A broken blade piece whistled as it flew into the distance, swallowed by the thick, ink-like darkness.
Overflowing electric currents crackled and spilled from the newcomer, scattering to the ground and exploding into tiny sparks. The bear mask, realizing belatedly, quickly withdrew, not wanting to be tainted in the slightest.
The short sword in the opponent's hand, reflecting the pale night, seemed to press its sharp, chilling intent against his cheek.
Mai, who had been waiting for death's arrival, personally experienced this sudden, powerful aura that shifted the situation. She focused her gaze on the figure blocking the path in front of her, just as the person also turned their head to look.
"Hattori-nii?" It was like a person trapped in the desert for days seeing hope, like clear, cool water injected into a wavering, fragile soul. The girl's eyes brightened, filled with a joy that meant far more than mere survival.
"Mm." Logan lowered the Shimizu, his eyes scanning the girl's entire body. The absence of fatal wounds made him relax slightly, but the numerous other injuries sparked an uncontrollable anger.
"Are you okay?"
It was clearly not okay, but Logan didn't wait for a response. Instead, he turned his head calmly to look at the three extraordinary Ninja.
He had heard Deidara's ominous words at the Valley of the End, lost the heart to continue playing cards, and waited restlessly for a while. But as he watched the night continuously darken, he still hadn't seen Mai's figure. Growing worried, he decided to come and check.
Unexpectedly, an incident had truly occurred. By the time he arrived to rescue her, the situation was far more severe than he had imagined, not a pursuit by the Konoha, but a deadly assassination attempt by Ninja of suspicious origin.
"Feels like every time we meet, you're in a sorry state." Logan suppressed his self-blame and worry, forcing a calm and gentle tone.
It was a blessing in misfortune that he had arrived before a tragedy could unfold, otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Mai pouted slightly, and the places that had been violently struck didn't hurt as much anymore. She wiped the blood from her hands, though it only made them dirtier, "Not really."
"Can you still move? Take care of yourself." Logan smiled silently. Contrary to his tone with the girl, his eyes were coldly fixed on the enemies. In front and behind, in places Mai couldn't see, Logan revealed two completely different temperaments.
In the eyes of the three masked men, immense pressure crashed over them.
They retreated and gathered together, facing off against him.
Logan's gaze swept over their faces one by one. He shook the tip of the Shimizu and said, "Well, well, Anbu, huh?"
No one spoke. The next moment, the three abruptly scattered.
Boom!
A explosive sound shattered the earth and stones. The chirping of birds flashed dazzlingly bright as another Logan, holding a Chidori, rose straight from the crater he had created. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, "Not bad reactions."
The one in front of Mai was a shadow clone, and this was his real body. Logan dispersed the violent Lightning Release Chakra and looked at the Ninja Team that had regrouped warily ten meters away, contemplating internally.
He had created a shadow clone when he intervened to rescue her, setting up a feint from two directions simultaneously.
While not the most sophisticated ambush tactic, reacting so swiftly in the blink of an eye on the battlefield was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
Their skill level was revealed in that single encounter.
The three masked Ninja spread out in formation, treating Logan, this unexpected additional opponent, with extreme seriousness. They seemed to understand the troublesome and dangerous nature of the person before them. Unlike their thunderous, connected assaults during the fight with Mai, they hesitated.
They exchanged glances, and finally, the bear made a hand signal.
'Seems they know about me...' Logan stepped forward, his figure bursting into motion, taking the initiative to break the enemy's indecision.
The extreme speed enhanced by Lightning Attribute Chakra surpassed the limits of vision, leaving afterimages. The opponents had no choice but to meet his charge. The Shimizu swung out, Lightning Chakra instantly coating it. As the dazzling light roared, it extended and surged several inches, the narrow lightning blade seeming to want to completely slice through the air, scorching and sweeping everything in its path.
"Ha!" The lead bear mask bulged his knotted muscles. As Logan charged, he raised his broken blade.
Seeing the weapon transform into a shining lightning edge, he couldn't change his stance in time. With a loud roar, his eyes wide, he slashed out with all his might.
His companion, the raccoon mask, ran close alongside him. The one who should have been flanking from the side forcibly twisted his direction, rushing to aid the bear mask. Two steel knives together collided with Shimizu.
A teeth-grating sound of collision, the screech of friction, and sparks erupted at that very moment. A surge of powerful force colliding that tiny space.
