Kunai and a short sword fiercely clashed, sending sparks flying.
Under the clear moonlight, Mizuki looked at the unusually agile girl before him, a sense of crisis creeping into his heart.
Chizhao stood with her sword, carefully pondering Mizuki’s recent words, her thoughts a tangled mess.
“Isn’t your target the scroll of seals?”
“Hmph! That’s just one of the targets. If both targets are completed, Lord Orochimaru might be even happier.”
Chizhao’s eyes sharpened, and her grip on the sword tightened a few more degrees.
So Orochimaru’s target wasn’t just the scroll of seals, but also included her.
Mizuki suddenly shuddered, memories of his Shadow Clone rushing back like a tide; the fear he felt facing Naruto’s countless Shadow Clones made him tremble uncontrollably.
That damned Nine-Tailed Fox!
Seizing the moment while Mizuki was distracted, Chizhao swung her sword in a swift strike, a fierce cold light cutting through the moonlight.
As a Chunin, Mizuki reacted quickly, his large Shuriken instantly appearing before him, blocking the powerful blow.
He sneered, “Don’t underestimate me, your teacher!”
With that, he clenched his right hand into a fist and punched from behind the large Shuriken, aiming for Chizhao’s chest.
“Puaah....”
The immense force sent her flying. Chizhao forcefully stabilized herself in mid-air, her blade deeply embedded in the ground, sliding for a distance.
The force felt as if it would shatter her ribs.
Damn it, is the difference in physical size really too great?
Should I use a Membrane Card?
Chizhao gritted her teeth, reaching for her card pack, poised to act.
“Most ordinary students would have fainted after taking that punch from me. I didn’t expect you to withstand it.”
“You truly surprise me, Chizhao!”
Mizuki, wanting to end the fight quickly, subtly took a pellet from his Ninja tool pouch behind him and threw it at Chizhao.
“Since I can’t get the scroll of seals, I must at least take you with me!”
“In your dreams!”
Almost by reflex, Chizhao split the round pellet with a slash of her sword.
However, the pellet burst, and white poisonous mist spread, instantly engulfing her.
Oh no!
It’s poison gas.....
Chizhao quickly covered her mouth and nose, but the poison gas was overwhelming, and she felt her limbs gradually becoming numb.
The cang luan blade slipped from her hand, and she felt all strength drain from her body, collapsing to the ground.
“The poison pellets Lord Orochimaru gave me really work.”
Mizuki, gloating, kicked the cang luan blade away from Chizhao’s hand, picked her up from the ground, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and leaped onto a tree branch, fleeing deeper into the forest.
Not long after Mizuki left.
Naruto arrived at the scene with Iruka, and from a distance, he saw the familiar short sword on the ground.
He tremblingly picked it up, clenched his fists, and his azure pupils filled with rage.
“This is Chizhao’s sword..... Damn it!!”
Iruka, who followed closely behind, also felt his heart tighten.
“Were we too late?”
“Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
Several puffs of smoke burst around him, revealing a group of Naruto’s clones.
One of the Narutos gritted his teeth, facing Iruka seriously, steadying the goggles on his forehead, his tone resolute:
“Iruka-sensei, I’ll leave the scroll to you. I’m going to rescue Chizhao!”
“Wait, Naruto!”
Iruka didn’t have time to stop him; all the Narutos around him scattered and disappeared.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Iruka cursed under his breath.
Mizuki! What exactly are you doing?!
The surrounding trees rapidly receded in her blurry vision.
Chizhao lay weakly on Mizuki’s shoulder, biting her lip to keep herself from fainting too quickly.
She forced herself to stay conscious, emitting broken sounds from her throat:
“Mizuki.... Sensei... is strength really... that important?”
Mizuki’s steps didn’t falter, and he sneered in response: “What do you know? Compared to you or Iruka acknowledging those good-for-nothings, I am the one who should be acknowledged as strong!”
“But.... Miss Tsubaki... is still waiting for you....”
Hearing her mention Tsubaki again, Mizuki paused for a moment:
“Tsubaki.... Tsubaki will understand me. As long as I gain power, we can live a good life! Wait for me, Lord Orochimaru!!”
Hearing his almost frenzied declaration, Chizhao had already exhausted her last bit of strength.
Mizuki was already consumed by obsession, and she was powerless to persuade him further.
The things before her began to blur even more, and she even struggled to bite her lip. Finally, she couldn’t resist the encroaching drowsiness and fainted.
Just as Mizuki was secretly celebrating the success of his plan, a figure suddenly stood in front of him.
He instantly became alert, throwing the large Shuriken in his hand without hesitation.
