Chapter 171: Unfavorable Circumstances

"Mu Yue-sensei, there's movement over there." The noise was significant, and Obito also noticed the agitation of the large tree not far away.

Having said that, Obito prepared to go check it out, but was stopped by Mu Yue.

"Idiot, don't act rashly when the situation is unclear—this is an escort mission." Kakashi stared at the distant large tree as he spoke.

With that, Kakashi quickly hurled a handful of shuriken toward the tree.

Shuu shuu shuu!!!

The shuriken continuously pierced through the air, blasting toward the tree.

The next moment, a figure wearing a gray combat uniform with one arm exposed leaped down from the tree.

"Hey hey, are all you Konoha ninja this cowardly? You don't even dare step forward to check the situation," the gray-clad ninja said.

Due to the dim light, Kakashi couldn't see the headband on the gray-clad ninja, but based on his attire, he could determine which village's ninja this was—ninja from different villages had distinct clothing.

"Mu Yue-sensei, they seem to be ninja from Iwa," Kakashi stated his judgment.

Currently, Iwagakure and Konoha were hostile, so if they were from Iwa, they were definitely enemies.

Kakashi never expected to encounter ninja during a C-rank mission—it had really come true just as Obito's big mouth had said.

Following the arrival of one Iwa-nin, with a few whooshes, several more ninja in similar combat uniforms quickly appeared beside him.

"One, two... six." Kakashi frowned slightly. Even for a B-rank mission, encountering six ninja at once would be one of the tougher ones, let alone a C-rank.

Those ninja didn't look like genin at all.

【Name: Toroi】

【Chakra: 】

【Skills: Magnet Release (Proficient 20/), Lightning Nature Transformation...】

【Name: Gang Ximei】

【Chakra: 6200】

【Skills: Lightning Nature Transformation (Skilled 2500/3000)...】

【Name: Luokebi】

【Chakra: 3600】

【Skills: Lightning...】

"Two jonin, six chunin." After using an Appraisal on all the enemies, Mu Yue had a clear picture of their approximate strength.

To be honest, the enemy's strength was surprisingly high for Mu Yue. That Toroi could be considered an elite jonin. With one elite jonin, one jonin, and six chunin, this configuration would be fine even for an S-rank mission.

Moreover, what was odd was that although these people wore Iwa's clothes and headbands, all their skills were related to Lightning Release—every single one of them had mastered Lightning Nature Transformation.

Without a doubt, these were Kumo-nin disguised as Iwa-nin.

Mu Yue speculated that Kumogakure, in order to escalate the conflict between Konoha and Iwa, had deliberately sent an elite squad disguised as Iwa-nin to hunt Konoha ninja, and Mu Yue's team just happened to run into them.

Kumogakure was a very aggressive village, but if you thought everyone in Kumo was just a brawler who only fought, you'd be wrong. The Raikage himself might be a brawler, but he had subordinates who could devise strategies.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Obito quickly formed hand signs and spat out a massive fireball over three meters tall, hurtling toward the six Kumo-nin.

"You Iwa-nin are the cowards! If you've got the guts, fight me!" Obito shouted.

"I'll take the guy who bad-mouthed Konoha just now," Obito said to Kakashi and Might Guy.

"Be careful—the enemy isn't weak," Mu Yue warned. The opponent Obito had chosen was that Luokebi.

In terms of chakra amount, Obito was far behind Luokebi, but Mu Yue didn't think Obito had no chance of winning.

A ninja's strength wasn't determined solely by chakra—it also depended on nature transformation, mastered ninjutsu, and taijutsu.

If Obito could make good use of the explosive power of Total Concentration Breathing, he could defeat Luokebi.

Boom!!

The six Kumo-nin were very fast; they dodged directly, and the giant fireball destroyed the trees beside them.

The tremendous noise woke up the already resting family of Numata Yoshiharu.

"You all stay in the tent and don't come out. We'll handle the problem." Mu Yue said quickly.

"Then we'll trouble you all." Numata Yoshihiro knew that his family would only cause trouble if they went out, so he carried the child back into the tent to prevent him from running around.

Since everyone was scattered, Kakashi instantly moved, pulling out the White Fang Short Blade and slashing at a Kumogakure ninja closest to him.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Just as Kakashi moved, a large number of shuriken shot out from the dense forest, flying toward the moving Kakashi.

After noticing them, Kakashi immediately retreated at high speed, swinging the White Fang Short Blade to knock down all the incoming shuriken.

The cautious man never charged recklessly without holding back.

"Seven, are there still ninjas hiding in the shadows?" Kakashi looked around cautiously.

"Haha, Konoha ninja, your life is over." The Kumogakure ninja laughed directly, seeing that Kakashi dared to directly receive Toroi's shuriken.

That person's attacks can only be dodged, not blocked; otherwise, it's only death.

Kakashi suddenly found himself unable to move—a powerful suction force had taken control of his movements.

"The shuriken just now!" Kakashi's expression turned grim.

This was also the first time he had encountered such a bizarre technique; merely touching the shuriken rendered him immobile.

