The river water suddenly exploded.
The mist in the air, under the moonlight, had a distinct purple hue.
On the ground along both banks of the river, Exploding Tags were also set up.
After a series of explosions, poisonous smoke enveloped the surroundings.
Black Gorilla Squad was instantly covered by the poisonous mist.
Salamander populations live around Hidden Rain Village; Salamanders are highly venomous. Rain Ninja are accustomed to using poison, and in their use of poison, they are on par with the puppeteers of Hidden Sand Village.
Everyone in Black Gorilla Squad swallowed an antidote.
The antidote provided to the Anbu was for Rock Ninja poisons, but it turned out that with the Rain Ninja joining the battle, the antidote was not effective.
After rushing out of the poisonous mist, a chorus of coughs erupted within Black Gorilla Squad.
"Cough cough!" Bai Yang's voice was full of apology. He said, "I'm sorry, Squad Leader, I didn't scout out the enemy lurking in the river."
Black Gorilla said, "It's not your fault, capturing live targets took too much time! Cough cough! Retreat!
Fall back in sequence; we must bring back the three captives we caught!"
The people beside him were running unsteadily, all affected by the toxins.
Night Light felt he was fine.
The physical enhancement brought by the Bloodline Limit of the Forest allowed him to have higher poison resistance.
"Leaf Monkey Squad, cover the retreat!"
The newly formed Leaf Monkey Squad stood their ground without hesitation, turning to cover the retreat.
The other squads desperately fled.
Night Light looked back and saw that the poisoned Leaf Monkey Squad lasted for a dozen seconds before being completely wiped out by the Rain Ninja.
Before they died, they traded their lives for others, killing five or six Rain Ninja.
The Rain Ninja continued to pursue.
Black Gorilla looked at Night Light, his eyes filled with determination.
Night Light understood Squad Leader Black Gorilla's thoughts.
He and Fox were the two strongest in the squad, and he wanted to cover the retreat with Fox, to buy time for the captives and the sensory Ninja Bai Yang and others.
If they continued to be pursued like this, everyone would become increasingly weak from the toxins and unable to complete the mission.
Squad Leader Black Gorilla wanted too much to prove that he had fully recovered, and he wanted too much to complete the mission.
Night Light nodded to Black Gorilla, then turned to Purple Cat and said, "You three, carry the captives and continue forward. From now on, listen to Squad Leader Bai Yang's command!"
"Squad Leader…" Purple Cat's words were swallowed back.
Anbu missions were always so cruel.
Night Light and Black Gorilla stopped simultaneously, turning to look at the Rain Ninja behind them.
Black Gorilla calmed his breathing and took out a box.
Night Light looked over; it was the Akimichi Clan's secret medicine, the Three Colored Pills.
Black Gorilla said, "Fox, you assist me next."
"Alright."
Black Gorilla skipped the Blue Refined Pill and directly took out the more potent Yellow Curry Pill.
As if sensing Fox's confusion, Black Gorilla said:
"The Rain Ninja's poison seems to be able to find the weaknesses in my body. My recently healed leg is numb and itchy; both the bones and muscles are very uncomfortable.
Before my leg is ruined, I must defeat these Rain Ninja."
Night Light nodded, understanding Black Gorilla's plan.
The comminuted fracture affected Black Gorilla's combat power.
Night Light said, "Let's go, Squad Leader, for your first mission after recovery."
Black Gorilla lifted a corner of his mask, swallowed the Yellow Curry Pill, and said, "If I get injured again, I'll probably have to retire. Fox, how does it feel to be acting Squad Leader?"
"Squad Leader, Princess Tsunade is on the front lines; you won't retire even if you're injured."
Black Gorilla said nothing more, focusing on the battle.
Visible Chakra steam appeared on his body.
"Partial Super Expansion Jutsu!"
His right hand instantly grew large, his palm was ten meters wide, and his arm extended like a club.
The thick, large hand swept across, directly sending five Rain Ninja who couldn't dodge flying.
Night Light seized the opportunity, throwing Kunai to kill the stunned Rain Ninja.
Black Gorilla transformed into a massive Human Bullet Tank, rolling and charging towards the Rain Ninja.
The Rain Ninja Captain shouted, "Don't be afraid! He's Hit Salamander poison! He won't last long! Wear him down!"
Under the Rain Ninja Captain's command, the Rain Ninja scattered.
