171-175

Chapter 171: Boil Release

Half a minute earlier, a seven-man team of Iwa ninja were swiftly moving through the forest. Abruptly, Han, their leader, halted, prompting the others to stop as well.

"What's wrong, Han?" one of them inquired.

Han raised a hand for silence, closed his eyes, and focused on the chakra within him. Seconds later, a wisp of crimson chakra emerged, its ominous aura causing the others to step back. The four special Jonin even prepared to use sealing techniques designed to counter the Five-Tails.

However, the crimson chakra vanished as quickly as it appeared. Han reopened his eyes, discreetly glancing at the four who were about to perform hand seals, and said, "Someone was spying on me, angering the one within me."

Ignoring his teammates' reactions, Han activated his Boil Release, raising his chakra to its boiling point. Using the steam to propel his armor, he rapidly moved towards where Seimei was. He had sensed the source of the spying gaze through the Five-Tails' chakra and was now charging towards it.

The other six ninja exchanged glances before following Han. Their mission was not only to assist Han and prevent Seimei and the others from escaping but also to keep a close watch on Han himself. Although Han's condition was stable and he bore no ill will towards the village, he was still a jinchuriki and could not be left unsupervised.

Moments later, Seimei observed the approaching figure enveloped in steam and thought, "So this is Boil Release. Truly formidable!"

He assessed his and Hyuga Hayato's speed and their distance from Han, concluding that they couldn't reach their main force before being caught. There was no point in mindlessly running. He wanted to test Han's strength.

"His speed is too great. I'll stay and delay him. You go back and report this," Seimei told Hyuga Hayato.

Hyuga hesitated but was cut off by Seimei, "Go, don't waste time."

Seeing Seimei's resolve and glancing at the approaching Han, Hyuga reluctantly agreed, "Alright, don't fight him head-on. There are six others behind him. I'll bring reinforcements quickly."

With that, he used the Body Flicker Technique to distance himself.

Seimei cracked his neck and said, "Let me see the power of the Five-Tails jinchuriki!"

He began forming hand seals, his Sharingan spinning rapidly, seemingly preparing to cast a genjutsu.

Han, now less than thirty meters away, lowered his hat to obscure his vision upon seeing this.

Seimei smirked, abandoning the hand seals. He swiftly threw six kunai at Han in two groups.

The first three kunai reached Han before he could react. Unfazed, he raised his right arm to block them. The kunai were deflected with a metallic clang, leaving sparks on his armor.

Seimei's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected the armor to be so tough.

'It seems simple kunai attacks won't work... Good thing I was prepared!'

Three nearly invisible wires appeared in his hands. He channeled chakra through them, controlling the second group of kunai.

Han was puzzled as the kunai flew past him. But his expression changed in the next moment.

The three kunai crossed behind him, then crossed again, and finally tightened, trapping him. He wasn't worried about the wires harming his armor, but Seimei was already forming hand seals for a jutsu.

Without hesitation, Han activated Boil Release, releasing a surge of chakra. The steam expanded his armor, creating gaps between it and the wires. He then stopped the chakra flow, causing the armor to shrink back.

Seizing the opportunity, Han used the Substitution Jutsu, replacing himself with a rock and escaping the wire trap.

Just as he escaped, Seimei unleashed his jutsu: Fire Style - Dragon Fire Technique!

Three fire streams raced along the wires, engulfing Han.

However, Seimei stopped the jutsu almost immediately.

A whooshing sound came from the side, followed by a sharp gust of wind. A large, red figure charged towards Seimei with terrifying force.

If the attack landed, Seimei could be killed.

But was that possible?

Seimei had locked onto Han's movements the moment he used the Substitution Jutsu. He wouldn't be caught off guard.

He swiftly jumped back, leaving only an afterimage for Han to crash into.

As Han passed by, Seimei drew his short sword. His Sharingan spun, targeting a gap in the armor. He thrust the sword.

If it hit, Han would be severely injured, if not killed.

Sensing the danger, Han instinctively used Boil Release, ejecting a large amount of chakra from his armor's gaps.

Hissing steam rushed towards Seimei's face.

Seimei's face paled. He couldn't withstand it. He quickly retracted his sword and jumped back.

