Chapter 90: The Battle

It was a killing intent as sharp as fangs, seemingly capable of ripping through someone's body in an instant. That white flash was like the thought process of the person enveloped by the killing intent at that moment - a complete blank!

The speed was truly too fast, leaving no time for reaction.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Suddenly, a deep blue light shot forth from the dark-skinned man at the front, accompanied by the roar of violent electrical currents. In that near-instantaneous situation, he managed to extend his arm, covered in Lightning Release chakra, blocking the white flash.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion akin to a muffled clap of thunder erupted, the white flash momentarily turning a brilliant azure. Simultaneously, a white-haired man wielding a short blade appeared before them.

"Body Flicker Technique?" Sakumo realized, observing that his Lightning Release chakra-imbued short blade had merely sliced through the man's Lightning Release chakra cloak after their initial clash, revealing his origin.

Apart from the unique Body Flicker Technique of the Yatsuki clan from the Village Hidden in the Clouds, no one else could defend against his strike with just their physical body.

"Sakumo Hatake!?" The dark-skinned man's voice carried a hint of surprise, tinged with excitement, as he immediately launched a punch with his other fist towards the White Fang.

His striking speed was outrageous, exceeding the reflexive capabilities of ordinary ninja.

Faced with such a high-speed physical assault, Sakumo's expression remained unfazed. Without any leverage, his body rapidly retreated backward.

Body Flicker Technique!

"Not bad speed," the dark-skinned man remarked, yet he didn't immediately adopt an offensive stance. Instead, he seemed to engage in a battle of gazes with Sakumo.

His Body Flicker Technique granted him instantaneous, extraordinary speed and strength. Most ninja couldn't even perceive his movements, let alone evade them.

However, for a man like Sakumo Hatake, it was nothing extraordinary.

"Yatsuki Rin, I didn't expect someone of your standing in the Yatsuki clan to become a bodyguard for a rogue ninja from my Land of Fire," Sakumo stated.

Apart from the Third Raikage, the only one capable of defending against his strike with the Body Flicker Technique was the person from the Hidden Cloud Village who held a position second only to the Third Raikage and his brother.

"I didn't expect the Leaf to dispatch a ninja like you for a mere Kuriyama Shinzo," Yatsuki Rin replied, not lying. Sakumo Hatake's name resounded throughout the ninja world, and even the Kage of the great nations could not ignore his existence.

Their exchange happened at such a rapid pace that Yatsuki Rin's group barely had time to react.

Upon hearing Sakumo Hatake's name, their eyes involuntarily narrowed, clearly understanding the prowess it represented.

At that moment, Minato, Uchiha Homura, and Toriumi Jun landed behind Sakumo, their expressions shared a collective shock.

Sakumo's sudden attack caught them off guard and exceeded their expectations.

Especially for Minato, it was his first experience witnessing a speed he could not comprehend.

Compared to Sakumo's velocity, his own Flying Raijin Technique paled in insignificance.

"Even with someone of your caliber, did the Leaf Village run out of people, sending mere children to participate in an assassination mission?" Yatsuki Rin scoffed upon noticing Minato and Uchiha Homura.

"How did you detect us?" Sakumo asked abruptly, as it seemed Yatsuki Rin had sensed their presence early on.

"Heh," Yatsuki Rin smiled faintly, showing no intention of enlightening Sakumo.

However, even without an explanation, Sakumo could surmise that after activating his Body Flicker Technique, Yatsuki Rin's senses had likely reached an unimaginable level for ordinary individuals.

Despite their cautious pursuit, their concealment seemed inadequate against his heightened awareness.

Sakumo locked his gaze on Yatsuki Rin and said, "I'll handle Yatsuki Rin and the two others. Minato, Uchiha Homura, you two take care of the remaining two. As for the rogue ninja, Toriumi Jun can handle him."

"It seems I've been underestimated," Yatsuki Rin remarked in a deep voice. Sakumo intended to face him with a three-to-one advantage.

His eyes flared with fury as he pushed his speed to the limit.

Swish!

However, just as he prepared to attack, a white flash surged forth, faster than him, filling everyone's vision. The short blade in Sakumo's hand emitted a thunderous roar.

This time, Sakumo's target was not Kuriyama Shinzo but Yatsuki Rin. Even the latter's Body Flicker Technique struggled to keep up with such speed, but he countered with a punch to meet Sakumo's blade.

"Boom!"

Thunder rumbled, and azure lightning scattered.

The sensation Yatsuki Rin felt from the impact was not that of striking a blade but a heavy hammer, the immense force causing him to retreat several steps.

"Be careful!" he warned his two companions, unable to retaliate, as they had become targets in his momentary setback.

However, those two possessed considerable reaction speed. Although Sakumo and Yatsuki Rin's subsequent exchange lacked the initial blistering pace, the two nonetheless broke out in a cold sweat.

Swish!

Sakumo's blade tore through the cloak of one of them, revealing the distinctive attire of a Cloud Ninja Jonin.

Evidently, the Cloud Village had dispatched more than just Yatsuki Rin, a Jonin. Against Sakumo's assault, Chunin would have had no chance to react.

Almost simultaneously, Minato, Uchiha Homura, and Toriumi Jun sprang into action, each engaging one of the remaining opponents.

"Don't get too cocky, brats!" The two targeted ninja sneered, as their opponents appeared not even ten years old.

Swish! Swish!

In response, a dozen kunai clashed and intertwined midair, transforming into a dizzying array of angles that converged on one of the ninja.

The recently regained Yatsuki Rin glanced sideways, recognizing the shuriken technique.

The black-haired youth was from the Uchiha clan!

Swish!

However, as he focused on Uchiha Homura, a golden flash caught his attention from the other side - Minato's high-speed movement.

Minato gripped a jet-black kunai, slashing directly towards his opponent's throat.

Though their opponents were not Jonin, they were not easy targets to be instantly defeated.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Uchiha Homura's kunai were scattered by the lightning emanating from one opponent's body, though he seemed unable to mold Lightning Release chakra into an armor like Yatsuki Rin.

Meanwhile, Minato's opponent arched backward, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike, his reaction speed equally formidable.

Even so, Minato and Uchiha Homura's attacks were enough to surprise Yatsuki Rin.

The elite ninja he had brought from the village, though not Jonin, were no weaklings among Chunin.

Yet these two youths he had initially overlooked possessed astonishing prowess!

(End of Chapter)