Chiba looked at the Ninja in front of him. The opponent was kneeling on the ground, covering their wound with one hand, the bandage peaking from their clothes had completely turned bright red, indicating severe injuries. Judging by his heavy panting, it seemed they had little energy left.
But there was no doubt this Ninja possessed the capability to kill him.
Chiba was acutely aware of his own dire state.
At this moment, Iwagaki was rapidly thinking of a plan. For him, the situation was grim. The explosion would surely attract the attention of the pursuing troops, expected to arrive soon.
And now, his objective was clear: to eliminate the young man in front of him and then target the Hyuga clan's heiress.
That's right, to kill!
He was gravely injured, and his body's acupoints were sealed. The two Jutsu he had used consumed a significant amount of Chakra, making Chakra refinement exceedingly difficult. Capturing the Hyuga girl would require considerable effort, especially since he had underestimated her strength during his ambush and suffered as a result.
But killing would require far less effort.
It's always more challenging to capture someone alive than to kill them.
Moreover, even without her eyes, her corpse can still yield substantial information.
It's better to kill and retrieve the body than to capture her alive.
This way, the deaths of his nine comrades would not be in vain. The mission would be accomplished.
The young man in front of him seemed to specialize in Taijutsu. Iwagaki was astonished that such a young child could create such a large crater with a single punch, a feat not even a seasoned *Taijutsu* Ninja could easily achieve.
The only comparison he could think of was Tsunade, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, known for her monstrous strength.
Could this child be Tsunade's disciple?
Such a talent. He must not be allowed to mature. Otherwise, he will become an enemy of the Village Hidden in the Rocks.
With this thought, Iwagaki's intent to kill intensified, yet he calmly continued to refine his Chakra. Despite the sealed acupoints slowing down his Chakra flow, he knew it would gradually accumulate.
Seeing the young man's hesitation to attack, Iwagaki surmised he was either at his limit or too frightened to advance. For now, he decided to bide his time, gather Chakra, and then confront the Hyuga girl.
A slight grin appeared on Iwagaki's face.
Feeling Iwagaki's genuine intent to kill, Chiba couldn't help but swallow nervously.
This was the murderous aura of a Jonin.
It was so terrifying!
Chiba had only that one thought.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a muffled noise emanated from the rock pillar prison, like the sound of someone striking rock. Clearly, Yukina Hyuga was searching for an escape.
Hearing the sound, Chiba snapped out of his shock at Iwagaki's killing intent and began to calmly analyze the situation. 'I can only rely on myself.'
At this moment, his Chakra reserves were severely limited, preventing full utilization of any technique; at best, he could manage some D-Rank Ninjutsu, and he was unarmed.
His physical condition was too weak to perform Taijutsu effectively.
He had to rescue the Hyuga clan's girl. Chiba concluded.
But, how?
He glanced at the four rock pillars. They seemed too thick to be pushed aside.
Is there any other way?
Chiba glanced at Iwagaki. The latter's gaze was fixed on him, filled with killing intent as if he was about to launch a deadly attack at any moment. This gaze alone was enough to pressure him.
'He's standing still; he must be accumulating Chakra, Once he's gathered enough, he will surely deliver a lethal blow, and I will undoubtedly perish!'
Chiba made this judgment, slightly lowering his head and wandering his gaze to look for a solution.
Suddenly, Chiba noticed a wooden stake at his feet, half-charred. It was the remains of a tree that had been destroyed in the explosion.
An idea struck Chiba and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
'There it is!'
He quickly picked up the scorched wood from the ground and threw it with all his might at the rock pillar. Despite his weakened state, years of physical training allowed him to hurl the wood with significant force.
'What is he doing?'
Iwagaki's eyes followed the charred wood flying towards the rock pillar.
Throwing wood? To break through the rock wall?
Does this kid think that's enough to break it?
However, the trajectory of the scorched wood was higher than the rock wall.
