The samurai quickly retreated and disappeared after his signal.
The Sunagakure ninja, gravely injured, had lost the ability to escape.
As the black smoke cleared, Yagura took some time to locate the enemy before finishing him off.
However, the flare had already been fired.
"Using explosive tags to attack—was the real goal to obscure my vision and force me back, just to buy time to send the signal?"
The water blade in his hand dissipated, mixing with the blood as it vanished.
Looking at the defeated Sunagakure ninja before him, whose very face screamed 'disposable character,' Yagura never expected to fall for such a simple trick.
Something felt off.
These Sunagakure shinobi had been pushovers during the Fourth Great Ninja War and the battle for the One-Tails.
So why were they suddenly so formidable against him?
Initially, he had hoped to interrogate this shinobi for the whereabouts of his teammates.
But now...
Knowing where the others were and launching a surprise attack was one thing.
Alerting them with a flare so they could gather was another.
There was no time to hesitate.
The reinforcements had already arrived.
A high-temperature fireball, scorching the very air around it, came hurtling toward him.
Yagura had intentionally positioned himself in an open area to await the enemy, allowing him to react immediately upon spotting the incoming attack.
He had already gathered intel on Pakura.
Fighting her in a location with obstacles blocking his vision would be suicidal.
Forming hand seals, he raised a Water Wall to intercept the fireball.
A loud sizzle erupted as steam billowed from the impact. Even the briefest exposure to the scalding vapor left his skin red and burned.
This was no ordinary Fire Release—it was Scorch Release, capable of evaporating moisture on contact, leaving nothing but desiccated husks.
Fwoosh—Fwoosh—
More incoming! This time, two fireballs!
Yagura quickly retreated, distancing himself from the steam-shrouded battlefield. The two fireballs tore through the mist, locking onto him.
Serpent—Tiger—Serpent!
His fingers flew through the hand seals in less than a second. Planting his feet, he took a deep breath and unleashed a massive tidal wave.
Water and scorching fire clashed violently, producing an intense hissing as steam exploded outward.
This time, with prior experience, Yagura immediately leapt away from the blinding mist, gripping his water blade tightly, scanning his surroundings for Pakura.
No sign of her.
Pressing his palms together, Yagura considered, Should I use a large-scale Water Release to force her out?
Their brief exchange had already made it clear—Pakura was no fool. Simple fireballs wouldn't be enough to take her down.
A worthy opponent.
Pakura smirked as she descended gracefully from a small hill, landing with feline agility.
Yagura's ears caught the sound, and he immediately turned to face her, staying on high alert.
"So it really is her."
Three fireballs, radiating waves of heat, floated ominously around her.
Pakura of Sunagakure, wielder of Scorch Release.
"Even brats barely out of diapers can be shinobi now?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Is Kirigakure really that desperate for manpower?"
Yagura briefly glanced at the sky above.
A vast stretch of deep blue night.
Damn it! Where are my teammates? Where's the jonin assigned to my squad?!
Gritting his teeth, he shot back,
"Still better than Sunagakure. Aside from you, is there even a second ninja worth mentioning?"
He was frustrated and let it slip.
He forgot—before the Third Great Ninja War, Sunagakure wasn't weak.
Beneath the Third Kazekage, there were still formidable shinobi—Chiyo, Sasori of the Red Sand, and even the future Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
Stronger than Kirigakure at the time.
Pakura chuckled, dismissing his words as ignorant bravado.
Let's end this brat quickly and finish the mission.
Things will get troublesome if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen arrive.
A kunai spun in her grasp before she gripped it tightly.
She was a mid-range combatant, utilizing both kunai and Scorch Release.
Yagura narrowed his eyes, planning his next move.
He couldn't let her close the distance.
He had to keep her at range and use Water Release to suppress her before landing a decisive blow.
After all, he was a Jinchuriki. His chakra reserves were vast. Prolonged fights favored him.
Pakura moved first.
Her speed was astonishing.
Faster than his base speed.
"Lightning Release!"
The kunai sliced through the air but met no resistance.
A flicker.
A shadow afterimage?
Pakura's eyes narrowed. He was fast—fast enough to leave an afterimage?
His quick reactions and powerful Water Release had already impressed her.
But his taijutsu as well?
Her gaze locked onto him in the distance, where he had just escaped.
The faint remnants of Lightning Release chakra crackled in the air.
This brat is no ordinary opponent.
Without hesitation, she surged forward again—this time even faster.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive wave, taller than her, came crashing down.
Combining this with his earlier Water Wall technique, Pakura confirmed a key detail—Yagura specialized in large-scale Water Release.
But conventional Water Release techniques wouldn't stop her.
Three fireballs merged into one, growing to over two meters in diameter, warping the surrounding air with sheer heat.
With a flick of her wrist, the blazing sphere hurtled toward the rushing water.
A tremendous explosion of steam erupted, swallowing the battlefield in an instant.
"Using Scorch Release to counter directly?" Yagura muttered, shielding his face as the searing mist washed over him. His exposed skin burned from the heat.
Fwoosh—Fwoosh—Fwoosh!
Three fireballs burst through the mist, homing in on him.
Predicting this move, Yagura had already formed seals.
A water wall shot up, intercepting the fireballs head-on!
However, two of them veered midair, curving around the wall, aiming straight for him.
A flicker of panic crossed his face.
But in an instant, he channeled Lightning Release into his legs, propelling himself backward and avoiding them just in time.
Emerging from the mist, Pakura closed the distance. "What's wrong? Too scared of my flames?"
Yagura didn't answer.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive dragon, formed of rushing water, surged forth, jaws open wide.
Pakura's eyes widened. Water Dragon Bullet?
He had executed it in only two seconds—far faster than usual.
What terrifying talent.
Her fireballs had been extinguished, and forming new ones required time.
She needed to stall.
Dodging the water dragon, she lured him into attacking repeatedly, subtly guiding his movements.
In truth, he was the one being manipulated.
Damn it, Yagura realized. The gap in combat experience...
"Scorch Release: Overheat Kill!"
A blazing sphere collided with the water dragon, evaporating it instantly.
No water puddles remained. All his previous Water Release techniques had been reduced to vapor.
Yagura clenched his fists. This is bad.
Forming seals, two water clones emerged beside him.
"Time to change the strategy."
Two clones launched Water Dragons, while the third channeled Lightning Release into them.
A trick he had learned from Naruto Uzumaki.
"Lightning-Infused Water Dragon Bullet!"
Thunder crackled through the surging water as the electrified dragons roared toward Pakura!
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo