest on his clothes, along with his Sharingan, was enough to reveal his origins.

Uchiha ninja had never been simple opponents.

Then...

"Water Style: Water Shockwave!"

One of the Amegakure ninja unleashed a Water Style technique at the ground, forcing everyone around him back. The other took the opportunity to draw his ninja blade and charge toward Inuzuka Ryo.

These two Amegakure ninja thought I was the weak link and wanted to use me as their breakthrough?

Inuzuka Ryo suddenly realized this and flew into a rage. Calling to Tetsu Maru, he unleashed a Fang Dance and intercepted the Rain Ninja.

Meanwhile, Aburame Nami controlled a massive swarm of insects and sent it surging toward the Rain Ninja who had just used Water Style.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

A curtain of water sprayed from the Rain Ninja's mouth, blocking the insects.

In the weather of the Land of Rain, Water Style techniques received a considerable boost in power. That was also why Meikyō had used Fire Style less often recently, relying more on Uchiha Style Swordsmanship and Wind Style instead.

"Uchiha Style: Swift Wind Blade!"

Meikyō shot forward like an arrow, slicing through the water curtain with one stroke and aiming directly for his opponent's head.

A dull metallic clang rang out as the wakizashi in Meikyō's hand crashed heavily against the Rain Ninja's kunai. He followed with a genjutsu to stall him, then stepped aside, allowing Aburame Nami to leap high into the air and kick the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying.

As for the other Amegakure Chunin, he was locked in an intense battle with two Inuzuka Ryos.

One of the two Inuzuka Ryos was Tetsu Maru transformed through Beast Clone. He could basically wield strength comparable to Inuzuka Ryo himself, though he found it difficult to perform some ninjutsu requiring highly precise Chakra control. Still, he could use most of the Inuzuka Clan's secret techniques that Ryo had mastered.

"Damn it, how do these Konoha Genin feel even stronger than the two of us Chunin?"

After Meikyō slashed one of the Rain Ninja open with a deep wound, he could not help but curse.

"Hey, you two are really pathetic. To think three Genin brats beat you up this badly."

A new voice suddenly emerged from the dense forest in the distance.

Another four Amegakure ninja emerged from the woods and arrived at the scene.

Perhaps they had been drawn over by the commotion of the battle.

Meikyō's expression darkened.

The four newcomers did not appear particularly strong. They were likely a squad made up of one Chunin and three Genin, but they were enough to change the situation on the battlefield.

The reason Meikyō's group had ambushed and eliminated that short Amegakure ninja first was because, with their current strength, they could hold an absolute advantage in a direct fight against two Chunin. Against three Chunin, however, victory or defeat would be uncertain.

Not to mention that there were now three Genin added to the mix, capable of interfering with them.

They would prioritize keeping themselves safe while probing the enemy, trying to create an opportunity to escape and break through from the side of the Genin and the injured Chunin if possible.

Uchiha Meikyō silently made several tactical gestures with the hand hidden behind his back. After confirming that Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Nami had seen them, he swiftly hurled a large number of shuriken ahead, attempting to obscure the enemies' vision.

The enemies quickly scattered to dodge Meikyō's shuriken. At the same time, the two uninjured Amegakure Chunin took the opportunity to outflank them from both sides, intending to surround them.

But how could Aburame Nami and Inuzuka Ryo give them that chance?

"Fang Dance!"

"Secret Technique: Kikaichū!"

At the same time, Meikyō formed hand seals and spat out clusters of fire shaped like phoenix sage flowers, then followed up with a Wind Style technique.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Empowered by the Wind Style, the flames scattered and flew toward the Amegakure ninja.

Although Fire Style was less effective in such a water-filled environment, with the support of Wind Style, it remained tremendously powerful.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

"Water Release: Water Wave!"

"Water Style: Tidal Wave!"

Seeing the overwhelming force of Meikyō's combined Fire Style and Wind Style attack, the injured Rain Ninja and the other Genin hurriedly unleashed Water Style techniques to block it. Even the Genin all cast the simplest Water Style Ninjutsu, though it had little power.

Water and fire collided with a hissing sound, raising vast clouds of white mist.

Meikyō first darted over and used a slash to help Inuzuka Ryo force back his opponent. Then he used genjutsu to help Aburame Nami break free from her opponent's entanglement. Taking advantage of the white mist obstructing the enemy's vision, they decisively used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.