*Chapter 38: Planning to Be a Target?*

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Facing a barrage of incoming cannon fire, Yoru and the other Kumo-nin ANBU swiftly dodged out of the way.

But while they avoided the attack, their ship wasn’t so lucky—it was instantly torn apart by the explosions.

"So their target was the ship… This just got complicated," Yoru thought, leaping back to a relatively safer spot.

Many of the cannonballs struck the water’s surface, sending massive waves crashing in all directions. A good number of the Kumo-nin had nowhere stable to land and were sent flying by the turbulent waves—whether they survived or not was anyone’s guess.

No matter how skilled they were, it meant nothing if they couldn’t fight back.

"Damn it, they were after our ship!" Oroi blurted out, as if realizing it too late.

"Heh heh heh… I thought the Kumo-nin were supposed to be something special, but turns out they’re just a bunch of landlubbers who talk big!"

"They don’t even understand the most basic rule of naval combat—protect your damn ship! All flash, no substance!"

"Yeah, exactly!"

Seeing this, the pirate captains couldn’t help but sneer in triumph.

"Keep firing! Launch multi-directional attacks and shrink their movement range!"

A commanding voice rang out from the rear of the pirate fleet.

A dragon-headed warship emerged from the pirate formation. At its bow stood a muscular man with his right arm exposed. Beside him, a middle-aged man in ornate robes surveyed the battlefield—he was the one who had just given the order.

"Yes, Captain!"

The pirates’ eyes burned with fanatical zeal as they roared: "Hahaha! The Captain’s here with his ninja squad!"

"Let’s go, boys! Show these Kumo-nin what we’re made of! Teach them that ninja aren’t so tough after all!"

"That’s right! On the open sea, we’re the true rulers—they’re just lambs to the slaughter!"

The pirates’ morale skyrocketed.

"Yuta!!!"

Amid the chaos of dodging explosive cannon fire, Yoru heard Oroi’s furious roar. His target? The muscular man standing on the dragon-headed ship.

"So that’s Yuta, our target?"

"He’s standing right beside the pirate captain… No wonder they refused to hand him over. He must be pretty valuable."

Yoru assessed the situation.

"My chakra isn’t exactly full right now. Taking out this many guys isn’t impossible, but breaking through to capture Yuta? That’s a different story."

As much as he hated to admit it, the pirates’ warships held a clear advantage on the open sea.

And that captain? He didn’t look like an easy opponent either.

"Oroi, still as reckless as ever. What’s the point of yelling? If you’ve got the guts, come and get me!"

"But we both know you can’t. You’ve always been nothing but a hotheaded brute!"

"I heard you even got humiliated by some rookie from another village recently. How pathetic."

"If I were you, I’d have slit my own throat out of shame! You’re a disgrace to the Kumo ANBU!"

For a muscular guy, Yuta had a sharp tongue—clearly, he wasn’t just brawn.

Yoru’s impression of him shifted slightly.

"You bastard!!!"

Oroi’s temper flared, and he lunged forward—

"Stop!"

—only to be blocked.

And the one stopping him? None other than his so-called "enemy," Yoru.

"What’s your problem, brat? Don’t think you can order me around!"

Oroi glared at him, his expression screaming that Yoru had better have a good explanation—or else.

"Charging in now is suicide. You really think you can take Yuta alone?"

"No, you’ll just become target practice for their entire fleet!"

"I know you’ve got tough defenses, but without chakra, you’re nothing."

"We’ve got more battles ahead—you really wanna die here?"

Yoru’s words were harsh but undeniably true. Oroi’s eyes burned with fury as he growled, "None of your damn business! Get out of my way!"

But just as he tried to force his way past—

Fzzzt!

A blade crackling with lightning rested against Oroi’s throat, freezing him in place.

It was Amashi.

"The kid’s got a point. Don’t forget—we’re a team, Oroi."

He shot Yoru an approving glance before barking orders:

"Fire and Water squads—forward! Target the enemy ships!"

"Everyone else, look for openings! Break their formation and eliminate the threats!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Kumo-nin moved into action.

Even in his rage, Oroi didn’t dare disobey Amashi’s command. He reluctantly fell back.

"Heh. Trying to hit us with Fire and Water jutsu? Not happening!"

"Assassin squad—get ready! Show them what real fear feels like!"

The moment Amashi gave his orders, the robed pirate captain also issued his own.

Behind him stood over a hundred men—all ninja, not a single one below chūnin level.

"Yes, Boss!"

They licked their lips, grinning like bloodthirsty killers.

"Yuta, stay close. Be ready to back them up."

"Even if there are only twenty-something of them, they’re still Kumo-nin. Underestimate them at your peril."

The captain was nothing if not cautious.

Yuta nodded. "Understood, Boss."

Then he turned his gaze to the sea, smirking coldly.

"You think this handful of fools can hunt me down? You’re centuries too early!"

**"Suiton: Suiryūdan!"**

Three Kumo-nin water users formed hand seals.

Instantly, massive geysers erupted beneath the pirate ships, sending violent currents crashing against their hulls.

**"Katon: Karyū no Ame!"**

Four fire-users unleashed their jutsu, turning the sky red as a rain of fireballs descended.

"Quite the spectacle… But of course, the enemy won’t just let us have our way."

Yoru watched as rogue ninja surged toward them from the pirate ships.

Their killing intent was overwhelming—these were hardened warriors who lived by the blade.

"This won’t be easy."

And he wasn’t just saying that.

Even as the Kumo-nin attacked, the pirates retaliated—a deadly volley of arrows rained down, adding to the chaos.

Between the arrows and the rogue ninja closing in, the situation was looking grim.

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