Chapter 35: I Used to Be a Great Runner, Until I Took a Punch to the Knee

Words : 1222 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

On the attic, Kakashi’s gaze was filled with seriousness. "A Hidden Mist Jonin, be careful!" "Abandon the Hidden Mist ninja, let them take the person and leave." "I’m afraid that..." Kakashi hesitated. The enemy might not be here to rescue but to kill their employer or to target them for some other reason. He had sensed it earlier—their teacher seemed to have quietly gone out, and now they had no way to confront an enemy Jonin. "If that’s really the case, we’ll fight to the death and let Kurenai take him away." Kyohiko gritted his teeth. In the mist, Biwa Juzo sneered. "You brats, how much are you getting paid for this mission to risk your lives? Drop your weapons, and I might consider letting you live. Otherwise... I’ll slaughter all of you!" They wanted to capture them? Kakashi’s heart sank. This was the worst-case scenario. At this moment, the mist had become so thick that it was impossible to see anything beyond three or four steps. "Stay close to me." Kyohiko whispered. He could barely sense his surroundings by dispersing chakra, avoiding being completely blind. Kakashi nodded silently, holding the White Fang Dagger behind him. In the next moment, Kyohiko vanished with a Body Flicker. At the same spot— Boom! The Executioner’s Blade sliced off a large piece of wooden plank. Kyohiko and Kakashi had both used Body Flicker to escape, but instead of running, they closed in on Hoshigaki Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu. Zap! Zap! Zap! Lightning Release: Earth Flow! Kakashi acted in perfect sync. Earlier, when the mist wasn’t as thick, Kyohiko had attacked, and the enemy’s body had turned into water. But the second time, when Kakashi used Lightning Release to complement Kyohiko’s Water Release, the enemy had chosen to dodge. The enemy might be afraid of Lightning Release! Hozuki Mangetsu immediately dodged, but at that moment, the accumulated water on the ground suddenly rose, forming a swirling vortex. A special Water Wall, controlled by the user, rotated and contracted. However, this time, the Water Wall wasn’t for defense. It didn’t need to be strong; it just needed to cover Hozuki Mangetsu. Kakashi increased his chakra output, and the lightning spread through the water, even permeating the air due to the mist and water droplets, creating a numbing sensation. The water surged, engulfing Hozuki Mangetsu. He had already used a Water Clone, but the swirling water and droplets spread everywhere. The powerful current flowed through them and into his body. Electricity coursed through him, leaving Hozuki Mangetsu’s mind blank. Bang! With a sound, Hozuki Mangetsu, who had just used Body Flicker to escape, fell from the air, landing awkwardly on Hoshigaki Kisame, who was halfway through untying himself. He never expected... After just two or three exchanges with Kyohiko, the boy had figured out his weakness and used ninjutsu so precisely and flexibly that he was caught off guard by the Lightning Release. Now, he couldn’t move. As the water wall fell, Kakashi charged in with his blade, but Mangetsu’s body could still turn into water, avoiding the lethal strike. The Water Release technique made him immune to blades. Hozuki Mangetsu recovered. In the next moment, a large sword mercilessly slashed through his head, aiming for Kakashi. In the mist, Biwa Juzo’s face twisted with rage. However, below, Kyohiko crouched low, holding a kunai, and dashed forward, aiming the kunai straight for Mangetsu’s heart. So fast! Biwa Juzo’s pupils contracted, and he quickly raised his foot to kick the kunai away. He was fast. By Biwa Juzo’s judgment, this kick would be hard to dodge. Slap! Kyohiko’s right hand was firmly kicked, and the kunai flew away. But. He grabbed Biwa Juzo’s foot with his other hand. "Be careful!" Hoshigaki Kisame, still tied up, shouted. He understood all too well. This black-haired kid seemed ordinary, but he was actually quite cunning. The kunai wasn’t meant to kill but to distract Biwa Juzo. The real killing move was the other hand! That terrifying strength was enough to make anyone who underestimated him pay a heavy price, especially at the moment of the kick. Biwa Juzo, hearing the warning, felt his hair stand on end. He immediately tried to pull his foot back. Too late! Kyohiko’s right hand had already grabbed it, and though Biwa Juzo quickly broke free, it was enough. Kyohiko’s left hand moved faster. In an instant, the killing move was upon him! The target was... The knee! Kyohiko’s mind quickly made the decision. His fist came down. The concentrated chakra exploded, turning his punch into a terrifying force. Crack! Kyohiko’s monstrous strength wasn’t on par with Tsunade’s, but it was still far beyond what Biwa Juzo could imagine. In that moment, Biwa Juzo’s knee buckled. That single punch nearly dislocated his knee, tearing ligaments and leaving him barely able to stand. He stumbled, using his sword to steady himself. "Ah!!!" A moment of underestimation had led to disaster. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes bloodshot with fury. At this moment, Biwa Juzo wanted nothing more than to cut Kyohiko down with his Executioner’s Blade, but now, his priority wasn’t to kill but to protect himself. Clang! The Executioner’s Blade shifted, blocking Kakashi’s White Fang Dagger. However, Kyohiko was even more troublesome, especially with his monstrous strength. Biwa Juzo’s veins bulged on his forehead. "Fuguki, aren’t you going to do something? Kill this brat!" "You were the one who told me not to act, and now you’re telling me to act." A voice came from outside the mist. "Let’s go!" Kyohiko glanced to the side. Hozuki Mangetsu was almost recovered. Kakashi stabbed Mangetsu again with his blade. It didn’t do much damage, but it was humiliating, as the blade carried Lightning Release chakra, paralyzing Mangetsu once more. Just as he was recovering, he was immobilized again, forced to watch as Kyohiko and Kakashi took Hoshigaki Kisame and fled. As for Biwa Juzo, his attack range was limited to the area within half a step plus the reach of his Executioner’s Blade. Anything further was beyond him. "Biwa Juzo, what a disgrace!" Suikazan Fuguki laughed mockingly. As a Jonin, especially one of their caliber, to be tricked by a Genin brat and have his knee injured to the point where he couldn’t move quickly was a joke. If Biwa Juzo had just worked with Hozuki Mangetsu to rescue Hoshigaki Kisame, they would have already succeeded. Biwa Juzo’s face darkened. He had thought he could take them down in one or two moves, but these brats were slippery, not your average Genin. Now he was in a sorry state. If he had another chance, he wouldn’t underestimate that black-haired kid. But the priority now was to resolve the situation. He said coldly, "Jiraiya could return at any moment. We need to hurry and capture them!" "No need to remind me." Suikazan Fuguki moved quickly. Despite his large, bulky frame, he was surprisingly fast, closing the distance to Kyohiko and Kakashi in a few Body Flickers. Then, his hair shot out like senbon, flying toward them. Kakashi’s exposed face turned pale. They wanted to capture them alive! "What do we do?" "..." Kyohiko stepped in front of him, raising Hoshigaki Kisame as a shield. Thud! Thud! Thud! The hair needles pierced Kisame’s body. Kisame’s eyes filled with despair.

Chapter 35: I Used to Be a Great Runner, Until I Took a Punch to the Knee

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