Looking at the four Rain Shinobi with unfriendly expressions surrounding him, Kaito Fujiwara grinned, revealing his white teeth.
"You guys! You are truly the most incompetent undercover agents I have ever seen."
He shook his head, still smirking. "From the start, you lacked any vigilance. Didn't you find it strange that a seven- or eight-year-old child was wandering around outside the village alone? Use your brains—would someone with that kind of courage be easily subdued by you?"
He turned his gaze toward one of the Genin standing beside Shun, his face full of disappointment. Then, he looked at Shun himself.
"And you—you can't even get into the target village. That really makes me doubt your ability. By the way, you chose a cave as your temporary base, and not just any cave, but one so close to Konoha. Are you picking a burial site for yourselves?"
"That's enough!" Shun snapped, his expression darkening.
His jaw clenched as he thought about how they needed Kaito to infiltrate Konoha. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile onto his face.
"Kaito-kun, don't be angry. We're all here to complete Lord Hanzo's mission. You... should return for now. Come back when you're ready."
Hearing this, Kaito burst into laughter.
"Hah! Are you trying to make me laugh to death?"
After a long, hearty laugh, he finally caught his breath, standing up straight as Shun's face darkened further.
"You're not only stupid but also naive. Even now, you're still thinking about sneaking into Konoha?"
Shun's face turned ice-cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"In that case, you're useless to us. Go to hell!"
A kunai shot toward Kaito in an instant.
Kaito barely exerted any force as he swiftly leaped backward, dodging the kunai by a hair's breadth.
Shun's eyes narrowed. If that's how it is, I'll kill you myself!
A sinister grin crept onto his face as a thought struck him: Abandon the mission, kill this brat, and return to the village claiming that Kaito betrayed them. That way, Hanzo would execute his so-called trusted man, Sakuta Mizukuma, in anger.
His mind made up, Shun gave the order.
"Kill him!"
The four Rain Shinobi attacked simultaneously. Kunai and shuriken flew toward Kaito, who had just exited the cave. In the blink of an eye, several weapons pierced through his body.
Then—
Bang!
A wooden log replaced him.
"Substitution Jutsu! He's fast!" Shun growled. "Chase him!"
They rushed out of the cave, searching frantically.
Kaito, standing high on a tree branch, smirked. "Now, let's test your skills."
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Water gushed from Shun's mouth toward Kaito.
Standing on the branch, Kaito gripped the tree trunk, watching the incoming attacks with boredom. His mind raced as he considered his objectives.
First, he had to test these Rain Shinobi. If they were weak, he'd eliminate them. Second, he needed to display his strength. The Konoha Anbu watching in the shadows needed to see his capabilities.
Strength equated to status.
"First, ninjutsu."
As he spoke, a shuriken struck him. Then, the wave of water engulfed his body.
Got him! Shun thought.
Then—Bang!
Another wooden log appeared where Kaito had been.
"Another Substitution?! Damn it! His hand seals are too fast!"
The intelligence they had on him was wrong. Kaito wasn't some rookie spy. His combat ability was far beyond their expectations.
"Where is he?" one of the Genin asked, scanning the surroundings.
Even the Konoha Anbu watching from the trees couldn't find him.
"Did he run away?" one murmured.
"No," a voice said softly.
The Anbu turned their heads upward.
In the moonlit sky, Kaito stretched his body. His form, bathed in cold silver light, stood motionless, surrounded by countless floating Senbon, their tips gleaming ominously.
"The sound of wind and rain at night... how many flowers have fallen?"
As his words faded, Kaito's hands formed a seal, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
"Magnet Release: Drizzling Rain and Falling Flowers Technique!"
A storm of Senbon rained down.
Shun's pupils shrank to needlepoints. His heart pounded in fear.
"Run!" he screamed, but it was too late.
The Senbon shredded through their bodies like a storm through leaves.
Tick.
A single drop of blood fell, shattering into petals as it touched the ground. Then, more followed, painting the earth red beneath the four Rain Shinobi, who remained standing—lifeless.
The Anbu hidden in the trees felt chills run down their spines.
Despite their training, the eerie scene before them unnerved them.
Put yourself in his enemies' shoes. If it were us facing Kaito, we'd be the ones standing here, bleeding out...
Some glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen in gratitude. If he hadn't alerted them, they might not have noticed Kaito's strategy in time.
Kaito had used the enemy's own perception against them. By vanishing into the shadows, he had forced them to focus on their surroundings, making them ignore the most unlikely place—above them.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered, Kaito landed lightly, glancing toward the shadows where the Anbu hid. Then, he turned, strolling toward his fallen foes with a lazy air, picking his nose as he admired his handiwork.
Sarutobi Hiruzen tensed, ready to intervene.
This boy has talent, but he lacks experience.
Just then, Shun's body shimmered and transformed into a watery figure, exploding into a puddle.
"A Water Clone?!" Kaito's expression changed as he turned sharply.
Not far behind him, Shun stood bloodied and disheveled, his eyes burning with fury as he formed his final hand seal.
"Go to hell! Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
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