Chương 85: Relentless

***Daiken pov My attention snapped back to the second ANBU. Now that I was closer, I could clearly see his mask, a mole. He wore the same uniform as the first ANBU. I sighed quietly. A lightning and wind user first, and now a water specialist. Even if I had tried, I couldn't have come up with a better combination to assassinate myself. Having survived a war, I knew exactly what was happening here. To kill a powerful shinobi, Information and careful preparation were your best weapons.

A mocking chuckle slipped out as I said.

"You seriously think you can kill me? Weaklings like you stand no chance. Might as well save us some time and kill yourselves." The agent remained silent, unmoving. I shrugged to myself. Well, it was worth a try. I wasn't exactly sure why he hadn't attacked yet, but I had a strong feeling he was giving the lightning user a chance to recover from the strain of rushing here. Probably recovering a bit from the injury I'd given him, too. That suited me fine, though, since I was injured as well.

Considering my situation, escaping was the only solution I saw. Both were clearly jonin, just like me, with all the skill that implied. Since escaping was the plan, then I had to do it now, using everything I had left. Without another thought, I pressed my hand to the ground, ignoring the sharp, biting pain in my side. My chakra felt shaky and unstable, but I knew how to handle injuries and exhaustion, that's how I'd survived the war. I could still shape the terrain if I focused.

"Earth Style: Stone Breaker Step" The ground between me, the mole, and the last known position of the badger split apart violently. A harsh, splintering sound ripped through the trees as the forest floor cracked in a jagged line. Roots snapped like whips, and stones were ripped from the earth, collapsing into a rough trench. A large tree groaned loudly as it crashed down, its thick trunk slamming into the new gap like a barrier. It wouldn't stop them forever, but it might buy me a little time.

I didn't stay to check if it worked. My legs moved instantly, pushing me forward, flickering in the opposite direction. As I moved, I quickly formed a hand sign and a shadow clone appeared in a burst of smoke. The clone turned without hesitation, facing the ANBU direction behind me as it weaved hand signs.

"Fire Style: Ember Bloom" A sharp pulse of chakra surged out, scattering bright, glowing embers in every direction. The embers drifted gently, filling the forest with tiny sparks. Each ember carried a faint chakra signature, false signals meant to confuse any sensor foolish enough to rely solely on their instincts. The forest lit up chaotically, misleading the enemy into believing I'd gone in multiple directions. I dropped low and moved swiftly to the right, hugging the tree line. I didn't need to win.

All I had to do was vanish. ****Daiken's Shadow Clone POV I stood perfectly still, reaching out with my senses, trying to pinpoint their movements. Then I felt it, they were approaching rapidly. Both of them. Flanking carefully. They thought I was running, injured, and desperate. Good. Let them think exactly that. Taking a steady breath despite the pain in my ribs, I dropped to one knee. My hands moved slowly and deliberately, forming seals I had practiced countless times before slamming them against the ground.

First earth. Then fire.

"Fire & Earth Combination Jutsu... Molten Fissure Strike" My chakra poured into the ground. The earth beneath the trees split open violently, a jagged line ripping outward through stone and roots without resistance. An instant later, fire chakra burst upward through the fissure, thick and searing, burning roots and trees alike and creating a rising wave of flames. The red-hot flow surged through the trench, filling it completely. The temperature rose in a heartbeat.

The quiet forest was suddenly filled with the crackle of roots burning, wood splintering, and stone hissing as it melted under the heat. This jutsu wasn't something you often saw anymore. Too risky to use, and it needed tremendous chakra control on top of the heavy chakra cost... Most modern shinobi didn't bother learning it. But I wasn't most shinobi.

The badger hadn't expected the jutsus to be this powerful and this fast, which caught him off guard and made him react a bit slower as he tried to leap backward through the trees. But he was too slow. The burning flow splashed against his foot, searing his leg and catching his cloak. Flames climbed quickly up his side as burning roots and branches crackled around him. He twisted away, retreating behind cover as fire licked at his body. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road.

