"Understood!"
Yoru Ryo, Harunami Yuya, and Natsuhana Rin answered in unison, their voices brimming with resolve.
"Let's move!"
At Sky Armor's command, the team set out on their first mission.
On the way, he briefed them further.
The three rogue ninjas had fled Kirigakure's oppression, aiming to join the Hidden Cloud Village.
This meant they might face Cloud ninja too.
The words made Yoru Ryo and his teammates swallow hard, their eyes growing graver.
Yoru Ryo grumbled inwardly: "We're just fresh Genin!"
"An S-rank mission like this? Really?"
"This is practically throwing us into a death trap!"
"Three Genin, no matter how strong, can't handle this kind of job!"
But complaints were useless. In Kirigakure, orders were ironclad, and refusal meant death. The mission was set, the arrow loosed—there was no turning back.…
Hot Springs Village
In a certain inn, three Mist ninjas—tall, short, and fat—sat together.
The short one, buzzing with excitement, said, "Finally, we're almost free from that hell. Can you believe it? Freedom's just around the corner!"
The fat one frowned. "Don't let your guard down. We haven't linked up with the Cloud ninja yet. Anything could go wrong!"
The tall one nodded. "He's right. We can't afford to relax—not until we're safe. Kirigakure's hounds are likely on our trail. We need to be ready for pursuit!"
"It's getting late. Let's go! Head to the rendezvous to avoid trouble!" the tall one said, standing.
The trio packed up and left the inn.
But as they crossed a bridge, danger struck.
Boom!
A massive fireball erupted with a deafening blast.
From the thick smoke, a volley of kunai and shuriken shot out.
The three drew their blades, deflecting the attack and retreating from the smoke.
Behind them, an Anbu in a white mask flashed forward like a streak of light.
"Multi-Hawk Flash!"
The Anbu shouted, moving so fast that defending seemed impossible!
Clang, clang, clang!
But the tall ninja parried all the fierce strike.
"It's that Yoru Ryo guy! Watch out for his Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
"Sky Armor, show yourself! I know you're here!"
The tall ninja, Yoshiguchi Mitsuta, and his teammates stood back-to-back, shouting into the forest behind Yoru Ryo.
"The bridge is destroyed. You've got nowhere to run. Surrender and face judgment!"
Sky Armor emerged from the forest, his voice cold.
"Surrender? Hah, that's a one-way ticket to death!"
"I'm never going back to that hellhole of Kirigakure!" Yoshiguchi Mitsuta snarled, his face twisted.
"No kidding! Quit daydreaming!"
The fat ninja, Nobutomo Suke and short ninja, Asakura Masa chimed in.
"Such a pity. Looks like you've chosen death!"
Sky Armor's expression turned icy, his voice sinister. "Cold Light, Hawk, White Wolf—these three are yours!"
"Either they die, or you do! You know the cost of failure!"
The ruthless order made Yoru Ryo, Harunami Yuya, and Natsuhana Rin tense, but they charged at their targets.
Yoru Ryo took Yoshiguchi Mitsuta!
Hawk faced Asakura Masa!
White Wolf tackled Nobutomo Suke!
Clang!
A short blade clashed with a longer one, sparks flying wildly.
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta sneered at Yoru Ryo. "Serving a place like Kirigakure? Don't you feel pathetic?"
"What's tying you to that village, making you so loyal?"
"Stay there, and it'll cost your life! You don't have to be that dumb!"
Yoru Ryo looked up. "You wouldn't get what I stand for, and I don't care about your beliefs. Let's settle this with strength!"
"Only one of us walks away today!"
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta surged forward, knocking Yoru Ryo back.
"Such a shame. A waste of your talent!"
He closed in, slashing down fiercely. "Let's see your strength, then!"
"The guy who took down a Kaguya Special Jonin—don't disappoint me!"
Yoru Ryo lunged forward. "Funny, I was about to say the same!"
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Their swordplay erupted, fierce and unrelenting!
Sparks flashed, air twisted, the clash intense.
Blood sprayed through the air.
"Matching Yoshiguchi Mitsuta's speed and holding his own with agility—Cold Light's gotten stronger!"
Sky Armor, watching Yoru Ryo's fight, marveled inwardly.
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta ranked among the top Special Jonin in Kirigakure.
No ordinary foe.
Yet Yoru Ryo wasn't losing ground—a feat he couldn't have pulled off three days ago.
"Well done! No wonder you're Terumi Mei's brother—you're damn strong!"
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta pulled back, panting, his hands flying through seals.
But before he could finish—
Yoru Ryo, also panting, bloodied with cuts, didn't even seem to weave signs. "Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!"
Two condensed water shots blasted forward, forcing Yoshiguchi Mitsuta to retreat.
"How's he so fast?!"
He gaped, shocked. Then he saw Yoru Ryo already finishing more seals, shouting, "Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
As mist spread around them, Yoshiguchi Mitsuta cursed.
He knew Yoru Ryo's seals were quick, but this speed was unreal.
Terrifying!
"I won't let you pull it off! Water Style: Mighty Water Arm Jutsu!"
He roared, and a swirling water wave formed behind Yoru Ryo.
A massive arm burst out, smashing Yoru Ryo away.
"Yes, got him!"
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta grinned, but his smile vanished.
Yoru Ryo dissolved into a puddle—a Water Clone! The real one was untouched.
Then, the mist exploded, engulfing him completely.
"Head, carotid, heart, throat—pick one!"
From the pitch-black fog, Yoru Ryo's ethereal voice echoed.
"Quit playing tricks!"
Yoshiguchi Mitsuta bellowed, his cool unraveling under Yoru Ryo's relentless mind games.