As soon as the kunai was thrown and the wire was cut, Masayuki Tsunami used Earth Release to escape the range of the trap.
The three unsuspecting Suna-nin were caught directly in the flames of the detonating tags exploding. Whether they survived or not was unclear, but even if they did, they would be gravely injured, and their combat effectiveness greatly reduced.
It was a perfect ambush. These Suna-nin would never have expected a Leaf ninja like Chao Ren to set up an ambush here. The principle of not pursuing a retreating enemy still holds true in this case.
Under the cover of the explosion, Chao Yanqian disappeared back into hiding.
Seven Suna-nin had already fallen to Chao Ren's Head-Hunter Jutsu, and the three detonating tags had exploded, though the fates of the enemies were still uncertain. Only three Suna-nin remained unscathed on the battlefield.
"Good, we have the upper hand now," Chao Ren thought to himself.
Uenome responded quickly. As soon as he saw the attack, he engaged two of the Suna-nin. One of them was even a Jonin, and Uenome quickly found himself at a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, another Suna-nin engaged Keita Hyuga. Although their strength was evenly matched, Keita had the upper hand due to his Byakugan. As long as Keita could land a blow with his Gentle Fist, the fight would be over.
Thus, Chao Ren's primary concern was Uenome's safety.
Ninja battles are often swift, and a single mistake can cost a life. Uenome was already at a disadvantage, and a misstep could lead to his death.
The smoke cleared, revealing the three bodies of the Suna-nin lifeless on the ground.
But Chao Ren wasn't one to let his guard down. Ninja battles were full of deception, and the dead bodies could easily be a trap. A rash move would mean certain death.
Just then, Hoshinohara returned and threw kunai to relieve some pressure off Uenome.
"If those three Suna-nin are really dead, we have the advantage—four against three. Should I act now?" Chao Ren thought, seeing Hoshinohara aiding Uenome.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Chao Ren noticed that Keita Hyuga had moved closer to Hoshinohara while still fighting his opponent. This alarmed him.
Chao Ren couldn't confirm whether the three Suna-nin were truly dead, but Keita Hyuga's Byakugan could. If Keita was approaching Hoshinohara, there were two possibilities: either Keita was in danger and needed help, or he was trying to save Hoshinohara.
Without hesitation, Chao Ren hurled six kunai at Keita's opponent and then rushed out of the forest, kunai in hand, aiming to assist Keita.
Keita Hyuga was better suited for fighting hidden enemies, thanks to his Byakugan.
"Be careful!" Keita shouted.
At the same time, Chao Ren's danger instincts flared up.
In an instant, he used the Substitution Jutsu, narrowly avoiding a deadly strike. He then executed the jutsu again, quickly distancing himself in three different directions.
The chilling sensation still lingered on Chao Ren's skin, telling him how close he had been to death. His clothes were even slightly torn.
In the chaos, Chao Ren saw the severed log falling from the air, evidence of his quick use of the Substitution Jutsu. His assailant had been hit by Keita's Gentle Fist, sealing off their chakra. They were now incapacitated.
"That was close!" he thought.
Judging by the skill of the attacker, they must have been a Chunin. Surprisingly, instead of attacking Uenome, they had tried to kill Keita Hyuga.
Chao Ren realized that their enemy aimed to eliminate the Hyuga Clan's ninja first. Killing a Byakugan wielder could disrupt their team's synergy and potentially give the enemy insight into the secrets of the Hyuga's bloodline limit. However, even if they killed Keita, they would only inherit sealed Byakugan eyes.
In this dangerous situation, Chao Ren forced himself to remain calm. Panic would only hasten his death.
Despite the pressure of the life-and-death battle, a strange excitement surged within him, while his body broke out in a cold sweat.
From a strategic perspective, things were looking favorable for them. They had already killed one in the ambush and two more with detonating tags. Now, with one incapacitated by Keita's Gentle Fist, the odds were four against three.
"Retreat!"
The remaining Suna-nin fighting Uenome saw the situation turning against them. They disengaged from the fight, grabbed their fallen comrades, and retreated into the night.
"Don't chase them!" Uenome warned Hoshinohara, who was preparing to pursue.
"Phew! That was too close! If it weren't for Chao Ren's sneak attack, we wouldn't have survived. Thank you, Chao Ren," Keita Hyuga said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"No need to thank me. If both you and Uenome-sensei had been killed, I'd have been the next one they hunted down," Chao Ren replied modestly.
"Hmph…" Keita Hyuga smiled wryly, "I was planning to treat you to a big meal when we get back to the village, but now I'm not so sure."
"Although you didn't follow my orders to retreat…" Uenome began sternly, "you performed well this time."
"Of course! Chao Ren is way better than that Hatake Kakashi," Hoshinohara chimed in with a smirk.
Keita Hyuga added, "Naturally, Chao Ren's better. He even defeated Kakashi at the academy."
"How come I never heard of this?" Hoshinohara asked, surprised.
"Because you'd already graduated by then," Keita said with a smirk. "Being surpassed by your juniors is always a little annoying, isn't it?"