A Chakra storm, more violent than the cold wind, swept out. Logan raised an eyebrow, 'The enemy's adaptability, coordination, and strength were all not to be underestimated.'
Sizzle...
Logan coldly poured more Chakra into his sword, the Lightning Chakra power running wild and roaring, its brightness growing stronger and stronger.
The two men in front of him couldn't control the trembling in their arms but still desperately tried to stabilize them, finally letting out roaring shouts.
Having two grown men shouting loudly just centimeters away was quite noisy. Logan spoke with malice, "So you're not mutes after all. Silent as the grave just now, now you're yelling so loudly."
Ding!
In the brief conflict of the stalemate, power washed over them in waves. Finally, the bear mask's broken blade couldn't hold on, shattering into pieces with a snap. The strength and momentum of the two Ninja broke, their defense collapsed, and Shimizu drove straight in!
Flames suddenly burst into life, crackling through the air. Just as Logan's sword was about to deliver a horizontal kill, a fiery red light caught up to the lightning, attempting to cover and spread over it. From both sides, a fire dragon as thick as a water bucket each circumvented bear mask and racoon mask, opening their mouths to tear and bite at Logan.
"Go!"
Fox mask, who is positioned at the rear, had completed a powerful technique, hands clasped together, pouring forth a Fire Release Ninjutsu directly aimed at Logan.
Seizing the opportunity, bear mask and racoon mask hurriedly retreated. Logan snorted, the sweeping Shimizu following its momentum in a half arc.
A blade light that seemed capable of etching itself into the very fabric of space suddenly appeared, lingering in mid-air without dispersing. He had to deal with the fire dragons rushing to his side first, otherwise, even if he managed to slash the retreating enemies, he would also suffer damage.
The sharp white streak of a draw slash spread and flew out, cleanly cutting the two fire dragons from the head all the way through.
Disordered air currents ran wild and swirled on the field, sending sand and stones flying, grass blades scattering everywhere.
If not for their superhuman physical constitutions, even standing steady would have been a problem.
The first round of exchanges ended, and both sides slowed their movements.
Logan adjusted his breathing and glanced toward Mai's position to the side and rear. Protected by the shadow clone, the injured and weakened girl wouldn't be affected by the flame.
He took a step forward. The three Ninja before him, like startled birds, tensed their bodies, mustering twelve points of vigilance.
After a few seconds of restraint, one of them, unable to withstand the pressure, threw out several kunai tied with Explosive Tags. They lodged into the ground around Logan with a swish.
They detonated instantly. Yet, from the smoke and dust of the explosion, Logan, wreathed in lightning, charged out. He plunged into the midst of his opponents. The three reacted calmly and wordlessly, meeting his moves.
In the Taijutsu exchange of three against one, the masked men, though seemingly flustered on the surface, maintained their composure without disorder.
"Heh, bear mask... quite a high rank." In the nerve-wracking series of exchanges, Logan experienced the silence atmosphere and once again observed their attire, "You know me, right? Which unit number are you from?"
Exchanging a blow, bear mask, now wielding a kunai, pressed against Shimizu. His movements were efficient, cold, and silent.
Having spent a long time in the Anbu, Logan was familiar with the operational systems of these special departments. He was using his past experience as an Anbu's Captain to fish for information.
But aside from the dinging of metal and the dull thuds of fists and feet meeting, there wasn't the slightest response.
The higher the level, the greater the impact of the slightest relaxation. Extra movements during combat would inevitably create mental vulnerabilities, and even confident Logan was no exception.
Because he kept talking, he revealed a flaw. The three opponents seized it without mercy, launching a fierce assault. Logan took a solid hit and was forced to retreat, stumbling back out of the engagement circle.
Rubbing his chest, Logan exhaled to disperse the remaining force.
"Hattori-nii..." He happened to land near Mai's position. The shadow clone helped steady the main body's shoulder. The girl spoke with concern.
"It's fine." He waved his hand reassuringly at Mai.
"I'm sorry, Hattori-nii. I didn't know things would develop to such a serious point, attracting these Anbu..."
"No, Mai." Logan suddenly interrupted, his expression calm as he looked at the three indifferent Ninja who were also watching him, "Not everyone who wears a mask is Anbu."
Mai was taken aback. Then she heard, "They are 'Root'."
"What?"