With a flash of cold light, the large Shuriken was easily deflected, its sharp blade changing direction, whistling as it cut through several branches, and deeply embedding itself in a thick tree trunk.
Mizuki jumped to the ground, a drop of cold sweat beading on his forehead, his gaze fixed on the dark shadow deep in front of him.
“Who’s there! Come out!”
The blurry figure in the forest, with steady footsteps, calmly approached him.
As the mist gradually dispersed, moonlight poured down, and the figure became clearer in the silver glow.
“Excuse me, the person on your shoulder is my protection target. Could you return her to me?”
“You are... from Anbu.....”
Mizuki’s heart skipped a beat. The white-haired man in front of him wore Anbu attire, a white fox mask, and his hands were casually in his pockets. He seemed relaxed, but a chilling aura that could not be ignored surrounded him.
He didn’t expect that this kid actually had an Anbu member protecting her.
Damn it! I can’t let power that’s within my grasp just slip away like this.
After a moment of thought, Mizuki put down the unconscious Chizhao, holding her in front of him.
He held a Kunai against her fair eyelid, his threatening tone seeping into the cold moonlight.
“Hmph! I advise you not to make any rash moves, unless you want her to go blind!”
Kakashi Hatake said nothing, his gaze lingering on her serene face, then he closed his eyes briefly.
“Is that so? That’s truly a shame.....”
Before he finished speaking, Mizuki saw a blur. From behind the fox mask, a single eye, red and eerie with a tomoe, suddenly closed in.
Before his brain could react, his arm clamping Chizhao and his right hand holding the Kunai were forcibly pried open by an irresistible force.
Losing her support, Chizhao’s body involuntarily tilted forward.
Kakashi Hatake, at the opportune moment, crouched slightly and steadily caught her in his warm embrace.
He then quickly stood up and accurately kicked Mizuki, who flew like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a thick tree, making the leaves rustle down.
Mizuki violently coughed up a pool of blood, clutching his chest, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Is this the power of Anbu?
Damn it! I was only one step away!
Driven by intense obsession, Mizuki endured the severe pain, drew a sharp Kunai, his eyes bloodshot like a mad beast, and charged desperately in Kakashi’s direction.
He roared, “Don’t block my way, you bastard!!!”
Kakashi, holding the unconscious Chizhao in his arms, still maintained his composed demeanor, standing quietly as if everything was under his control.
Just as Mizuki was within striking distance, Kakashi suddenly dodged the attack, freeing one hand to grab Mizuki’s wrist holding the Kunai.
With a forceful twist, a crisp “crack” echoed, the sound of bone breaking jarringly loud in the silent forest.
“Ah ah ah ah!”
Mizuki’s screams reverberated through the sky, startling the birds roosting in the forest.
It also attracted the attention of Naruto’s clones, who were anxiously searching nearby, and Iruka, who had found reinforcements.
“Is it there?!” The anxious Naruto quickly changed direction and ran towards the sound.
Wait for me, Chizhao!
Mizuki knelt on the ground from the excruciating pain in his wrist, clutching his right wrist with his left hand, groaning in agony, his face filled with despair and unwillingness.
Kakashi walked behind him and mercilessly delivered a powerful chop to the back of Mizuki’s neck.
Instantly, Mizuki’s eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness, falling face down to the ground.
“Now, let them handle the rest.”
He gently placed Chizhao down from his arms, letting her lie flat on the soft grass.
Moonlight poured down, casting a soft glow on her peaceful face, making her look as if she were in a sweet dream.
Noticing the subtle scratches on her cheek, Kakashi gently covered them with his fingertip, softly caressing them. His eyes behind the mask were filled with gentleness and concern.
He looked up, keenly aware of the approaching footsteps.
He quickly stood up, and with a flash of his body, he leaped onto a nearby dense tree, perfectly concealing himself in the darkness.
“Chizhao!”
Naruto’s voice came from far to near, carrying a hint of urgency and worry.
He quickly slid to Chizhao’s side, picked her up, and when his cold fingertips touched her warm cheek, the Da Shi in his heart finally settled.
“Phew~ Thank goodness, she’s okay.”
Naruto tightened his grip, his cheek brushing against Chizhao’s soft hair, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
Soon after, Iruka arrived at the scene with a group of Ninja.
“Naruto! How is Chizhao?”
“Iruka-sensei.....”
At this moment, Kakashi was hidden behind the dense leaves, silently observing everything happening below.
Only when he saw Iruka carrying Chizhao away quickly did he lower his eyes with relief.
Then, his figure flickered, and accompanied by the falling of a few leaves, he disappeared into the shadows.