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Chapter 425: Yet Another Unexpected Event
Chapter 425: Yet Another Unexpected Event
Might Guy had once undertaken a mission with Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha during his genin days, and as a fellow disciple of Mu Yue, Kakashi had no concerns about including Guy in the team and affecting their overall coordination.
However, with the addition of Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, Kakashi, after careful consideration, decided to maintain the status quo and complete a few B-rank missions to foster better team cohesion before taking on more challenging assignments.
Kakashi didn't expect Genma and Ebisu to contribute significantly, given the gap in their abilities. His primary concern was that a lack of cohesion might hinder rather than enhance the team's performance.
Both Genma and Ebisu were conscientious and didn't try to show off during battles. Instead, they provided support to the others, and after a few days, the team had developed a decent level of cohesion.
"It's so comfortable teaming up with you all. I didn't even realize we had completed the mission. I wish we could stay together as a team," Genma said jokingly.
To a certain extent, this was indeed Genma's genuine sentiment. Teaming up with Kakashi's group was indeed relaxing, even easier than taking on D-rank missions in Konoha.
Their opponents weren't strong enough to challenge the main fighters in their squad, who rarely had a chance to showcase their full abilities, let alone the support members. They barely had to do anything to earn their rewards.
"Hahaha! After all, we are an elite squad," Obito said proudly, his face beaming with satisfaction.
Although their ninja ranks were only at the level of chunin, the combined strength of their four-man cell had already surpassed that of a typical squad led by a jonin.
"I'll be sure to pass on your suggestion to Teacher Chen," Ebisu added in a calm tone.
Genma's face stiffened at Ebisu's words, and he quickly forced a smile, "There's no need to bother the old man with such trivial matters."
After being taught by Teacher Chen for so long, Genma was well aware of his master's temperament. If he reported this, he would definitely be scolded relentlessly.
Teacher Chen usually didn't put on airs and was very easygoing. However, when it came to his disciples' growth, he had his own set of strict requirements.
They could choose not to take on missions beyond their capabilities, but they shouldn't just tag along and reap the rewards without contributing.
Genma understood that Teacher Chen wasn't being rigid or believing that 'unearned rewards are detrimental'. Instead, he knew that it would hinder their growth.
After all, how could someone like Teacher Chen, who was still reading those kinds of books at his age, be considered rigid?
After completing two B-rank missions, Kakashi felt that they had gelled enough as a team to start taking on A-rank missions.
Something worth mentioning happened during this time. While at the encampment, they encountered Might Guy's father, Might Dai.
Based on what he observed at the camp and the actual situation on the battlefield, Kakashi had a premonition that a large-scale ninja war would soon break out along the eastern coast of the Fire Country.
Konoha had not only dispatched strong shinobi like Orochimaru, who was a well-known Konoha ninja, but they had also gathered a considerable number of jonin and chunin. Even low-key powerful shinobi like Mu Yue had been sent to the front lines, indicating that something big was about to go down.
Kakashi wasn't overly worried, though. Given their current ninja ranks, they wouldn't be assigned extremely critical missions, and they should be able to take care of themselves in the midst of the battle.
"Finally, we're starting A-rank missions. I hope we encounter some strong enemies this time," Obito said, his fists clenching with anticipation.
Hearing Obito's words, Kakashi's footsteps paused, "This isn't like your usual missions. In war missions, unexpected events can happen, and we might encounter enemies beyond our capabilities."
Kakashi didn't want Obito to maintain such a carefree attitude toward warfare. It could easily lead to problems.
"I'm not like you, Kakashi. I won't attract that kind of misfortune," Obito replied, confident that he wouldn't jinx the mission like Kakashi often did.
After all, Kakashi held the record for encountering mishaps on four consecutive missions, the most severe of which led him to stumble into a ninja war involving a thousand participants.
Kakashi gave Obito a speechless look. While it was true that encountering significant mishaps wasn't a common occurrence, that wasn't the main point he was trying to make. He just wanted Obito to adjust his mindset.
"What I mean is that you should approach warfare with a more serious and cautious attitude. Just because you say it won't happen doesn't mean this mission won't have any unexpected events," Kakashi explained, feeling a bit exasperated.
