Chapter 43: Sorry to keep you waiting for so long!

"Still haven't broken in?"

"What's going on?"

"So many people, can't even handle some guards?"

"They're all useless! Useless!"

A young man jogged up to the middle-aged one.

"Sir!"

The middle-aged man questioned.

"What's the situation?"

"Sir, there have been several special guards appearing, with considerable strength, likely Teigu and Shingu users."

The young man quickly added, "One has the ability to manipulate water, very much like a Teigu, perhaps the user of Water Dragon Possession."

"Another can create freezing effects, resembling a user of Demon's Extract."

"And one wields a sword, the wounds inflicted cannot heal, akin to Kiriichimonji."

The middle-aged man interrupted the young man.

"Nonsense!"

"The Teigu user of Water Dragon Possession cannot be here!"

"Do you know where Demon's Extract is?"

"The owner of Kiriichimonji is also a member of the Empire. Are you suspecting the Empire is targeting us?" And the reason? Use your useless brain and think carefully. Don't make excuses for your incompetence!"

The middle-aged man snorted coldly.

"I will give you another ten minutes. If it's still not resolved after ten minutes, I'll order the entire area to be flattened. You should understand what that means for you."

The young man's expression changed.

"Sir, please rest assured, we will definitely deal with them."

Before he could finish, the young man had already rushed back towards the direction of the laboratory.

"Attack!"

Biwa Juzo frowned.

"Their assault seems even more fierce, as if they have no regard for their lives."

"What are these people after?"

"Even if what they want is inside, do they lack this little time?"

Hoshigaki Kisame withdrew Kiriichimonji from an attacker's chest and formed seals.

"Water Release,: Water Mist Jutsu!"

Replenishing the thinning Water Mist somewhat, but suddenly, Hoshigaki Kisame felt something was amiss. Subconsciously turning around, he saw a figure, somehow, had appeared behind him. 

It was the young man who had reported to the middle-aged man earlier. Upon hearing the middle-aged's words, the young man knew that no matter what method he used, he had to deal with Biwa Juzo and Hoshigaki Kisame within ten minutes. Even if it meant sacrificing his life. Because the unsuccessful outcome also meant death. 

After assessing that Biwa Juzo's strength was greater than Hoshigaki Kisame's, the young man made a decision. He ordered his relatively weaker subordinates to surround Biwa Juzo, while he led the elite subordinates to kill Hoshigaki Kisame. Once one of them was killed, breaking into the laboratory would become much easier.

"Bang!"

Faced with the young man's attack, Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't dodge and could only block. The tremendous force landed on Hoshigaki Kisame's arm, causing him to involuntarily retreat. 

However, behind Hoshigaki Kisame, another attacker's assault appeared. In an instant, Hoshigaki Kisame's situation became extremely critical, especially considering that the previous battles had already depleted a considerable amount of his chakra and stamina. 

Hoshigaki Kisame's condition was now much worse than before, and the number of opponents was too many. They fought recklessly, indifferent to life and death, exchanging blows for blows. Hoshigaki Kisame had won against Kakashi using this method of exchanging blows. 

And now, he was facing these people using the same strategy. Several wounds had already appeared on Hoshigaki Kisame's body, and several of the young man's elite subordinates had fallen. However, upon seeing Hoshigaki Kisame injured, the young man completely disregarded the deaths of his subordinates. Instead, his eyes lit up because he saw a glimmer of hope for victory.

"Come again, he's almost done!"

"Kill him!"

The voice of the young man rang out. Under the young man's siege, Hoshigaki Kisame kept retreating, panting heavily.

"These guys are relentless."

"But I absolutely won't lose."

"If they want to kill me, it won't be that easy!"

Hoshigaki Kisame wouldn't collapse mentally just because he was injured or in a disadvantageous position. The Hoshigaki Kisame who emerged from the Bloody Mist faced increasingly dire situations, yet it only fueled his ferocity.

"As long as I'm here, don't even think about it!"

"No one can disturb Soma!"

Facing Hoshigaki Kisame's sudden outburst, several attackers felt a sense of dread.

The young man was taken aback.

"Who is this guy?"

"How can mere guards be so strong? How can they be so ferocious?"

Hoshigaki Kisame's ferocity made the young man's scalp tingle.

"But if we don't deal with you, none of us will survive. I can't just stand by and watch my brothers die here because of today's events!"

"That would be too unfair to them!"

The young man looked at Hoshigaki Kisame, gritted his teeth, and a resolute look flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, the young man rushed towards Hoshigaki Kisame.

"Splurt!"

Kiriichimonji in Hoshigaki Kisame's hand pierced into the young man's body.

However, the young man didn't retreat, not even a pause, but continued to approach Hoshigaki Kisame, until the distance was close enough. Then, he firmly grabbed Hoshigaki Kisame's arm.

"Now's the time, kill!"

The young man's shout resounded.

Hoshigaki Kisame showed a bewildered expression, completely unexpected that the young man would do such a thing.

The attackers beside them widened their eyes sharply at the sight of the young man's actions.

"Squad Captain!"

"No!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

"For Squad Captain's revenge!"

"For Squad Captain's revenge!"

Originally, Hoshigaki Kisame had gained a respite for himself with his outburst. But the sudden move by the young man plunged Hoshigaki Kisame into an even more dangerous situation. 

The young man firmly held onto Hoshigaki Kisame, immobilizing him. At the cost of his own life, the young man restricted Hoshigaki Kisame. Simultaneously, it aroused the emotions of several nearby attackers. At this moment, they had no fear or panic. Only anger remained. 

"Splurt!" "Bang!" 

Hoshigaki Kisame struggled to dodge, continuously retreating. Seeing himself about to be forced into a corner. A true dead end. Hoshigaki Kisame felt like he had tripped over something, unable to maintain balance. His whole body involuntarily leaned backward, then fell heavily to the ground.

The attackers surged forward.

"Damn it!"

"I wonder how Soma's doing."

"I hope Juzo-senpai can hold on."

"I'm still not strong enough."

Just as the attackers' assault was about to fall on Hoshigaki Kisame.

"Water Release, Water Fang Bullet Jutsu!"

A series of spear-like formations condensed from water fiercely shot towards the attackers.

"Splurt!"

"Splurt!"

"Splurt!"

Uehara Soma's figure appeared at the laboratory door, next to which lay the body of an attacker.

Uehara Soma looked towards Hoshigaki Kisame and Biwa Juzo.

"Juzo-senpai, Kisame, sorry to keep you waiting!"

---

You can read up to 50 Advanced chapters and support me at patreon.com/Lookar