That's right. Through the continuous exchanges, Logan gradually discerned a different flavor. The operational style of this elite team clearly had many subtle differences from the Anbu he knew.
Never speaking, seemingly emotionless, their coordination exquisite yet displaying a willingness to sacrifice at certain moments.
Reasoning further, the only possibility was Root, thoroughly hidden in the darkness, ruthless and merciless.
"It's another organization hidden beneath the village. Has your teacher, Tsunade-sama, not told you about it yet?" Logan said, "In short, their malicious intent isn't accidental or simply because of you. They came prepared."
'So, Root had set its sights on Mai?' Logan's face grew increasingly grim. The only leader who could issue such orders was Danzo, and his relationship with Danzo had never been friendly.
Or rather, even if it were friendly, he could never let his guard down around such a scheming old man who only pursued village's interest in his own way.
Logan's thoughts raced. The only connection between Mai and Root was himself. But he hadn't had any interaction with Danzo for a long time. He had always held the idea of staying away from that stinking cesspool and kept his distance from Danzo. In theory, there shouldn't be any trouble.
'Settling old scores from the past now? I might have the leisure for it, but the other party probably wouldn't. Konoha had just suffered heavy losses and was recuperating. Besides, having become the acting Hokage, that old bastard was probably happily running off to the Land of Iron for the Five Kage Summit, his dry, lonely middle-aged heart experiencing a second spring, delighting in it, right?'
'Wait, the Five Kage Summit?'
Logan flickered forward, charging back into the formation of the three enemies, circulating Chakra to engage once more.
A short time passed. Logan had already familiarized himself with the enemy's patterns and tactics. Combined with past memories, the guess that these three were from Root was confirmed.
'What was Danzo going to the Five Kage Summit for?' Logan's mind became clearer, 'Besides the Five Kage discussing attitudes and policies towards Akatsuki, there was also the proposed verdict of sentencing Sasuke to death.'
'In Danzo's eyes, I was a stumbling block on this path of protecting the village's interests.'
Although it couldn't be confirmed yet, the incoming malice was a real reminder for Logan.
Boom!
He and the three Root's members were thrown apart in a blast of energy.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
The three before him were panting heavily. In the fierce exchange, they had rapidly expended their Chakra, already showing signs of exhaustion and inability to keep up.
Logan straightened his clothes, casually wiping away traces of dust, appearing to still have strength to spare.
"To be honest, cleanly and neatly dealing with the three of you is a bit troublesome." Logan clapped his hands coldly. Their strength ranking within Root was undoubtedly very high, which was why they could push Mai, whose level was outstanding among her peers, to such an extent.
"Then there's no other way." Logan seemed somewhat helpless as he made a certain consideration, "The timing is about right too."
The three, seizing the chance to rest, had an extremely bad premonition in their hearts.
In the peaceful air, a power unfamiliar to them seemed to suddenly.
Bang.
The shadow clone that had been acting as a motionless mannequin in front of Mai dissolved and disappeared. At the same time, the stored Senjutsu Chakra returned to Logan's body.
An invisible aura that swept across the battlefield brushed past people, chilling them to the bone as much as the cold wind.
Logan's pupils abruptly turned golden-red.
Sage Mode, activate!
"This is..." Bear mask uttered in shock.
Crack.
A small stone near his foot suddenly turned to powder under the immense Chakra pressure. The three immediately made a decision in their hearts.
He waved his hand.
Although it might be overkill, to end the battle quickly and prevent the enemy from escaping, thus wasting more effort, and not suitable to stay within the borders for long, Logan still used Sage Mode.
He could win slowly, but it wasn't necessary.
The flying three-pronged kunai pursued bear mask horizontally. Logan appeared at his side.
One slash.
Similarly a simple clash, but the power here separated into two vastly different levels. The bear mask's wrist bent at an unnatural angle as he vomited blood and tumbled away.
"Retreat!"
The Root's members began to flee with all their might in different directions. But under Logan, enhanced by the Sage Mode, even without the Flying Thunder God Technique, he could easily overwhelm them with speed. Their fate was sealed.
Mai had managed to sit up from the ground, enduring in silence, using Medical Ninjutsu to heal her injuries.
When the deep red and azure figure surged into her vision, the soft green glow in her hands stopped.
She stared mesmerized at the beautiful radiance illuminating the night. The last time, he had made his entrance like this too.
The streaking flash brought solace to a yearning heart, drawing the curtain on this night.