“What are you standing there for? Support me!”

  Asuma had already sprinted forward but noticed that this kid was still frozen in pce, so he hurriedly called out from a distance.

  Might Guy finally snapped out of it.

  Kyoichi pced his hand on the ground, sensing the terrain. His gaze sharpened as chakra flowed from his palm into the earth, extending outward and hardening the entire riverbed into jagged stone spears.

  This was a teique he had developed himself.

  Not the most practical, but perfect for the situation—he had just sehat the enemy was trying to escape through the riverbed.

  Spsh!

  A burst of water shot up.

  Kyoichi quickly formed another seal, and a dark rain fell over the area.

  “Fire Release!, Wind Release!.”

  “Yes!”

  Shisui instantly teleported into position. From atop a wall, he had already finished f seals.

  The moment…

  A massive fireball erupted from his mouth.

  Asuma couldn’t make it in time, but Hayama Shirakumo arrived just then, f seals before exhaling a powerful wind bst.

  Raging fmes, fierce winds, and bck oil.

  The top of the earthen walls became engulfed in a sea of fire, so intehat even water couldn’t suppress it.

  The river evaporated, filling the air with thick steam.

  Is this brat trying to dry up the entire river?!

  What kind of monster is this?!

  Hozuki Chikage cursed inwardly.

  He hurriedly activated a Water Release teique.

  However, as the water level rose, so did the surroundih walls, trapping him within a burning inferno—bck oil and fire floated atop the water, turning it into a boiling cauldron.

  This wasn’t going to work!

  Seeing no other choice, he finally abandoned his cover and leaped toward an unoccupied dire, his body still burning with searing fmes—some of the bck oil had stu, making it impossible to extinguish, even with his Hydrification Teique.

  Body Flicker Teique!

  His speed was astonishing.

  “No wonder you dared to stay behind,” Kyoichi sneered.

  Fast?

  I’m faster.

  First Gate—Open!

  The instant, he drew his sword, turning into a streak of light.

  Secret Sword—Moon Shadow!

  At the same time, he bi with Iaijutsu—

  Draw, fsh-step, strike—

  All in one seamless motion!

  Too fast!

  There was no way to dodge!

  Hozuki Chikage’s mi bnk.

  How this brat move so fast?!

  His only option was the Hydrification Teique—but just as his body started to turn into water, Kyoichi’s bde struck his arm.

  The sed…

  Lightning surged from the bde, instantly paralyzing him. His body, halfway through liquefying, froze in an awkward, distorted shape.

  Meanwhile…

  From the distant o, massive waves surged toward the river mouth.

  But this wasn’t just any wave—

  Exploding Water Collision!

  If Chikage made it into that water, even if the Five Kage came, they wouldn’t be able to catch him.

  Kyoichi said nothing. His sword remained pressed against Chikage’s body, preventing him from fully transf. Then, grabbing him with one hand, he dashed toward dry nd—

  All the while, he tinuously drained Chikage’s chakra.

  “Damn it! Hurry up and save me—he’s abs my chakra!”

  Chikage panicked.

  Though the Hydrification Teique ed very little chakra, it wasn’t free. If Kyoichi drained him to the bare minimum, he’d be pletely helpless.

  “You idiot! I told you to leave, but you just had to stay behind!”

  A figure stepped onto the waves.

  Light green hair, a long hook in hand.

  Hayama Shirakumo and Shisui immediately rushed forward to intercept him, but—

  Just as they reached him…

  The maended his hand, and a Water Mirror appeared in front of him.

  Water Mirror Teique…

  Kyoichi instantly reized him.

  Yagura Karatachi!

  “Avoid that mirror—it might be dangerous!”

  He quickly warned.

  But it was too te!

  Four identical figures emerged from the mirror, perfectly mirr their movements as they utacks.

  Yagura took advantage of this moment to break through their defenses.

  The enemy clearly specialized in Wind Release, so instead of wasting chakra on the Hiding in Mist Teique, he simply formed seals and unleashed a massive torrent of water.

  A Great Water Prison engulfed the approag Konoha ninjas, trapping them instantly.

  Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!

  However…

  By the time Yagura finished his teique, he realized Kyoichi had already dealt with Chikage.

  Chikage still had chakra, but his body was now covered in sealing scrolls, eae glowing with intricate bck sigils—a high-level sealing teique.