Obito scratched his head, looking like he sort of understood but also sort of didn't.
Seeing Obito's reaction, Kakashi gave up on further explanation. Once again, he felt the immense power of Mu Yue's teaching abilities.
The fact that Mu Yue could educate Obito to the point where he passed the theory exam was a testament to her extraordinary teaching skills.
If Kakashi had been the one teaching Obito, he probably would have collapsed long before Obito even had a chance to get impatient.
The mission proceeded smoothly. Kakashi's team successfully located the enemy described in their assignment—an enemy force consisting of one Kirigakure jonin, two Kirigakure chunin, and two Kirigakure genin. There were no surprises regarding the enemy's strength.
However, not long after the battle began, the perceptive Kakashi suddenly sensed something amiss and immediately withdrew from the fight.
Shwish!
Two kunai, crackling with electricity, pierced the air and embedded themselves in the spot where Kakashi had been standing just moments ago.
"He dodged?" Kurozuki Raiaga was taken aback.
It was embarrassing for him, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, to miss his target—a boy who looked to be around ten years old—especially since he would undoubtedly become a laughingstock if word of this got out.
As Kurozuki had expected, his teammates immediately burst into laughter.
"Kurozuki Raiaga, did you skip breakfast this morning?" Torikabuto, one of his teammates, asked mockingly between fits of laughter.
Kurozuki's face darkened, but he remained silent, knowing that his previous attack had indeed been humiliating.
The sudden change startled Obito and the others, causing them to halt their attacks and survey their surroundings warily.
"Saved!" The Kirigakure jonin, who had been besieged, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Kurozuki and Torikabuto approaching, his expression brightened with joy.
As a Kirigakure jonin, he was naturally familiar with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Recognizing them, he knew his rescue had arrived.
Paying no heed to his heavily injured subordinates, the jonin immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to close the distance between himself and his rescuers.
"Looks like we have two new enemies. Don't worry; we won't let any of you escape," Obito said confidently, unfazed by the arrival of the two new foes, even if they were jonin. Their squad could handle the situation with ease.
However, Obito failed to notice the growing seriousness, even tension, on Kakashi's face.
"Damn," Kakashi muttered under his breath as he recognized the newcomers.
Kakashi, always keen on gathering intelligence about his enemies, instantly identified the two newcomers as Kurozuki Raiaga and Torikabuto of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
If it had been just the two of them, Kakashi wouldn't have felt too much pressure.
After all, their squad of seven included four jonin-level fighters, a special jonin-level medical ninja, and two chunin. They might even stand a chance if they engaged this pair in battle.
Even Konoha's legendary Ino-Shika-Cho trio would be outclassed.
"Obito, everyone, don't make any sudden moves," Kakashi said, taking a deep breath.
"Should we create a distraction to attract reinforcements? It's too uncertain, and we don't know who might show up first... enemies or allies," Kakashi thought frantically, his mind racing as he tried to figure out a way for everyone to survive.
Obito looked at Kakashi with confusion, searching his memory for any information about the Kirigakure shinobi before him, but he couldn't come up with an answer.
Ebisu pushed up his glasses, his fingers trembling slightly. "I believe these are Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen. They tend to move as a group, so the remaining five could be hiding nearby."
Ebisu's heart raced, and cold sweat formed on his brow as he recognized their opponents. This was incredibly stimulating for him; encountering such formidable foes on the battlefield was truly thrilling.
"Our luck is awful today," said Hiuzu Genma, swallowing nervously as he imagined his impending demise.
Hiuzu believed in Kakashi and Might Guy's abilities, but this time, their enemies were different.
Kakashi and Guy were genius ninjas, but the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were seasoned powerhouses of the ninja world!
Hiuzu had never felt such a strong desire to see Teacher Chen. He wished that Chen would descend from the heavens like a dragon and vanquish their foes with his might.
But Hiuzu knew this was impossible. Teacher Chen hadn't even arrived at the battlefield yet, so he couldn't possibly swoop in for a dramatic rescue.
"So, it's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen," Obito said, his expression turning pensive as he recalled some information about their opponents.
