The hunt continued.
After sending a Grand Fireball at the three naive Iwa ninjas, Team Minato set off again.
Their goal still wasn't the tower.
Not only did Yuto Souta need to farm research points, but the tower right now wouldn't be safe anyway.
There were bound to be some self-assured types planning to camp there...
It was a smart strategy—less running around, and once they snatched a scroll, they could leave without much hassle.
The trio sped through the forest.
Yuto Souta suddenly furrowed his brow and shot a glance at the other two.
After passing a large tree, their direction shifted seamlessly, as if it were the most natural thing.
Just like the Iwa team earlier, Yuto Souta—the least combat-capable of the group—was instinctively guarded in the middle.
Their speed didn't falter.
But their eyes now carried a hint of wariness.
Someone was tailing them.
And judging by the tracking speed, they weren't weak.
Yuto Souta's frown deepened.
Being followed like this felt awful... like the tension of sneaking math homework during a literature class, afraid of getting caught.
The kicker was, while his stamina was decent, his speed and physical coordination had always been his weak points.
No athletic talent—a scientist's hard limit...
The trio couldn't shake their pursuer.
But running wasn't their style anyway.
At another suitable tree with branches sturdy enough to bear the weight of three charging teens, Yuto Souta suddenly roared!
"Obito! Three o'clock!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Claw Crimson!"
If they couldn't escape, they'd crush the tracker!
Uchiha Obito didn't hesitate, spinning midair and unleashing a barrage of over a dozen shuriken in an instant!
Meanwhile, Yuto Souta activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
He couldn't pull off such flashy moves or throw shuriken that elegantly.
Stepping onto the branch, he steadied himself, turned, and prepared his hand signs, his Sharingan locking onto the enemy's position and the shuriken's trajectories.
Countless fireballs erupted forth!
Before earning the chunin title, he planned to test and level up each of his newly acquired ninjutsu.
The Fire Release bundle, Water Release bundle, and Earth Release bundle.
He'd decide which to keep or ditch based on chakra cost and utility—after all, ninjutsu power was never about quantity...
The fireballs met the shuriken.
The already high-speed shuriken spun even faster. This technique, not part of the ninjutsu bundle, was something Yuto Souta had improvised using Uchiha Obito's "standard Uchiha shuriken skills."
"Wind Release: Gale Dance!"
A cool, clear voice rang out, accompanied by gusts of wind that deflected the spinning flames, revealing the pursuer.
Three Sand ninjas—and ones Yuto Souta had seen before.
Pakura's team.
Pakura, wielder of Scorch Release, was clearly the leader. It was she who'd used that Wind Release to block Yuto Souta's pseudo-Phoenix Sage Claw Crimson.
Though her defense didn't seem all that effective.
The trio's sudden halt and ninjutsu hadn't given her much time to react, and Yuto Souta's ninjutsu... packed a punch.
"Not bad for an Uchiha brat."
Pakura said, casually brushing off her waist where Yuto Souta's Fire Release had singed a small patch...
She'd come up short in that ninjutsu clash.
But in her mind, it was clearly because she'd been caught off guard and hadn't had time to respond properly.
She'd lost to Yuto Souta's Sharingan insight, not his ninjutsu skill.
"Kakashi, hold off for now."
Yuto Souta suddenly called out.
"Tch."
A faint click of the tongue.
Kakashi Hatake, who'd somehow slipped behind the three Sand ninjas, sheathed his blade with a grumble and flickered back to Yuto Souta's side.
Pakura's expression darkened instantly!
From their earlier chase, it was clear these three kids lacked in stamina and speed.
Rumor had it they were just over five years old—however talented, their bodies hadn't matured...
But Kakashi Hatake's speed just now had exceeded her expectations!
To vanish in the blink of an eye during combat and appear behind her unnoticed—what kind of speed was that?
Worthy of White Fang's son, huh...
Then what about this Uchiha who could command him?
She'd heard the Uchiha clan's taijutsu... wasn't weak either, right?
Pakura's initial aloof arrogance finally faded.
Yuto Souta raised both hands, launching into a dazzling flurry of hand signs!
"Spit it out already. What's your goal, tailing us so blatantly?"
Yuto Souta was genuinely curious about Pakura.
He knew the principles of Scorch Release.
He had Fire Release chakra nature transformation and Wind Release too.
So copying a few Scorch Release ninjutsu shouldn't be an issue, right?
That's why he'd stopped Kakashi Hatake.
But that didn't mean... he was letting these research points slip away.
Kakashi Hatake rolled his eyes.
If they were fighting, why call him back...
What a waste of the Body Flicker he'd been practicing for a week.
Watching Yuto Souta's exaggerated hand signs, Pakura's gaze turned cold again.
"Brat, you're too cocky."
"I was just approaching with a negotiation mindset earlier and didn't get serious. Did you think... you'd get the same chance twice?!"
Forming all those flashy seals—who was he trying to scare?
Pakura's eyes narrowed, her hands beginning to weave signs as well!
"Scorch Release: Steaming Murder!"
With a soft shout, the two Sand ninjas behind her immediately stepped back.
Though Pakura was young—only three to five years older than Team Minato—her bloodline limit had made her an undeniable prodigy in the Sand Village.
Her teammates knew full well the power of this technique!
It could strip all moisture from everything in its range—a true bloodline ability!
Their gazes toward the three kids already carried pity...
However,
A certain Uchiha saw a notification flash before his eyes.
[Scorch Release: Steaming Murder Recorded. Note: Bloodline Ninjutsu, Imitation Usage Increases Chakra Cost by 10%]
Just a 10% increase in cost... With his reductions, that meant he'd only pay half price to use it.
Yuto Souta raised an eyebrow. Facing the incoming heat, his ten fingers blurred into afterimages once more!
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Blade Slash!"
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