The Human Bullet Tank charged back and forth among the Rain Ninja, its momentum astonishing, but its effectiveness became smaller and smaller.
The Rain Ninja continuously threw Exploding Tags, bombing the Human Bullet Tank.
Seeing this, Night Light circled the perimeter, looking for opportunities to strike.
A Rain Ninja was forced to jump backward by the Human Bullet Tank, landing right near Night Light.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!
As soon as the Rain Ninja landed, he found his abdomen pierced by the Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears.
He turned his head with difficulty and saw the Anbu wearing a fox mask, forming a unitary hand seal.
Night Light was very satisfied with the performance of Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears; it required few hand seals and was a mid-range offensive Ninjutsu, not requiring Night Light to put himself in danger.
No wonder many Ninja, after their Chakra reserves increased, transitioned from Taijutsu Ninja to Ninjutsu Ninja.
Using mid-to-long-range Ninjutsu greatly increased one's safety.
Taijutsu Ninja were like dancing on a knife's edge; one mistake could lead to serious injury.
The Human Bullet Tank crushed back and forth more than ten times, killing more than ten Rain Ninja in conjunction with Night Light's Ninjutsu.
After the last Human Bullet Tank charge, Black Gorilla gasped for breath and fell to the ground, his body shrinking.
Black Gorilla's fingernails had turned purple, a sign of severe toxin corrosion.
The nearby Rain Ninja rushed towards Black Gorilla, some already drawing Kunai and senbon steel needles.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Night Light appeared in time, helping Black Gorilla block the Ninja tools.
Black Gorilla gained a moment to breathe; he took out his last pill, the Red Chili Pill.
"Squad Leader, are you going to burn all your fat…"
Black Gorilla was going all out for the mission.
This was his last resort.
After swallowing the Red Chili Pill, visible Chakra surged around Black Gorilla.
The obese Black Gorilla suddenly slimmed down, his figure lean but full of power.
Black Gorilla's combat power rose to another level.
He suddenly stood up and charged towards the Water Formation Wall.
As soon as the Water Formation Wall fell, the three Rain Ninja opposite hadn't even reacted when they saw a fist rapidly enlarging in front of them.
Night Light thought to himself, Black Gorilla was fighting too desperately to prove his worth and for the mission.
After a month of recovery, Black Gorilla had heard some rumors that the Anbu high command considered having Black Gorilla leave the Anbu.
However, the Akimichi Clan needed to maintain its influence within the Anbu. The Ino–Shika–Chō trio and the Sarutobi Clan had been allies for generations, serving as witnesses and teachers for each generation's Ino–Shika–Chō combination.
Black Gorilla would not easily admit defeat.
The battle instantly became one-sided, with Black Gorilla slaughtering the Rain Ninja like a hot knife through butter.
Taking advantage of the brief increase in Chakra from burning fat, Black Gorilla went straight for the last Rain Ninja Captain.
The Rain Ninja Captain took an umbrella-shaped Ninja tool from his back.
Black Gorilla's speed was too fast. The Rain Ninja Captain did not use the umbrella surface to block Black Gorilla, but instead opened the umbrella and swung it from the side towards Black Gorilla.
Black Gorilla directly rushed into the Rain Ninja Squad Leader's embrace.
The umbrella-shaped Ninja tool also circled behind Black Gorilla.
The Rain Ninja endured severe injuries and closed the umbrella-shaped Ninja tool.
The meter-long umbrella rib spikes within the umbrella-shaped Ninja tool pierced into Black Gorilla's back from behind.
Night Light quickly moved forward, but it was already too late.
The Rock Ninja Captain, who had disappeared earlier, rushed out and slashed at Black Gorilla's head.
As the Rock Ninja Captain's blade descended, Black Gorilla raised the only arm he could move outside the umbrella surface to block.
Black Gorilla's only right arm was severed by the Ninja blade.
"Earth Flow Spears!"
Earth Flow Spears pierced through the Rock Ninja Captain's heart.
Night Light rushed over, killed the Rain Ninja Squad Leader, who had broken bones all over his body, and then rescued the disarmed Black Gorilla from the umbrella-shaped Ninja tool.
"Squad Leader!"
Having lost both arms and with his back pierced by steel needles, purple poisonous blood spurted from every wound.
Squad Leader Black Gorilla was fighting too desperately. Was it truly worth it for the Akimichi Clan?