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One scream after another echoed out.
With a single move, Seimei struck, catching several Mist Shinobi off guard. Some were injured as stone spikes sliced through their bodies or pierced their feet, and some, even worse off, lost their lives on the spot.
The Mist Shinobi's carefully laid plans were completely disrupted.
Only now did both sides have a moment of relative calm to size each other up.
Seimei saw roughly twenty or thirty Mist Shinobi in front of him. Among them, the strongest were two Jōnin from the Village Hidden in the Mist; the weakest was a Chūnin-level ninja.
Given that the enemy survived his initial attacks, it was clear they weren't weak.
This gave Seimei an understanding of their strength — it wasn't insignificant.
With two Jōnin leading and an entire group of skilled subordinates, all positioned on the path to where he and his team were headed to provide reinforcements, Seimei couldn't shake a sense of foreboding.
It wasn't that he thought he was being specifically targeted.
After all, this was the only route most of the Konoha ninjas from the central and northern defense lines could take to reach the support line, so it wasn't exclusively his path.
This meant it was unlikely that Mist Village had set up an ambush targeting him and Shisui Uchiha in particular.
The reason he felt unsettled was because this location was not far from the rendezvous point. Encountering so many Mist Shinobi here gave a bleak picture of just how chaotic the situation had become on this front.
Seimei felt worried about the pressure they'd face going forward.
As for the group in front of him…
To be honest, Seimei wasn't too concerned.
Two Jōnin without any special talents, along with a team of average Chūnin, didn't pose any real threat to him.
This was one reason he believed these shinobi weren't specifically targeting him and Shisui Uchiha.
If the Mist Village had specifically arranged an ambush here, they would have likely sent twice as many, both in numbers and skill.
Given his and Shisui Uchiha's reputation, these opponents were simply no match for them. Mist Village wouldn't make such a foolish decision.
This also meant their movements hadn't been leaked.
This realization gave Seimei some relief.
If their movements had been leaked, it would point to serious problems within their ranks.
After all, an inside threat is the hardest to guard against, and Seimei certainly didn't want to constantly worry about betrayal from within.
Various thoughts flashed through his mind as he raised his hand, forming seals for a Fire Release jutsu — *Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu*!
These days, Seimei had perfected several sword techniques. If it wasn't necessary, he avoided using them in combat.
Using his sword would waste chakra without any real benefit.
In contrast, fighting with jutsu allowed him to hone his skills while striking down enemies — a win-win.
As for the chakra used up, he planned to leave a few enemies alive to extract their chakra afterward.
Returning his focus, he unleashed three fire dragons, which roared from his mouth and hurtled toward the Mist Shinobi under his control.
However, the Mist Shinobi had already scattered from his initial assault.
As a result, his fire dragons could only target a limited number of foes.
With fewer people close together, they could dodge more easily.
The three dragons missed their mark, flying past the Mist Shinobi and crashing into trees behind them.
Flames spread out, instantly setting the trees ablaze and transforming the area into a sea of fire.
The Mist Shinobi were forced to flee, moving out of the burning zone.
Seeing an opening, Seimei quickly seized the chance and cast another jutsu — *Fire Style: Burning Blaze Jutsu!*
A burst of flames appeared out of thin air, engulfing one of the Mist Shinobi. Within seconds, the fire had spread over his entire body.
"Aghhhh~~" came the agonized screams as he writhed on the ground, attempting to smother the flames.
Nearby, several Mist Shinobi rushed over to help.
Seeing this, Seimei thought, *"Perfect opportunity!"*
He prepared to attack again.
Just then, a shadow appeared at his side, a sickle-like weapon swinging toward his neck.
If it struck, his throat and carotid artery would be severed instantly, causing fatal damage from asphyxiation and blood loss.
Blocking it was tricky — this unusual weapon relied on surprise, making it hard for anyone unprepared to deflect effectively.
Even if he managed to deflect it, he could still fall into a trap, losing his momentum.
But Seimei wasn't just anyone.
The moment his opponent appeared, he noticed it in the corner of his eye; his Sharingan spinning rapidly, making his enemy's movements seem slow.
Seimei's heightened perception gave him ample time to react.
Before the sickle could reach him, he drew his sword and perfectly blocked the attack.
Not only that, but he also thrust his blade toward his opponent's chest.
Seeing the counterattack, Tanabe Tomohiko's eyes widened, and he immediately retreated to avoid it.
Seimei prepared to pursue, but at that moment, several kunai flew toward him from afar.
Seimei came to an abrupt halt, swinging his sword to deflect the incoming kunai.
Following their path, he spotted a female shinobi, one of the two Jōnin present.
As for the other Jōnin, he was naturally the one who had just attempted the ambush.
Seimei took a half-step back, eyes assessing the two as they positioned themselves on either side, clearly on guard against his Sharingan's genjutsu.
Unfortunately for them, two ordinary Jōnin, no matter how careful, wouldn't make a difference.
Casting a quick glance at the regrouping Mist Chūnin, Seimei didn't hesitate; he launched into another attack.
A green light appeared on his body, extending to his sword, and in an instant, he "disappeared" — executing his perfected *Instantaneous Sword Technique.*
Seeing Seimei move, Tomohiko Tanabe shouted to Koike Emi on the opposite side.
Indeed, Seimei had chosen the female shinobi as his primary target.
Their earlier division of tasks had shown him that, compared to Koike Emi, Tanabe Tomohiko was more skilled in close combat.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have attempted the ambush while Emi provided support from afar.
Naturally, Seimei aimed to deal with the weaker opponent first.
With the perfected *Instantaneous Sword Technique,* his speed was greatly enhanced, allowing him to close a ten-meter gap in a single breath, launching an attack at Koike Emi.
However, Koike Emi was still a seasoned Jōnin. While her close combat skills might not match Tanabe's, she held her ground.
With precision, she blocked Seimei's initial strike.
This was just the beginning.