Even so, he was still partially hit by the high-temperature steam, causing blisters to form on his face and arms.

Feeling the burning sensation, Seimei frowned. Han was more difficult than he anticipated.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 172: Pursuit and Evasion

Although he successfully forced Seimei back, Han didn't continue his attack. Instead, he stopped about ten meters away, watching Seimei with vigilance. Both the previous surprise attack with kunai and jutsu, and the precise sword strike just now, had made him feel threatened. He didn't dare to act rashly.

Now, he just wanted to wait for his other six teammates to arrive before taking down Seimei together. Unlike many jinchuriki, Han was cautious despite his strength. When he realized the potential danger of facing Seimei alone, he opted for a more conservative approach - waiting for backup.

However, while Han could afford to delay, Seimei couldn't.

His Sharingan's pupils shifted slightly as he glanced into the distance. The other six Iwa ninja were rapidly approaching along the path Han had cleared.

Although confident in his abilities, Seimei couldn't face seven Jonin simultaneously, especially with a jinchuriki among them.

'I need to retreat first!' he thought, pushing off the ground and swiftly moving backward.

Han immediately gave chase. He was cautious but not cowardly. Seeing Seimei flee, he naturally pursued.

His red armor, enveloped in steam, seemed even brighter under the high temperature. His speed increased, closing the distance between him and Seimei.

Just as he was about to be caught, Seimei suddenly turned and formed hand seals. A powerful mental pressure emanated from his Sharingan, sweeping across the area.

"What?" Han's pupils constricted. He felt an overwhelming pressure from Seimei's Sharingan. He had fought Uchiha Jonin before, but their Three-Tomoe Sharingan hadn't given him such pressure. What was going on with this kid?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he couldn't find an answer.

'Forget it,' he thought, lowering his hat to block his vision and avoid eye contact with Seimei.

This was the opportunity Seimei was waiting for. The moment Han's vision was obscured, he changed his hand seals, switching from the planned Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique to Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.

Anyone familiar with these techniques would find this impossible. They were completely different, and a seamless transition shouldn't be possible.

Indeed, it was impossible for most people.

But Seimei was different. He had mastered the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique to Lv5 (0/0), allowing him to control it freely. He had also trained the Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu to Lv4, and his Chakra Control was at Lv4. Combined with his understanding of Fire Style from the mastered Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, he achieved the impossible - a seamless hand seal transition.

As a result, his Fireball Jutsu was incredibly sudden.

By the time Han realized something was wrong, a massive fireball, three meters in diameter, was already upon him.

Feeling the intense heat, Han knew he couldn't withstand it.

At the critical moment, he roared, ejecting a large amount of high-temperature steam from his armor's gaps. Using the steam's recoil, he moved several meters sideways, narrowly avoiding the fireball.

Seeing the attack about to miss, Seimei immediately detonated the fireball.

A terrifying explosion and shockwave hit Han from behind, sending him flying and crashing to the ground.

He quickly got up, seemingly unharmed. Even the intense flames were blocked by his steam armor.

Seimei wasn't surprised. The armor could withstand high-temperature steam, so blocking the Fireball Jutsu wasn't unexpected.

Glancing at the approaching Iwa ninja, Seimei knew he couldn't stay any longer.

He threw several kunai with explosive tags at Han and continued to flee.

The kunai seemed randomly thrown, but they weren't. With his Sharingan's keen eyesight, he aimed them at Han's vulnerable spots, hindering his pursuit.

Loud explosions erupted behind him, followed by the whooshing sound of Han's steam-accelerated movement.

Seimei used the sound to gauge Han's position. Whenever Han got close, he would turn and attack, always starting with genjutsu.

This forced Han to block his vision.

And once Han did that, Seimei would change tactics, switching to ninjutsu, throwing tools, or setting traps. He used various methods to prevent Han from getting close.

Han, wary of Seimei's Sharingan, fell for his tricks every time. Despite his strength, he couldn't utilize it effectively and was led by Seimei.

He had considered fighting back, but whenever he felt the pressure from Seimei's Sharingan, he would instinctively avoid eye contact. His intuition told him that falling for a genjutsu would be disastrous.

