The refugee camp in the northeastern part of the Land of Fire had long been engulfed in war.
The dilapidated tents were charred by Lightning Release, sparks flickered on the burnt wood, and the refugees huddled in corners, not daring to breathe loudly.
The battle in the center of the camp had reached a fever pitch.
Anko clutched her bleeding left shoulder, cold sweat trickling down her cheek from her forehead, the Kunai in her hand trembling in the lightning.
At this moment, she was desperately trying to block Darui's attack, but could only barely maintain a stalemate.
Darui stood opposite her, Lightning Chakra crackling in his hand, each punch carrying destructive power.
"Anko, with your meager strength, you dare to stop me? If you don't move, I'll take care of you too."
Anko gritted her teeth and dodged, the lightning grazing her arm and blasting a large hole in the tent behind her. She staggered back, her Chakra largely depleted.
Her arm was numb from blocking the lightning, but she still stared intently at Darui. "If you want to capture Hinata, you'll have to get through me first."
On the other side, Hinata's situation was equally difficult, her Byakugan glowed with a faint blue light.
Samui held a lightning blade, moving as fast as lightning, the blade wrapped in lightning, striking towards Hinata's vital points.
"Little Hyuga girl, don't think you can beat me just because you have the Byakugan."
Gentle Fist: Vacuum Palm!
Hinata thrust out a palm, and red Tailed Beast Chakra surged from her palm, forming an invisible Chakra shockwave.
Lightning and Chakra collided.
Samui was knocked back two steps, her eyes full of surprise. "This Chakra... you're a Jinchuriki, then I definitely can't let you go."
Hinata didn't answer, Tailed Beast Chakra circulated more rapidly around her, and she extended her hands in a claw shape.
Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists!
Two fierce lion heads condensed on her fists, bringing with them a whistling wind, and struck towards Samui.
This attack was astonishingly powerful, far exceeding Chunin level, and Samui could only block with her blade. The moment the lightning blade collided with the lion heads, her arm was numbed, and she was forced back three steps before regaining her balance.
Meanwhile, Shino and Kiba were working together against C, but both had reached their limits.
The insects around Shino scattered in the air, but were constantly hit by C's Lightning Release, black insect corpses falling to the ground, piling up in a small heap.
His face was pale, and there were few insects left in his sleeves. He could only barely form a defense with the remaining insects.
"C's Lightning Release counters my insects. If this continues, we won't last much longer."
Kiba, holding Akamaru, circled to C's side, trying to find an opportunity to ambush him.
"Shino, I'll distract him."
But C's sensory abilities were extremely strong. Before they could get close, he turned and unleashed a Lightning Release.
"Don't waste your energy, a Genin's ambush is useless against me."
The lightning struck Kiba's shoulder guard, causing him to scream, and fall to the ground with Akamaru.
Akamaru whimpered and got up, shielding Kiba, but could only bare his teeth, completely helpless.
Kiba clutched his bleeding shoulder guard, his eyes filled with unwillingness. He and Akamaru were only Genin level. Facing a Jonin like C, they couldn't even manage a decent ambush.
"Running away? Why aren't you running anymore?"
Darui knocked Anko away and quickly rushed towards Hinata.
"I didn't expect you to be a Jinchuriki, but even with Tailed Beast Chakra, you're no match for me. Come back to Kumogakure with me obediently, and perhaps I can spare these refugees."
Hinata bit her lower lip, Tailed Beast Chakra surged wildly around her, but appeared chaotic due to her unstable control.
She knew she couldn't last much longer, but looking at the refugees behind her and her injured companions, she still forced herself to speak "No... I won't go with you. I'd rather die than let the Byakugan and the Tailed Beast fall into Kumogakure's hands."
"Stubborn!"
Darui snorted coldly, the Storm Release energy sphere in his palm about to be thrown.
Just then, a pale golden pillar of Chakra suddenly descended from the sky, landing in the center of the refugee camp.
As the light pillar dispersed, Shun's figure slowly appeared.
He wore a black ninja uniform, and merely by standing there, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire refugee camp.
"Uh... Shun..."
Darui's expression instantly froze, and the Storm Chakra in his hand dissipated uncontrollably. He felt a huge force pressing down on him, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably, and even breathing became difficult.
Samui and C's faces turned pale, their bodies as if bound by invisible chains, unable to move even a finger.
"Kumogakure ninja, you certainly have a lot of guts."
Shun's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a cold warning.
