Higashino Shin had been in the Ninja World for over nine years, and this was finally the first time he saw what a battle between Ninjas looked like during a war.
There was absolutely no intention from either side to stop and chat or probe each other for intelligence; the warring Konoha and Hidden Mist seemed to have an irreconcilable blood feud, where the Ninjas of both sides fought to the death the moment they met.
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Twelve Kirigakure Ninjas scattered to break through, but Konoha held an absolute numerical advantage, with every Kirigakure Ninja facing several opponents.
These water-wielders were all ruthless characters; facing such a disadvantage, no one chose to surrender. Ninjas coming out of the Bloody Mist Village were ruthless to their own and even more ruthless to their enemies.
Surrender? That option didn't even exist in the bloody education they had received since childhood.
After the first wave of Ninjutsu exchanges between the two sides, they quickly engaged in close-quarters combat. A brief roar erupted from the lake and the shore, followed by the dense sound of clashing metal.
Unfortunately, the outcome of the battle was destined from the very beginning.
In the absence of top-tier experts using absolute strength to suppress the field, numbers were the greatest advantage.
Even in Ninjutsu exchanges, some people in Konoha used Water Release better than the Kirigakure; at least they didn't have to honestly and painstakingly form forty-four hand seals for the Water Dragon Bullet.
A certain Senju old ghost in the Pure Land: "Those are all my Ninjutsu, all developed by this old man."
The battle started quickly and ended just as fast; that's just how Ninja combat is.
The Genin rookies guarding the perimeter watched the battle not far away with envy, witnessing for the first time how Chunin and Jonin dealt with enemies.
Unfortunately, they could only observe from the sidelines; this battle wasn't for them yet. There was no need to go up and add pointless casualties; it was better to stay back obediently and soak up experience and credit.
Regardless of how the higher-ups understood the will of fire, the will of fire in the hearts of the powerful Chunin and Jonin below was at least not crooked; generally, in a chaotic battle, they would stand in front of their juniors.
Higashino Shin's three-man team was responsible for defending the direction between the lake and Konoha.
Not far to their left was Tokuma's team, and to their right was the Gate God Team.
Well, although they graduated last year and participated in the Chunin Exams, currently only Hyuga Tokuma had been promoted to Chunin; the team he was in still belonged to the Genin squads.
Higashino Shin stood on a tree, seriously observing the battle in the distance.
Although he was very strong, he didn't have a personality that liked to show off and had no intention of joining the fray.
But sometimes, when luck comes, you can't stop it.
In his perception, a clever little Kirigakure Ninja luckily survived the encirclement and was breaking out directly toward their direction.
Higashino Shin immediately said to Hayate and Yūgao, "Prepare for battle, an enemy is coming."
"Yes!" The two drew their weapons, standing ready.
Soon, a female Kirigakure Ninja around twenty years old crossed the clearing between the lake and the forest, stumbling toward them.
Higashino Shin and the others had excellent eyesight; they saw that this beauty had over a dozen Kunai stuck in her body like a hedgehog. One was even stuck in the position of her heart, but for some reason, she had a special Physique and hadn't died. This was likely why she managed to slip through and luckily escape.
It certainly wasn't because her chest was as big as steamed buns; the curve of this female Ninja's chest was rather regrettable.
Unfortunately, there was a Konoha ambush on the perimeter; even if it wasn't Higashino Shin, any other Genin team would be the same. In her half-dead state, she probably wouldn't get very far.
This Kirigakure Ninja also knew there were people in the forest, so she didn't even think twice. Gathering her Chakra, she opened with a B-rank Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave technique to clear a path.
She didn't seek to kill anyone, only to blast open a path so she could escape.
A massive volume of water surged forward like a sea wave.
Unfortunately, she wasn't Kisame Hoshigaki, and this technique wasn't 'Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave'; the water volume and impact force were limited.
Higashino Shin jumped to the ground, his feet sinking deep into the soil. Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki naturally trusted their teammate's defensive power; without even asking, they landed beside him in perfect synchronization.
Higashino Shin extended both hands, a large amount of Chakra pouring from his fingertips.
Water Release: One-Horned Tranquility.
A light blue hemispherical defensive barrier protected the three inside. Despite the rushing water, the barrier only slightly deformed under the pressure, remaining as steady as an old dog, like a soap bubble that would never pop.
