Then, the three of them rushed forward in different directions.
One of them, an elite of the Hyūga clan, engaged in close combat with the enemy. As members of the Hyūga clan rely on their Byakugan and Gentle Fist (Jūken) techniques, he was the strongest among the trio. Even a Chūnin-level ninja could barely last ten exchanges against him, while a Jōnin-level opponent would struggle to withstand a hundred strikes.
The moment he closed in on his enemies, he swiftly struck down three or four shinobi in rapid succession.
"Eight Trigrams Palm! Gentle Fist!"
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
His hands moved with deadly precision, and the blue chakra-infused strikes echoed in the air. Each hit sent his enemies flying, their bodies crashing down like broken kites.
Meanwhile, another member of the group, Qing, entered the fray. As a skilled sensor-type shinobi from the Aburame clan, his expertise lay not in close combat but in the manipulation of insects. Instead of charging head-on, he maintained a safe distance.
With a flick of his wrist, he lifted his sleeves, and swarms of kikaichū—destructive chakra-eating insects—poured out.
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Destruction Insects!"
"Secret Technique: Bug Tornado!"
The air filled with the buzzing of thousands of insects. Screams erupted from the enemy ranks as the insects enveloped them, devouring their chakra and flesh. Within moments, nothing remained but piles of bones, leaving a gruesome sight.
Unlike the Hyūga's precise taijutsu, the Aburame clan's secret techniques were far more difficult to counter. The sheer number of insects overwhelmed conventional defenses, making them a nightmare for ordinary shinobi.
The synergy between the two fighters was seamless—one excelling in taijutsu, the other in ninjutsu. Together, they covered each other's weaknesses, eliminating over twenty enemy Chūnin-level ninja in mere moments.
The third member of their team, Sunflower, despite being a girl, was no less formidable. She wielded a Kenjutsu-based Kekkei Genkai and drew the long blade from her back before vanishing into the air. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared behind her enemies, executing her secret technique.
"Secret Sword: Moon Shadow!"
"Konoha-ryū Sword Technique: Dance of the Three Suns and Moons!"
Blades flashed, and heads rolled to the ground like freshly cut stalks of wheat. Though she seemed timid outside of battle, she was utterly ruthless when wielding her sword—killing without hesitation.
"This… This is the strength of ANBU?!"
"They're so strong!"
Behind Kazuki, the Konoha spy who had been rescued from the casino swallowed hard, his eyes filled with awe.
Kazuki remained silent.
ANBU operatives were trained assassins—eliminating threats was part of their daily routine. Their strength was in raw combat ability, whereas spies focused on deception, subterfuge, and self-preservation. The difference in their skill sets was evident.
"These three are impressive~"
Shizune, standing nearby, cradled her small pet pig, Tonton, as she watched with admiration.
Though Shizune was a Jōnin-level ninja, her expertise lay in medical ninjutsu. In terms of sheer combat ability, she couldn't compare to the battle-hardened ANBU.
"It's only natural."
Tsunade spoke casually.
As one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, she could tell at a glance that these three were still newcomers to ANBU. Their strength was commendable, but their battle experience was lacking.
"They're wasting chakra," Tsunade observed.
Firing off techniques without conserving energy, they had already slain dozens of enemies within moments. However, the battlefield was still swarming with foes—hundreds remained. If they continued burning through chakra at this rate, they wouldn't last in a prolonged engagement.
At this moment, they were up against a seasoned Anbu operative.
If a single kunai could eliminate the enemy, an Anbu wouldn't waste chakra on unnecessary jutsu.
Their movements were precise and efficient, with no wasted effort—this was the hallmark of Anbu combat.
These three young shinobi were still far from the level expected of true Anbu.
Tsunade's gaze fell on Kazuki. She studied him with curiosity.
From the moment she met this boy, she had never seen him truly fight.
Yet, he had been selected to join the Anbu at such a young age—and not just as a member, but as their captain. He had to be skilled, right?
"Hey, kid, why are you just standing there?" Tsunade called out.
"Are you really just going to watch your men struggle against so many enemies underground? With their level, they won't last long…"
Kazuki smiled. "You noticed it too? With their current combat style, they won't hold out for much longer."
Noticed it too?
Tsunade paused for a moment.
Wait—what does he mean by that?
He already knew?
She stood in stunned silence for a few seconds before snapping,
"Then why the hell aren't you helping them?! You're just standing here, watching like some bystander!
Aren't you afraid your subordinates might die?! Are you really going to let them be slaughtered by the enemy?
I thought Konoha shinobi valued camaraderie above all else!"
Her words came fast and sharp, like a barrage of kunai.
And by the end, there was a trace of bitterness in her tone—an old resentment she hadn't meant to surface.
Kazuki's response was calm, almost indifferent.
"If they can't survive a real battle, they'll never grow stronger.
Anbu must be forged in blood. If they don't suffer now, they'll never remember how to handle situations like this in the future.
Recklessness won't always be forgiven."
He paused, then added with quiet certainty,
"Besides… they won't die."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"They're facing three Jōnin! If those Jōnin attack seriously, you won't even have time to react, let alone save them.
How can you be so sure they won't die?!"
Kazuki's expression didn't change. His lips curled slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Because…"
His voice was soft, almost teasing.
"If they die… it would make me look like an incompetent captain."
"You…!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, ready to argue further—
But before she could, a piercing, bloodcurdling scream split the air.
Her heart dropped.
A terrible feeling gripped her.
Something had gone wrong on the battlefield.
"AHHHH—!"
The scream cut through the night like a blade.
Tsunade's breath hitched, and she instinctively turned toward the battlefield below.
There—
A barbed blade had plunged into the shoulder of an Aburame clan shinobi, codenamed Qing.
A deep crimson sprayed from the wound.
That color—
That shade of red—
Something deep in her mind recoiled.
Without warning, a paralyzing fear seized her.
Her knees wobbled.
She could barely keep herself standing.
"B-Blood…"
Her pupils shrank. Her breathing became erratic.
"L-Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune was at her side in an instant, pressing a hand over Tsunade's eyes to shield her from the sight.
Then, she quickly removed her cloak and draped it over her mentor's shoulders.
Tsunade's hands trembled beneath the fabric.
Hemophobia.
The fear of blood.
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