"Everyone, form a defensive formation!"
A commanding voice rang out from the front of the team.
Upon hearing this, the middle-nin immediately sprang into action, organizing the nearby lower-nin into defensive positions based on proximity.
Meanwhile, those elite jōnin began to act according to their specializations. The combat specialists rushed out to assist the scouts, while the sensory specialists sat down, channeling chakra to sense the surrounding environment, preventing any surprise attacks.
Everyone had their own tasks, and the efficiency of their movements made it seem as if they had rehearsed countless times. Each person instinctively knew their place.
Only Qingming and the other inexperienced lower-nin felt lost, acting like puppets at the mercy of those around them.
This feeling was awful, as if their lives were in the hands of others, leaving them with no sense of security.
Despite this, Qingming refrained from acting rashly.
The situation was far too serious for a mere lower-nin to step out.
Over the past three weeks, due to the large number of people and the urgency of travel, he hadn't had much time to practice. He had tried to maximize his training time, managing to squeeze out only three to four hours daily.
As a result, his usable chakra was around 1,500 points.
To avoid drawing attention, he had dedicated all this chakra to practicing the Mind Reflection Technique, raising its proficiency from lv3 (683/1000) to lv3 (875/1000).
This increase of 192 points also improved his Sharingan proficiency by 19 points, bringing it to (69/1000).
Although the increase was small, Qingming welcomed any improvement.
Next was the Chakra Refinement Technique.
After his daily training, combined with three days of intensive practice before departing, its proficiency had grown from lv3 (346/1000) to lv3 (454/1000).
As a result, his chakra limit had increased by 864 points, now reaching 4,074 points.
At this point, he began to sense his physical limits.
Qingming estimated that once his chakra limit approached 5,000 points, he would likely experience stagnation.
However, this was already much better than he had expected.
Boom!
As Qingming's thoughts wandered, a tremendous explosion erupted from a nearby cliff, followed by the sound of metal clashing.
Looking up, he saw several jōnin from Iwagakure engaged in battle with Konoha's jōnin, with a dozen Iwagakure chūnin by their side.
Sharingan!
Seeing that no one was watching him, Qingming quietly activated his Sharingan.
Instantly, everything around him sharpened into clarity.
He observed the Iwagakure chūnin swiftly completing hand signs as they took advantage of the distraction provided by the Konoha jōnin, then all turned and struck the cliff wall.
At this moment, Qingming realized the danger and hurriedly shut his Sharingan, pulling two companions back with him as he leaped away.
Suddenly yanked back, Liangjie and Mizutani Shizuko stumbled, momentarily losing their balance.
However, trusting their companion, they did not resist.
Just as they retreated, a sound of rocks collapsing echoed from the cliffside.
In the next moment, countless stones of all sizes fell like meteors, crashing down upon the area where Qingming had been standing.
Chaos ensued as everyone scrambled to avoid the falling debris.
After a few breaths, the dust began to settle.
The light rain drizzled down, leaving muddy streaks on their faces.
"Qingming, we owe you one!"
Liangjie exclaimed sincerely, looking at the wreckage around them.
That wave of falling rocks may not have posed a threat to middle-nin, but for lower-nin—especially novices like them—it was perilous.
Currently, a dozen lower-nin lay among the scattered debris.
I wonder if they're dead or alive?
However, they had no time to ponder the fate of those individuals, for trouble was now upon them.
Near the entrance of the canyon, nearly a hundred Iwagakure ninja appeared, closing in from both sides.
In terms of numbers, they still held an advantage, but in terms of quality, the gap was concerning.
The Iwagakure forces had clearly prepared well for this encounter; there were no lower-nin among them—only elite middle-nin and above.
Meanwhile, their group comprised nearly four hundred members, with lower-nin making up a significant portion, many of whom were freshly graduated novices like Qingming.
This battle was undeniably fraught with danger.
All we can do now is hope the main camp responds quickly, otherwise...
Qingming glanced at the jōnin still locked in combat on the cliff sides and took a deep breath. "You two, stay close to me."
At this, Liangjie and Shizuko's racing hearts calmed slightly.
Qingming felt a responsibility to watch over his two companions, having spent nearly four months together. He didn't want to see them die.
Of course, if the situation became dire, he wouldn't force anything.
He had mentally prepared himself for such outcomes from the very start.
Time passed slowly, and the battlefield fell silent as everyone prepared for combat.
Finally, just as the two sides were about to collide, someone shouted, "Charge!"
Instantly, the battlefield erupted into chaos, filled with the sounds of battle cries, screams, clashing weapons, and ninjutsu explosions.
That one word "Charge" seemed to have flipped a switch, throwing the entire battlefield into turmoil.
Although Qingming's position was near the center of the team, the disruption caused by the falling rocks had scattered their formation, making them an easy target.
He watched as over thirty Iwagakure middle-nin swiftly utilized Earth Release techniques to close in on their position from underground.
Their intent was clear: to split the convoy in half, thereby expanding the combat range and maximizing casualties among the Konoha ninja.
Qingming carefully assessed the position of one of them, then quietly withdrew a kunai. The moment the enemy leaped out of the ground, he threw the kunai.
"Ah!"
A scream pierced the air.
The Iwagakure ninja had barely emerged from the ground when the kunai struck his eye.
Blood streamed down his face, and he attempted to identify his attacker, but in the next moment, another kunai flew in, embedding itself in his heart.
Struck by this fatal blow, the Iwagakure ninja closed his eyes in despair.
Though Qingming's kill seemed straightforward, it was anything but.
First, he had to possess precise knowledge of the enemy's position to make a timely throw.
Secondly, the accuracy of the kunai throw required exceptional skill; otherwise, he wouldn't achieve a lethal outcome. If the enemy had any opportunity to counter, it would be disastrous.
Lastly, it required strong mental fortitude to remain unperturbed by external distractions.
Just like now, another Iwagakure middle-nin was locked in combat with Liangjie; had he chosen to intervene, he certainly would not have been able to secure a one-hit kill on the enemy before him.
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