Mist filled the forest, rising from the combination of heat and water vapor. The sky, once clear, was now blanketed by thick cumulus clouds.
Drip, drip, drip… rain fell steadily, but visibility remained almost zero. Within a minute, the dense fog completely swallowed the forest, leaving less than a meter of sight.
Although unintentional, this worked to Hayashi's advantage. Garura, the Sand ninja captain's sensor and genjutsu specialist, remained unconscious on the ground. Meanwhile, Dabai, coiled securely around Hayashi's neck, relayed precise location data in real time.
Hayashi readied himself. Time to try this Silent Killing Technique. He moved without hesitation, vanishing into the mist, his presence indistinguishable from the dense fog.
The Sand ninja captain had no intention of using Wind Release to disperse the fog. He simply planned to escape with his subordinates under the cover of mist.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from all directions, hard to locate:
"Eight targets: throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, collarbone, kidneys, heart… which one should I strike?"
Hayashi smirked, mimicking the dramatic line. Then, in a flash, a kunai streaked through the air.
The Sand ninja captain barely ducked. The kunai grazed his waist, creating a shallow but alarming wound.
"Ah!" he yelled, the pain sharp as if something vital had been struck.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!" Even with a broken arm, the Sand ninja's fury flared. A kidney lost could not be easily replaced.
Gritting his teeth, he formed hand seals and closed his eyes, preparing for a desperate counterattack.
Seconds later, Hayashi appeared behind him, delivering a devastating punch to the neck. The Jonin made no evasive motion, and the strike seemed to turn him into a lump of earth.
Bloodied, the Sand ninja tried to retaliate with a kunai aimed at Hayashi's abdomen. But Hayashi vanished into smoke, reappearing behind him. A thunderous Chidori Sharp Spear pierced the captain's chest with precision.
Hayashi grinned. The Silent Killing Technique exceeded expectations. Combined with the Body Flicker Technique and lessons from Uchiha Kagami, this was leagues above Zabuza's Hidden Mist Technique.
As rain soaked the forest, the smoke dissipated. Pakura, spotting Garura, looked up to see the horrifying scene: the Sand ninja captain struck down by Lightning Release.
"Run… Pakura…" the captain gasped, barely alive.
But Pakura didn't flee. Panic burned through her as she charged Hayashi, shouting fiercely.
Hayashi grabbed the captain's body, spinning and hurling it aside. The fallen Jonin served as a perfect shield, blocking Pakura's Scorch Release: Evaporation. The man was electrocuted, vaporized, and finally, completely dead.
A strong aroma filled the air—the same scent Nawaki had commented on before—the unique trace left by Scorch Release: Evaporation.
Hayashi wasted no time. The Chidori Sharp Spear sliced through the fallen body, aiming directly at Pakura, who tried desperately to intercept it.
The young Sand ninja had not anticipated this maneuver. Shock and fear froze her in place. The future hero of the Sand Village, Scorch Release Pakura, was moments away from falling to the Leaf's Lightning.
Just as Hayashi prepared to finish her, an Earth Release blocked her path. Shuriken rained from all directions, a large-scale assault reminiscent of the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
Hayashi reacted instantly. Tensing his legs, he leaped onto a tree trunk, swung with his arms, and flipped onto a high branch, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The opportunity to strike Pakura was lost, fleeting as ever.
Minato, supporting an exhausted Nawaki, arrived beside Hayashi, followed closely by Mikoto. The four regrouped silently, readying for the next phase.
Hayashi looked down from the branch, scanning the newly arrived enemies. Rage surged—this was the first time he felt such anger.
"Nawaki," he said.
"Huh?"
"What would happen if we eliminated the Twelve Guardian Shinobi of the Fire Daimyo?"
"…Relations with the Leaf are… neutral. If we remain undetected, no consequences."
"Good. Then it's decided. The Twelve Guardian Shinobi will vanish starting today."