Hoki and Kujaku entered the forest where Hayama was said to be last seen.
Both of them were equipped with armour and their signature weapons, Fire Sword and Fujaku Hisho Shoken.
They were also accompanied by a few Chunin-level Shinobi.
*****
"So they followed me."
Hayama who was hiding on top of trees said as he looked at Hoki and his underlings from afar.
He knows that he will not be able to defeat them in a battle so he decides to flee and wait until they leave this forest.
It was a cowardly method but he had already faced a decently powerful shinobi not very long ago and he realized that Hoki was much stronger than the Shinobi that he defeated just by looking at him.
It would be stupid to face them head so despite being a cowardly move he decided to hide.
Then he saw that someone was moving towards the direction where Hoki and Kujaku were at.
The speed of the person that is moving towards Hoki and his underlings is very fast.
Almost as fast as a lighting. Not only that it also seems like the person was leaving lighting trails behind his back.
His body was also surrounded by a layer of lighting.
"It's Raigeki no Yoroi. That must mean he is the owner of Kiba." Hayama noted.
*****
"It's an enemy," Hoki said as he saw a man covered in lighting approach them.
"Kujaku Senpu." Kujaku used her swords to release a powerful wind towards the man covered in lighting.
But the man dodged the attack and tried to slash her head off.
Luckily for her Hoki was able to block the attack and push the man back using his fire sword.
"A sword covered in fire." The man covered in lighting said while smiling before he was pushed backwards by Hoki.
"Who are you?" Hoki asked.
"Aren't I supposed to be asking that question? Considering that you are in my terrority?" The man replied.
"Your terrority? From what I know Katabami Gold Mine is not under your control." Hoki said.
"Not yet but it will soon be anyway."
"Tsk." Hoki was pissed and he raised his sword.
"Kill him." He ordered his followers.
"Senmofu." Kunaku launched two wind blades using her sword at the unknown man after Hoki made his order.
The man slashes her wind blades and nullifies them much to her shock.
"You are mine." Hoki channelled a large amount of fire on his sword and tried to attack the man but the man easily blocked his attacks.
Then he immediately tries to attack Hoki with his sword which is covered in lighting.
Hoki tries to defend himself from the lighting swordman's attacks but he is only able to prevent fatal wounds.
His left cheek is cut and his right shoulder also got slashed. He also obtained numerous scars across his body.
"What the hell are you idiots doing? Attack him." Hoki yelled out in anger.
Hoki was pushed away by the man before having to witness a terrifying scene.
The man with the power to wield the lighting quickly slashed through his group of Shinobis like a hot knife cutting through butter.
Only Kujaku his strongest subordinate remains standing tall as an ordinary chunin-level shinobi were easily taken out.
In terms of Combat abilities Kujaku and Hoki were good enough to stall out the mysterious man and empty his chakra pool.
However, that is assuming that the mysterious man is not armed with a legendary weapon that can harness the power of lighting without consuming much of his chakra.
Both Kujaku and Hoki also possess a powerful weapon but the problem is that their weapon is so much inferior compared to the one that the mysterious man was using.
Their weapons amplified their attacks but at the end of the day, they were still using their chakra without getting any of the chakra reduction that the lighting sword gives to its wielder.
"Now. States your reason for trespassing into my terrority."
The mysterious man said as he pointed his sword at Hoki after taking care of his underlings.
Kujaku rushed towards the man to attack him by catching him off guard while he was questioning Hoki.
Yellow Sparks appeared as she clashed her sword with the sword that belonged to the man.
*****
At that time.
Tsurugi turned back for a bit and realized that they were being followed.
"Hey. I think we have company," she notified Shiro and Tate.
"They followed us?" Tate was a bit nervous.
While Tsurugi and Tate were surprised by the ninja from Takumi village who were following them Shiro was preparing to use a jutsu.
"Fire style. Fireball jutsu." He spitted out a large fireball towards the ninjas that were following them.
The attack hit two of them but it didn't seem to be powerful enough to outright kill them.
The remaining ninja started to panic when they realized that they were being attacked.
"Tate. Tsurugi. Let's go." Shiro said as he dashed towards the Chunin who were startled by his attack to take care of them before they were able to recollect their composure.
They are already losing composure from my attack. This means that it might be possible to defeat them even if they are above us in terms of experience and skills. Shiro thought.
But he knew it was unrealistic. He knew that the only reason why he was even able to defeat Ryugan was because of Ryugan's arrogance.
And even then he still has to rely on the opening that Tate made for him.
But now he has to face multiple Shinobi that were far above his level while being outnumbered.
He held the Dragon Sword tightly in his hand and swung it at his opponent.
*****
At the Hokage's mansion.
A white swallow entered the room where the third Hokage was at.
Hiruzen looked at the bird and noticed that it had a small letter attached to its leg.
He takes the letter from the bird and starts to look at it to find out what is going on.
It's a report from Hayama.
[I encountered a threat that came from Takumi village before finding any information. I am fine. Genins are already on their way back. Sent reinforcement to aid them.]
The letter was short. It makes sense since the paper that was used to deliver the message cannot be too long.
Hiruzen sighed.
"So that means that the mission is only half successful."
He was disappointed.