Moreover, the Five-Tails also seemed wary of Seimei's Sharingan, making him even more hesitant.

Thus, the two continued their chase through the forest, heading towards the main Konoha force.

The six Iwa ninja behind them, seeing the stalemate, didn't rush to assist. They maintained a leisurely pace.

At first, Seimei didn't understand their intention, but after some thought, he realized they were trying to follow him to locate the Konoha main force.

Upon realizing this, Seimei ignored them. Their presence confirmed his suspicions about the spy and the possibility of it being an Iwa ninja.

The main force's location was no longer a secret; it was just a matter of time before the Iwa ninja received the updated information.

So, let them follow. It only meant they would discover the location a bit earlier.

Perhaps they could even use this opportunity to eliminate these six.

However, Seimei seemed to have forgotten one thing: there were also Iwa pursuers behind them.

This was bound to affect his plans.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 173: The News

While Seimei and Han were engaged in their battle of wits, Hyuga Hayato rushed back to the main Konoha force. Upon his return, he noticed something unusual. The troops had stopped, everyone standing alert, which gave him a sense of foreboding.

However, he didn't dwell on it. Seimei's situation was urgent, and there was no time to waste. He immediately sought out Nara Shikamaru, who was discussing something with several other Konoha Jonin, their expressions serious. Clearly, they were dealing with a difficult matter.

Hyuga Hayato approached them directly.

Seeing him, Nara Shikamaru and the others stopped their conversation. Hyuga Aoyama, from the same clan as Linghuo, spoke, "Linghuo, weren't you scouting ahead? Why are you back?"

"Something happened!" Hyuga Hayato said, panting heavily.

Hearing those words, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. "What happened?" they asked urgently.

After catching his breath, Hyuga Hayato quickly explained, "A few minutes ago, Seimei and I encountered an Iwa ninja team while scouting."

"An Iwa ninja team?" they exchanged glances. "How many? What's their strength?"

"Seven, all Jonin. Four are slightly weaker, two are stronger, and one is the Five-Tails jinchuriki - Han!" Hyuga Hayato replied decisively.

"What?"

Just like Seimei earlier, they couldn't believe their ears. They hadn't expected the Five-Tails jinchuriki to appear.

Nara Shikamaru was the first to regain his composure. "Where's Seimei?" he asked.

"The Five-Tails jinchuriki detected me when I used my Byakugan. Seimei is engaging them. We need to provide support quickly," Hyuga Hayato answered.

However, Nara Shikamaru didn't immediately agree. He pondered the situation, considering the possibilities and strategies.

Hyuga Hayato grew anxious. "Is there a problem?" he asked. Shouldn't they send a Jonin team for support and try to eliminate the Iwa team? He didn't understand Nara Shikamaru's hesitation.

Hyuga Aoyama told him to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, Hyuga Hayato asked, "Did something happen here?"

He realized that something must have gone wrong with the main force, otherwise, the atmosphere wouldn't be so tense, and Nara Shikamaru wouldn't hesitate.

Hyuga Aoyama confirmed his suspicion, "Not long ago, our reconnaissance teams in other directions also discovered Iwa ninja."

"In multiple directions?" Hyuga Hayato gasped.

"Yes," Hyuga Aoyama nodded. "There are quite a few enemies. They've practically surrounded us."

"Is it because of the hidden enemy?" Hyuga Hayato inquired.

Seimei had relayed the meeting's details to him earlier, so he immediately thought of the potential spy upon hearing about the encirclement.

Without the spy's intel, it would take the Iwa ninja a few more hours, until noon, to reach their previous location, the small town where they rested last night. Finding their current position would take even longer, at least until mid-afternoon.

Yet, they were already surrounded, indicating that the enemy hadn't wasted any time searching along the way. They must have known their exact location to achieve this so quickly.

Hyuga Aoyama's next words confirmed his guess.

"It's that guy," he said.

"That guy? You found him?" Hyuga Hayato asked.

"Yes," Hyuga Aoyama nodded. "He appeared briefly, and I saw him with my Byakugan. But he was too far away, and by the time we got there, he had already escaped."

