Uchiha Hayashi launched more than a dozen kunai from hidden angles, targeting the remaining Guardian Ninja.
One of them rected fast, shaping hand seals and rising a shield of water in front of him. "Water Release: Water Wall!" he called.
But before he could fully brace, a flash of fire raced along the kunai's surface. Explosive tags ignited. Bang! The detonations disrupted the formation, rattling the defenders.
A ninja leapt to avoid the blasts, but Hayashi materialized behind him in the blink of an eye. He threw a punch, his fist connecting with the man's chest. The man, horrified, was flung backwards before he could scream.
At that moment, ten shuriken flew toward Hayashi, but his body blurred into afterimages. The weapons sailed through his illusion and struck one of his comrades instead. The injured ninja staggered, then collapsed weakly.
Ryōma bellowed, alarmed. "Be careful, he's incredibly fast!"
Hayashi used Body Flicker and reappeared at the edge of the circle, right next to the leftmost Guardian Ninja. That shinobi immediately lunged, thrusting a kunai. Hayashi blocked with a kunai of his own.
"So you're a sensory ninja," Hayashi noted. "No wonder you can almost predict my position."
Before his opponent could counterattack, Hayashi vanished again.
He knew that against a group, hit-and-run was his best tactic — it prevented them from coordinating their defense effectively. Suddenly, a wind blade whipped through the area. Dust erupted where Hayashi had been.
Another Guardian Ninja, hoping to restrain him, performed a tricky technique. "Water Release: Syrupy Torrent Field!" he shouted, sending a thick, sticky liquid onto the ground to hamper Hayashi's movement.
In response, Hayashi pressed both hands to the earth and concentrated lightning chakra. "Lightning Release: Chidori Stream Two!" he declared. Electric energy surged from his palms, spreading through the ground toward his target. Before the enemy could comprehend, he was struck with full force and collapsed.
Hayashi reappeared beside two shinobi who thought to flank him. His kunai carved a sharp arc toward one of them. The ninja blocked and tried to retreat, using his momentum, but his two allies attacked from both sides, forming a pincer.
Without hesitation, Hayashi launched a genjutsu called "Heavenly Foot of Pain." He slammed his right leg down on the ground. The impact flung the two ninjas away, crashing them through thick branches, which snapped under the force.
As they struggled to steady themselves, Hayashi foresaw their next move and struck again. His form blurred and he appeared in front of them, slashing a kunai down in a vicious semicircle. The blade sliced through the branches behind them with frightening ease.
A new threat emerged. "Fire Release: Garuda!" shouted one of the ninjas, shaping hand seals. A dragon of flame spiraled out, roaring toward Hayashi.
At the same time, another Guardian Ninja called on the wind. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" A whirlwind converged with the fire dragon, intensifying its fury — the flames twisted around the wind like living serpents, growing wilder.
Hayashi raised his own defense. "Earth Release: Multiple Earthen Walls," he whispered, forming sturdy walls beneath him. The fire dragon crashed into them, exploding violently. Trees were torn apart, and shards of earth burst outward. Tiny wind blades cut through the air, but Hayashi held his ground.
He seized a moment to counter. A ninja appeared in his retreat path, sword raised. They collided with force, the long blade pressing against Hayashi's chest.
Hayashi leaned in close, voice cold but measured. "May I borrow your hand for a moment?" he said, grabbing the ninja's left hand with his right. Together they formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Hayashi shouted. A massive fireball, surging with chakra, erupted from his mouth and flew forward. At the same time, he wrenched the ninja's sword from their grasp and plunged it into their chest.
Under the pressure of genjutsu, the fallen ninja crumpled, rain tapping against the blade like a slow drum.
Hayashi's methods were ruthless — he used a fluid mix of genjutsu, taijutsu, and elemental attacks. He moved with efficiency and purpose, leaving almost no opening for retaliation.
In a matter of moments, only three of the Guardian Ninja remained alive. Ryōma cursed to himself. Did this boy train in his mother's womb? he wondered.
"Retreat!" Ryōma shouted. He turned and sprinted, the two remaining shinobi trailing close behind. They fled into the distance — clearly, they feared what Hayashi might do next.
From a safe vantage, Hayashi's friend Minato called out. "Hayashi, be careful! There may be traps ahead!"
Hayashi nodded, flashing a small, confident grin. "Don't worry. I'll clean up here, then come back."
He leapt high into the rain-darkened sky and took off in pursuit.
---
Three minutes later, Hayashi withdrew a blood-stained kunai from the chest of another Guardian Ninja, who slumped to the ground. Only Ryōma remained.
Hayashi held the weapon firmly, his final gaze cold. "What now? Not running anymore?"
Ryōma's fear vanished. He straightened, his voice steady. "Run? No. I won't run, because you'll die here. I'll tell the Daimyō you and your group were ambushed by Sand shinobi. Even if suspicion falls on me, with the Daimyō's protection, Leaf Village won't touch me."
He laughed, but Hayashi saw through the bravado. "So please," Ryōma said, "die here."
Hayashi shook his head slowly. "Such confidence. I didn't expect anything less. But you don't understand — you're out of your depth."
He spread his arms, a small smile curling on his lips. "Enjoy the show."
Ryōma's form flickered. Then he melted into a puddle of water: a Water Clone.
At that moment, four more Guardian Ninja emerged from the periphery, forming a wide circle around Hayashi.
Electric arcs crackled across their bodies, crackling more intensely by the second. Suddenly, each of them launched arcs of lightning upward, merging into a massive sphere of electric energy high above the ground.
The lightning condensed rapidly, shrinking until it formed a tight ball roughly a meter across. Bolts of raw power crackled from its surface.
Hayashi recognized the danger — this was their trap. But he did not hesitate. He crouched, then leapt upward into the storm-dark sky. Rain pummeled him. Lightning crackled across the sky as thunder rolled.
He extended his right arm skyward. "Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!" he shouted. A spear of pure crackling energy formed in his hand, glowing with destructive intensity.
Above him, the lightning in the clouds focused, as though responding to his will.
Hayashi guided it, drawing down the storm's power. The sky itself seemed to hum as electricity converged.
With a single motion, he thrust his arm downward. The lightning followed, descending in a burst of raw energy. He had summoned a savage force.
He named it: Kirin — the natural lightning, shaped by his chakra.
The crackling energy collided with the Guardian Ninja's jutsu. Two S-rank lightning attacks clashed. The air erupted with a deafening roar. The electric current rippled outwards in explosive rings.
Lightning bolts danced across the ground, carving cracks into the earth. The force was so great that the mansion of the Daimyō, not far away, trembled.
In midair, Hayashi's form blurred. Then he vanished.
But in truth, it was only a Shadow Clone that had summoned the lightning. He had used it as bait. His main body stayed hidden, waiting.