Chapter 31

"You're a Leaf Shinobi from the Nara clan. Is the leaf declaring war on us? Do you think Kumo won't retaliate for such blatant aggression?" The elite Jonin sought to identify the mysterious assailant, correlating the shadow manipulation with the Nara clan. However, Kazuki responded with a blank expression, treating Elite Jonin's words with apparent indifference.

"Did you take a blow to the head as a child? You're stealing from the Fire Country, killing innocents disguised as bandits, and yet you question why we're attacking?" Kazuki, unimpressed by Jonin's hypocrisy, decided not to waste time, suspecting that Gai sensei might have been discovered and initiating combat.

"[Raiton: Raiso Gekishin],"(Lightning Rat Violent Quake) the Kumo Jonin released a lightning attack as Kazuki began responding to his question. "[Suiton: Suijinheki],"(Water Release: Water Formation Wall) Kazuki countered by creating a large water wall to defend against the lightning attack.

"Amateur," Jonin scoffed, but the anticipated outcome did not materialise even after a few seconds. The expected electric discharge did not follow, leaving Jonin momentarily confused. Kazuki had anticipated the electrical shock after using the water manipulation, and Jonin's miscalculation led to his failure. Kazuki couldn't resist mocking his opponent.

"Heh, waiting for me to get electrocuted, now are you? No wonder your nephew was so dumb; it seems like it runs in your family," Kazuki taunted, realising Jonin's lack of understanding of water properties. The elite Jonin regained composure and resumed the assault, unleashing another lightning technique, "[Raiton: Jibashi]," with a force close to that of an A-rank technique. Kazuki acknowledged his proficiency in Jonin's lightning manipulation but couldn't help mocking him.

"Not bad; though your lightning manipulation is not as good as mine, it can be considered somewhat decent. Do you want to see what a real lightning attack looks like?" Kazuki initiated a counter, prompting the Jonin to retaliate with kunais rigged with explosive tags. However, Kazuki effortlessly dodged the projectiles and used his shadow to shield against the ensuing explosion, preparing for his next move.

"[Raiton: Chidori]" Kazuki's hands crackled with pitch-black lightning, accompanied by the distinctive sound of chirping birds. To his surprise, the Jonin exhibited intense reactions upon seeing the black lightning.

"Who are you? How are you able to use black lightning?" The elite Jonin's chakra intensified, adding more lightning currents to his attack. Undeterred, Kazuki continued to wield his Chidori, tearing through the opponent's lightning attack. The Jonin managed to evade, but the structural integrity of the wall behind him bore the brunt of Kazuki's assault.

The air crackled with lightning as the elite Jonin initiated the next move, releasing a barrage of electrified needles with the technique [Raiton: Raishin] (Lightning Release: Thunder Needle). Shadows danced around Kazuki as he gracefully navigated through the incoming onslaught, his movements fluid and precise.

Responding swiftly, Kazuki erected a colossal wave of water with [Suiton: Kyojin Nami Shougeki] (Water Release: Gaint Wave Crash) meeting the incoming electric storm head-on and tore through the lightning needles as if the attack were nothing. The clash of elements painted a mesmerising tableau against the canvas of the night. But Kazuki wasn't merely a dancer; he was a tactician. His shadow stretched, seeking the Jonin, attempting to bind him in [Kageyose no Jutsu].

The elite Kumo Jonin, skilled and nimble, evaded the encroaching shadows and the wave. With [Raiton: Jibashi] (Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder), the Jonin sent forth a wave of lightning, attempting to engulf Kazuki. Yet, the Nara prodigy dispersed his shadow, avoiding the imminent danger.

Kazuki executed [Raiton: Shichu Shibari] (Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind), lightning-infused shadows converging upon the elite Jonin, ensnaring him in a crackling prison. The night echoed with the sizzle of electricity as the shadows pulsed with the power of the storm.

Amidst the chaotic skirmish, the elite Jonin, battered but unbroken, managed to break free from the entangling shadows with a burst of lightning-infused strength. He acknowledged the severity of the battle and the necessity to adapt. The surroundings bore witness to the ferocity of their clash; most of the house within the barrier was now in ruins.

On the other side of the town, the thunderous onslaught of Maito Gai echoed through the air. Engaged in a fierce confrontation with the Kumo Jonin commander, Gai's unleashed power left a trail of destruction in its wake. The Kumo Jonin struggled to match the relentless assault; his lightning armour was strained against the relentless strikes. Gai's rampage disrupted every attempt to encircle him, forcing the Kumo Shinobi to reevaluate their tactics.

As the Kumo Jonin commander grappled with the onslaught and frustration etched across his face, he barked orders to his subordinates. The urgency in his voice was palpable as he sought the whereabouts of his deputy, Taichi. The relentless attacks from Gai and the unexpected confrontation had thrown their plans into disarray. The Kumo Shinobi found themselves caught in a pincer, with Gai wreaking havoc in the heart of their operation.

As Gai continued his onslaught, the Kumo commander swiftly made a strategic decision. Recognizing the urgency of securing the convoy and hostages, he ordered a tactical retreat. The majority of Kumo forces were redirected to expedite the withdrawal, emphasizing swift and decisive action. The Kumo commander understood that the element of surprise had been lost and their base within the Fire Country had been compromised.

"Quick, retreat! Escort the convoy and ensure the hostages' safety. Cut down anyone who obstructs your path," he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. The Kumo Shinobi, while still engaged in skirmishes with Leaf reinforcements, adhered to the directive. The retreat commenced, leaving behind a battlefield strewn with the aftermath of elemental clashes and the lingering echoes of Gai's unyielding assault.

The Kumo commander, though facing the relentless assault of Maito Gai, maintained his composure. He remained determined to hold his ground, buying time for the safe withdrawal of the convoy.