Just as Kakashi was erupting his chakra, trying hard to break free, the Kumogakure ninja moved.

"Go to hell!" The Kumogakure chunin immediately took the opportunity to draw a longsword and thrust it toward Kakashi's heart.

"Wind Blade!"

At the moment the Kumogakure chunin thrust the sword, Kakashi quickly replayed the memories of his life in his mind.

"If there really is an afterlife, Father would be very surprised to see me." Kakashi thought. He was only eight years old this year.

The Kumogakure ninja thrust his sword, and a large amount of blood gushed out, but it was not Kakashi's blood, but his own.

A rapidly traveling wind blade directly cut off the head of the Kumogakure ninja in front of Kakashi, and the spurting blood splashed onto Kakashi's face, making him especially alert.

Kakashi turned back to see Mu Yue, whose smile was still very warm under the cold moonlight, slowly withdrawing her extended right hand.

Without a doubt, it was Mu Yue who had acted.

"His Wind Release is also this amazing!" Kakashi was very surprised inwardly.

He had thought Mu Yue only knew Fire Release and Lightning Release, but she had also mastered such advanced Wind Release ninjutsu.

"Looks like we've caught a big fish." Toroi slowly walked out from the shadows, revealing a smile.

Based on Mu Yue's Wind Release just now, she was not an incompetent among Konoha jonin.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!" Mu Yue quickly formed hand seals and spat out a huge lightning spear.

Feeling the might erupting from Mu Yue, Toroi immediately sidestepped to change his position.

However, Mu Yue's attack was not aimed at him, but at the other Kumogakure chunin.

Under Mu Yue's control, the spat-out lightning spear rapidly split into a spread, instantly killing the three Kumogakure chunin caught within it.

Counting the chunin who had just been instantly killed by Mu Yue's Wind Blade, the number of Kumogakure's side was greatly reduced.

The sudden turn of events surprised even Lockbee, so he was caught by Obito's kick and stumbled back two meters.

"Haha, it's your Iwagakure's bad luck to run into us." Obito saw Mu Yue instantly eliminate four enemies and felt excited inside.

"Just putting up a dying struggle; it will be you Konoha who loses in the end." Lockbee quickly adjusted his stance.

Although a few teammates had died, Lockbee did not think their operation would fail; this time they were led by Lord Toroi.

Lockbee didn't believe that Konoha jonin could have the strength to defeat Toroi.

"Interesting, aren't you trying to use us for practice?" Toroi looked at the remaining two Kumogakure chunin and said.

As he spoke, suddenly a sound of something breaking through the air rang out—a kunai wrapped in lightning was flying toward the immobilized Kakashi.

Mu Yue, who had been observing, instantly shot out a kunai wreathed in flames.

Boom boom boom!!

Two kunai collided, instantly triggering a massive explosion that toppled the large tree beside them.

"Lord, this person is not easy to deal with. Let's attack together." Okina Mi appeared beside Troy and said.

Muyue had only struck three times from start to finish, but two of those times had killed someone, and once she had precisely intercepted her sneak attack.

Troy nodded. He had no sense of a duel; as long as he could kill the enemy, any means were acceptable.

"There is still one more." The appearance of Okina Mi made Kakashi's heart sink completely to the bottom.

Someone who had hidden until now to appear—he did not believe they would be an ordinary character; they might even be a Jonin.

Although it was four on four on the field, the enemy might have two Jonin, and he was now immobilized by an unknown jutsu. Kakashi could no longer see any hope of victory.

"Teacher Muyue, you go. Take the client and leave. We'll stay behind to cover you," Kakashi said.

Since there was no hope of victory, it was better to let the one with the most potential among them escape to complete the escort mission.

Kakashi believed that if they fought desperately to hold off the enemy, with Muyue's strength it would be no problem to break out while carrying one person.

"Kakashi, what are you talking about? You want Teacher Muyue to become someone who abandons her comrades!" Obito suddenly punched out a large volume of flames and roared angrily.

The frustration in his heart caused Obito's attacks to lose order, and he was gradually suppressed by Luokebi.

"This is the best choice right now," Kakashi replied calmly.

The gap in combat strength between the two sides was too great; the opponent had two Jonin and two Chunin, all experienced, while on their side, Might Guy and Obito both lacked experience. Kakashi did not expect them to be able to defeat any single enemy.

"Teacher Muyue's youth doesn't end here." Might Guy erupted with a kick that pushed back the Cloud ninja as he spoke, also disagreeing with Kakashi's words.

First, he believed that Muyue had not yet used her full strength; second, he thought Muyue would never abandon her disciples and flee with the client.

"I'm really being underestimated." Muyue smiled slightly and adjusted her glasses.

"Kakashi, perhaps you can trust your teacher a little more."

Kakashi looked at Muyue, only to see that her smile was still as warm as usual, showing no trace of worry.

"Maybe Teacher Muyue really can do it?" A thought arose in Kakashi's heart.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

A large number of shuriken came flying again.

There will be another chapter later, possibly quite late; it's recommended not to stay up late.