*Chapter 39: Playing with Fog at Night’s Gate*

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

One of the rogue ninjas unleashed a defensive jutsu, blocking the fireball attacks raining down from the sky.

He then boarded the warship to ensure it remained unharmed.

Meanwhile, the remaining rogue ninjas launched their assault on Yoru and the others.

Ninjutsu clashed against ninjutsu—fighting magic with magic. Their division of roles was clear.

*"Let’s move! Cover the Fire and Water Style teams!"*

Seeing this, Tenshin barked his orders and led Yoru and the other available shinobi to intercept the attackers.

*"Brothers, it’s assassination time!"*

As Tenshin’s group charged forward, the rogue ninjas tasked with the offensive broke into excited grins.

Then, in unison, they formed hand seals and shouted:

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

*"Heh heh heh… Despair in the mist!"*

A thick fog instantly swallowed the area, blanketing everything within several hundred meters.

The Fire and Water Style teams’ vision was immediately obscured—the enemy’s movements became impossible to track.

Tenshin’s voice boomed through the haze:

*"Stick together! Don’t give them openings!"*

Orui and the others didn’t hesitate, quickly forming a tight group.

*"Heh heh heh… Useless, Cloud ninja! In this mist, we rule!"*

The rogue ninjas sneered at Tenshin’s strategy.

*"It won’t work. In the Hidden Mist, we hold all the advantages!"*

*"No one defeats us in our own fog. Accept your fate!"*

*"Just give up, Cloud scum! You won’t make it out alive!"*

Ignoring their taunts, Tenshin called out calmly:

*"Kōkō, you’re from Kirigakure. Can you break this?"*

Though the mist blocked his sight, Tenshin’s voice remained steady.

As the leader, panic wasn’t an option—if he faltered, the whole team would collapse. Besides, Yoru couldn’t have gone far.

*"Either defeat the caster or use a Wind Style strong enough to disperse the mist. Otherwise, we’re stuck in it."*

*"But don’t worry—it’s just Hidden Mist Jutsu. Not as terrifying as you think."*

*"As long as we don’t split up and work with sensory types, we can hold our own."*

Hearing this, Tenshin swiftly issued new orders.

But when it came to Yoru’s role… he was already isolated.

Almost as if sensing Tenshin’s dilemma, Yoru spoke up:

*"Ah, well. If I’m alone, so be it. No need to stress, Captain."*

*"Might as well test their mist skills anyway."*

With a sharp whoosh of movement, his voice trailed off:

*"I’ll go ahead!"*

Tenshin cursed inwardly—"That reckless idiot!"—before barking at Orui and the others:

*"Stick with the sensory ninja and advance!"*

The rogue ninjas overheard everything.

*"Huh. Never expected a Kirigakure traitor among them."*

*"Tch. Doesn’t matter. Knowing the counter and pulling it off are two different things!"*

---

*"That bastard’s charging at us alone? He’s got a death wish!"*

*"Think being from Kirigakure makes him immune to our mist?"*

*"Let’s teach him a lesson! If he disrespects the Hidden Mist, we’ll show him true power!"*

Their voices echoed through the fog—some furious, others exhilarated.

*"Got it!"*

*"Heh heh heh… Let the slaughter begin!"*

*"Cloud scum, prepare to tremble!"*

The eighty-odd rogue ninjas split into sixteen squads, scattering into the mist to hunt.

Meanwhile, at the fog’s edge, pirates aboard their ships readied for battle.

Each group had one or two sensory ninjas directing them:

*"Attack on my command. Understood?"*

*"Yes, sir!"* roared the pirates.

This strategy had never failed them. They were certain today would be no different.

---

*Yoru’s Side*

*"Fear? Absolute power? Heh. We’ll see who’s afraid—and who gets crushed."*

Listening to their jeers, Yoru smirked.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu."

He cast a weakened version, just enough to sharpen his senses.

Then—

*"Heh heh heh… Kid, since you’re volunteering to die, we’ll oblige!"*

Three rogue ninjas lunged at him from different angles.

*"Die!"*

They were certain—no one could evade a triple assault. One slip-up, and endless attacks would follow, grinding him down until he fell in agony.

But—

They’d picked the wrong target.

*"Splat!"*

A flash of steel.

A cold sting at their throats.

Their vision blurred with blood.

Fingers touched their necks—only to find gaping wounds.

*"H-How…?"*

Eyes wide, they sank into the sea, disbelief etched on their faces.

A nearby rogue ninja saw it all.

*"Ghk—!"*

A shudder ran down his spine.

Pure terror gripped him.

He spun and fled—

Alone, he was dead.

But—

No prey escaped Yoru.

With a chilling grin, he called out:

*"Turning your back? Bad move."*

Then—

*"Squelch!"*

Another flash. Another corpse sinking into the depths.

Instant kill.

*"Yotarō’s squad… wiped out in seconds?"*

*"W-What the hell? This guy’s not normal!"*

*"How’s he moving freely in our mist?!"*

The nearby rogue ninjas paled.

Four dead before they’d even struck.

Even for hardened killers, Yoru’s brutality was unnerving.

For the first time… doubt crept in.

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