new Ninja

Thwip-thwip-thwip—! 

The Rain Needles lived up to their reputation—piercing effortlessly through the miniature whirlwind before slamming into the spinning Water Prison Barrier. 

This defensive technique, a modified imitation of the Hyuga's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, held strong under the high-level Water Nature Transformation. It even bore a resemblance to Water Style: Water Wall, deflecting every last needle with ease. 

As quickly as the storm had come, it vanished. Umino Yoru immediately dispelled the Revolving Water Prison. 

The barrier's defense was formidable, but its chakra cost was brutal. 

In mere seconds, over half his reserves were drained. 

With the barrier gone, the whirlwind dissipated, rustling the surrounding trees and sending leaves fluttering across the battlefield—softening the killing intent that had saturated the air. 

"We… survived?!" 

Inuzuka Ryou blinked in disbelief, patting himself down to confirm he wasn't a pincushion hallucinating his own survival. 

"Amazing!" 

"As expected of our captain! To master such a powerful water defense…" 

Shukido and Kosugi cheered, relief washing over them—along with newfound admiration for their leader. 

**"Quit gawking. Move!"** Yoru barked, shielding the trio while scanning for the next attack. 

**"So, Konoha Jonin—you do have tricks up your sleeve,"** the dark-faced Special Jonin sneered. "I thought you were just a puppet specialist faking incompetence in ninjutsu. But no… you're a water-style master." 

Five hand seals per second. High-level water manipulation. 

He should've known—another layer of deception. 

If not for the man's limited chakra, this water prowess alone would've cemented him as Jonin-tier. 

From now on, assume every mid/low-rank water technique is a threat. 

Thankfully, he'd reclaimed a Black Ant Puppet. Without it? No contest. 

**"Close-quarters combat. No seals, no water jutsu."** 

The enemy's taijutsu was mediocre—Chunin-level at best. That was the weak point. 

"DIE!" 

Abandoning ranged tactics, the puppet-user unleashed a flurry of brutal melee strikes. 

Under the assault, Yoru's footing wavered. 

The battlefield's rhythm—once his to control—began tilting in the Sand ninja's favor. 

Sound Wave Radar still mapped every move, but knowing and reacting were different beasts. 

Earlier, poison and lost puppets had reduced the Special Jonin to elite Chunin strength. Now, with Black Ant back in play? 

If he hadn't foolishly given up ranged attacks, I'd already be dead. 

Relentless pressure kept Yoru from disengaging—and from reaching the river's safety. 

Then—an opening. 

With a mental command, the water bats hidden in his flak jacket shot toward the enemy's face. 

Weak as they were (barely Genin-tier), the sudden distraction worked. 

"Shit—!" 

The Special Jonin's exaggerated panic was almost comical. 

"解魚斬—Severing Tide!" 

Yoru's blade flashed—a single, lethal line of condensed killing intent. 

"CAPTAIN! It's a puppet clone!" 

From the riverbank, Inuzuka Ryou's nose caught the deception. 

"Damn it—!" 

Moonlight Yoru spotted the trap too late. His momentary distraction cost him— 

**"Distracted? Fatal."** 

The spiky-haired Jonin struck: "疾風斬—Gale Slash!" 

Yoru barely dodged, but the wind-blade sheared through his right sleeve, painting it crimson. Bone glinted beneath the gash as his *Blade * clattered to the ground. 

Kneeling, disarmed—defeat was inevitable. 

Meanwhile, Yoru feigned realization, eyes widening in "horror" as he tried retracting his blade. 

"Too late." 

The Special Jonin's smirk was venomous. 

CLANG! 

The blade struck metal—the "ninja" before him reverting to a Black Ant Puppet. 

And the real enemy? 

Already behind him, kunai aimed at his spine. 

"Perish." 

The Special Jonin's eyes gleamed with murderous delight. 

That water barrier had blocked vision—the perfect cover for this switch. 

"Hunt long enough, and the prey bites back." 

"Walk the river's edge long enough, and you will get wet." 

A deceiver, deceived by his own game—what poetic justice. 

"Heh." 

Unseen by all, Yoru's lips curled. 

Sound Wave Radar had sensed it all. 

This "ambush"? Expected. 

His panic? An act. 

"Leaf-Style: Substitution Jutsu!" 

The kunai stabbed wood—splitting the log cleanly with wind-chakra-enhanced force. 

"WHAT?! How?!" 

The Special Jonin's shock was palpable. No one reacted that fast! 

…Unless. 

Was this man actually an Elite Jonin all along?! 

Another deception?!