Escape!
"Just a few Genin brats?"
When the Amegakure (Hidden Rain) shinobi spotted Mingjing and the other two, a trace of delight flashed in his eyes.
Earlier, his squad had encountered a four-man Konoha team led by a Chūnin. But unlike fresh Academy graduates, even the Genin on that team had battle-hardened instincts. Their coordination was solid, and it cost Amegakure a man.
But now? These three in front of them looked barely older than thirteen.
This time… it should be an easy win.
Wait—where did they go?
"Looking for me?"
A calm voice spoke from behind him. Uchiha Mingjing's figure materialized silently.
"Genjutsu: This Is Not the Place."
The Amegakure shinobi's vision blurred as the illusion distorted his surroundings. Before he could recover, Inuzuka Ryo lunged forward like a feral beast, claws extended, aiming straight for the jugular.
The enemy dodged on reflex—right into Aburame Nami's trap.
Her kikaichū erupted from beneath the wet soil, swarming silently onto the enemy's body.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jar."
Even in the Rain Country's downpour, where insect-based techniques are normally weakened, Nami's specialized tactics made her bugs just as deadly.
"What the hell?! These brats—!"
The remaining two Amegakure shinobi backed into a defensive formation, kunai raised, watching the three Konoha Genin surround them.
In mere moments, the Konoha team had eliminated the sensor-nin trailing behind their squad. Now it was a two-on-three—except these Genin weren't pushovers. Their combat level was easily above the average Chūnin.
They'd picked a fight with the wrong team.
Is this what Konoha calls "Genin"?
Grumbling to themselves wouldn't change the situation. The two remaining Rain shinobi eyed the Konoha trio warily. The bug-wielding girl looked unassuming, but her kikaichū had just taken one of their comrades. Then there was Uchiha Mingjing: the Uchiha fan on his back and the Sharingan spinning in his eyes said it all.
Uchiha shinobi were never to be underestimated.
"Suiton: Mizuha no Jutsu!"
(Water Style: Water Wave Technique!)
A flood of water surged forward, disrupting the battlefield. One Rain-nin drew his sword, charging straight for Inuzuka Ryo amidst the chaos.
They're trying to use me as the weak link?
Ryo's eyes narrowed. "Tetsuwan!" he barked.
His ninken partner transformed into a near-exact clone using the Beast Human Clone technique. Together, they intercepted the attacker mid-charge.
"Fang Over Fang!"
(Gatenga!)
On the opposite side, Aburame Nami's kikaichū swarmed again toward the caster of the Water Wave.
"Suiton: Suijinchū!"
(Water Style: Water Formation Wall!)
A jet of water burst from the Rain shinobi's mouth, forming a shield against the incoming bugs.
In Rain Country's environment, Water Style techniques had a natural boost. That's why Mingjing had adapted, minimizing Fire Style use and instead relying more on Uchiha Kenjutsu and Wind Release.
"Uchiha Style: Instant Wind Blade!"
Mingjing dashed forward like a blade of wind, his short sword cleaving through the water wall in a single arc, aimed straight at the enemy's neck.
Steel clashed as the Rain shinobi barely blocked with a kunai. But before he could recover, Mingjing weaved a quick genjutsu—just enough to throw off his senses—then feinted sideways, giving Nami the opening she needed to leap and land a sharp kick to the enemy's chest, knocking him back.
Meanwhile, the last remaining Rain-nin was struggling to hold off both Inuzuka Ryo and his clone.
Tetsuwan's clone form lacked chakra precision but could replicate most of Ryo's Inuzuka techniques with brute force alone.
"Damn it! Why do these Konoha Genin feel stronger than our Chūnin?" one Rain-nin shouted as Mingjing's blade carved a deep gash in his side.
"Hey! You two are pathetic. Getting worked over by kids?"
A new voice echoed from the forest.
Four more Amegakure shinobi emerged—likely drawn by the noise. Another Chūnin-led squad, with three Genin.
Mingjing's face darkened.
They weren't elite, but their arrival tipped the scales. Mingjing's team had taken the upper hand against two Chūnin, but a third—along with three more Genin—was too much to handle in a straight fight.
That's why they'd aimed to quickly eliminate the sensor-nin: to keep the enemy team blind and reduce their numbers before reinforcements arrived.
Time to change tactics.
"Survive first. Then create an opening and break through the enemy formation."
Mingjing signaled silently behind his back. Once he confirmed that Ryo and Nami had seen it, he launched a flurry of shuriken toward the incoming group, forcing them to scatter.
As expected, the two uninjured Chūnin tried to flank them from both sides.
But we're not giving them the chance.
"Fang Over Fang!"
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Destruction Insects!"
At the same time, Mingjing quickly formed hand seals.
"Katon: Phoenix Fire Technique!"
(Fire Style: Hōsenka no Jutsu!)
"Fūton: Great Breakthrough!"
(Wind Style: Daitoppa!)
Flames exploded forward, empowered by the sudden gust of wind, scattering into dozens of flaming projectiles.
Even in the rain, the Wind-enhanced flames were intense.
"Suiton: Suijinchū!"
"Suiton: Mizuha no Jutsu!"
"Suiton: Nami!"
(Water Formation Wall! Water Wave! Wave Technique!)
The Rain shinobi responded with Water Style barriers, while even the enemy Genin scrambled to defend themselves with basic Suiton techniques.
Steam hissed and white mist rose, shrouding the battlefield.
Amidst the chaos, Mingjing deflected an attacker with his blade, freed Ryo from an encirclement, and disrupted Nami's pursuer with a quick burst of genjutsu.
Then, using the cover of the mist, the trio vanished.
Escape successful. For now.