Red Nara

- Considering that the four jonin and one chunin were up against ten jonin working in teams who knew what they were up against, we got off cheap and deserved the reward, because we could have put down the whole delegation," I dismissed Hatake's complaint.

Hatake gave me an annoyed chuckle, expressing the depth of doubt in that outcome, and slowly strode off in the direction I'd indicated. I sent the clone to look for my battered and dirty, but still functional, cloak, and followed the jonin to find the owner of the Byakugan.

It's a good thing the taicho was able to survive the carnage and only get away with one serious wound. Kay looks like he's been through a meat grinder, ragged and bloody, but judging by the fact that he doesn't ask for treatment, the wounds are superficial and his seal has already healed everything.

Nui died, and I got off with a slight fright, a cracked bone and a gorgeous hematoma. Not a bad result, but I realized the need for long-range area techniques of a different element than Suiton, since I didn't like running from a talented and experienced ninjushnik. I'm primarily focused on medium and close combat ranges, where few can defend against the many surprises I have at my disposal, rather than long range.

Ha, if I feel that I sometimes lack the available options, how must the Hyugas who have taijutsu and its variants as their only option due to clan traditions feel? No wonder Hizashi is freaking out right now.

We found the aforementioned shinobi just sitting on the sand, glaring at his enabled dojutsu. His leg, though cleaned and more or less healed, still made an impression - the bone was intact, but the meat on his thigh was literally mangled from the powerful blow. You don't heal wounds like that in a hurry.

- So, Taicho, in a scroll or in your arms like a princess? - I grinned, teasing the frowning jonin. - Ara, and don't glare at me like that. Rikudo Sennin and his Rinnegan couldn't drill holes with a single glance, not even your long-eyed girls.

Kay grunted, trying to hold back a laugh, and turned away hastily.

- Even the chunin beat you," Sakumo patted the dojutsu wielder on the shoulder, fake sympathetic.

- You're taking advantage of the fact that I can't get up and kick your asses," Hyuga wrinkled his nose, but after a second he relaxed. "Come on, Ryo-kun, seal me up, because this desert is getting on my nerves, and I want to go home.

- You're not the only one, friend, you're not the only one," White Fang shook his head as I pulled out the case.

When I had done my job, I straightened up and took the clone's cloak from him. The sun was even hotter than it had been this morning, so it came in handy.

- Shall we pack up the bodies and try to make it to the nearest post without adventure? - I asked the jonin.

- Then seal me up, too, or I won't be able to keep up with your pace," Shibatori said.

I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (+ 200 chapter)

patreon.com/Chill76