Fuka's Attack

Out at sea, the Rain Ninja who had just attacked Uzumaki Hane and the others swam to the surface. All three were relieved that their opponents had not pursued them, glad to have escaped with their lives. Just then, a boat drifted over, with Fuka sitting aboard. He had followed them all the way from the village.

The three had nearly been killed by Fuka earlier, so naturally they were terrified of him. When they saw him, they hurriedly said, "My lord, they were too strong. That's why we couldn't stop them."

Fūchūka gave a bloodthirsty smile. "When tools are no longer useful, all that's left for them is to die." The three were startled and tried to flee, but the gap in their strength was too great. Fūchūka sent three kunai flying from his hand at extraordinary speed. All three were struck in the chest and died.

Elsewhere, Aoi Rokushō kicked Uzumaki Hane to the ground and let out a triumphant laugh, then slashed his sword at him.

Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo naturally would not let Uzumaki Hane get hurt. They both threw several kunai, forcing Aoi Rokushō to stop. He swung the Sword of the Thunder God repeatedly and blocked every kunai. Uzumaki Hane seized the chance to get away and join Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo.

Facing the man who had betrayed him, Morino Idate had long wanted to flee. Seeing that Uzumaki Hane was no match for him, he turned and ran.

Uzumaki Hane said to Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo, "Tanaka, Koromo, hurry after Morino Idate. Leave this to me." Hyuga Tanaka said, "All right." Yamano Koromo said, "Hane, be careful."

Aoi Rokushō wanted to stop them, but Uzumaki Hane charged at him again. Uzumaki Hane put him under too much pressure; without the Sword of the Thunder God, he would have been no match for him at all. He did not dare act rashly, so he gripped the sword tightly and slashed at Uzumaki Hane.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo quickly caught up with Morino Idate. When Morino Idate saw them, he desperately picked up speed again.

The three raced through the forest when several kunai suddenly flew at them from ahead. Hyuga Tanaka shouted, "Watch out!" He darted forward and pushed Morino Idate aside, then swiftly moved both hands to block the kunai one by one. The three stood together and looked ahead. A ninja was standing on a tree branch, watching them. It was Fuka.

Fuka looked at them and smiled. "You're Uzumaki Hane's companions, aren't you? I can capture you first, then go find Uzumaki Hane." He swept both hands forward, sending several kunai flying.

Fuka put the two under terrifying pressure. Even Umino Ta, who had nearly wiped them all out, had not put them under such pressure. Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo wore grave expressions. Hyuga Tanaka immediately activated his Byakugan, knocked away the incoming kunai, and charged at Fuka.

Fuka held a kunai in each hand, his movements blurring into afterimages as he viciously stabbed at Tanaka's vital points.

Hyuga Tanaka could barely block Fuka's attacks and was forced to retreat again and again.

Seeing that things were going badly, Yamano Koromo quickly threw several kunai. Fuka threw kunai from both hands as well, knocking hers down. He then looked at Yamano Koromo, a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes.

Hyuga Tanaka seized the chance and shouted, "Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" His hands blurred into afterimages as they struck Fuka.

Bang! Fuka vanished in a puff of smoke. Tanaka's eyes narrowed, and he murmured, "A Clone Technique? When?" He used his Byakugan to scan the area and saw Fuka appear behind him, charging at Yamano Koromo.

Hyuga Tanaka spun around and shouted, "Koromo, watch out!" He quickly drew a kunai and threw it at Fuka, then charged after him.

Fuka dodged the kunai Hyuga Tanaka had thrown with a series of quick movements and reached Yamano Koromo and Morino Idate.

Morino Idate was terrified. He turned and fled.

Fuka gave a sinister smile. "You think you can escape?" Two kunai flew from his hand toward Morino Idate's vital points.

Morino Idate heard them cutting through the air and turned his head, only to see the two kunai already in front of him. Unable to dodge, he could only watch helplessly as they flew toward him.

Just then, Yamano Koromo rushed in front of Morino Idate and pushed him aside. She swung the kunai in her right hand, but only managed to block one. The other struck her right shoulder.

Yamano Koromo grunted and clutched her right shoulder. Blood flowed from the wound, staining her clothes red.

Morino Idate snapped out of his shock at what had just happened and came over to Yamano Koromo. "Are you all right?"

Yamano Koromo pulled Morino Idate behind her and said, "I'm fine," but kept her eyes on Fuka.

By then, Fuka had charged up to them. With a vicious grin, he stabbed his kunai at Yamano Koromo.

Yamano Koromo's right hand was injured, so she held a kunai in her left and raised it to block. But her left hand lacked the strength to stop Fuka's kunai, and it plunged straight into her left shoulder.

Hyuga Tanaka had charged up behind Fuka. Seeing Yamano Koromo injured, he cried angrily, "Koromo... Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" He struck at Fuka with both hands.

Fuka had noticed Tanaka's attack as soon as it began. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he immediately used the Substitution Technique to dodge Hyuga Tanaka's attack.

Hyuga Tanaka paid Fuka no attention. He rushed to Yamano Koromo and asked worriedly, "Koromo, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I've already stopped the bleeding," Yamano Koromo said. Then she said to Morino Idate, "Go on ahead. Leave this to us."

Morino Idate would have turned and left before, but Yamano Koromo had just risked herself to save him, and he could not help hesitating.

Holding his kunai, Fuka charged at them again, only to be stopped by Hyuga Tanaka. But Hyuga Tanaka could barely hold him off. "Go!" he shouted. Yamano Koromo also said, "Go!" She gripped her kunai and charged at Fuka as well.

Morino Idate hesitated, but finally gritted his teeth, turned, and ran.

A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Fuka's face. "You're still in the mood to protect someone else?" He darted past Hyuga Tanaka and appeared in front of Yamano Koromo, then punched her in the stomach, knocking her unconscious.

Fuka then turned to Hyuga Tanaka. "Your turn?"

Worried about Yamano Koromo's safety, Hyuga Tanaka charged straight at Fuka and shouted, "Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

But Fuka gave a sinister smile, grabbed Yamano Koromo, and held her in front of him.

Hyuga Tanaka's eyes narrowed, and he hurriedly stopped. Fuka seized the chance to kick him in the stomach, sending him flying backward to crash heavily to the ground.

Fuka dropped Yamano Koromo and flashed above Tanaka, driving his knee hard into Tanaka's stomach. Tanaka spat out a mouthful of blood.

The sight of blood excited Fuka even more. He stood up and kicked Hyuga Tanaka, sending him flying ten meters like a sack. Hyuga Tanaka slammed into a tree trunk and lost consciousness.

Fuka grabbed the unconscious Hyuga Tanaka and Yamano Koromo. "Uzumaki Hane, you're next." A bloodthirsty smile appeared on his face as he quickly disappeared into the forest.