"Daring to act in a refugee camp that the Land of Water is responsible for, and even trying to capture Konoha ninja to steal Kekkei Genkais. Do you think the people of Kumogakure are so tough that they can't die?"
Darui trembled all over, unable to utter a complete sentence. "Uchiha... Shun-sama... we... we were just following orders..."
Shun sneered, scaring Darui's face pale, "I don't care whose orders you're following. Remember my words: do not provoke anyone related to the Land of Water again, including these refugees and Konoha ninjas. If I encounter you again next time, I will make the entire Kumogakure disappear from the Ninja World map."
"Yes! Yes! We remember! We won't dare again!" Darui quickly kowtowed, his voice full of fear.
C and Samui also begged for mercy repeatedly, their previous arrogance completely gone.
Shun looked at their fearful expressions and simply waved his hand. "Get out. Don't let me see you in the Land of Fire again."
The three of them, as if granted a great pardon, scrambled to their feet, not daring to linger for a moment, and quickly fled the refugee camp.
It wasn't until their figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest that the oppressive atmosphere in the refugee camp gradually dissipated.
The refugees emerged from their corners one after another, bowing and saluting. "Thank you, sir. Thank you for saving our lives."
Shun did not look at the refugees, but first walked towards the injured Anko and Kiba, condensing gentle Chakra at his fingertips and gently stroking their wounds.
The bleeding from Anko's shoulder instantly stopped, and the pain of Kiba and Akamaru also subsided.
"Are you all right?" His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable power.
Anko was stunned for a moment before realizing that Shun had saved them, and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Shun-sama. If you hadn't arrived in time, we..."
"It's good that you're alright."
Shun's gaze fell on Hinata, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Hinata, you did very well in that battle. You didn't flinch when facing an enemy stronger than yourself. And you blocked Samui's attack. This strength and mindset are superior to many Special Jonin."
Hinata's cheeks instantly flushed, and she quickly lowered her head. "Th-thank you, Shun-sama, for your praise. I... I just didn't want everyone to get hurt."
Shun looked at her flushed cheeks and then at her beautiful, clear eyes and said, "Hinata, I haven't seen you in a while, you're getting more and more beautiful. You'll definitely be a great beauty in the future."
These words made Hinata's face even redder, even her earlobes were pink, and she buried her head even lower.
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Lord... Shun-sama, you flatter me..."
Kiba next to her couldn't help but snicker, but Shino subtly nudged him with his elbow, and he stifled his laughter.
Anko looked at Hinata's shy appearance and also couldn't help but laugh, the tension from the battle instantly dissipating by more than half.
Shun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Anko and the other three. "You all should first comfort the refugees and continue with the reception mission. I have other matters, so I'll be leaving first."
"Thank you, Shun-sama. We will definitely complete the mission successfully."
Anko and the other three bowed in unison, watching Shun's figure gradually disappear into the pale golden spatial gate.
Kiba patted Hinata's shoulder and said with a smile, "Hinata, your Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists just now was amazing. Even Shun-sama praised you, that's incredible."
Shino nodded. "Next, we need to work even harder, so as not to betray Shun-sama's trust."
"Hinata, did you feel just now that Shun-sama was a bit different towards you?" Anko's voice carried a hint of teasing, her eyes full of jest.
"He praised your strength, and then said you were getting more and more beautiful. Don't forget, Shun-sama is famous as a 'big pervert' in our Land of Water, with many consorts and female secretaries. Now he's so enthusiastic towards you, could it be... he's taken a liking to you?"
These words were like a small stone, instantly stirring up a thousand waves in Hinata's heart.
She was still savoring Shun's praise when the words "taken a liking to you" suddenly echoed in her ears. Her cheeks instantly felt as if scorched by fire, turning red from her earlobes to the base of her neck, even her earlobes glowing a burning red.
She suddenly looked up, her eyes flustered, and even her speech became stuttering. "An... Anko-sensei! You... don't talk nonsense! How could Shun-sama... how could he take a liking to me..."
But even as she said this, the scene just now replayed uncontrollably in her mind.
Shun stood before her, his eyes gentle. "...getting more and more beautiful...".
It made her heart pound as if it would leap out of her chest, and even her breathing became rapid.
Hinata subconsciously whispered, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "Shun-sama... likes me?"
Kiba, who was helping Akamaru groom his fur, immediately leaned over when he heard this and teased, "Yo, Hinata, are you admitting it? Shun-sama really was very different towards you just now."
Akamaru also joined in, barking "Woof woof" twice at Hinata, as if echoing Kiba's words.