Naruto: Evolution

Boom

Boom

The first explosions were caused by Gen's explosive tags, but almost immediately, the ground seemed to activate a hidden mechanism.

A chain of detonations broke out uncontrollably, roaring like an unstoppable storm.

The thunderous noise echoed for kilometers, while scorching flames and shockwaves devastated the area. The earth rose in all directions, scattering like shrapnel and completely destroying the path, which collapsed in a fraction of a second.

The trees on both sides of the trail were uprooted as the ground trembled under the force of the explosion.

"My God…!"

"Get down!"

"Enemy attack! Protect the cargo!"

The impact quickly reached the caravan. Many people were thrown to the ground by the blast wave, while the terrified horses neighed and kicked, almost crushing those nearby.

"They're explosive tags…"

Gen observed the scene in surprise.

His attack with the kunai had been just a test, but he had never imagined that there were so many hidden tags underground.

"On guard!"

Hayato's warning shout echoed amidst the chaos.

As soon as Gen sounded the alarm, the squad leader reacted without losing a second. Despite the explosion's impact, he remained calm and acted quickly.

While the caravan was plunged into confusion, Hayato, Azora, and Momo entered combat mode without hesitation.

Especially Azora, who activated the Byakugan on the spot.

Her pupils widened as she assessed the situation with her advanced vision, and within seconds, her expression turned tense.

"Attention! There are hidden enemies on both sides of the road. There are about twenty. A third of them have a chakra level similar to that of a Chūnin… and there's one with chakra at the level of a Jōnin."

Chakra did not completely define a ninja's strength, but it was still a crucial indicator.

And not everyone had a special physique like Gen's.

Upon hearing Azora's warning, both Momo and Hayato frowned.

Even on a B-rank mission, it was common to face Chūnin-level enemies.

But what lay ahead far exceeded that standard.

Gen frowned.

Unlike the Byakugan, his sensory perception was not precise enough to accurately measure each enemy's chakra level. He had only detected the presence of multiple ambushers in the surroundings.

But now that Azora confirmed it, he understood that the situation was far more serious than he had imagined.

From the forest, hurried whispers were heard.

"Damn it, we've been discovered."

"There's no other choice… Kill everyone in the caravan!"

"Attack them!"

The ambushers wasted no time.

Realizing that their trap had been detonated prematurely, they abandoned their hiding spots and launched a direct attack on the caravan.

Swoosh

From both sides of the road, a rain of shurikens and kunais shot out.

The attackers didn't seem to care about the cargo at all. In fact, several kunais had explosive tags attached to their handles.

Gen narrowed his eyes with a serious expression.

"These guys… they're serious."

In a fraction of a second, he bit his thumb and formed hand seals before slamming his palm forcefully against the ground.

"Kuchiyose: Rashōmon!"

A complex pattern of seals spread across the ground in the blink of an eye, and with a loud Puff!, a gigantic dark red demon gate emerged in front of him.

Clang

Boom

The shurikens and kunais struck the imposing Rashōmon gate.

The explosive tags detonated, triggering a series of deafening explosions that shook the area.

The ground fractured from the blast wave, uprooting more trees and scattering debris everywhere.

Although the Rashōmon Gen had summoned was not in its complete form, its resistance remained impressive.

Despite the intense bombardment of explosive tags, it barely suffered any significant damage. It vibrated forcefully from the impact but fulfilled its purpose perfectly: protecting Gen and the caravan.

In reality, with his speed, Gen could have dodged the attack without any trouble.

But with the caravan behind him, he chose to expend more chakra and raise the Rashōmon, ensuring everyone remained safe.

"Hold the defensive line, don't let the enemies advance!"

While blocking the offensive with his technique, Hayato wasted no time.

Shouting orders in a firm voice, he rapidly formed hand seals and created ten copies of himself.

The clones scattered in an instant, covering different points around the caravan and establishing a second defensive line.

"Attack!"

The ambushing enemies weren't limited to the front.

From the sides of the road, several figures emerged, lunging directly at the caravan.

"Haaah!"

The defenders on the flanks, Azora and Momo, reacted immediately.

With a mix of astonishment and determination, they charged at the attackers without hesitation.

Azora used her Gentle Fist, her palms moving with lethal speed as she struck at the enemy leading the charge.

The aggressor, a ninja with an evident murderous aura, didn't back down. With cold precision, he gripped a kunai and attempted to slash Azora's hands before her strike could land.

It was evident: this was no ordinary enemy.

His firm stance and the speed of his reaction made it clear that he was an experienced Chūnin.

But Azora was no easy opponent.

In an instant, she adjusted the angle of her attack, dodging the kunai's edge by mere centimeters.

With a precise turn, she changed the direction of her offensive and thrust her other palm in an attempt to pierce the enemy's chest.

However, her opponent had equally outstanding reflexes.

At the very last moment, he halted his advance and retreated with a precise withdrawal, making Azora's strike miss by the smallest margin.

As they fought, the other attackers who had emerged from the same direction didn't stop to assist their comrade.

Instead, with agile movements, they evaded the confrontation and lunged directly at the caravan.

It was clear: their main objective wasn't the fight—it was the caravan.

________

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