Chapter 54: Silent Killing, Face-Off With a Rogue-Nin
Notes:
A tachi, nearly as renowned as the katana, is a traditionally crafted Japanese sword favored by the samurai of feudal Japan.
At this moment, Uchiha Tonan, carrying Master Chigo on his back, and Hatake Kakashi were sprinting fiercely through the dense forest. If they could hold this pace for another half hour, they would reach a small outpost at the Land of Fire's border—where Leaf shinobi were permanently stationed.
As they ran, Tonan's keen eyes caught sight of a puddle ahead. The chakra signature it emitted was far too conspicuous to be ignored. Just as they crossed it, a shadow burst forth—someone lunged and swung a tachi aimed straight for Chigo's neck.
Kakashi reacted instantly. Drawing his tanto in one smooth motion, he blocked the deadly blade and barked, "Get out of here—now!" Then he threw himself into battle with the attacker.
Though Tonan knew deep down that no mere rogue-nin could kill Chigo even in the wildest scenario, a pang of regret hit him. Without a backward glance, he bolted forward.
"Tonan, don't you care about your companion?" Chigo asked calmly, his voice steady even while perched on Tonan's back.
Tonan stayed silent for a moment before replying, "Kakashi's strong. He'll handle it."
Even if Kakashi fell, Tonan thought quietly, he'd carve a wooden statue of his friend and pray to it every day.
Chigo gave a faint smile. "You should believe in yourself more. You've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. Sometimes, you don't have to hide your weaknesses."
Tonan's heart thumped at those words, but he kept his expression cool. "Kakashi is strong."
Chigo muttered, "Then why risk yourself for your teammate?"
For about ten minutes, the two pressed forward through the steadily thickening mist. Tonan's Byakugan scanned the surroundings, and through the eyes of a nearby white pigeon, he spotted the Mist rogue-nin lying in wait up ahead.
Now, Tonan dropped all pretenses before Chigo. The old monk had already seen through him—any further charade would only make him look foolish. He stopped, gently setting Chigo down on a large rock.
"Rest here for a moment, Master Chigo."
Chigo nodded, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "Thank you for your hard work."
By the time Tonan stood, the mist had thickened so much it was almost opaque, swirling in a ghostly white haze.
"Silent Killing Technique?" The three-tomoe Sharingan in Tonan's eyes spun slowly as he stared straight ahead.
"I love killing Uchihas," a chilling voice called out. "The three-tomoe Sharingan? Impressive… but useless in this fog. I'll gouge out your eyes myself and drink your blood."
The Mist rogue-nin's words rang through the haze, meant to crush Tonan's spirit. Yet every movement the attacker made was closely tracked by Tonan's unblinking gaze.
The rogue-nin resembled nothing more than a clown putting on a pitiful show.
"Guess where I am."
Swish!
Tonan twisted sharply to one side, narrowly evading a blade swung from behind. He caught sight of a Cloud rogue-nin watching from the mist, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"You're lucky you dodged that," Tonan said coolly.
The Mist rogue-nin grinned cruelly and vanished into the mist, which cloaked him like a second skin—his perception extending fully through the dense fog.
The silence was heavy, broken only by the damp chill brushing against Tonan's skin, playing tricks on his senses. The rogue-nin moved like a beast stalking in a dark forest, eyes glinting coldly in the shadows.
Such an environment would break most shinobi, their minds scrambling to predict where the next attack might come from. Spirit would quickly shatter. But Tonan was different—armed with the Byakugan, all of it was useless against him.
He stood perfectly still, patient, waiting for the predator to reveal itself.
Time wore on, and the rogue-nin's confidence began to waver. Finally, he launched his attack.
The long blade slashed through the mist—only to be stopped cold by a kunai raised at the last moment.
Ding.
"In front of my eyes, there's nowhere you can hide."
The rogue-nin's pupils contracted sharply as the twin spinning tomoe Sharingan shone through the haze.
His attack failed, so he retreated with a scowl, snarling, "How did you predict that?"
The mist thickened further, suddenly blinding his senses. Then Tonan's calm voice echoed.
"Silent Killing Technique."
The roles were clear: hunter and prey.
"Guess where I am."
A kunai sliced through the air. The rogue-nin flinched, dodging instinctively—but his arm was still grazed and cut.
"That brat actually injured me?" he growled, eyes narrowing. "How could he use Silent Killing Technique? Is this a Sharingan copy?"
Suddenly, realization struck. "No! When I attacked, he didn't look at my eyes. Also, Uchihas don't possess water-nature chakra. That means…"
A wicked grin spread across the rogue-nin's face as a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.
"The Sharingan's genjutsu is powerful. But it depends on who wields it."
He rapidly circulated chakra through his body.
"Genjutsu, release!"
The mist thinned slightly, and his perception returned. The wound on his arm healed instantly.
"Of course! It must have been when I looked into his eyes!"
At that moment, Kakashi slashed through the water clone he'd been battling on the other side. It dissolved instantly into droplets.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed in frustration as his face twisted with anger. He dashed toward where Tonan had disappeared.
"You better still be alive!"
...
"I let my guard down and got caught in a genjutsu," the Mist rogue-nin muttered, frowning as his water clone vanished.
"I can't waste any more time. This mission must be finished now."
Without hesitation, he summoned another Water Clone Technique.
"You've really pissed me off now."
Suddenly, the rogue-nin emerged from a puddle beneath Tonan, who barely glanced and swiftly formed hand seals.
When half of the rogue-nin's head surfaced, Tonan's leg shifted subtly.
"Lightning Style – Ground Lightning."
An electric current erupted from beneath Tonan's feet.
Bang!
The rogue-nin's body exploded into a spray of water droplets. Tonan smirked.
"Water clone?"
Meanwhile, the rogue-nin's true body silently appeared behind Master Chigo, who was quietly chanting scriptures, eyes closed in meditation.
"I'll deal with you first, then finish off that brat."
The blade swung toward Chigo's neck.
Bang!
"What? That was a water clone?"
The rogue-nin's confusion was evident. He had sensed Chigo's presence from the start—his perception ability confirmed it.
"So where did the real old man go?"