Super Ninja

The movement toward Shiko and Ayamane was swift. They were fighting fiercely, but there was no way they could compare to the destructive techniques and strikes of the jounin. Honestly, I wasn't as destructive as Captain Kiochi, Captain Guy, or even Captain Sarutobi.

Leaping onto a tree, I quickly sped up, heading toward the spot where the girls were battling several chunin. This was happening right near the cliff where Ten Ten and I had been sitting earlier. I think we'll be able to organize the fight properly.

Landing on the tree, I noticed Shiko lying at its base. Her breathing was fast and labored, as though each breath caused her pain. Jumping down to the ground, I hurried to her, pulling out a first-aid kit from my pouch.

Assessing her condition, I saw a severe stab wound on her torso. Carefully, trying not to cause her more pain, I moved aside the torn fabric of her clothing to examine the wound. Blood was gushing from the deep cut, and the edges were jagged and inflamed. It was essential to stop the bleeding immediately and treat the injury.

From the first-aid kit, I took out bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, and a sedative. First, I treated the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection. It caused Shiko pain, but she gritted her teeth, trying to stifle a moan. Then, I administered the painkillers to ease her discomfort and improve her condition.

After treating the wound, I began to bandage it carefully, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. After layering several bandages, I ensured they were secure and that the wound was covered from external exposure.

Only then did I take a deep breath. I think she'll make it through this. She hadn't regained consciousness yet, but at least she seemed somewhat stabilized. The main concern now was for the captain to arrive as soon as possible to provide proper help. He knew real Iryonin techniques.

"Hold on," I told her, squeezing her shoulder.

Noticing several large shuriken embedded deeply into the trees, I realized the intensity of the battle had been immense. The giant shuriken, like blades of death, gleamed with their sharp edges, lodged impressively in the bark. The surrounding area was a scene of considerable destruction. The remnants of weapons Ten Ten had used lay scattered, bearing witness to the power of the fight. Metal stars, kunai, and other elements of her arsenal were embedded in the ground, rocks, and trees, painting a chaotic battlefield. Some trees appeared as though they had been sliced through by a powerful sword or other heavy weapon, leaving clean cuts and fallen branches in their wake. The air smelled of splintered wood and metal, mixed with the adrenaline and tension still lingering after the battle.

Covering her figure with a small, dense, dark blanket to shield her from prying eyes, I moved forward. My steps were careful and silent as I scanned the surroundings. Almost immediately, among the shadowy thickets and the gloom of the forest, I noticed a corpse, horribly mutilated, as if it had been hacked into several pieces. The grim sight of the dismembered body, with limbs and parts of the torso scattered chaotically, evoked a sense of revulsion and unease.

In some of the tissue and remnants of the body, fragments of weapons were still embedded, like sinister markers of life's end. Sharpened blades, daggers, and other cold weapons gleamed darkly in the light filtering through the foliage, adding further grotesqueness to the scene. I paused for a moment, piecing together this macabre puzzle. It seemed Ten Ten had done a thorough job here.

Quickly speeding up, I leaped into the clearing. Ten Ten and Ayamane were fighting two chunin who looked like twins. The girls didn't look great—injuries, cuts, and bruises covered them. The rogue chunin, however, seemed unscathed. It wasn't a pleasant sight.

Freezing for a moment, I began assessing the situation. The cliff and lake were slightly off to the side, meaning it wouldn't be easy to lure them into the trap. But if we planned things right, we could spread them out and eliminate them one by one.

The first rogue chunin, with inhuman agility and speed, leaped at Ten Ten like a predator targeting its prey. She reacted instantly, trying to dodge to the side. Her movements were quick, but not quick enough for close combat. Close combat had never been Ten Ten's strong suit; her strength lay elsewhere, and at that moment, her weakness became apparent.

Ayamane, in a similar predicament, was also no expert in close combat. Her movements were coordinated but lacked decisiveness, adding to the challenges of the fight. It was clear both girls were trying to use their skills and tactics to compensate for their shortcomings in close combat, but they were at a disadvantage.

The second rogue chunin stood ready to leap into action, intending to finish the fight. His eyes were wide, as if searching for the right moment to strike, and his stance shifted slightly, becoming more focused.

Ten Ten quickly unfurled her scroll, releasing several dozen large shuriken that tore through the air with a loud rustling sound. They spun, gathering momentum to strike the first rogue chunin… and it looked like they would succeed. The shuriken flew through his body, and they should have killed him, but at that moment, his form dissolved into water. Damn! A trap technique. That meant they would attack now.

I immediately shifted my gaze to the girls, just in time. Crouching down, I pushed off from the tree with great force, flying straight toward Ayamane, who was about to be targeted. Grabbing her, I pushed her aside and rolled. At that moment, I felt a sharp blade cut across my back, leaving a deep and painful gash.

