Tou reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a professional scalpel. "Don't let that mouse get away. I'll handle this one!" From the way he moved, Neji could tell how experienced and cunning he was. Tou seemed the type to always hold back during a fight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. If Neji made a wrong move here, he might not make it out alive. Tou was likely planning to silence him for good.
"Swish!" In a flash, Tou was already closing in. His speed was impressive, and his strike was precise—aiming straight for Neji's neck.
"Byakugan!" Neji activated his bloodline ability, his eyes narrowing as he swiftly stepped back. At the same time, Haifeng, despite being injured, also retreated.
"You're not getting away!" Baki charged towards Haifeng, but a kunai suddenly flew in his path, forcing him to stop. Turning, he saw Neji standing there. Though Neji was younger and shorter, his presence was formidable, like a giant.
Neji crouched low, gathering chakra in his palm. At first glance, his technique looked similar to Tou's, but there was a difference—Neji's chakra had a natural element to it. He struck with his palm, and though Tou dodged, Neji matched him move for move, attacking and evading at the same time. Their movements were fast and seamless, leaving no room for error.
Meanwhile, Haifeng, seeing an opportunity to escape, tried to make a run for it. However, Baki appeared before him once again. "You won't fool me! Neither of you will survive today!" Haifeng, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth. Despite Neji's strength, he felt like there was no escape. If he could just relay the information, even if it cost him his life...
"Kid, Sand Shinobi and Oto Shinobi are planning a joint attack on Konoha! This must be reported!" Haifeng exclaimed, swallowing a pill from his pouch.
"Oh?" Baki narrowed his eyes.
Neji hesitated for only a second, but that was enough for Tou to launch a counterattack. The dynamic shifted, with Tou now taking the offensive. However, Neji knew deep down that he was different from these ruthless, battle-hardened enemies.
"Vanishing Technique!" Haifeng's body began to turn transparent, blending into the night. Although not fully invisible, it made him difficult to detect.
"Trying to escape?" Neji muttered. "No, as a traitor to Konoha, it's my duty to stop you!" He lunged, and a flash of light appeared behind Baki.
Thrust!
But the blade met Baki's back and couldn't penetrate. "Hmph! Pointless."
The battle was clearly in Baki's favor, and Haifeng wouldn't last much longer. But Neji also had his hands full. Most of his chakra had already been used up during his earlier fight with Gaara.
"Ding! Congratulations to the Host. Byakugan proficiency +199!"
Neji frowned, glancing at the sly Tou before him. "So, were you just bluffing back in the Forest of Death? If you're this weak, you might as well die here!"
Suddenly, a scream pierced the night—Haifeng had been struck again, blood flowing from both sides of his ribs. His ninja outfit was soaked red, his pain evident.
"I can't keep fighting like this," Neji thought, gritting his teeth. The remaining chakra would only be enough to escape. If he kept fighting and lost, death was certain. But if Haifeng had been willing to die to get the information out, Neji couldn't just leave. He pulled out a ration pill from his clothing, chewing in the dead silence of the night.
"Wind Release!" Neji moved as fast as lightning, his body flickering past Tou, who was taken by surprise. Neji's palms struck Tou's back hard, causing him to stumble forward.
"Is this... Gentle Fist?" Tou, being a medical ninja, recognized the technique. Neji's palms had targeted the acupoints on his shoulders, disabling his arms and rendering his attacks useless.
"Swish!" Neji spun through the air like a shuriken, landing another heavy palm strike that sent Tou crashing to the ground.
"Alright, you're next," Neji said, exhaling. He released his wind chakra in the style of Revolving Heaven, lightening his movements. He then focused lightning chakra into his palm, making his Gentle Fist even more powerful. In this state, Baki wouldn't be much of a challenge.
"I must say, it's impressive to see such talent from a Konoha ninja, but... it's a shame that you've come here to die," Baki said, noticing Neji's victory over Tou. He completely disregarded Haifeng, who had fallen to the ground.
"Whirlwind Technique!" A gentle breeze began to gather around Baki, but under Neji's Byakugan, it was clear that the breeze concealed deadly wind blades.
"Wind Revolving Heaven!" Neji gritted his teeth, releasing his wind chakra in a defensive rotation. The intense spin dissipated the surrounding blades, but Baki smiled.
"Interesting, a Hyuga from Konoha using wind chakra. Just what I need!" Baki quickly formed hand signs. Nearby, Tou, still recovering from his wounds, sneered.
"Baki is an exceptionally skilled Wind Release ninja. Temari is just one of his students," Tou muttered to himself, wiping away cold sweat. "This boy... could he be an Anbu? I don't have any intel on him at all."
Neji realized too late that the wind from his Revolving Heaven had been manipulated into wind blades. "You've created the perfect battlefield for me!" Baki said, grinning.
With a single command, the wind blades converged on Neji. No matter how agile he was, his clothes were still cut by the razor-sharp wind.
"Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven!" Neji unleashed his full Revolving Heaven technique, deflecting the wind blades. "I can't afford to get injured here. If I do, they'll find me."
As the wind blade attack subsided, Neji dashed through the smoke toward Baki. Lightning crackled from his palms, forming instantly. Baki's eyes widened. "What an incredible change in nature, and to master two elements at once!"
But before Neji could strike, Baki formed a seal with one hand, conjuring a new, stronger wind blade. "Wind Blade!" The attack collided with Neji's lightning palm, sending him flying several meters backward.
Baki stepped forward confidently. "It's a pity... for someone like you, I'm the worst possible opponent, aren't I?"
____________________________________
VISIT OUR PATREON FOR MORE: (
)
https://www.patreon.com/reacher00. (
____________________________________