As the four members of Team 11 were engulfed in flames, Kakashi quickly cast a Water Release technique.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Hissss...
A turbulent wall of water clashed with the surging flames from the explosion, sending clouds of steam billowing into the air.
In an instant, mist filled the surroundings.
Sensing subtle tremors beneath his feet, Hyuga Kagami warned, "Everyone, be careful!"
Before his words had even faded, sharp earth spikes erupted from the ground, shooting toward the four.
Thanks to Kagami's warning, the team leapt apart, each landing on surrounding tree trunks, narrowly dodging the silent attack.
"Where are the enemies?" Guy asked, glancing around.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of explosions answered him.
The force of the blasts scattered Team 11 again, pulling them away from each other and widening the distance between them.
The mist posed little threat to Hyuga Kagami, thanks to his Tenseigan, but the continuous explosions forced him to keep moving through the forest.
As the distance between him and his teammates grew, Kagami began to realize the attackers' intent.
Sure enough, a figure suddenly blocked Kagami's path.
Kagami furrowed his brow. "You!"
The figure was none other than the captain of Iwagakure's Beheading Unit, who had once cooperated with them in the Land of Demons to fight the demon spirit Moryo.
Kagami had considered going after these Iwagakure ninja for revenge, but with more pressing matters at hand, he had suppressed that urge.
He hadn't expected them to come looking for him instead.
The Iwa captain smirked. "Surprised to see me?"
Kagami asked, "I am curious—how did you track us down?"
Given the precision of the ambush, it was clear the Iwagakure ninja knew Team 11's route in advance. Kagami was confident they hadn't been followed, especially with his Tenseigan scanning the area regularly.
"Squeak, squeak..."
Just then, a tiny head popped out from the captain's collar.
Upon closer inspection, it was an ordinary-looking squirrel.
"A squirrel!?" Kagami frowned. "No, it's a ninja beast."
Ninja beasts came in all shapes and sizes. As long as they could manipulate chakra, even the most mundane animals could become ninja beasts.
"His name is Biru. He can track any familiar scent within several kilometers," the captain said. "Knowing you're from the Hyuga clan, of course I wouldn't tail you myself."
Kagami raised an eyebrow. "You remember me?"
It became clear the captain had recognized him from the very battle where Kagami had nearly died. The memory hadn't only stuck with Kagami—it had stuck with his enemy too.
The Iwa captain's smile faded. "A year ago, you were just some no-name brat. Now look at you. Konoha really is crawling with geniuses."
Kagami said coldly, "Sounds like you regret letting me live."
Gritting his teeth, the captain snarled, "Damn right I do! I should've finished you off then. Now I have to correct that mistake. I won't allow another 'Yellow Flash' to rise in Konoha. This is for my village!"
Hyuga Kagami, not even fifteen, was already capable of engaging in Tailed Beast-level battles. If allowed to grow, he could become another Minato Namikaze—a nightmare Iwagakure couldn't afford.
BOOM...
Distant explosions echoed, suggesting the rest of Team 11 had also run into enemy forces.
Seeing Kagami slightly distracted, the captain added, "Don't worry about your friends. You'll be seeing them soon... in the afterlife. Remember my name—Iwa Modo, the man who killed you."
He then clapped his hands together. "Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"
As Iwa Modo sank into the earth, Kagami quickly jumped onto a nearby tree, activating his Tenseigan to scan for underground movements.
But oddly, he found nothing. Perhaps Modo had tunneled too deep.
Suddenly, the sound of rushing water filled the air.
Kagami turned and saw a massive torrent surging toward him.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!?"
While not directly threatening from atop a tree, Kagami knew someone like Modo wouldn't waste chakra for nothing.
Once the deluge passed, the ground was a muddy mess.
The wet, sludgy earth made Kagami uneasy. He couldn't pinpoint why, but something was off.
Whoosh...
Whoosh...
Whoosh...
Suddenly, dozens of thumb-sized mud pellets burst from the ground, whistling toward Kagami like bullets.
Without hesitation, Kagami activated his Rotation technique.
While it protected him, it couldn't protect the tree he stood on.
In the blink of an eye, the towering tree was riddled with holes. Amid flying splinters, it collapsed with a crash.
Kagami pushed off, aiming to land on another nearby tree.
But long, whip-like tendrils of muddy water lashed out, wrapping around his legs and yanking him downward.
THUD!
With a heavy thump, Kagami slammed into the ground.
"Cough, cough..."
He curled up, blood dripping from his lips.
The impact had disoriented him, making it hard to breathe. It felt like one of his ribs had snapped.
Seeing his prey downed, Iwa Modo emerged from the earth, revealing half his body. "Seems I overestimated you. The Byakugan isn't as strong as I thought."
Despite the pain, a sly smile tugged at the corner of Kagami's mouth.
Iwa Modo froze. Sensing something was wrong, he tried to sink back into the ground.
But a sudden, powerful suction force yanked him upward from the earth...