Amidst the intense combat with the Kumo vice commander, Kazuki maintained a keen awareness of the unfolding events outside, using the shadows. Sensing abnormal movements among the enemy Shinobi, he deduced their strategic retreat. With a decisive decision, he disengaged from the clash with the elite Jonin, creating a calculated distance. Retrieving a totem-like item, he plunged it into the ground, setting in motion a series of intricate hand signs. The previously buried sealing tags around the town responded, glowing in unison with the totem.

The Kumo Jonin, recognising the urgency to interrupt Kazuki's technique, fortified his lightning armour and charged forward. Yet, in the midst of his assault, an unexpected force immobilised him, pinning his feet to the ground. Trapped in a fuin technique, he launched various jutsus to break free, succeeding just as an imminent threat drew his attention back to Kazuki.

With a final handsign, a huge barrier encased the whole town. With the barrier now active, Kazuki brandished a blade, signalling his intent to conclude the encounter. Calmly, he announced, "This is something I just started learning, so forgive me if I am clumsy."

"[Ichi no Kata: Boruto Senkō]" (First Form: Volt Flash) Kazuki vanished from Kumo Jonin's perception, leaving only a lingering sense of impending danger. The elite Shinobi, relying on honed instincts, narrowly evaded a potentially fatal strike, sustaining only a light cut on his neck.

"Tch, it seems I need to speed up the attack more," Kazuki remarked casually, undeterred by the close call. Even with restrictions, his opponent had dodged the attack, prompting Kazuki to consider more practice. Dismissing the confrontation, he expressed nonchalance about the ongoing battle.

"You just got lucky. There won't be a next time. I will make sure that you are buried here today," the elite Jonin declared, attempting to regain composure. However, Kazuki's nonchalant demeanour seemed to provoke him to launch a counterattack. To his surprise, he found himself unable to move, paralysed both physically and in the use of his chakra.

A realisation struck Kumo Jonin—he had been poisoned. Panicking, he struggled to understand how such a poison had taken effect so swiftly. Kazuki approached, the shadows from his techniques constricting the immobilised Jonin.

"Poison," the Kumo elite Jonin gasped in disbelief.

"It's impossible; I am an elite Jonin with my current level. Even the poison of the fabled Chiyo of Sand Country will not act so quickly. How and who are you? There hasn't been such a potent poison anywhere before."

The kumo shinobi was completely in shock, because before this, no matter how strong the poison was, he still could retain most of his fighting prowess even under poisoned status, but the opponent in front of him poisoned him with a shallow cut and was able to paralyse an elite jonin like himself within a few seconds. Just when he shared his thoughts, Kazuki had already stepped next to him.

"Ah, so you are not a complete fool after all. You shouldn't have let your guard down," Kazuki remarked, closing in. The Jonin, still in shock, questioned how an elite Shinobi like himself could succumb to such a potent poison. Kazuki explained the nature of the poison, and as Jonin's consciousness faded, Kazuki began the delicate process of modifying his memory.

"I cannot have others know about my true prowess yet, so I need to modify a few things before I take you back to the village. I am sure your head costs a hefty bounty for being an elite Jonin and all."

Following that, Kazuki started altering Jonin's memory with his fuinjutsu arts. Unless Kazuki personally intervened, he was confident that no one else would be able to tell that Kumo Jonin's memory had been tampered with.

Intricately using his fuinjutsu skills, Kazuki altered Kumo Jonin's recollection of the battle. He crafted a narrative in which he captured the elite Shinobi after poisoning him, ensuring that the true extent of Kazuki's abilities remained hidden. As the memory manipulation took effect, Kazuki prepared to take his captive back to the village, his true prowess shrouded in secrecy.

"Now, let's go on a hunt, shall we?" Kazuki thought to himself as he shifted his form to that of the Vice Commander. Ensuring every detail was in order, he meticulously obliterated all traces of the recent battle, reducing the building to ashes.

On the outskirts of the town, the Kumo Shinobi escorting the convoy with the chakra metal encountered a sudden commotion. The Jonin in charge hastened to the front, berating the others for the delay. As he approached, a perplexing sight unfolded: the carts, laden with valuable cargo, were halted by an unseen force—a transparent barrier obstructing their path.

"What the hell is this? Attack the barrier and bring it down! Where are the hostages we need to transport?" The Jonin barked orders, prompting the Kumo Shinobi to assail the enigmatic barrier.

Meanwhile, Might Gai found himself impressed by the efficacy of the medicines Kazuki had provided. Internally acknowledging their effectiveness, Gai continued to keep the Jonin commander and the remaining Kumo forces under relentless pressure. Employing hit-and-run tactics, he exploited his superior speed to target a weaker Kumo ninja. The Leaf reinforcements, numbering around two dozen, strategically divided their forces, with a portion dispatched to attack the bandit camp. The battle unfolded in the Leaf's favour, with Gai's seemingly inexhaustible stamina wearing down the Kumo commander's resolve.

Growing increasingly frustrated and anxious due to the lack of information from the forward team tasked with escorting the shipment, the Kumo commander contemplated drastic measures. His concern escalated when he noticed his deputy and another Kumo Jonin approaching, both visibly battered from a recent clash.

"We were ambushed. There seems to be a barrier surrounding the town; all our troops and the shipment are stuck. We need to resolve this fast. There might be more enemy reinforcements coming," the deputy reported urgently. Without hesitation, the newly arrived combatants joined the fray, and the commander swiftly issued commands to encircle Gai once again.

The Kumo commander, sensing an opportunity, devised a strategy to encircle Gai once more. A trio of Jonin and the deputy coordinated their attacks, attempting to box in the Leaf powerhouse. The commander, confident that this would be the turning point, focused his chakra for a decisive blow.