Obito hadn't managed to remember their faces, but he did recall some basic intelligence. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen consisted of seven members, each wielding a unique sword with special abilities.
Obito's expression turned wry as he recalled his words before their departure. His so-called 'crow's mouth' seemed to have jinxed them this time.
"I really shouldn't have said that before we left," Obito regretted.
Might Guy's expression also turned solemn. If Obito knew about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, then Guy, too, was aware of their reputation.
"I hope they're not all here on a mission," Ebisu silently prayed.
If it were just two of them, they might have a glimmer of hope.
However, their faint hope was shattered as another figure stepped out of the shadows—Biwa Juzo, the tenth holder of the group.
Biwa Juzo carried a massive sword over his shoulder and scanned the group of Kakashi with bloodthirsty eyes. "Looks like we've found some exceptionally weak opponents. Let's end this quickly." With that, he lowered his sword and leaned casually against it with one hand.
As soon as Biwa finished speaking, a large, orange-haired ninja stepped forward.
"Biwa Juzo, these aren't just weak opponents. Among them are three priority targets from Konoha—Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and Uchiha Obito. We must kill them here," said the ninja, Suika Iwa.
"Make sure to kill those three right here. Don't let them escape!" he added, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
Unlike Biwa, Suika saw their encounter as a stroke of luck. Killing these three Konoha geniuses would be a far greater achievement than eliminating a few regular jonin from Konoha.
If they let Kakashi and his team live, there was a chance that decades later, when another war broke out between Kirigakure and Konoha, Kakashi and his comrades might become formidable foes for Kirigakure.
"Geniuses who haven't matured are still weaklings," Biwa scoffed, his tone full of disdain. Who hadn't been a genius at some point in their lives?
In his days as a genin and chunin, Biwa had also been a somewhat famous prodigy in Kirigakure.
As each member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen revealed themselves, Kakashi's heart sank further.
Even if they weren't dealing with the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen, facing seven jonin-level opponents would be a daunting task. And these were not ordinary jonin; they were a group that had earned a reputation throughout the ninja world.
Including the Kirigakure jonin they had yet to defeat, they now faced eight formidable enemies—seven titled jonin and one regular jonin.
Obito quietly moved in front of Rin, shielding her behind him. They were facing an unprecedented crisis.
Even their previous encounters with the Raikage's successor hadn't felt as dangerous as this.
While the Seven Ninja Swordsmen might not be able to defeat the Cloud's AB combination, whenever the AB combination had faced them in the past, they had either been accompanied by Mu Yue or Minato Namikaze. This time, however, they had no such support and could only rely on their own strength.
Instinctively, everyone moved closer to Kakashi, including Obito. While Kakashi might not have been the strongest in the squad, he was their indisputable core as the vice-captain.
The reason Obito hadn't voted for Kakashi as vice-captain the second time around wasn't because he didn't acknowledge Kakashi's leadership. Instead, it was because he knew his vote wouldn't make a difference. Even without his vote, Kakashi would still be chosen as vice-captain by the others.
Rather than voting and admitting defeat, Obito had chosen to vote for Rin, expressing his care and recognition of her abilities.
"Kakashi, what do we do now?" Hiuzu asked in a low voice, unable to contain his worry.
Kakashi let out a soft sigh. He was just a slightly above-average chunin, and in such a situation, he couldn't possibly come up with a perfect solution in a short amount of time.
Kakashi quickly scanned the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Their formation was quite loose, as if they didn't consider the group before them to be worthy opponents.
However, Kakashi knew this was just a facade. Their seemingly casual positioning actually blocked most of the directions they could use to escape. If they tried to retreat, at least two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would be able to instantly cut off their path.
"What should I do?" Kakashi asked himself.
As the fastest member of their squad, Kakashi had the best chance of escaping successfully. But no matter what, he couldn't bring himself to leave his teammates behind.
He could run, and Might Guy might be able to keep up, but what about the others?
Kakashi couldn't bear the thought of abandoning them.
Kakashi quietly drew the White Fang, the short blade he carried on his back. Since he didn't want to flee, their only option was to fight.
Even if their enemies were the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he would battle to create an opportunity for his teammates. It was his responsibility as their vice-captain.
(End of Chapter)
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