While Asuka and his squad drew the enemy's attention, Minazuki Murasaki and the others seized the opportunity to infiltrate the Konoha outpost.
"Stay sharp," Miyagawa Ryosuke reminded them quietly. "Lord Asuka has drawn away most of Konoha's forces. We must use this chance to gather every piece of intelligence we can."
"Relax, Ryosuke," Hohzuki Mangetsu waved dismissively. "You know what I'm capable of. This kind of mission is easy."
"Mangetsu," Murasaki said coolly, "this mission is critical. If you mess it up, Lord Asuka will definitely have a long talk with you."
Hearing the warning in her tone, Mangetsu pouted and mimed zipping his mouth shut.
"Enough," Ryosuke cut in. "Mangetsu, scout the west. Murasaki, take the south. I'll check the east. We regroup here afterward."
With tasks assigned, the three separated.
---
Meanwhile, after unleashing Shikotsumyaku: Sawarabi no Mai to block most of Konoha's forces, Asuka led Squad Four toward the border of the Land of Fire at full speed.
They leapt from tree to tree as Konoha shinobi pursued relentlessly.
"Lord Asuka, this won't work," an experienced Chunin said urgently as he caught up. "At this rate, we'll be overtaken. Let me stay behind with a few others and hold them off!"
"No," Asuka replied firmly. "You keep moving. If someone must stay, it will be me."
"But—"
"There are no 'buts.' I'm your captain. I'm stronger than any of you. If I stay behind, your chances of survival increase."
"No more discussion. Move!"
The squad accelerated.
Behind them, Konoha shinobi gave chase, shuriken whistling through the air.
"They're fast!"
"Push harder! Don't let them reach the border!"
The distance between hunter and hunted fluctuated constantly.
---
Trouble also struck the reconnaissance team.
Mangetsu and Murasaki regrouped and waited anxiously for Ryosuke.
"Why isn't he back yet? Don't tell me he was discovered…"
"Senior Ryosuke is too experienced to be caught easily," Murasaki replied, though worry flickered in her voice.
Suddenly, distant explosions echoed.
Moments later, Miyagawa Ryosuke staggered into view, drenched in blood.
They rushed to support him.
"Senior Ryosuke! What happened?"
He coughed up blood. "I was discovered while copying Konoha's defense layout. I didn't expect a Yamanaka sensory shinobi to be stationed there…"
He wiped his mouth weakly and shoved a scroll into Murasaki's hands.
"I can't make it out. Take this intelligence and go. I'll cover you."
"What nonsense!" Murasaki protested.
"Yeah, Ryosuke, don't talk like that," Mangetsu snapped. "As long as I'm here, you won't die."
Ignoring Ryosuke's objections, Mangetsu hoisted him onto his shoulder and fled alongside Murasaki.
---
Back on Asuka's side, crisis struck.
Just as they began to shake off their pursuers—
"Eight Trigrams: Empty Palm!"
A powerful burst of chakra slammed into two squad members, blasting them away before they could react.
A Konoha patrol unit had intercepted from the flank. The leader, veins bulging around his eyes, had clearly locked onto them with the Byakugan long before striking.
Worse still, the original pursuers were closing in again.
Asuka halted.
"I'll hold them here. Kenta, evacuate everyone immediately."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and charged back toward the enemy.
---
Asuka stopped before the Konoha forces—and began spinning rapidly.
The air stirred.
Then it roared.
A massive tornado formed around him, uprooting trees and hurling shinobi into the air.
This was another mutant ability he had unlocked—derived from Riptide of the Hellfire Club, granting control over violent whirlwinds.
When the storm subsided, the battlefield was in ruins. Few Konoha shinobi remained standing.
Among them was Nara Shikaku, breathing heavily.
"What kind of technique was that? I've never heard of the Kaguya Clan producing tornadoes…"
Another shinobi muttered, "He's full of strange abilities. I've never seen bone spikes used like that either."
Asuka surveyed them calmly.
"There's no benefit in continuing this pursuit. Why not end it here?"
Silence.
After a moment, Nara Shikaku replied steadily, "Your strength is impressive. But Konoha does not retreat so easily."
A single leaf drifted to the ground.
Then both sides charged.
Bone blades clashed against steel, sparks scattering in the darkness.
Asuka fought against ten at once, weaving through attacks like a deadly dancer. Every motion claimed another life.
Blood splashed across the battlefield, painting it crimson.
As Konoha's numbers dwindled, fear crept into their ranks. They stared at the blood-soaked figure before them, unable to advance.
"M-Monster!" one shinobi finally screamed, his will breaking.
Asuka stood covered in blood, clothes torn, wounds littering his body.
But before their eyes, every injury healed at visible speed.
Within seconds, his skin was flawless once more—save for the shredded clothing and the blood staining it.
He stepped forward.
The Konoha shinobi stepped back.
He took another step.
They retreated again.
The tension was suffocating.
Then—
Asuka stopped.
He glanced at them one final time and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Only after he disappeared did the Konoha shinobi release the breath they had been holding.
No one suggested continuing the pursuit.
---
For 24 hours, every 3 power stones = 1 chapters.