"Damn it!"
Ian's originally kind face was now distorted. If this continued, he would eventually be caught. He had to find a way to shake them off.
Ian glanced back at Kakashi and Might Guy, who were getting closer, and his eyes turned ruthless. "It's your fault for living in Konoha!"
"Stop right there! Konoha is sealed, you can't escape!"
Ian completely ignored Kakashi behind him, a cruel smile on his lips. He conjured a lightning ball and hurled it towards the civilian district, disregarding the lives of the innocent.
"You dare!"
Kakashi's speed doubled instantly. Before the lightning ball could fall, he arrived in the civilian district, forming hand seals with phantom-like speed. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
Charred earth splattered through the air. Kakashi wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes filled with coldness. "Those Cloud ninjas actually attacked innocent civilians, they deserve to die!"
"Hmph! Here's another one for you!"
Swish! Another lightning ball shot towards a different direction.
"Guy!"
Kakashi shouted to Might Guy and quickly dashed towards the lightning ball.
"I know!"
Might Guy had also given up on the idea of a competition. His resolute face was filled with anger, veins bulging on his temples. His speed suddenly doubled, closing in behind the opponent.
"Chh!"
Ian, catching a glimpse of Might Guy behind him, had no choice but to retract his chakra. If he threw another lightning ball, he might be caught immediately.
"Fine, I'll find a place to kill you!"
Ian recognized the ninja chasing him as Might Guy, who had taken him to see dumbbells that day. He sneered inwardly.
"It's your fault for not knowing better and provoking someone you shouldn't have!"
Ian spotted a direction and plunged into the forest. Might Guy followed without hesitation. He couldn't fight in Konoha village, or civilians would get hurt. The opponent entering the small forest was exactly what Might Guy wanted.
Meanwhile, Kakashi had blocked the lightning ball, preventing it from harming the civilian district below. When he looked back, however, Ian and Might Guy had vanished. He summoned his ninja dog, Pakkun, to track Ian's movements.
"I hope it's not too late!"
Kakashi was somewhat worried, not for Might Guy, but that the opponent might accidentally be killed by Guy. Such a person deserved Konoha's judgment!
Ian weaved through the forest, seemingly searching for something.
"Found it!"
Ian's speed remained constant. He stepped over an iron fence and quickly entered a denser part of the forest.
Might Guy followed closely. The iron fence they passed had a warning sign: "Konoha Training Ground No. 44, The Forest of Death!"
Whoosh!
Ian stopped in a clearing within the Forest of Death and said to Might Guy, who was closely following him, "What do you think? Is this grave I picked for you nice?"
"Good scenery, spacious, and it's a waste to bury a fool like you. You should be thanking me, Mr. Might Guy!"
Might Guy stared intently at the opponent and asked, "Who are you?"
"???"
Three question marks appeared above Ian's head. "Didn't we just meet today? Does he have a twin brother?"
"I am Ian…"
"I know you're Ian. Have we met?"
"..."
Ian was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Mr. Might Guy, you are truly an interesting fellow. If you had been born in the Hidden Cloud Village, we might have even become friends."
"Someone like you is not worthy of being my friend, Might Guy!"
Ian's expression changed, and he said sternly, "Then, please die!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian hurled the lightning ball he had already gathered at Might Guy and pulled out a ninja sword from a scroll. Cloud ninjas were almost all skilled in close combat. With their bodies tempered by lightning release, most ninjas were no match for them.
Boom!
Might Guy's figure darted out from the smoke. The lightning ball couldn't hit him, but as he raised his head, he was met by a flash of dazzling white blade.
"Third Gate – Gate of Opening! Open!"
Hum…
Ian stared in disbelief at Might Guy, who was now emitting a faint green energy. His ninja sword was caught between two of Might Guy's fingers, completely immobile.
"Such strength!"
Ian decisively abandoned his sword, drawing a kunai and thrusting it at Might Guy's chest. In close combat, they from the Cloud Village had never lost!
Suddenly, a fist wrapped in green energy magnified infinitely in Ian's eyes. His kunai was still mid-air, but his cheek had already been struck, sending two of his front teeth flying.
"How did he get so fast?!"
Ian's body spun seven hundred and twenty degrees in the air, but he managed to stabilize himself upon landing. He had underestimated his opponent!
"Who exactly are you?"
With such strength, he was at least a Jonin of Konoha. He should have heard of him!
"Konoha's noble Azure Beast, Might Guy!"
Might Guy raised his hand towards Ian, striking a standard fighting pose, his gaze growing more intense.
"Azure Beast?"
Seeing that Ian was not seriously injured, Might Guy took a deep breath and said, "It seems I need to end this quickly!"
"With you? I admit I underestimated you just now, but you are only…"
"Sixth Gate – Gate of View! Open!"
Whirlwinds erupted from Might Guy's body, causing the loose stones on the ground to tremble. A more concentrated green energy wrapped around Might Guy's entire being, his pupils turning white.
Without further words, Might Guy stomped on the ground. A circular crater instantly appeared beneath his feet. Then, to Ian's horrified gaze, a fist the size of a washbasin slammed into his stomach.
A whooshing sound echoed as Ian, like he had been hit by a speeding car, crashed through dozens of trees before stopping. Blood had already splattered across the sky.
Ian was stunned. He felt hollow, as if all the essence he had stored in his lifetime had been expelled. He instantly became listless, hunched over like a shrimp, clutching his stomach.
"You… how… do you have such strength?"
Ian struggled to utter these words. Might Guy's punch had incapacitated him. His internal organs were bleeding. If not treated promptly, he would die!
"Return to Konoha with me and accept the Hokage's… hmm?"
Might Guy turned towards another part of the forest, adopting a fighting stance. That direction was not towards Konoha, but outside the Forest of Death!
Ian seemed to sense something as well. Lying on the ground, he let out a mad laugh. "Do you know… why I chose this place?"
"This is where we Cloud ninjas meet. You are truly an idiot, hahaha!"
"Shut up!"
Might Guy kicked Ian towards a large tree, his expression grave. There were quite a few people coming.
Swish swish swish!
Figures clad in black robes landed in front of Ian. The leader spoke, "Ian, we're a bit late. You don't look to be in good condition."