Isao and Yumiko were fleeing together, coordinating their abilities to fend off three enemy Kiri-nins. Much like their battles with Kuromaru, they employed hit-and-run tactics, moving seamlessly between attack and defense.
They had run several dozen kilometers deeper into the Land of Fire, making the there Kiri-nins uneasy. An ambush was surely approaching.
Just as they had these suspicions, their wishes were betrayed.
Three streaks of condensed flames flew over from a massive distance away, bombarding the area they were about to stand in.
Isao and Yumiko's eyes both gleamed.
"Suguru's done with his side!"
It was time to turn the tables.
"These three fireballs indicate Formation 7H," Yumiko hurriedly analyzed the hidden message in Suguru's Hellfire Artillery.
Isao nodded, recognizing the same message.
The two then flickered forward, driving a wedge into the Kiri-nins' formation. They struck swiftly, leaving minor wounds and fleeing an instant later.
Three more fireballs smote their general area, which the Kiri-nins hurriedly dodged. They would come to know that Isao and Yumiko were still nearby, waiting for them to approach.
Their formation had been fractured in a mere breath.
This was where their downfall would begin.
The two Kiri-nins who dodged left would meet a shower of shuriken and explosive tags.
—Boom!
One of the Kiri-nins failed to reposition in time. He decided to sacrifice his arm. Now, a limp, mangled limb was hanging from his shoulder.
Burns aplenty marred his skin like an ugly tattoo.
The third Kiri-nin faced the concentrated firepower of Suguru's Hellfire Artillery. Twelve consecutive fireballs showered him with skin-melting temperatures.
Seeing this, Isao moved to behead him. With one, swift motion, he drew his sword and swiped through the Kiri-nin's neck.
A head flew into the air. A life had been lost.
Yumiko then finished forming her hand signs.
'Genjutsu: Daze!'
For a moment, the remaining two Kiri-nin froze. The one with the mangled arm failed to disrupt his chakra in time. Isao swung his sword again.
Another head went flying.
The final Kiri-nin staggered, hurriedly trying to flee. However—
—AAAAAAAAAAAAH!
A single fireball fell from the sky, bathing him in flames. His scream resounded throughout the forest, yet was left unheard by those who valued his life.
His body would soon be reduced to ashes.
Upon seeing the three Kiri-nins successfully eliminated, Suguru appeared beside Isao and Yumiko.
"So, we finally fought with enemy ninjas." Yumiko laughed, "How's the feeling?"
"...Nervewracking," Isao admitted.
Suguru just shrugged.
"Let's move over to Hitomi-sensei. She might need our help—"
—AWOOOOOOOOOOO!
Kuromaru's monstrous howl resounded in their ears. It was the battle cry of the victor. A glorious howl that claimed pride as its own.
"... Never mind," Suguru sulked.
He wanted to try fighting a jounin. Based on these results, he was ready to take the Chuunin Exams later in the year. Fighting a jounin would help him experience a faster-paced battle.
Furthermore, only a jounin would be able to match his three-tomoe Sharingan. Chunins were simply too slow.
Much less, genins of his rank.
The only problem was the fact that his Sharingan was a secret. He could use it only when he was out of everyone's line of sight.
Furthermore, only his speed was up to standard. The rest of his abilities were a far cry from being at the level of a jounin.
'If only I had an affinity in either Wind or Lightning Release...' Suguru, once again, lamented the reality of his talent.
It was all over the place.
For the five elemental transformations, from the highest affinity to the lowest affinity, it went:
Fire » Water » Earth » Lightning » Wind.
It was such a sad alignment of elements. None of the nature transformations played to his strengths and preferences at all.
While Suguru was lost in his thoughts, Hitomi arrived beside them.
"Oho, I see that you're all alive. It seems like my training has paid off. How does it feel? The chase, I mean." Hitomi's grin threatened to spread from ear to ear.
It was clear that she enjoyed her earlier fight.
Suguru sighed upon seeing this.
"It worked wonders," He said simply, glancing at Isao and Yumiko.
The two agreed.
"We wouldn't have survived a frontal battle. Luckily, we were in the Land of Fire where we're at our strongest." Yumiko said.
The Kiri-nins who were used to fighting over water were severely restricted.
"This means that they're hiding something big," Isao added. "Should we gather information, Hitomi-sensei?"
Hitomi shook her head.
"No. Let's report back to Lord Hokage. Acting arbitrarily might be detrimental to us and the village."
The three genin nodded. They were only supposed to exterminate a bunch of bandits. They weren't supposed to fight any shinobi from a major power.
"Let's hurry back. Although we failed the mission, the bandit camp no longer exists. We have more important information to report. Isao, Yumiko, get on Kuromaru." Hitomi said. "Suguru, keep up."
Suguru brought concentrated chakra into his feet. Then, along with Hitomi, he flickered several dozen meters away.
Team Hitomi hurried back to Konohagakure. They returned to the village before sundown, weary and forced to consume a soldier pill.
Hitomi brought her team with her to meet Hiruzen in his office.
—Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Lord Hokage, we have something to report."
"Come in," Hiruzen's voice came almost instantly in reply.
Hitomi allowed herself in, opening the doors that led to the Hokage's office. She then bowed.
"Lord Hokage, on one of our missions to eliminate another Bandit Camp, we came across six Kirigakure ninjas. Based only on their chakra levels, four were chuunin, two were genin, and their captain was a decent jounin." Hitomi was concise with her report.
She then placed a scroll on Hiruzen's desk.
"Here are their corpses... at least the ones that Hiryu Suguru did not reduce to ashes."
Suguru bowed, "My apologies, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen waved his hand.
"Do not mind it. You did what you had to do. Good work, you four."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Hitomi bowed again.
The three genin echoed her gratitude.
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