  And not just that…

  Beside him, a giant slug had appeared, ing its body around the sealed Chikage.

  “…What the hell.”

  Sealing teiques, summoning teiques—this kid has everything!

  With this many precautions, how the hell am I supposed to rescue him?!

  Yagura cursed internally, immediately abandoning the rescue pn.

  A prolonged fight would be pointless.

  And now, with the Exploding Water Colliding wave approag, he used Water Release to retreat—rather than wasting time here, gathering intel was far more important.

  Especially about that young ninja.

  Meanwhile…

  Hayama swung his sword.

  Wind Release Sword Teique—Void Ssh!

  A vacuum arc cut through the Great Water Prison, instantly creating an air pocket.

  A moment ter…

  Five Leaf ninjas broke free.

  Yagura didn’t dare linger any longer. Memorizing Kyoichi’s appearance, he fled at full speed. By the time Hayama Shirakumo and the others mao stabilize themselves, he had already vanished into the water currents.

  The Water Prison dispersed.

  By the time Hayama and the others could react, even Yagura’s chakra signature had disappeared.

  “Don’t chase him…”

  Kyoichi stopped them.

  Yagura wasn’t a Jinchūriki yet, but his Water Release teiques were still incredibly powerful. If he was dead set on esg, they had no ce of stopping him.

  Besides…

  Who knew how many more Kirigakure shinobi were lurking in the o?

  If somethi wrong, they could lose their captive, which would be a far greater loss.

  “Yes, sir!”

  Genma and Kurenai regrouped with Kyoichi.

  Kurenai stared at the slug, eyes filled with admiration.

  The same summon as Tsunade!

  And Also...

  So gentle!

  Kurenai was pletely captivated.

  She wanted one so badly.

  "Stop staring," Kyoichi said, ruffling her hair. "This guy is from the Hozuki . Whether it's their memories or their unique physiology, they're worth studying. Proteg him is our top priority."

  "Oh!"

  Kurenai respohough her eyes remained glued to the slug.

  Notig her i, Katsuyu split off a small portion of itself and crawled onto her shoulder, pyfully iing with her.

  Now that the situation was safe, Kurenai and Genma, who had been on high alert around Kyoichi, finally rexed.

  The other four, however…

  "Hayama-senpai is a Jōnin. Even if he ran into trouble, he could handle himself. What exactly were you all pnning to do by chasing after them? Aside from getting in the way?"

  Kyoichi swept his gaze over them.

  "Finished one in Exam and suddenly think you're invincible?"

  Among the six, Might Guy was the only one who had never been his student, but since Kyoichi was close to Might Duy, he had the authority of an elder figure in Guy’s life. Teag him a lesson erfectly justified.

  And so…

  Shisui and the others lowered their heads, not daring to talk back.

  Thinking it over, they realized he was right.

  If Hayama Shirakumo hadn’t stayed behind to protect them, he would have caught up to Yagura long ago.

  "Let it go, Kyoichi," Hayama said, stepping in for the kids. "This was their first time participating in a battle of this scale. It’s natural for them to be a bit unaced."

  Then, his expression turned serious as he looked at the captured Hozuki Chikage.

  "I didn't expect even the Hozuki to be involved. It seems the Kirigakure still refuses to back down."

  "That ninja from earlier—his status is probably quite high," Kyoiodded.

  Yagura Karatachi…

  As the future Fourth Mizukage, his rank at this point was undoubtedly high. He might even be leading this intelligehering operation.

  "Good thing you caught him," Hayama said, sincerely impressed.

  As an ANBU, he uood better than anyone how troublesome the Hozuki could be.

  Unless hit by Lightning Release before fully liquefying, their bodies were practically immuo most attacks.

  But Kyoichi had outmaneuvered that ability pletely—

  Usih Release to cut off escape routes, then fire and oil to force Chikage into human form.

  And, of course…

  That sword.

  The Sword of the Thunder God.

  The Third Hokage really values him.

  Then again…

  If he were the Hokage, he'd also put his trust in Kyoichi.

  There weren’t many shinobi left in the vilge strong enough to shoulder its future.

  "You all arrived first. Have you firmed a location for intelligence exge?"

  "For now, we’re using Mount Nagano."

  "Alright, let’s move."

  Gcell