Chapter 65: Young Mist Ninja
"Just a little more, and we would've broken through!"
"Damn it, this aura..."
"Another Mist Jonin!"
Just half a step away from successfully breaking through the Mist Ninja's defense line, a young Mist Ninja suddenly appeared before Yoroi and his team, making their hearts race.
Especially when Yoroi sensed with his spiritual energy that the young Mist Ninja, despite his age, was a Jonin, Kurenai, and Daiwashi were both sweating, fearing that the Mist Jonin would see through their disguise.
Previously, they had undergone rigorous inspections while breaking through several Mist defenses.
So, even though Yoroi was sweating bullets, he subtly signaled Kurenai and Daiwashi to take Asuma Sarutobi and leave first. Adopting Hozuki Genji's tone, he coldly addressed the young Mist Jonin:
"Hmph, who do you think you are?"
"I have an important mission to carry out. Move aside!"
"If you delay my mission, you'll regret it!"
Glancing around to ensure no other Mist Ninjas were nearby, Yoroi smirked and said:
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the young Mist Jonin in front of Yoroi smirked, causing Yoroi to feel a bad premonition.
Sensing the danger, Yoroi instructed Kurenai and Daiwashi to take Asuma and leave. Under their worried gazes, Yoroi prepared to face the young Mist Jonin alone, clearly intending to cover their retreat.
"Daiwashi, do you think Yoroi will be okay?" Kurenai asked anxiously.
Daiwashi sighed and replied, "Kurenai, Yoroi has the skill to turn the tide. We need to get Asuma out of here!"
"Yoroi is covering us, and we're already past the Mist defenses. He should be able to handle that Mist Ninja."
"Let's move! We'll only be a burden if we stay."
"Alright, let's go!"
Convinced by Daiwashi, Kurenai bit her lip, took one last worried glance at Yoroi, and then followed Daiwashi, taking Asuma with them.
As Kurenai and Daiwashi disappeared, Yoroi felt a moment of relief.
However, facing the young Mist Jonin again, Yoroi's eyes narrowed, and he asked:
"How did you figure it out?"
"How did I figure it out? There were too many flaws!"
The young Mist Jonin, dressed in Jonin attire, smirked coldly, revealing sharp teeth, and replied nonchalantly, "I can't believe those idiots didn't notice. Hozuki Genji never cooperated with anyone outside his team, and they didn't know that? Fools."
"Moreover," he continued, "if Hozuki Genji encountered me, he would have greeted me. Did you know? Hozuki Genji is my family's servant!"
"Whoosh!"
The moment the young Mist Jonin finished speaking, he vanished, leaving only an afterimage as he attacked Yoroi!
"Such speed!"
Seeing the speed that left afterimages, Yoroi gasped inwardly, bracing himself for battle.
Facing a Mist Jonin, Yoroi didn't dare underestimate him for a second, his eyes filled with seriousness.
In his previous encounter with Hozuki Genji, Yoroi knew he was far outmatched in strength.
Had it not been for Hozuki Genji's initial underestimation of Yoroi and Yoroi's mastery of the new Nara clan techniques, he would have stood no chance against the Jonin.
Now, Yoroi faced an even stronger opponent than Hozuki Genji.
Starting with no underestimation, the young Mist Jonin understood that Yoroi's team must have some tricks to pass through multiple defense lines and escape the Mist camp. Disappearing from sight, the young Mist Jonin attacked with full power.
In an instant, the young Mist Jonin appeared beside Yoroi, a blade similar to Hozuki Genji's firmly in his hand. With a swift motion, the blade slashed across Yoroi's throat.
But as blood spurted and Yoroi's body began to collapse, the young Mist Jonin's eyes narrowed!
"Shadow Clone?"
"Poof!"
Indeed, it was a Shadow Clone!
The moment the young Mist Jonin disappeared, Yoroi knew he couldn't match him in taijutsu. While conversing, Yoroi secretly used Shadow Clone Jutsu, followed by Substitution Jutsu, to escape the first deadly strike!
"Your swordsmanship is impressive, but if it doesn't hit, it's useless!"
"Shadow Shuriken!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
In the first exchange, Yoroi consumed chakra to use Shadow Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu, evading the young Mist Jonin's attack. Stabilizing his stance, he aimed at the young Mist Jonin, and threw shadow shurikens, sealing off all escape routes.
However, as the young Mist Jonin watched the shadow shurikens with disdain, he began deflecting them with his blade.
"Nice shuriken technique. Are you from the Uchiha clan?"
"Not only did you use curved throws, but you also locked my escape routes with shadow shurikens. You planned to use multiple shurikens to collide mid-air, creating hidden strikes against me?"
"Besides Uchiha Shisui, you're the best I've seen with shuriken!"
"Unfortunately!"
"Even Uchiha Shisui lost to me, Hozuki Mangetsu. What chance do you have, Uchiha brat!"
"Break!"
With a roar, Hozuki Mangetsu's words chilled Yoroi's heart!
To Yoroi's shock, the young Mist Jonin was Hozuki Mangetsu, a future member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the second wielder of the Hiramekarei!
However, the true cause for Yoroi's concern wasn't Hozuki Mangetsu's title in the original story, but his displayed terrifying skill!
Yoroi's shadow shurikens, as Mangetsu mentioned, had two hidden attacks. The real hidden technique was the ability of the shadow shurikens to pin Mangetsu's shadow, allowing Yoroi to immobilize him instantly.
But who could have imagined that as a Mist Jonin, Hozuki Mangetsu had a special intuition, or exceptional sensory abilities!
Sensing the chakra in Yoroi's shadow shurikens, Mangetsu deflected several of them with his blade. Realizing something was amiss, he let out a small "hmm" and vanished from Yoroi's sight. Using his extensive combat experience, Mangetsu quickly countered with a perfect jutsu to restrain Yoroi!
"Brat, game over!"
"Ninjutsu!"
"Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
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