"Escaped?" Hyuga Hayato frowned.

"Yes," Hyuga Aoyama sighed. "Anyway, he's not important now. The pressing issue is the Iwa ninja forming the encirclement."

"How far are they from us?" Hyuga Hayato asked.

"Four to five kilometers," Hyuga Aoyama replied.

Another person remarked, "Fortunately, we were prepared and positioned our reconnaissance teams five kilometers out. Otherwise, we would have been caught off guard."

Everyone imagined the scenario. If they hadn't expanded their reconnaissance range, they wouldn't have discovered the Iwa encirclement in advance. Upon hearing Hyuga Hayato's report, they might have immediately sent out many Jonin to engage the Iwa team. If the enemy held out long enough for the encirclement to tighten, they would indeed be caught off guard, leaving no time to strategize.

Thinking of strategies, everyone looked at Nara Shikamaru.

He had finished pondering and spoke directly, "Tell all combat team members to support Seimei immediately."

"Yes," Yamanaka Tokikaze responded without hesitation. He formed hand seals, closed his eyes, and used the Yamanaka clan's secret technique - Mind Transmission.

In less than half a minute, he relayed Nara Shikamaru's orders to all combat team members, along with Seimei's location and enemy information.

When he opened his eyes, someone asked, "What about the Iwa ninja on the perimeter?"

"Ignore them," Nara Shikamaru replied.

"Ignore them?" several voices echoed in confusion.

"Yes, ignore them," Nara Shikamaru affirmed. "We'll head towards the Tiger Mountain camp with all our might. As long as the combat team can hold off that Iwa team, we can break through the encirclement before it closes in enough to threaten us."

"Is there enough time?" someone asked.

"Yes," Nara Shikamaru replied confidently.

"What then?" another person asked. "What if the Iwa ninja continue to pursue us?"

"Based on my calculations, they shouldn't be able to catch up," Nara Shikamaru answered. "At least not before we rendezvous with the reinforcements from Tiger Mountain camp."

His confident tone was convincing.

Everyone stopped talking and began carrying out their tasks according to the orders.

That's all for today.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 174: Entanglement

As Seimei was running through the forest, Yamanaka Tokikaze's voice suddenly appeared in his mind. After listening carefully for a moment, he understood Nara Shikamaru's plan.

Without revealing his intentions, he led Han and the six Iwa ninja in another direction.

A few minutes later, Seimei entered a dense forest, with Han close behind.

Suddenly, multiple attacks came from both sides - ninjutsu, ninja tools, and explosive tags.

A strong sense of crisis overwhelmed Han. His instincts screamed danger, and without hesitation, he opened a gap in the Five-Tails' seal.

Dark red chakra surged out, forming an ominous protective layer around him.

Seimei immediately recognized it as the Tailed Beast Cloak.

All the attacks were blocked by the chakra layer.

However, Han wasn't completely unaffected. The attacks caused the illusory tail behind him to solidify, resembling a real tail. The savage aura around him also intensified.

Unlike Naruto, who would lose control, Han's eyes, though turning crimson and filled with beastly rage, retained a degree of rationality. He could still think and judge.

As the attacks ceased, he immediately scanned the forest, pinpointing a Konoha Jonin's hiding spot. He charged towards it like a bull.

The ambush was indeed carried out by the Konoha combat team. A few minutes ago, they had instructed Yamanaka Tokikaze to inform Seimei to lure the enemies here. Seimei had expected a bigger commotion, but this was it?

He felt a bit speechless.

In fact, Seimei was being a bit unfair to them. These Jonin, though skilled, hadn't truly fought a jinchuriki before and were unfamiliar with their abilities.

Moreover, Han reacted swiftly and decisively, immediately releasing part of the seal and forming the Tailed Beast Cloak.

This made their attacks seem weak.

If the target had been any of the other six Iwa ninja, they wouldn't have survived this ambush.

It was just a matter of fate.

...

A loud explosion echoed.

The targeted Jonin dodged and left an explosive tag behind. Han, charging forward, was caught in the blast.

However, with the Tailed Beast Cloak's protection, the damage was negligible.

Han emerged from the flames like a runaway train, targeting the Konoha Jonin and charging relentlessly.