"Now, Miss, look up and get out!" Chiba shouted.
"Substitution Jutsu?"
Iwagaki was startled.
Yukina Hyuga, feeling anxious within the rock pillar prison, was also startled when she heard Chiba's shout. Almost subconsciously, she raised her head following Chiba's instruction and then saw the charred wood flying in the air outside the rock wall.
Yukina Hyuga's reaction was swift, instantly grasping Chiba's plan, and quickly forming hand seals.
"Whoosh!"
Her entire body transformed into a cloud of white mist, which quickly dissipated, and a piece of charred wood fell to the ground.
Yukina Hyuga reappeared in the original position of the wood, now in midair very close to the rock wall.
Success! She was out!
The *Body Replacement Technique* is a basic skill taught in the Ninja academy.
Chiba clenched his fist quietly.
"What!" Iwagaki exclaimed, 'Using a substitution technique to replace the wood's position?'
'This kid! Such quick thinking!'
'No, I can't delay any longer.'
"Miss, your Ninja tools bag!"
At that moment, Yukina Hyuga landed from mid-air and did so with ease. Chiba hurriedly shouted because he had already seen Iwagaki forming hand seals.
Yukina Hyuga didn't hesitate and threw her Ninja tools bag towards him.
Chiba caught the bag and shouted: "Miss, come to me quickly!"
'Excellent, there are smoke bombs!'
Smoke bombs are a standard item, indispensable in a Ninja's arsenal.
Chiba quickly took out a handful of kunai and threw them to the approaching Yukina Hyuga. Simultaneously, he pulled a smoke bomb from the bag. Seeing Yukina Hyuga was nearly there, he threw the smoke bomb to the ground with force.
"Boom!"
A cloud of white smoke suddenly spread, enveloping them both.
"Damn!" Iwagaki's last hand seal was completed, and he was about to unleash a Ninjutsu. At that moment, he lost his target, and his Jutsu couldn't be initiated. The timing of the smoke bomb was perfectly executed.
"Now's our chance, Miss!" Chiba's voice echoed again in the white smoke.
Then, with a "whoosh," a kunai darted out of the white smoke, aiming for Iwagaki's head.
Seeing the kunai flying swiftly, Iwagaki smirked.
'Naive!'
Thinking a single kunai could kill me, such overconfidence can only be found in children.
He merely tilted his head slightly to dodge the kunai, while his hands continued to form seals.
"Thinking of escaping now? Dreaming of killing me? Boy, you're too green!"
'Your voice has given away your position!'
"*Earth Style: Mud Spear*!"
The ground in front of Iwagaki suddenly surged and transformed into a spear of earth, charging forward, piercing through the white smoke. When it emerged, a seven-year-old boy was impaled on the spear.
It was Chiba.
"Go to hell!" Iwagaki sneered, but his smile froze the next second.
The "Chiba" on the earth spear turned into a white mist.
A clone!
Then, there was also a "bang" sound behind him.
That kunai!
His eyes slowly widened! Fear, regret, and disbelief surged in his heart for a moment, distorting his face.
Chiba's voice sounded from behind him: "This is the end for you."
With a sneer at the corner of his mouth, Chiba gripped tightly, and with all his might, plunged a kunai into Iwagaki's heart.
"Ah!"
Blood spurted out.
"But... how? Defeated by a kid..."
Iwagaki's eyes widened as he fell to the ground, lifeless.
By then, the white smoke had cleared, and Yukina Hyuga saw Iwagaki fall, revealing Chiba behind him. Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
'He left a clone in his place and transformed himself into a kunai, which I then threw. He anticipated the Ninja would dodge it. The reason he threw the kunai amid the smoke bomb was to confuse the Ninja, making him think the kunai I threw was the one he had thrown at me!'
Yukina Hyuga looked at Chiba, who was starting to falter.
Did he come up with this strategy in that instant?
Incredible.