If you see it on Amazon, please report it. I didn't hesitate. I moved immediately, precise steps carrying me away. I had injured one of them and bought myself a few seconds, maybe less. But it was enough to vanish and lead them further away from my real body. However, the mole-masked agent didn't retreat at all. He planted both hands firmly onto the ground, moving with sharp, precise movements, no wasted effort. He faced the incoming molten wave calmly, like it meant nothing.

"Water Release: Hydro Rampart" Chakra rushed from his palms into the wet ground. A deep, watery rumble answered back. Then suddenly, an enormous surge of water burst upward, forming a thick wall directly in front of the molten flow. It wasn't elegant, it didn't need to be. The water slammed into my jutsu, instantly erupting into scalding steam. Visibility vanished completely, replaced by choking vapor. The molten flow cooled rapidly beneath the torrent of water.

Steaming scar etched across the forest floor, covered by a thin layer of water. The mole stood up, soaked cloak dripping, one glove still steaming lightly. But he did not sustain any new injuries. His eyes scanned the trees silently. I was already trying to move away, desperately thinking about what to do next. I'd used almost all my chakra in that last jutsu I couldn't manage anything big or small now. My only option was to try to lead them away and engage in close-range combat if they got too close.

A heavy sigh escaped me as I thought, "I hope my real body escapes, or my death will be pointless." Then I sensed it the mole was closing in quickly. As soon as he got close enough, he stopped suddenly, touching the ground with both hands.

"Water Release: Binding Current Snare" The wet earth beneath my feet rippled quietly. A whirlpool surged around my ankles before shooting upward, coiling tightly around my legs. I didn't have enough chakra left to break free. The main body had only given me just enough to hinder them, not fight a full battle. I struggled, trying to jump clear, but the water held tight, dragging me down. I twisted desperately, trying to break free, to force out one last burst of chakra. But it was too late.

The water snapped shut around me. My chakra destabilized. I tried to flicker away with the last embers of power. Nothing happened. A moment later, I vanished in a puff of smoke. The Badger caught up to the Mole. After a quick glance, they split apart to widen their search, but remained close enough that they could regroup quickly if either one found their target. ***Daiken's POV I was now low on chakra. I'd used far too many jutsu, some of them flashy and draining.

Hopefully, my clone had bought me a little more time. As the clone's memories returned to me, I sighed heavily. Both agents were injured now, which was good news. The badger had a leg wound that should have slowed him down significantly, but his lightning and wind chakra would still keep him just a bit faster than me. The water ANBU was the real danger. His entire role was to counter and suppress me, letting the lightning user finish me off. They'd thought of everything.

A deep, unsettling doubt started to grow in my mind. Though my fighting style was known, their counters were almost too perfect. Iwa might have some intel about me, but not detailed enough to perfectly counter every move I made. A grim realization formed in my mind, terrifying and heartbreaking. This might actually be an inside job, coming from within Konoha itself. Then I sensed it, a chakra signature moving directly toward me. A grim resolve settled into my bones. This speed could only mean one thing.

The badger would catch up to me soon enough. Even though I had masked my chakra as best I could, he had to be a powerful sensor. That would explain how he found me so quickly the first time. I had no other choice left. I needed to take him out fast before the mole caught up too, or I'd lose any real chance to escape. It was finally time to fight to the death. A/N: This is my first ever high-level fight, or at least the second part of one, haha.

If you're a Naruto lore nerd or fight scene expert, I would love to hear what you think. But honestly, if you're just a casual reader who never comments, your feedback means a lot to me because most of my readers are like that. So please, even if you feel shy, drop a comment and tell me what you think about my style for these bigger fights. It will really help me in the long run. And if you are not sure about something, feel free to wait until the whole battle is done to see if I addressed your concern.

Your opinion matters, so speak up and let me know. I am excited to hear it!