Chapter 38

"Futon: Daitoppa!" I exhaled sharply, pouring as much chakra as possible into the technique, followed by three fiery orbs.

I recently acquired this technique from a shinobi who returned from Suna. A couple of weeks of training in the team, and we manage to pull off combinations at the level of A-rank techniques. Not bad for recent academy graduates! Of course, I can push myself to A-rank as well, but my predisposition isn't quite suited for such large-scale attacks. Perhaps Katon suits me better than all the others. And while I had to work hard to master techniques of unfamiliar elements, the result is definitely worth it, and I can't complain about a bit of chakra depletion.

The resulting wall of fire roared as it rolled toward the camp, unsettling the bandits, and we ran after it, carefully ignoring the brief cries of pain from those caught in the technique. Despite the intense heat that effortlessly turned the grass underfoot to ash, some unfortunate souls were still alive—if one could call them that—charred to blackened stumps, needing our mercy.

The horrific smell of burnt flesh only increased our desire to distance ourselves from its source and the persistent need to empty our stomachs. Ishi did just that, taking a few steps back from us after his kunai ended the suffering of yet another charred individual. Glancing approvingly at Tsume's resolute stance, I almost wanted to praise her, but I had to abandon that intention as impending trouble became palpable.

Despite the enormous amount of chakra used, I sensed the death of the second genin and a short, powerful surge, indicating the creation of a technique near the center of the camp where we were approaching.

Damn it! A huge wave of water, rising from the other side of the wall of fire, crashed into our joint technique. After a couple of seconds of deafening hissing and steam clouds, they mutually annihilated each other, forcing us to halt.

"What the hell!?" exclaimed Rotaro, who had rushed up.

Indeed, a chunin wouldn't whip up such a technique in a matter of moments. Without wasting time, I formed the hand seals and took a deep breath.

"Futon: Daitoppa!"

The cloud of steam was successfully blown away from us, generating a chorus of cries of pain and rage. Afterward, we beheld a scene: half-burned camp, ordinary bandits rolling on the ground with screams, thoroughly scalded, and three(!) figures of enemy shinobi, also affected by the steam but unlike the rest, with only slightly reddened skin. A bit further back, another missing-nin rose from the ground, pressing his palms to the right side of his face.

In total, four men, with two bearing Kirigakure headbands, one from Iwa, and one from Konoha. Naturally, all crossed out. And if the latter two were on the level of chunin in terms of chakra volume, then the Mist fellows could pass for full-fledged jonin. I think the question of who created the Suiton technique so quickly is immediately moot. Feeling the seriousness of the situation, Hyuga appeared from behind, followed by ANBU in fox masks, stopping slightly to the side of us.

"Well, well, Konoha rats have come, what a surprise," casually patted the tallest nuke-nin, whose face was intersected by a jagged scar running from forehead to chin, dangerously close to his left eye, with indentations on his lips. "I didn't think amidst a multi-front war, you'd still have enough strength left to clear bandits across the country."

"I don't think we should fear a team of genin and one mask-wearer, Aniki," calmly remarked the second, drawing a massive sword from his back, "while this unexpected attack did some damage, they won't withstand the four of us."

"Oh really? However, numerical advantage isn't exactly on your side," intervened the instructor, carefully surveying the opponents with activated Byakugan.

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