Chapter 52
"This kid's physical skills are seriously impressive!"
The wandering ninja grimaced as he rubbed the spot on his waist where Naoki had just kicked him. Even without stripping off his clothes, he knew it was already bruised.
"This guy's strength is outrageous. Even with my Earth Style Hardening Technique boosting my defense, going head-on against him isn't an option."
"And then there's that Uchiha girl with fire jutsu—these kids are tricky."
He frowned, frustrated—not just at the fight, but at the refugee's lies. If the refugee hadn't falsely claimed these were fresh ninja academy graduates with no combat experience and simple minds, he wouldn't have attacked this caravan in the first place.
But regrets were useless now. The wandering ninja quickly abandoned attempts to deal with Asakawa Naoki and Uchiha Mikoto, deciding instead to target the yellow-haired boy nearby.
"That's the one!"
His plan was simple: take down one target quickly, use him as a hostage to control the others, and find an opening to escape.
Hostages meant leverage. Without it, this fight would end badly for him.
Since defecting from Konoha, survival depended on thinking about retreat even before victory. Always have an escape plan.
Charging forward, he suddenly shifted his attack mid-move, slamming a powerful palm strike infused with Earth Style Hardening Technique at Namikaze Minato.
If he could land a hit, the hostage plan was set.
But reality was harsh. He'd picked the wrong target.
Minato's sharp eyes caught the incoming strike. With incredible foresight, he dodged smoothly and stepped on the ninja's sturdy arm, forcing him back.
"Damn! This kid's reaction speed is insane!"
Years as a Chunin hadn't prepared him for this. Usually, a handful of fresh Genin barely slowed him down.
He was stronger, faster, and far more experienced than these kids barely twelve years old.
Yet now, Asakawa Naoki's raw physical power had bruised him, and Minato's lightning-fast reflexes frustrated his every move.
The yellow-haired boy might not wield fancy ninjutsu or overwhelming strength, but his quick reactions and clever sneak attack were a problem.
"No way out. Surrender!"
Naoki, Mikoto, and Minato closed in on the wandering ninja, flanking him tightly.
Nearby, Uzumaki Kushina and Minato's teammates readied themselves to jump in at any moment.
The ninja sneered, laughter cracking his voice.
"Surrender? Never!"
Though he never served in torture units, he'd heard enough rumors to know what awaited captives from enemy ninja villages: unimaginable torment, body and mind torn apart.
As a traitor to Konoha, his fate if caught was worse than death.
"Then die here!"
Naoki drew his repolished katana. Under the early dawn's dim light, the blade gleamed cold and sharp, barely a meter long but deadly.
"You weak kids can't kill me!"
The wandering ninja slapped the ground, sealing with both hands as he gathered chakra.
Suddenly, the earth beneath him trembled and walls of solid rock surged upward, thicker and stronger than simple earth.
"Earth Escape: Rock Wall!"
At the same time, Mikoto finished her seals and launched a third fireball streaking toward him.
Naoki charged in tandem, katana ready.
The ninja laughed mockingly.
"A defensive turtle, that's me."
Before defecting to Konoha, he specialized in defense.
He might not be an expert attacker—that's why he couldn't quickly defeat these three—but his Earth Style Hardening Technique could withstand sharp weapons and even ninjutsu.
This rock wall was stronger than anything they'd throw at him.
The fireball struck the rock wall, sending waves of heat that made him sweat but did not break through.
"Even fire can't melt this rock. What chance does your taijutsu kid have against it?"
His sarcasm deepened as he prepared to use Earth Escape again to vanish beneath the ground.
But the smirk faded suddenly.
Behind him, Asakawa Naoki's katana, crackling with blue lightning, sliced clean through the rock wall.
With a swift thrust, the blade broke through the Earth Style Hardening Technique wrapped around the ninja's body and pierced directly into his heart.
Both the rock wall and the hardening technique shattered like fragile tofu.
"I didn't expect the palm thunder to be so effective against Earth Escape."
Asakawa Naoki's mind raced. He'd just learned this palm thunder technique and attached it to his sword, curious if lightning chakra could restrain earth chakra.
The result was beyond what he expected.
The rock wall offered no resistance at all.
*******
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