A horn faintly appeared on his forehead.

Seimei knew it was the horn of the Five-Tails, Kokuo, manifested through chakra.

Han's fighting style seemed reckless and chaotic, but it was actually perfect for the Five-Tails and its jinchuriki.

With Boil Release for steam-powered acceleration, an indestructible horn, and the Tailed Beast Cloak's defense, he could easily overpower his opponents.

He didn't need any other tactics; just keep charging.

Most ninja were fragile. If they were hit, or even grazed, by him, they would be severely injured.

So, Han's choice was correct.

The Jonin who had initiated the ambush were quickly forced out by Han's relentless charges. They could only evade and flee, their situation dire.

Once Seimei confirmed they were not in immediate danger, he turned his attention to the six Iwa Jonin who had finally arrived.

The other Konoha Jonin who weren't being chased by Han also appeared, following Seimei's gaze towards the newcomers.

Without any words, both sides engaged in combat.

Seimei's goal was to stall these Iwa ninja, preventing them from interfering with the main force's retreat.

The Iwa ninja's goal was also to stall Seimei and the others, buying time for the outer Iwa ninja to tighten the encirclement.

With similar objectives, neither side wasted time on words and immediately started fighting.

However, the Iwa ninja's reactions showed they still believed Konoha was unaware of the outer encirclement. Otherwise, they wouldn't be entangled here and would try to disengage and stop the main force's retreat.

Considering the hidden enemy, Seimei knew the news of the main force's retreat couldn't be concealed for long.

Once these Iwa ninja learned about it, they would definitely try to break free and delay the retreat.

Therefore, he had to kill as many of them as possible before they got the news.

Only then could he reduce the pressure later on.

With this in mind, Seimei signaled to his teammates, asking them to engage five of the enemies and leave one special Jonin to him.

His teammates understood immediately and left the youngest-looking special Jonin for him.

Seimei wasted no time and charged towards the Iwa ninja.

The battle erupted instantly. With his sharp swordsmanship and Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Seimei easily suppressed his opponent.

He had assumed that anyone accompanying Han on a mission, even a special Jonin, would be quite strong.

But he was wrong.

This special Jonin was weaker than average. Within a dozen exchanges, Seimei had gained the upper hand.

The reason was simple. The primary duty of this special Jonin, and the other three in the Iwa team, wasn't combat. It was to work together to reseal the Five-Tails if Han lost control.

Seimei was unaware of this, so he naturally assumed Han's teammates would be strong.

The reality was the opposite.

But it didn't matter.

Since his opponent was weak, he wouldn't hold back.

In the ensuing fight, Seimei went all out, utilizing various techniques.

He quickly seized an opportunity and used the nearly instantaneous Genjutsu: Sharingan to briefly control the special Jonin.

The other Iwa ninja tried to rescue their comrade but were blocked by the Konoha Jonin.

Seizing the chance, Seimei thrust his sword, piercing the Iwa ninja's heart.

Blood spurted out.

The young special Jonin looked at Seimei, his Sharingan glowing crimson, and opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But no words came out.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 175: The Reveal

Tsk

With an emotionless face, Seimei pulled out his short sword. The Iwa ninja in front of him lost his support and collapsed, clutching his chest. After struggling for a moment, he breathed his last.

Without pausing, Seimei scanned the battlefield and used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside another Iwa special Jonin.

This time, with the help of his Konoha comrades, it took even less time for Seimei to find an opening.

The moment their eyes met, Seimei cast the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique, immobilizing his opponent.

Seizing the opportunity, the Konoha Jonin pierced the Iwa ninja's heart with his kunai.

As the Iwa ninja fell, Seimei nodded at his comrade and they each rushed towards a different Iwa ninja.

His teammate's target was one of the two true Iwa Jonin, whose strength was evident as he had already gained the upper hand against the Konoha Jonin in just two minutes. Seimei's teammate went to assist in resisting this Jonin's attacks.

Seimei's target was simple: another Iwa special Jonin. He believed in picking the easier fights.

His plan was to eliminate the weaker Iwa ninja first, then focus their combined strength on the two powerful Jonin.

As for Han...

