By the wooden house, two Jonin were leaning against its sides, casually watching the distant waterfall scenery.
"This is so boring, Uncle Arima!"
The young man on the left turned his gaze to his companion and complained.
"The Village is so safe, why do we Jonin still have to guard this thing? The leader is really something."
Arima glanced at him, his emotions completely undisturbed, and he merely said calmly.
"Shut up. The Tailed Beast is as important to the Village as the Hero's Water. We cannot be careless."
At this point, Arima paused, a hint of warning in his eyes as he looked at the other.
"Also, if I hear you slandering the leader behind his back again, I'll tell your father."
Hearing that, the young man immediately shrank his neck, saying somewhat dispiritedly.
"I was wrong, Uncle Arima, please don't tell my dad, or I'll be in big trouble."
"Boom!!"
Arima was about to scold him a bit more when, at that moment, a loud bang suddenly came from afar, accompanied by the screams of women and children, instantly drawing their attention.
"What's going on?!"
In the distant Village, four or five places began to glow with fire, and at the same time, several figures could be seen leaping back and forth on the rooftops, continuously releasing Ninjutsu to attack the surrounding houses and streets. The entire Takigakure Village instantly fell into chaos.
"Oh no, we're under attack!"
The young man turned his head to Arima and shouted loudly.
"Uncle Arima, I'll go help first. I'll leave this to you!"
Then, before Arima could react, he leaped onto the rooftop and rushed towards the attacked area.
"Brat! Come back!"
Arima was instantly furious; young people were still too impulsive. If something so big happened in the Village, the leader would naturally appear. All they had to do was guard their mission objective. That was all.
Just then, an anomaly occurred!
"Wind Release: Wind Cut!"
As Arima was deep in thought, dozens of wind blades struck from the shadows, whistling directly towards the wooden house!
"Oh no!"
Noticing the incoming wind blades, Arima's expression changed instantly. He quickly formed hand signs, slammed his hands on the ground before the wind blades arrived, and shouted in a deep voice.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
An earth wall immediately rose from the ground, blocking all the wind blades coming from all directions, but the earth wall itself became severely damaged.
Before Arima could catch his breath, two Kunai flew from outside the earth wall and stuck into the ground on either side of him. The Exploding Tags attached to them began to glow with a dazzling white light.
Exploding Tags!
Arima's face changed. He had just used Ninjutsu, and it was too late to use another. He could only immediately jump into the air.
"I've been waiting for you."
While Arima was still in the air, he saw a figure appear on a nearby house. With a single leap, the figure appeared before him and then punched him!
Because he was in the air, Arima had no way to dodge. He could only block with both hands in front of him, preparing to take the punch head-on.
"Prepare to fall..."
Ren's mouth, hidden beneath his mask, curved upwards. A large amount of Chakra gathered in his fist as he smashed it towards his target!
Super Strength Fist: Burst!
"Boom!"
Before Arima could react, a huge force came from the opponent's fist, followed by a crisp "crack" of bone. His body flew uncontrollably, directly smashing a large hole in the wooden house he was guarding.
"Cough, cough cough!"
Amidst the flying sawdust and dust, Arima knelt on the ground, his left arm dangling, covered in dust and sawdust, looking utterly disheveled.
"What's going on? Arima!"
A figure flashed in front of Arima, constantly vigilant of the outside while asking his companion in a deep voice.
"Someone attacked the Village. Unknown number, unknown target.
Be careful, Kunihiko. The opponent is very strong!"
Arima propped himself up with his still-functional right arm, saying with lingering fear.
Ren's punch just now caught him completely off guard. His left arm was directly fractured, which greatly reduced his strength since he couldn't form hand signs.
"The opponent's target..."
Arima turned his head with some concern, looking at a seemingly unremarkable, dusty jar placed there.
I hope it's not what I think.
"Water Release: Water Whip!"
As the two were on guard, a water whip shot directly from outside the house, striking the already injured Arima.
"Hmph!"
Kunihiko snorted coldly, drew the long sword from his back, and met the water whip. A moment later, a flash of sword light passed, and the water whip was cut in two. Kunihiko retreated back to Arima's side.
"A master swordsman?"
A calm voice sounded, and then two figures walked into the wooden house through the swirling dust, facing the two opposite them.
"Who are you?! How dare you invade our Taki Ninja Village!"
Kunihiko held his sword and looked at the two, saying in a deep voice. Meanwhile, Arima's eyes narrowed, and his body couldn't help but tremble as he looked at the familiar face opposite him.
"I'll leave this guy to you, Mr. Kakuzu."
Ren turned to Kakuzu and said softly.
"Kakuzu!"
Just then, Arima also exclaimed, standing beside his companion, looking at the opponent with fear.
"Why are you back in the Village, you guy? Are you here to kill us all?!"
Kunihiko, on the side, seemed to recall something, his face suddenly changed, and he immediately became fully alert, watching the opponent with extreme caution.
Kakuzu, the strongest and most brutal rogue ninja their Taki Ninja Village had ever produced. He took the Village's treasured secret technique, Earth Grudge Fear, then massacred all the high-ranking officials of Taki Ninja Village at the time, took their hearts, and defected from the Village.
Even though decades had passed, the fear of Kakuzu was still deeply ingrained.
"I have no interest in you guys."
Kakuzu looked at the two, who were facing him as if facing a formidable enemy, and said calmly. But the next moment, he pulled out a Kunai and attacked them head-on!
Damn it!
Looking at Kakuzu's attack, the two felt as terrible as possible.
Didn't you say you weren't interested in us? You just said it and then attacked. Can't you be consistent with your words and actions?
"This guy!"
Kunihiko gritted his teeth and met the attack.
In this situation, only he could intercept Kakuzu. Although he definitely couldn't defeat the opponent, he should be able to hold him off for a while.
For now, they could only wait for the leader to bring reinforcements quickly.
"Take this!"
Kunihiko shouted in a low voice. The wind-attribute Chakra attached to his sword made it even sharper. Under his control, it thrust directly towards Kakuzu!
"Earth Release: Hardening!"
Kakuzu did not dodge, directly crossing his arms and meeting the blade head-on.
"Huh?"
Kunihiko looked at Kakuzu, who had grabbed the blade with his bare hands and was completely unharmed, with some surprise. A drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead.
This is trouble!