After the injured Kirigakure Ninja released the Ninjutsu, her consciousness became increasingly groggy, and she didn't notice anything wrong beneath the flow of water.
As she charged behind the water flow, she saw the three kids completely unharmed, and her muddled mind blanked for a moment.
Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki were not rookies who hadn't killed before; the two took the opportunity to slash forward.
Higashino Shin sensed the opponent's depleted Chakra and dazed eyes, and gave a reminder: "Take her alive."
The two shifted their blade strikes, each severing the tendons in her wrists and ankles. As they passed her, Gekkō Hayate delivered a roundhouse kick, sending the enemy flying toward Higashino Shin.
Higashino Shin tilted his body, having already sensed someone coming to support from the left; he struck the Kirigakure Ninja's back of the head with a punch, sending her toward them.
One must remember to share the credit with comrades.
Hyuga Tokuma, with his Byakugan active, naturally saw an enemy break out of the lakeside battlefield and quickly came to support.
He met the flying Kirigakure Ninja and, without a word, applied Gentle Fist point-striking. Subsequently, Muta Aburame beside him used his Parasitic Insects to drain her remaining Chakra.
The poor Kirigakure Ninja thought she could escape, only to run into two excited Konoha squads eager for credit, enjoying a smooth chain of combos.
If she were still conscious, she would surely bite her finger.
To perform a Summoning? No, she would write the word 'Miserable' on her thigh.
But the Ninja World was like this; in battle, no one cared if you were a beautiful woman; they would hit you to death if they got the chance.
The good news was her life was saved; the bad news was her future situation might be even more miserable.
One must know that the commander of the Eastern Front was Orochimaru. After draining the intelligence from her brain, she would naturally be placed on the experimental table. For a Physique that didn't die even with a Kunai through the heart, Snake Uncle would wash his face with his tongue while shouting 'Subarashii'.
With no women in his heart, his experiments would naturally be divine.
Snake Uncle was a man who had transcended low-level human interests; he had no pursuit of sexual matters, and in the future, he could even change his own gender into a woman.
---
After Muta Aburame retracted his Parasitic Insects, Higashino Shin stepped forward to check the completely unconscious Kirigakure Ninja. With his hands wrapped in Chakra, he carefully removed the suicide gadgets from her body.
He then pulled out the Kunai with one hand and healed her with the other.
A perfectly good live prisoner must not be allowed to die.
Female Ninja, beautiful, prisoner, lost the ability to resist... for some reason, many 'Wretched' scenes he had seen in his previous life popped into his head.
Unfortunately, while clearing the poison sac from her mouth, that mouth full of characteristic sharp shark teeth would dispel all fantasies.
Sharp teeth... hurt the 'little brother'.
No wonder Mei Terumī couldn't get married in the future. Although that woman was excessively beautiful and didn't have shark teeth, her Boil Release and Lava Release... Hyuga Tokuma looked on with increasing displeasure: "Shin, you guy, it's one thing to have excellent perception, but you even know Medical Ninjutsu. You really are a monster!"
"Eh? Tokuma, why are you insulting me? If I'd known, I wouldn't have shared the credit with your team."
Hyuga Tokuma immediately bowed upon hearing this: "I was wrong, please be sure to share some credit with us."
This guy's personality didn't look like a member of the Hyuga Branch Family at all.
Wasn't it said that every member of the Hyuga Branch Family had a face full of deep bitterness? Did you and your two teammates, who are as sparing with words as gold, switch roles? The Caged Bird is carved on their heads, isn't it?
Gekko Yun Jian and Sarutobi Jitsugetsu had already rushed over. The battle in the lake had ended; the two were completely unharmed, and even their hairstyles hadn't changed.
Gekko Yun Jian said in surprise: "Oh? You actually managed to get a live one?"
Yūgao Uzuki: "Teacher, don't tell me that with so many of you, you couldn't leave a single one alive."
Gekko Yun Jian didn't want to talk.
Sarutobi Jitsugetsu said awkwardly: "Ahaha, Kirigakure Ninjas are all lunatics. If they can't win, they stick Explosive Tags on their own heads. Who wants to be buried with those bastards?"
Gekko Yun Jian immediately changed the subject: "Alright, you two teams did well and achieved a great merit. Let's gather by the lakeside together and treat the wounded while we're at it."