"Tch!"
Hidden in the shadows all this time, Natsume Yō and Sakurada struck like twin vipers. If their targets hadn't reacted in time, there would already be two corpses on the ground.
"So… we really underestimated Konoha's scouts—and the Fire Daimyō's tricks," muttered the one-eyed brothers, their guts sinking the moment Yō and Sakurada revealed themselves.
Ding!Kill Mission Activated!Target: Rogue-nin YūgyōReward: +20 EXP, +50 Gold, [Scroll: Wind Swordsmanship – Beginner].
Yō's lips curled. "Heh. Time to level up."
Like a pouncing leopard, he shot forward straight at the scarred man with only his right eye left.
"You little brat, acting all cocky? Fine—watch your grandpa Yūgyō teach you some manners!" The man sneered, yanking a massive cleaver from his waist and swinging it down with bone-splitting force.
The killing intent hit Yō like a storm. That blade carried weight he couldn't dodge—only meet head-on.
Clang!
Steel clashed, sparks burst. Yō gritted his teeth as the sheer force shook his arms numb—he nearly lost his grip on the ANBU short blade.
"Keh! With that pitiful strength, you think you can kill me? Don't overestimate yourself!"
Yūgyō kicked him flying like a ragdoll, then closed in instantly, cleaver already descending again.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter!"
Biting back pain, Yō flashed through seals and hurled a razor-thin wind blade.
"What—!?" Yūgyō cursed, shocked at the unexpected jutsu, and twisted aside just in time.
Yō slammed a chakra-charged kick against the wall, canceling his momentum, then launched himself back like a slingshot—straight at Yūgyō again.
"You bastard—DIE!"
The rogue-nin's fury peaked. He hacked down with his blade, this strike even heavier than before.
Boom!
But the steel only split a wooden log—substitution!
Shff!
Yō reappeared at his flank, short blade flashing—only to be blocked.
"Hah! This cheap trick again? Try another few decades before you can ambush me, brat!"
With one hand he held Yō's blade, with the other he lunged lightning-fast, fingers clawing for Yō's throat.
"Bind!"
Yō's pupils shrank as he unleashed a paralyzing jutsu. Yūgyō froze for an instant, giving Yō the sliver of time to retreat.
"Wind Spiral Slash!"
Yūgyō broke free and spun like a human whirlwind, cleaver howling with cold light. He surged at Yō like a storm, the sheer killing edge making Yō's scalp prickle and his heart seize.
Too fast! Too close! He didn't have time to weave seals—just another desperate Substitution.
Whoosh—!
He slipped away—
But the next instant, pain tore through him. A white streak of steel lanced his chest, blood spurting hot.
"Got you, brat! Die!" Yūgyō roared with savage glee, twisting the blade, ready to shred Yō's heart—
Thud!
Yō kicked off his chest, wrenching himself free, agony blazing across his body. He hit the ground hard, coughed blood, sweat soaking his pale face.
"Kh…!"
"Now DIE!"
Yūgyō raised the cleaver with both hands, blade crashing down with the weight of death itself.
And if Yō couldn't move here—this transmigration ended in Konoha.