[59] Formidable

Somewhere in the Forest of Death.

"I didn't expect two Kiri-nin teams to join forces." Shizune said with a wry smile.

"Yeah, and now we're at a disadvantage, out in the open while they're hidden." Kurenai gripping her kunai and scanning their surroundings warily.

Their third teammate stood shakily, her body trembling. She wouldn't last much longer.

Thick fog enveloped them, swirling densely.

Such heavy mist was unnatural in the Forest of Death.

The Kiri-nin had deployed the Kirigakure Jutsu.

For these Kiri-nin, this environment was second nature, but for Konoha-nin, it was a disorienting challenge.

If it were just one Kirigakure team, Shizune and her team might have managed, but they faced six Kiri-nin, older, most possessing Chunin-level strength.

In wartime, they'd be mere cannon fodder, but here, they were formidable.

Out of sight, the six ninja gathered. Their leader gave a signal.

The other five formed hand signs.

Streams of water surged around them, forming a small ocean.

"Perfect." The lead Kiri-nin was grinning. His strength was among the top of the Kiri-nin in this Chunin Exam. Though no match for prodigies like Terumi, his power surpassed most Chunin at his age, a rare feat.

He formed hand signs, and the small ocean began to spin, rising and coalescing into a massive, ferocious dragon-shaped beast.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu."

This B-rank ninjutsu, typically used by Jonin, unleashed a devastating force. The water dragon roared, charging toward Shizune and Kurenai with destructive intent.

"Not good!" Shizune and Kurenai saw the monstrous dragon bearing down, but its speed left them no time to react.

A direct hit from such a technique would leave them gravely injured, if not dead. The Kiri-nin would show no mercy.

"Are we going to die here?" Shizune and Kurenai's eyes burned with unwillingness, tinged with fear.

They were still just kids, though in the ninja world, children matured quickly. Many became ninja early, some even joining the battlefield at six or seven during the Shinobi World Wars.

At that moment, a gentle breeze stirred before Shizune and Kurenai.

The breeze grew into a howling gale, spinning fiercely. A figure appeared before them.

The figure wielded a long blade, its edge infused with potent chakra.

"Gale Slash."

The powerful gale surged with annihilating force, clashing with the water dragon and locking it in a stalemate.

Hiss! Hiss!

The gale shredded the dragon, and the figure turned. "Having some trouble, Shizune, Kurenai?"

"Tengen!" Shizune and Kurenai's eyes lit with overwhelming joy.

At the brink of death, Tengen's arrival felt like a scene from a storybook.

Tengen was their white knight.

In their young eyes, a spark of affection flickered.

Shizune, who had spent much time with Tengen, felt her feelings blossom in this moment. Kurenai, who admired Tengen's prowess, especially in genjutsu, where he far surpassed her despite being younger, found her admiration evolving into something more complex.

Boom!

Tengen's sword technique and the water dragon annihilated each other, the residual gale dispersing the mist created by the Kirigakure Jutsu.

"Who are you?" The six Kiri-nin reappeared, their leader's eyes wary.

This ninja's swordsmanship had destroyed his Water Dragon Bullet, a technique formidable even among Jonin.

Most Jonin relied on B-rank ninjutsu, with A-rank jutsu considered forbidden and rarely used.

Yet this lone ninja had shattered their combined effort with a single sword strike.

The six Kiri-nin hesitated, wary of Tengen's silhouette.

They needed to know who he was.

"Konoha Genin, Tengen." He turned to face them. His Konoha forehead protector gleamed, unmistakable.

"Konoha Genin? The one who said he'd thin out the competition before the Forest of Death?" The lead Kiri-nin's eyes narrowed, a cold edge to his voice.

He knew resolving this peacefully was no longer an option.

They were facing Konoha-nin.

"You think you can take us alone? Your teammates behind you are nearly out of chakra. They can't help you." The leader sneered.

"Who says I'm alone?" Tengen said with a grin as two figures landed beside him, Anko and Jurin.

"I call dibs on one." Anko said eagerly.

"I'll take one." Jurin added calmly.

"Hahaha!" Tengen chuckled. Anko and Jurin were worried he'd take out all the enemies himself.

"Three against us makes no difference." The lead Kiri-nin roared. His team charged at Tengen's group.

Anko and Jurin rushed to engage their chosen opponents.

Tengen gripped his long blade, unmoving. Chakra surged through it, emitting a sharp whoosh as faint breezes swirled around him.

"Arrogant Konoha-nin." four Kiri-nin snarled, surrounding Tengen from all sides, their kunai stabbing toward him.

"Instant Wind Slash!"

Four blinding rays of light flashed, dazzlingly bright. When they faded, Tengen stood calmly outside the encirclement.

***

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