Ambush

"Let's return to the outpost", Kaito ordered to his teammates.

Koji nodded. He had consumed a lot of chakra from the earlier fight, and although Akame was faring quite well in comparison, Kaito's words had proven very wise over the years. They knew that their growth rate was above average, and this could be attributed to Kaito mostly. Back in the academy, they were pretty bad after all.

However, Kaito accepted them, acknowledged them and trained them. 

"Wait...", Akame said in a low voice, "It seems like we attracted unwanted attention"

Kaito's eyes widened.

[Level 10 Kusagakure Genin]

[Level 13 Kusagakure Genin]

[Level 8 Kusagakure Genin]

[Level 16 Kusagakure Genin]

[Level 12 Kusagakure Genin]

Five genins had gathered at the scene. It seemed like a whole squadron of the Kuagakure genin corps was involved in this mission and came to help. Unlike Kusagakure, however, Kaito knew that he could only count on himself and his teammates. After all, the land of the wind was very big, and they were quite far from the Sunagakure outpost due to their chase of Kusagakure shinobi. They were almost at the border.

Kaito did not hesitate and unleashed his strongest genjutsu

Demon Plant Illusion. It was the only C-rank genjutsu he had mastered, and he had spent quite a lot of EXP to unlock this skill. It was his trump card, that even chunin would fall into. Although it was not as effective as [Sand Dream], which allowed him to blind his opponents with a fake sandstorm illusion, the Demon Plant illusion summoned a fake demon plant that was of chunin-level.

There were various ways to break off from a genjutsu, the easiest one being to inflict pain on oneself.

However, the strength of this genjutsu was that it was very realistic and difficult to break from. Regular injuries would not suffice to break from it, so those trapped by it would have to be very determined, even if they knew that it was fake.

Kaito moved forward with his kunai and charged. 

*SPLASH*

Slitting the throats of two genins in an instant, Kaito then hissed as a sword almost cut his throat. Barely managing to block the strike with his lightning-enhanced kunai, he fell on the ground.

Koji immediately went to help him, controlling his swordsman puppet to confront the level 16 genin specializing in kojutsu. However, the difference between a puppet and a swordsman was quite evident. Koji was strong, and he was actually the highest level in the team. However, his strength resided in fending off weaker enemies, rather than strong individuals. 

Despite being the most experienced, one year older than his teammates, Koji was actually the weakest in duels. His poison and and puppets made him a good support, but the main striking force resided in Akame, rather than Kaito or Koji. 

This bought enough time for Akame to finish off the other genins who were fighting against the illusion in the air, wasting their chakra, and getting killed, oblivious to the fact that they were trapped in a genjutsu.

*CRUNCH*

Seeing that the puppet was getting crushed, Kaito smiled and used [Sand Dream]. For a second, the enemy genin retreated, and was surprised. It was the only window Kaito needed to finish him off.

*SPLASH*

Kaito plunged his kunai through the shinobi's heart.;

The genin collapsed on the ground: "Monsters..."

Kaito looked at his bleeding wounds and sighed: "We need to get out as soon as possible to report their activities !"

In three years of patrolling, this was the first time they encountered so many genins at one spot. This was bound to mean something. Before leaving, Kaito took the kusagakure level 16 sword with satisfaction.

[Two-handed Grass Iron Katana - C-rank

Effects: +5 Strength, +5 Agility, +10 Proficiency in sword-related skills]

It was his first C-rank artefact.