Rolling again, I held onto the girl to prevent her from hitting her head on a rock that had suddenly appeared. Rising, and ignoring the pain from the wound on my back, I brandished a kunai and blocked a fierce strike that could have cut me from shoulder to stomach. The kunai barely held together, as the blade had sliced through half of its thickest part.

The rogue chunin's gaze was filled with fury and malice, his eyes blazing with rage, his face twisted in a grimace of hatred. But such a look didn't scare me at all; on the contrary, it fueled my desire to do something unexpected and unpleasant to my opponent. Acting on pure reflex, I made a bold move: I struck the rogue chunin directly between his legs. His position was too perfect for such a strike.

"Ugh!" the rogue chunin groaned as the blow hit its mark. His eyes widened so much it seemed they would pop out of their sockets. His mouth twisted in pain, and his grip on his weapon weakened almost to the point of being powerless. This was my chance to turn the situation in my favor.

Making a decisive move forward, I deftly diverted the blade, twisting it slightly to let the flat part hit my shoulder, avoiding further injury. In the next instant, I grabbed his arm and took another step forward. With a strong, precise motion, I twisted his arm until I heard the crack of bones. His arm bent at an unnatural angle, rendering him unable to resist.

Holding him with one hand, I viciously yanked the blade from his grasp. Blood sprayed from his hand, staining the ground bright red. I delivered a powerful kick to his knee, causing him to collapse from the pain and loss of balance. Releasing his arm, I channeled chakra into the weapon. The blade eagerly absorbed it, as if it had been made for this very purpose. It was a chakra blade… Perfect.

The rogue chunin, now off-balance, was in an ideal position—vulnerable and defenseless. For a moment, I caught his gaze. His eyes widened in fear and realization of his inevitable end. Then I swung my blade. The edge of the sword sliced through the air, cutting through his neck with ease, like a knife through butter. Blood surged in a powerful wave, splattering the ground and my weapon with bright red.

The enemy's head, cleanly severed by the blow, rolled to the ground, producing a dull, almost hollow sound upon landing. For a moment, silence hung in the air, broken only by the sound of blood pouring from the decapitated body. Death had come swiftly, leaving the enemy no chance of survival.

"You snake," the rogue chunin spat, his voice filled with malice, his eyes flickering with hatred and rage.

"Who's calling who what?" I replied coldly, spinning the blade in the air to shake off the blood, which splattered onto the ground in dark drops. "But don't worry, call me whatever you want. Your end is already decided."

"Oh yeah?" the rogue chunin replied mockingly. In an instant, smoke bombs flared around him, creating a thick gray veil, concealing him from view.

"He's trying to escape!" I shouted, rushing forward in an attempt to stop him. My blade sliced through the smoke in a whirlwind, aiming for where the rogue chunin had just been standing, but it pierced only empty air, filled with the mist and deception of the smoke.

The smoke, thick and suffocating, quickly dissipated, revealing the exhausted figures of the girls as they tried to gather their strength. This battle had clearly been an ordeal for them. They were covered in bruises and scratches, signs of a desperate struggle. Blood and dirt stained their clothes, making their injuries even more apparent. And though I tried to stay strong, I could feel the toll of the fight myself.

Only now, as the adrenaline began to fade, did my back remind me of the deep, painful cut, burning with a sharp sting. I needed to take care of the wound before it began to scar. The thought of seeing scars on my back was unpleasant; I didn't want to carry such a mark.

"How are you holding up?" I asked Ayamane and Ten Ten as I approached them.

"It was tough," Ten Ten said, her voice tired, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Ayamane, on the other hand, lay on the ground, clearly exhausted from everything that had happened. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. Her hand covered her eyes, as if trying to block out the reality of the situation—the weight of the battle. It was understandable; without regular training, a fight like this would wear you out completely. At that moment, they both looked vulnerable and drained.

"How's Shiko?" Ten Ten asked, reminding me of Yamanaka, who had been gravely wounded.

"I gave her first aid," I said. "I think she's more or less stable. Let's go check on her."

With difficulty, the girls got up and followed me. We quickly found Shiko, still breathing, though slightly more steadily under the blanket. But her skin had turned a little yellow, which immediately caused concern. Skin doesn't just turn yellow like that.

"Damn… a hundred bijuu curse me," I muttered under my breath.

"Looks like poisoning," Ayamane said, gathering her strength. "I'll check her wound. Ten Ten, bandage the Machine."

"Alright," Ten Ten exhaled, approaching me. Her hands trembled from exhaustion, but she tried to stay calm.

She carefully helped me remove the top part of my uniform, revealing my wound. Then, quickly but cautiously, she cut the shirt off my skin, trying not to cause me more pain.

