Kaida was ready for the fight, certain that it couldn't be avoided, but his instrus to Yomi were clear:

  "During the fight, if you feel that your life is in danger, use the Body Flicker Jutsu and run. Don't even think about tinuing the fight. I'll follow you after that, OK?"

  Yomi just nodded her head, mentally preparing herself for the fight. All of them took Soldier Pills to maximize their efficy.

  …

  Twenty ninjas were running toward the carriage. They were ninjas from Iwagakure, only rogue in hey mostly did the work that vilges didn't want their name associated with. This time, they were hired to kill a Konoha cil member who was about to make a deal with the Land of Noodles, as the t didn't want Konoha's financial dition to stabilize.

  Sihey had to attack a cil member, the group included two Jonin, seven in, and the remaining eleven were Genin. Knowing that a Jonin would likely be guarding the cil members, they po sneak attack them, staying 500 meters away to catch them off guard. The main goal of the surprise attack was to kill the Jonin or at least injure him, making the fight easier.

  As they ran toward the location, a firewall suddenly appeared in front of them. The Genin couldn't rea time, but the in, beierans, quickly created ah wall to protect themselves. However, the fire was s that it burhem even around the wall's edges.

  All the in and Jonihe Body Flicker Jutsu to evade the firewall. Though some were slightly burhey could still fight, while the Jonin were retively unharmed as they reacted faster than the in. The Genin, however, took the most damage. Most were either critically injured or dead. Just as they were rec from the shock of the attack, a barrage ed attacks—fireballs, wind bdes, earth bullets, and water bullets—came at them.

  Sensing the dahe Jonin quickly erected earth walls around the team. Unfortunately, one of the in was out e of the wall. Before he could move or do anything, a wind bde sliced through his head, and his body was then riddled with bullets.

  The rest of his teammates didn't have time to mourn his death, as they were too busy trying to protect themselves. One of the Jonin anded, "Disperse in pairs and search for the enemy," as it was too difficult to fight while proteg everyone.

  …

  (Ten minutes earlier…)

  All four members of Team 13 were hidden among the trees.

  Yukihiro looked at Kaida and said, "Kaida, make three es and have them use the Fire Stream Jutsu—the most powerful one you manage."

  "Okay, Sensei."

  Kaida created three es. He and his es stood side by side, ready to use the Fire Stream Jutsu on and.

  "Sehey're 100 meters away from us," Ryota reported.

  Yukihiro Kaida, who took the cue. All four of them unleashed the Fire Breath Jutsu in the dire of the approag ninjas. Yukihiro appeared behind Kaida and used the Wind Release: Infinite Breakthrough Jutsu.

  *Fwoosh*

  The fire, initially 80 meters wide and reag 40 meters ahead of Kaida, was empowered by the strong wind, increasing its rao more than 200 meters and its width to 100 meters.

  All the enemy ninjas were nearly engulfed iack. Their blood-curdling screams were audible to Team 13, distrag the three Genin as they heard the ninjas being burned alive.

  "Focus! They're not going to die from just this," Yukihiro remihem.

  Just as he said that, multiple earth walls appeared within the fiery o. Yukihiro pointed in a dire, knowing that this attack wouldn't kill all of them. Many enemy ninjas had used le travel jutsu to evade the attack.

  Soon after, the enemy ninjas dispersed in different dires. Yukihiro looked at his team and said, "There are only in and Joni in their ranks. Ryota and Yomi, you will hahe in. Try to stall them, but don't take any unnecessary risks. Sihey're dispersed, take och at a time. I'll finish my fight as quickly as I and e to your aid.

  Kaida, you'll face a Jonin-level ninja. Don't do anything reckless—just stall for as long as you . And most importantly, DO NOT DIE."

  They all nodded. Yukihiro then pointed in the dire where the enemy ninjas were. Ryota and Yomi used the Body Flicker Jutsu a after the in, while Kaida headed toward the Jonin.

  …

  Ryota and Yomi both khey were still Genin, even though they had killed in before—usually in a 2-on-1 situation with Yukihiro always ready to protect them if they made a mistake. But this time was different. The fight would be 2-on-2, and a single mistake could cost them their lives.

  They looked at each other, uanding that they had to prioritize each other's safety, or they would both die.

  "Yomi, I'll focus more on close bat, but I'm not sure I stall two in alone for long. Try to deal with one of them from a distance as quickly as you ," Ryota said.

  "Okay, but don't be reckless. If you feel you 't hahem alone, fall back. We only o stall for time, remember?" Yomi replied.

  "Okay. Are you ready, buddy?" Ryota asked, looking at Kiba.

  *Bark* Kiba, too, uood the gravity of the situation.

  They used the Body Flicker Jutsu and appeared oree Yukihiro had poio. Two in were on the ground, fully alert. Ryota and Kiba silently jumped toward them, each holding a kunai. The in on the ground sensed danger and evaded in the nick of time. It seemed Ryota's attack had failed, but as the in dodged, Ryota threw his kunai at them.

  Both in deflected the kunai, but Ryota wasn't the only oag. Yomi had charged her shuriken while Ryota made his first surprise attack. When the in evaded, she threw her shuriken at their legs.

  She could have aimed for their heads, but Yukihiro had taught them that experieninjas develop a sixth sense for deteg fatal attacks. So, in every surprise attack, they were to aim for small but critical damage. In fast-paced fights, minor hindrances could prove fatal.

  When the in blocked Ryota's kunai, the shuriken embedded itself in their legs.

  *Buzz buzz*

  The shuriken, charged with lightning chakra, paralyzed them for a fra of a sed. Ryota didn't waste the opportunity and fired a barrage of earth bullets at them.

  Within just a minute, both enemy in were critically iheir hands were useless from the earth and water bullets, and their legs were in critical dition from the shuriken.

  Not wanting to give them a ce to recover, Yomi used the Body Flicker Jutsu, appearing behind them. With one ssh, their heads were on the ground.

  Ryota and Yomi breathed a sigh of relief, but Kiba suddenly started barking. Ryota turo Yomi, and they both used the Body Flicker Jutsu to escape.

  Just as they vahe spot where they had been standing was bombarded with kunai, shuriken, and even some earth bullets.

  "Shit, all four of them are on our backs! We don't stand a ow. Let's keep running until Kaida and Yukihiro-sensei finish their fights. We'll hahese four if we get the ce," Ryota said.

  "Okay," Yomi agreed, but she was already thinking of running away, as Kaida had instructed. The only thing stopping her was that she didn't want to leave Ryota and Kiba alone.

  Still, the situation wasn't that bad. They had already killed two in, and now they only had to stall for time, which was doable sihey had spent a month practig the Body Flicker Jutsu to use it as effitly as possible.

  ---

  (A.N: Thanks for reading ^~^)