With Uchiha Shisui's Susanoo dominating one side of the battlefield, the tide of enemies seemed momentarily suppressed. However, the enemy's relentless use of detonating tags created massive explosions that were almost absurd in their intensity.
Shisui frowned. Are these truly just detonating tags? They're so powerful they could rival A-rank or even S-rank Fire Release techniques. He struggled to maintain the suppression, ensuring the enemy couldn't overwhelm his position, but defeating them outright seemed an uphill battle.
His objective was clear: buy time.
Although their location was far from the special training camp, the intensity of the fight should alert their comrades. Reinforcements would shift the tide, but for now, the trio had to hold out.
Nozuki's Counterattacks
On another front, Nozuki skillfully combined her ninjutsu and ninja tools to target the enemies' weak points. Her precision caused many opponents to falter, their combat effectiveness diminished.
Yet every time she was about to deliver a finishing blow, new enemies rushed in, retrieving their injured comrades and maintaining the pressure.
Frustration welled up in Nozuki. Despite her successes, the battle felt unwinnable.
Reiki's Suppression
Reiki mirrored Shisui's approach, using his powerful ninjutsu to suppress a group of enemies on one side. But like Nozuki, he found it difficult to finish them off. Their constant reinforcements created a stalemate.
"Nozuki!" Reiki called out.
"Got it!" she replied, her chakra flaring as she prepared a powerful strike infused with her signature strength.
"Room!" Reiki activated his ability, transferring an enemy directly into Nozuki's range.
With a resounding boom, her chakra-infused fist smashed the opponent into the ground.
Nozuki quickly removed the enemy's mask, only to freeze. The face was unfamiliar.
"Who are these people?" she muttered, realization dawning. They're from a new force. This revelation complicated matters. Not only were these enemies unknown, but their intentions and full strength were also a mystery.
Worse still, she wondered: Are we facing their main force, or is this just the beginning?
Trapped and Surrounded
Adding to their concerns was the lack of any movement from the special training camp.
"They must've isolated us with a barrier," Nozuki said grimly.
"Exactly," Reiki nodded. "We can't afford to stay here. Nozuki, Shisui—prepare for a breakout. Avoid heading toward the special training camp; there's bound to be a stronger ambush waiting there."
Without waiting for objections, Reiki activated his Surgical Fruit ability, teleporting Shisui and Nozuki outside the encirclement.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Swift Shadow!" Reiki transformed into a bolt of lightning, vanishing from the battlefield and reappearing near his teammates. He grabbed them, sharing his Lightning Release ability, and together, they vanished in a flash of electricity.
Pursued Relentlessly
"Don't let them escape!" A masked figure barked orders to the surrounding ninjas. Their instructions were clear—capture or eliminate the trio.
As night fell, the three found refuge in a hidden cave. Reiki set up a barrier and used Earth Release to create a concealed underground space, reinforcing it with another barrier for extra security.
The trio sat down, their exhaustion palpable.
A Familiar Fighting Style
"Reiki," Nozuki began, eyeing him suspiciously, "did you arrange for these people to attack us?"
Her question stemmed from familiarity—the enemy's fighting style was reminiscent of Reiki's unorthodox, fearless approach. The way they fought without hesitation, as if impervious to injury, reminded her too much of him.
"No," Reiki replied firmly. "If I had arranged this, I would've told you."
He sighed. "These people are backed by something or someone powerful."
"Agreed," Shisui added. "Their techniques are too refined, almost like secret arts passed down within a hidden organization. Even for Reiki, training so many ninjas in such methods would be impossible in a short time."
Planning the Next Move
"What now?" Nozuki asked, her frustration clear. "Are we just going to hide here forever?"
Her anger was understandable. Each battle outside the special training camp had left her feeling powerless. Whether it was Hamura Otsutsuki on the moon or these mysterious ninjas now, she could fight, but she couldn't win.
"First, we recover," Reiki said. "This place is safe for now, but I'm worried about the special training camp."
"You think they'll mistake this attack for something you arranged?" Shisui asked, his expression darkening.
Reiki nodded. "Exactly. They might not act immediately, thinking this is just another of my tests. That delay could cost them dearly."
"We need to recover quickly and send a warning," Reiki concluded, downing a chakra restoration potion.
Back at the Special Training Camp
As Reiki feared, Tsunade and the others had indeed noticed the approaching enemies. Their initial reaction?
"Reiki must've planned this," Tsunade said, watching the unfolding scene. She decided to let the trainees handle it alone.
The battle erupted as the camp's ninjas sprang into action. They fought valiantly, their youthful determination shining through.
After all, they thought, we're geniuses.
Unbeknownst to them, the enemy's true intentions were far more sinister.