Chapter 65

Fujiwara Tetsuya, Aburame Muto, and Uchiha Mikoto sprinted through the fog-shrouded forest at their fastest pace. Yet, despite their efforts, the elite Mist Shinobi squad was closing the distance with every second, their presence weighing heavily on the group like an approaching storm. The trio knew they couldn't keep running forever—sooner or later, they'd have to fight.

"Tetsuya! Are you afraid of dying?"

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting shifting shadows as they ran. Sensing the oppressive auras gaining on them from behind, Yuhi Shin's expression grew darker. Here, on this fog-bound island, his most powerful genjutsu techniques were being suppressed. If they wanted any chance of escape, someone would have to stay behind to hold off their pursuers.

"Dying?" Tetsuya repeated. "Honestly, Shin-sensei, what scares me more is living a life of disgrace."

Shin paused, his expression hardening. "I understand, Tetsuya." His voice softened. "I'm sorry. I've lived all these years but can't even protect my own students."

"Shin-sensei, enough of that sentimental stuff!" Tetsuya grinned. "If we make it out of here, you owe me an all-you-can-eat barbecue feast back in Konoha!"

Shin's meaning was clear, and Tetsuya had understood it instantly. Among himself, Muto, and Mikoto, he was the strongest. Only he and Shin had any hope of delaying the Mist Shinobi long enough for the others to escape back to the sea and carry the critical intelligence they'd gathered.

Facing the specter of death wasn't easy—everyone felt the primal urge to run. But in a world shaped by conflict, Tetsuya had something precious worth protecting. For that, he'd gladly lay down his life if it came to it. Even if it meant dying on this fog-covered island, it would be a sacrifice he'd willingly make.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Tetsuya's apprehension vanished, replaced by unwavering determination.

"Mikoto, Muto! Shin-sensei and I will hold them off. You two need to take the information we gathered back to Uzushiogakure. This is an order. No objections!"

"Uzushiogakure is the shield protecting the eastern coast of the Land of Fire. If it falls, Konoha could be vulnerable to attacks from all four great nations. The stakes are high, and you both know it."

As Shin spoke, his tone left no room for argument. He understood his students well; he knew that if he didn't make this clear, they'd never leave him behind.

"Understood, Shin-sensei!" Mikoto's voice was laced with reluctance. "Take care, Tetsuya."

She and Muto shared a look, the weight of their unspoken farewell lingering as they prepared to leave. They knew what staying behind would mean for Shin and Tetsuya.

Tetsuya watched Mikoto and Muto disappear into the trees, then turned to Shin. "Shin-sensei, let's give them something to remember us by."

They slowed their pace, letting their pursuers close in. A powerful surge of chakra pulsed between the two, a shared resolve resonating like a silent promise.

'System,' Tetsuya thought, his mind racing. 'Allocate 1,454 points to Chidori and the rest to Water Mirror Technique.'

As the command echoed in his thoughts, he felt his strength increase, his mastery over Chidori advancing to a whole new level. It now stood at the "Mastery" stage—only one level below perfection in the system's tiered structure.

His Water Mirror Technique also surged, reaching an entirely new threshold.

Shin nodded, glancing back. "Tetsuya, I'll handle their Jonin. You take care of the rest and join me as soon as you can."

As they waited, four Jonin and a dozen Chunin Mist Shinobi emerged from the mist, closing in on their position.

"Stalling for time, are we?" one of the Mist Shinobi sneered, eyeing the two with disdain. "Do you really think the two of you stand a chance?"

Tetsuya and Shin shared a quick, resolute glance. They both knew the odds. But retreat was not an option. Any weakness here would spell death—not only for themselves but for countless others they'd leave behind.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"

The enemy unleashed a barrage of water-based jutsu, forming massive waves that roared toward them with crushing force.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique… Reflect!"

Emerging from the cascading water, Tetsuya and Shin retaliated with counter-jutsu, scattering the incoming waves. With a burst of speed, they broke through the water's force, splitting off. Shin went after the Jonin while Tetsuya charged into the group of Chunin with Chidori crackling in his hand, the sharp sound echoing ominously through the fog.

The battle descended into madness, a chaotic clash of steel, chakra, and blood, filling the island's misty air with a heavy, foreboding atmosphere.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

Wind jutsu wasn't his specialty, but for Shin, it was his best card aside from his genjutsu. In close quarters, the power of his Wind Release proved even more devastating than Earth Release techniques, cutting through opponents with brutal precision.

Tetsuya's Chidori ripped through the enemy ranks, lightning surging with lethal precision as he carved a path through the Mist Shinobi. His new mastery over Chidori granted him greater speed and control, allowing him to dodge and strike in a fluid, unstoppable motion.

The battle reached a fevered intensity as Shin's wind chakra cleaved through the Mist Jonin's defenses. He threw himself into the fight, landing blow after blow, forcing his opponent onto the back foot.

"Impressive," the Jonin snarled, catching his breath. "But it won't be enough."

"You're welcome to try me," Shin replied, his voice steady.

Not far away, Tetsuya tore through the Chunin, moving with a speed that left the Mist Shinobi barely able to react. He spun, shifting effortlessly from one attack to the next, blood trailing in thin arcs across the mist.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Shin's voice roared across the battlefield, followed by a surge of fire that scorched through the trees, dispersing the mist in a fiery blast. His target barely dodged, a flash of fear crossing his face.

"Oh, is that fear I see?" Shin taunted, smirking. "C'mon, entertain me a bit longer!"

"Dance of the Willow."

The Mist Jonin sneered, calling upon the unique power of his clan's Kekkei Genkai, Shikotsumyaku—the Dance of the Willow. Bone-like spikes erupted from his body, forming a shield that absorbed the flames, leaving him untouched.

"Impressive, Jiraiya!" he growled, extending his bone weapons. "But this will be your grand finale!"

He attacked, striking with a vicious intensity, aiming to end Shin in a single, decisive blow.

And so, the battle continued—a deadly, relentless clash of jutsu and sheer will. As Tetsuya and Shin fought on, somewhere in the distance, Muto and Mikoto ran, holding tightly to the information that might change the fate of their village.

The weight of duty pressed down on all of them, the fog thick with both fear and resolve. But for Shin and Tetsuya, the end was already written. They fought not for survival but for a chance—a slim, fleeting hope that those they protected would see another sunrise.

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