"Ugh," I grunted as she carefully but decisively tore away the part of the shirt that had stuck to the wound with blood. The sensation was especially unpleasant—each movement caused sharp pain, a reminder that the fabric had soaked up blood and hardened into a crust. It was like ripping off a plaster, but more painful, as the blood had already started to coagulate, fusing the fabric with the injured skin. The feeling of tearing skin and the tugging of the shirt's fibers left a burning sensation. "Not great."

"No kidding," Ten Ten sighed in relief once she freed the wound for treatment.

She rinsed the wound with water from my pouch, carefully cleaning the edges. This was the most painful moment, as each touch sent sharp pain through me. Then, she began to bandage the wound, working carefully and methodically to provide adequate protection and support. The bandages were pulled tight enough to ensure good compression, but not so tight as to cause excessive pressure.

Watching her work, I reminded myself that I needed to replenish the bandages in my pouch, as they were now running low.

Slipping into a light meditative state, I noticed that the fight seemed mostly over. The sounds of techniques being used had ceased. All in all, not bad. Captain Kiochi was making his way toward us.

The sensei landed, quickly assessing the situation with a glance. He immediately understood something was wrong with Shiko, and without asking many questions, he moved to her side. His hand became enveloped in green chakra as he hovered it over her, examining the girl.

"Poison," the captain said. Without delay, he tore off the bandages I had applied and pressed his hand to her wound. The chakra in his hand glowed even brighter, and the wound slowly began to close, expelling a large amount of black blood. Within a minute, the wound was completely healed. "Good thing I'm familiar with this poison."

"You've encountered this poison before, Captain?" I asked.

"That's right," the captain nodded. "During the last war, the Kumo shinobi became quite fond of it. If I'm not mistaken, it was one of the compounds they stole from the Hidden Sand and then modified into a more potent version. When this poison first appeared on the frontlines, our shinobi had a rough time. They had to be incredibly cautious until an antidote was developed, followed by a technique for extracting the poison."

"I see," I muttered. "Sensei, would you mind taking a look at my cut?"

With a slight chuckle, the sensei approached me. His hands, experienced and steady, gently touched my back. He carefully examined the wound, his fingers gliding over the edges as if conducting a thorough analysis, and then he snorted.

"It's just a scratch. Don't worry, Machine… it'll only add to your charm. It should heal on its own," he said with a smile.

"Alright, good," I replied, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief.

It seemed the captain didn't want to use his chakra on me. Maybe he didn't have enough strength left for healing, or he was saving his resources in case of an unexpected attack. Either way, I needed a backup plan. I decided to set aside some money and head to the hospital in Konoha once we returned so they could take care of the cut. I knew they offered scar removal services, and that could be a good solution.

"Well, genin, it's your turn now," he said, addressing Ten Ten and Ayamane.

Both girls approached, and the sensei carefully began examining them. He methodically probed their injuries, closely inspecting the bruises, but didn't start healing them right away. Instead, he thoroughly assessed each wound, evaluating its severity. His face was focused and professional, his movements carrying the confidence of an experienced medic. Meanwhile, I threw my shirt back on, leaving part of my torso exposed. Honestly, I wouldn't mind walking around shirtless, but the situation called for some level of decency.

"Well," the captain said, taking a step back and casting an evaluative glance at the girls. "Overall, you could say you got lucky. This time."

In the distance, we suddenly heard a faint clap, followed by a loud explosion. The sound made the captain tense for a moment, his gaze turning toward the source of the noise, and his hand instinctively reached for his weapon. However, after a second, he relaxed, realizing there was no immediate danger, and even allowed himself to smile.

"Alright," he said, lifting the unconscious Shiko onto his back. "We're heading back to camp."

"Hai," the three of us replied in unison.

Quickly following the captain, we soon reached the open area, which had changed significantly since we first entered the battle. Large rocks had fallen, leaving deep craters in some spots. In one place, the earth had melted into baked rubble, with areas of molten metal still glowing.

"Wow," I managed to say as we leapt over a large boulder and continued toward the mound. I assumed all the archaeologists had long since hidden in their carts, waiting to see what would happen next. If we had lost, they would've been wiped out for sure, as the carts wouldn't have gotten far. In fact, they wouldn't have gotten anywhere at all.

"Yeah," Captain Kiochi exhaled. "My opponents turned out to be quite unpleasant. But… they lacked skill. Too young."

"And you… took care of them?" I asked the captain, subtly hinting. He understood me immediately.

"Of course," he replied. "I'm not in the habit of leaving them alive."

"I see," I nodded. "And what about the last group of their jounin and genin? What happened to them?"

"Guy is dealing with them," Captain Kiochi said. "He'll interrogate them as well."