The "Light Dancer" in the Sea of Trees

Moving through the canopy took more stamina than they had imagined, especially with Furukawa, who had gone completely limp, in tow.

In less than half a day, Obito and Rin were drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

Kakashi was doing all right, but his movements were much more cautious than at the start.

Only Shuo still seemed quite relaxed.

He moved among the branches like a sloth, making small movements but always stepping on the sturdiest spots. Occasionally, he even stopped to wait for Obito and Rin, adjusting the chakra threads that Furukawa had nearly pulled apart while he was at it.

The midday sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering patches of light that swayed back and forth.

Shuo stared blankly at the patches of light, muttering inwardly, If only I could hop along with the light. Too bad that would be exhausting~

Just as the team was preparing to take a break, Minato suddenly stopped and signaled them to stay alert.

Shuo followed his gaze. The trees ahead were a little sparser, and there was actually a crude wooden hut in the clearing.

He extended his Light Perception and immediately frowned-the light around the hut was wrong, as though something had stirred it up. A cold, viscous chakra permeated the area, unpleasant even to smell.

"Something's wrong."

Minato said quietly, "Kakashi, stay here and protect Furukawa. Obito, Rin, Shuo, come with me."

The four slid down from the trees and approached, using the trunks for cover.

Only when they got closer could they make out a few pieces of tattered clothing, an earthenware jar, several shuriken, and broken kunai scattered by the hut's entrance-clearly left by ninja.

"Residual chakra from the dead. More than one."

Minato's expression darkened. "There was a fight here."

They pushed open the door, and a rotten stench hit them.

The hut was in complete disarray. Three corpses lay on the floor: two hunters in coarse cloth clothing and a ninja wearing a broken mask. All were covered in tearing wounds, with dark purple, viscous residue still clinging to the injuries. The sight was eerie.

"These are bodily fluids from a modified beast, right?"

Minato examined the bodies. "Someone was conducting illegal research or summoning here."

No sooner had he spoken than a low roar came from behind the hut. The sounds of snapping trees and something heavy moving drew closer and closer!

Up in the tree, Furukawa screamed in fright and nearly fell.

"Prepare for combat!"

Minato barked, "Shuo, take them back. Kakashi, you're with me!"

Shuo did not move. His perception had already locked onto the target-a monster twice a person's height, covered in dark purple armor, with bone spikes growing from its joints and a single scarlet eye. It was charging toward them, churning the light around it into chaos like a black hole.

"Hard shell and poison! Attack its joints and eye!"

Minato turned into a streak of golden light and charged, thrusting his kunai toward the monster's neck. Kakashi also swung his Lightning Blade at its joints.

But the monster's armor was absurdly hard. The kunai penetrated only half an inch, while the Lightning Blade left nothing but a white mark.

The monster roared, sweeping its tail at Minato and lunging at Kakashi with its claws. Wherever the poisonous wind passed, the vegetation withered and turned black.

"We can't get through!" Obito stamped his feet in frustration.

Shuo stared at the monster, rapidly calculating. Brute force won't work. We need to find a weak point, or... create one.

"Obito!"

Shuo suddenly spoke. "Blast a fireball into that muddy patch over there. The bigger, the better!"

"Got it!"

Obito immediately formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The fireball slammed into the mud, sending muddy water splashing and steam billowing.

The monster's charge faltered.

"Rin! Chakra Scalpel! Aim for the gap above its left hind-leg joint! You don't have to hit it, just make it lift its leg!"

Rin acted immediately, shooting fine chakra threads toward the monster's joint.

The monster howled in pain and instinctively raised its left hind leg.

"Kakashi! Use Lightning Release beneath its foot and dig a hole!"

Kakashi's figure flashed. His Lightning Blade plunged into the ground, blasting out a hole the size of a washbasin.

The monster lost its balance, its single eye glaring furiously at Kakashi.

"Minato-sensei, lure its eye over the hole!"

Minato understood. A flash of golden light drew the monster's attention. Just as it regained its footing, its single eye faced the opening of the hole.

Now!

Shuo moved, his feet seeming to step on patches of light as he rushed to the edge of the hole in an instant. He raised both hands. Golden light shot from his left fingertips into the bottom of the hole, refracting wildly off its scorched walls; countless threads of light burst from the five fingers of his right hand, weaving an invisible Light Lens in midair.

"Yata Mirror... maximum output~"

Bzzzt!

The light energy gathered at the bottom of the hole was focused through the lens. A blazing white pillar of light shot upward, striking the monster squarely in its single eye!

"Aaargh!"

The monster let out an agonized shriek. Its eye instantly burned into a charred socket, poisonous blood spraying as it thrashed and rolled wildly.

Minato seized the opening and flashed beneath the monster's throat, plunging his kunai into its soft skin.

The monster twitched a few times, then crashed to the ground.

Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by Furukawa's sobs.

Obito stared blankly at the hole. "Shuo-senpai, what was that just now?"

Shuo lowered his hands, his face pale. Rubbing his aching eyes, he said lazily, "Just dug a hole, borrowed some sunlight, and blinded it~"

Minato walked over to him, his eyes full of admiration. "Shuo, that tactic of yours..."

"Don't praise me, don't praise me." Shuo waved a hand, looking thoroughly displeased. "My eyes ache, my wrists are numb, and digging holes is pretty tiring too." He looked at the monster's corpse and the hole, muttering, "Fighting in someone else's home and leaving holes everywhere. Absolutely no sense of public decency."

With that, he slowly walked over to a tree, leaned against its trunk, and closed his eyes to rest.

[Ding! Achieved an incredible reversal through "digging a hole and borrowing light." Tactical creativity, light ability application, and on-the-spot command all rated S! Imitation points +120! Critical hit!]

["Yata Mirror Hypothesis" upgraded to "Yata Mirror Construction (beginner)." More complex light-path design!]

[Current imitation points: 915/1000.]

Shuo glanced at the panel in his mind, the corners of his mouth quietly curling upward.

Not bad. That was worth it.

Hopefully, the rest of the trip won't bring any more trouble that requires this kind of "physical effort."

After all, I just want to slack off in peace all the way to Trade Town~