When he saw people approaching, the masked jonin knew it was no longer possible to complete the kill. Just as he was preparing to retreat...
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
In an instant, over a hundred shadow clones surrounded him...
"..."
MMP, these Uzu-nin clearly had no intention of letting him leave.
The masked jonin raised his kunai, warily watching the encircling ninja. With a backflip, he leaped into the air. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Poof! Poof!"
A small number of shadow clones were dispelled...
Uzumaki Kai and Uzumaki Mashin paid no attention. Their real bodies hid among the shadow clones, continuously releasing ninjutsu and throwing kunai. No matter what, this Konoha ANBU ninja was definitely going to die!
But...
"Dammit, there's movement!!"
Uzumaki Kai heard footsteps approaching from not far away and said to Uzumaki Mashin, "Hurry up and finish this. The Konoha ninja are almost here."
"Got it!" Uzumaki Mashin nodded, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at the masked jonin.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
The Uzumaki Clan wasn't just proficient in wind release...
The masked jonin used a Body Flicker Technique to dodge the wind release, but behind him, Uzumaki Kai's kunai came stabbing toward him. He tried to twist midair to evade, but...
"Slash—!"
A kunai still pierced his right arm. His expression was unreadable... well, with the mask on, Kai and Mashin couldn't see his face anyway. But they knew this jonin was starting to tire...
The masked jonin panted heavily. He knew that unless something unexpected happened, he was done for. Without a word, he continued throwing kunai and ninjutsu.
But...
"Dammit!! It's the ANBU!" A Konoha ninja saw the ninja fighting the Uzu-nin in the distance—mask, black bodysuit—this was the ANBU uniform!
"No, not ANBU!" Nara Shikazo internally rejected the idea. The Third Hokage would absolutely never order an attack on Uzu-nin at this time. In fact...
If nothing unexpected happened, the Third would never start a war during peacetime...
Especially since among them was an important figure from Uzushiogakure—Uzumaki Jun!
If anything happened, it would be a fight to the death. Moreover...
Lady Mito was still alive. The Third Hokage would never dare to risk universal condemnation by attacking Uzu-nin. So there was only one possibility!!
Root!!
The Root hiding in Konoha's shadows!!
The only question was whether this was the Third Hokage's decision or...
"Save him," Nara Shikazo said solemnly. "Just rescue him. Don't engage the Uzu-nin in conflict."
But now, no matter what, as Konoha ninja, they couldn't just stand by and watch one of their own be killed. So...
"Speed up!!"
He could see that this Root ninja was on his last legs.
...
Uzumaki Kai and Uzumaki Mashin were also tense!
MMP, why were these Konoha ninja so fast at the worst possible moment? But...
Did they think they could save him??
No way!
"Finish this quickly. Ignore the Konoha ninja!" Uzumaki Kai said.
"Understood!" Uzumaki Mashin replied, his hands never stopping as he unleashed ninjutsu and kunai.
Uzumaki Kai did the same, relentlessly attacking the masked jonin. He could tell this jonin was about to collapse!
So...
"Now's the time!"
Seeing the masked jonin's dodging slow down, Uzumaki Kai knew this was the moment to kill him. As for the Konoha ninja closing in behind them...
Too bad!!
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
Uzumaki Kai and Uzumaki Mashin simultaneously unleashed an A-rank wind release ninjutsu!
"Stop!!" Seeing the Uzu-nin going for the kill, Nara Shikazo roared. MMP, they were so close!!
But now...
It was too late!!
Because no one listened to him!
"Thud!!"
Blood sprayed as the Root jonin collapsed!
"..."
The Konoha ninja froze at the sight, then glared furiously at the Uzu-nin. How dare they kill a Konoha ninja right in front of them? Did they think Konoha was a joke?
Did Uzushiogakure want to start a war?
"You..." Nara Shikazo forced himself to calm down, his eyes icy as he stared at them.
Uzumaki Mashin raised his kunai, ready for a fight with the Konoha ninja. But then...
Uzumaki Kai put away his kunai and smiled, cutting off Nara Shikazo. "Don't be hasty. Konoha is here to help!"
"..."
The Konoha ninja and Uzumaki Mashin were stunned. Had they misheard?
Especially Uzumaki Mashin—he couldn't believe it. Either he was hearing things, or Kai-sama had lost his mind. Otherwise...
Hadn't they just killed a Konoha ANBU member?
He, Uzumaki Mashin, had carried out missions in Konoha and seen the big leagues. There was no way he was mistaken. He gave Kai-sama a suspicious look, as if to say, Don't lie to me!
The Konoha ninja snapped out of their daze. Hearing the Uzu-nin say they were here to help, they grew furious. MMP, they killed a Konoha ANBU member right in front of them and then said Konoha was here to help? Was this...
Mockery?
But Uzumaki Kai ignored them and cheerfully continued, "No need to thank us. We just helped you deal with a rogue ninja in the Land of Fire."
"Honestly, the security in the Land of Fire is terrible! How could rogue ninja be allowed to slaughter civilians?"
"Come, come!" Uzumaki Kai ignored the scowling Konoha ninja and waved the children over. "Look, this is just brutal. Even children weren't spared!"
"If we hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would've been unthinkable!"
"..."
The Konoha ninja fell silent. Were all Uzu-nin this shameless? Couldn't they tell this was a Konoha ANBU uniform?
Don't joke around!!
But...
The children in front of them, looking at them with fear...
"Ah, yes!" Nara Shikazo's expression instantly shifted to a smile. "This ninja has been on Konoha's wanted list for a long time. We never expected you to catch him. You've done us a huge favor!"
Now was not the time to pick a fight with Uzushiogakure.
And...
This was a Root ninja. Nara Shikazo was pro-Hokage. It was best not to make a big deal out of this. Everything needed to be discussed with the Hokage first.
"Oh, so he was a wanted criminal?" Uzumaki Kai smiled. "Then the bounty..."
"..."
Hearing this, Nara Shikazo's face darkened. MMP, since when were Uzu-nin this brazen? Weren't they supposed to be straightforward... pure and kind?
But now...
"It'll be delivered shortly," Nara Shikazo said with a forced smile, though inwardly, his heart was bleeding. "I wonder... if the Hokage will reimburse this?"
Uzumaki Kai nodded and added after a moment, "Oh, you might want to prepare a bit more."
By now, Jun-sama should have taken care of things, right?
Just a few jonin—no big deal for Jun-sama!
"..."
Nara Shikazo frowned. What did that mean? Extortion?
"Because there are more up ahead, probably accomplices. Jun-sama is dealing with them now," Uzumaki Kai said casually.
"..."
WTF??