"Damn it, when are the reinforcements going to arrive?" growled a man wearing the traditional uniform of Kumo ninjas. "We're being overwhelmed those bastards planned this well!"
"Stop whining," snapped another as he pulled his sword from a man's chest. "We should be grateful the Mizukage is with us today…"
After those words, they turned their heads in unison toward the place where a massive explosion had just occurred. After the surprise attack on the city, Mei had rushed in. She didn't particularly enjoy carnage and had tried to ease the tensions.
But the group that had made itself known as rebels categorically refused any peaceful solution. All they wanted were severed heads and to see blood flow.
Faced with their obstinacy, a harsh lesson was in order and it just so happened that this was right up Mei's alley. Though she didn't particularly like conflict and was usually calm and smiling, she had no scruples about burning alive those who thought themselves above everything else doing so with that very same smile.
[Suiton: Water Dragon]
A gigantic dragon of water crashed down on a small group of rebels who had the misfortune of running into the Mizukage. Quickly, Kiri ninjas surrounded them and bound them. It was monstrously efficient teamwork.
Mei handled the bulk of the work by attacking the enemies, while the rest of her subordinates took care of the rest. They restrained those who could be restrained and executed the others without the slightest remorse.
"Move it! We don't have all morning!" Mei shouted, standing atop a roof as she watched plumes of black smoke painting the sky. The assailants were true pyromaniacs, setting fire to everything they passed.
"Those bastards…" the woman murmured, her fist clenched. "They're just numerous at best they're only chūnin… Are the intel reports wrong? Or maybe… no, I need to finish this as quickly as possible."
"Hey…" she said, her voice colder than ever. "Pass the word no need to capture them anymore. Eliminate them all!"
Immediately after, she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, heading for her next targets.
Meanwhile, in the prison
"…So you actually know how to fight?"
Yoshiro stepped forward in the dim light, clapping his hands as if he had just seen a good show and were applauding the actor. Behind him stood Ayano, who merely watched in silence.
"…So you're still alive?" Takeshi replied, looking at him with a mocking smile.
Despite Yoshiro's detached demeanor, there was a trace of surprise in his eyes. It was obvious during the mission, Takeshi hadn't used Yōton at all, not even when he was being captured… and that intrigued him. Why hadn't he used it? Had he been working with the Kiri ninjas from the start?
"There's something I'd really like to know," Yoshiro continued as he advanced, slowly drawing his katana. "If you mastered Yōton, why was I never informed even by the organization?"
He pointed his blade beneath Takeshi's neck. Takeshi didn't seem the least bit panicked; he simply raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you use it even when we were attacked? Were you working with Kiri by any chance? Your frequent trips to see the Mizukage… everything seems to point to you being a traitor," Yoshiro went on, taking a much more serious stance.
"Pff… hahaha," Takeshi couldn't help but laugh. Now that he thought about it, all his actions did lend credibility to what Yoshiro was saying but he didn't give a damn. On the contrary, it made things far more interesting. "And what if that were the case?" Takeshi said slowly, his voice much deeper this time. "…What are you going to do about it?"
"…What am I going to do?" Yoshiro repeated. "Kill you, of course…"
Without a shred of hesitation, he thrust his weapon forward to pierce Takeshi's neck but Takeshi leaned to the side, letting the blade pass. Yoshiro wasn't finished. With a swift motion, he swung his katana again, this time aiming for Takeshi's torso. Takeshi drew his own weapon, blocking the strike.
"…You filthy traitor!" Yoshiro bellowed angrily. "Do you really think your miserable skills will save you this time?"
[Raiton: Electric Discharge]
Yoshiro drove the tip of his katana into the ground. Suddenly, a massive electric surge erupted, spreading in a three-meter radius around him.
With a backward flip, Takeshi barely managed to escape the attack's range. "Those damn ninjutsu again… tch," he cursed under his breath.
[Yōton: Lava Bullet]
Three projectiles materialized and shot straight toward Yoshiro one aiming for his head, another his torso, and the last his arm.
"Too slow…" he murmured, drawing his blade, still crackling with lightning, and tracing an arc that deflected all three projectiles.
He's not that weak, that bastard! Takeshi thought as he prepared to counterattack, but suddenly he felt his chakra stir. What the ?
"Enough!" Ayano finally intervened, her voice cold as frost.
Yoshiro stopped dead, but as he was about to turn his head, he felt something brush dangerously close. When he turned around, he finally understood. Takeshi's katana was embedded in the spot where Ayano's head had been. If she hadn't leaned aside, the blade would have pierced her instantly.
"…Genjutsu," Takeshi said, straightening up. "Now that's a dangerous ability."
If he hadn't thrown his weapon in time, destabilizing the girl, he would have fallen into the trap for sure. Thankfully, he had acted fast. But a thought crossed his mind what if this were the second ability a waifu could grant him?
Ayano, for her part, immediately masked her surprise. She truly hadn't expected that move, especially coming from Takeshi. She might need to reconsider this mysterious man he was far more dangerous than he appeared.