He was currently being held back by several Konoha Jonin and could be dealt with later.

But things didn't go as smoothly as he had imagined.

Just as he killed the third Iwa special Jonin and was about to attack the fourth, a subtle tremor came from beneath his feet.

At first, Seimei thought someone was secretly using an Earth Style jutsu.

However, as he jumped onto a nearby tree branch, a strange creature emerged from where he had been standing.

It was two meters long, with three pairs of sharp legs and scales covering its entire body. It was Koharu Shuji's summoning beast, Chika.

Of course, Seimei didn't know this.

He only saw its agile, earthy yellow eyes lock onto him and its mouth open wide.

A powerful suction force pulled at him, as if the creature was trying to swallow him whole.

Seimei focused chakra on his feet to stabilize himself, then formed the Ram hand seal and used the Body Flicker Technique to escape.

As he moved, he threw a kunai at the creature below.

This wasn't an ordinary kunai. It had an explosive tag wrapped around its handle, which Seimei activated as he threw it.

Sensing danger, Chika closed its mouth and dodged the kunai, using its thick-scaled tail to shield its head.

Clang

The kunai hit the tail, making a crisp sound but causing no damage.

But in the next moment, a loud explosion erupted.

The explosive tag detonated, engulfing half of the creature's body in flames.

Chika let out a painful scream.

It thrashed around wildly, its six sharp legs leaving countless scratches on the ground and tree trunks.

Clearly, despite its seemingly peaceful appearance, it was quite aggressive.

A few moments later, the flames died down, and Chika stopped screaming.

Its scales were charred black. Although not fatal, it was severely injured.

Despite this, Chika still remembered Koharu Shuji's orders. It scanned the area and quickly approached an Iwa Jonin.

Then, it opened its mouth and spat out a figure.

It was Koharu Shuji.

The moment Seimei saw him, many things clicked into place. He guessed that Koharu Shuji was likely the one who had been spying on them.

Sure enough, Koharu Shuji's first words confirmed his suspicion.

"The Konoha ninja are running! They're stalling for time!" he shouted to the Iwa Jonin.

All the Iwa ninja were stunned, including Han, the Five-Tails jinchuriki, who was fighting the Konoha Jonin.

He charged forward, crashing through trees, and stopped in front of Koharu Shuji. "What's going on? Explain yourself!" he demanded in a deep voice.

"Gulp."

Koharu Shuji swallowed nervously, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from Han.

He suppressed his fear and quickly explained, "The Konoha ninja discovered our encirclement plan in advance. They're now trying to break through. These guys are just trying to hold you here so their main force can escape."

"Which direction?" Han asked without wasting any words.

Koharu Shuji pointed in the direction the Konoha main force had left.

Once Han confirmed the direction, he didn't hesitate. Steam surged around him, and he charged forward like a locomotive.

Several Konoha Jonin tried to stop him, but he ignored their attacks, both ninjutsu and ninja tools.

With the Tailed Beast Cloak, he wasn't afraid of such hastily launched attacks.

One Konoha Jonin had to risk standing in his path and used the B-rank jutsu: Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall.

However, Han's tail split into two, and the horn on his forehead solidified further. With a loud crash, he slammed into the earth wall.

The wall collapsed almost instantly, and even the Konoha Jonin who had cast it was sent flying, his fate unknown.

Seeing this, the other Konoha Jonin were stunned. No one dared to stand in Han's way anymore. They could only harass him from the sides.

Thanks to their considerable strength and diverse ninjutsu, they could somewhat limit Han's speed. Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to keep up, let alone harass him.

Watching Han gradually disappear, the remaining three Iwa ninja exchanged glances, quickly broke free from the Konoha ninja, and gave chase.

The Konoha ninja naturally wouldn't let them go easily.

So both sides fought and chased, soon vanishing from sight.

Only Seimei and Koharu Shuji were left at the scene.

Oh, and the Konoha ninja whose fate was unknown.

It wasn't that Seimei didn't want to leave, but after informing his comrades, Koharu Shuji stared intently at Seimei, seemingly ready for a one-on-one duel.

Coincidentally, Seimei also wanted revenge, so he stayed.

(End of Chapter)