Below, Yoshida Hideo and two other elite Kirigakure jonin noticed that Seimei hadn't made a move for some time, as if he were waiting for something.
They exchanged glances, then, without hesitation, sprinted toward the Kirigakure command center located in Yujin Port.
**Fight?**
Impossible!
Not to mention that Seimei was flying too high for them to reach, even if they could attack him, they were more inclined to support the battle at the command center rather than waste time engaging Seimei here.
Now that an opportunity had presented itself, they naturally seized the moment to move forward.
From above, Seimei observed their actions and murmured softly, "Oh, they figured it out?"
He didn't feel upset about his stalling tactics being seen through by these experienced jonin.
After all, with their wealth of combat experience, if they couldn't see through his obvious delay tactics, Seimei would have to question their true capabilities.
However, if they thought they could escape him this easily, they were sorely mistaken.
With a thought, Seimei manipulated the chakra wings on his back with a gentle flap, propelling himself at high speed toward Yoshida Hideo and the others.
Without hesitation, Seimei unleashed a fire-style jutsu: *Great Dragon Fire Technique*.
Three fiery dragons spewed from his mouth, each locking onto a target as they roared toward the trio.
Sensing the danger, Yoshida Hideo shouted, "Be careful!"
He launched himself sideways like a cannonball.
Kawada Koji and the other special jonin quickly dodged to the sides as well.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
The three fire dragons struck the ground, igniting a row of buildings and engulfing the surroundings in a sea of flames.
But the attack didn't stop Yoshida Hideo and the others from continuing toward the command center.
They evaded one round of attacks, immediately rose to their feet, and resumed their forward rush while covering one another.
Watching this scene, Seimei murmured, "So, close combat it is!"
Long-range strikes were undoubtedly more convenient, but if the enemy wasn't hindered and had decent strength, they could simply endure the attacks and press forward—albeit more slowly.
To truly stop them, Seimei knew he had to engage directly.
With that thought, Seimei flapped his wings again, closing the distance in an instant to block their path.
Midair, he deactivated his *Wind Release: Wings of Wind* jutsu, folding his wings as he landed on a nearby wall.
However, the moment he touched down, a barrage of kunai flew toward him.
Yoshida Hideo and the others had launched the attack, hoping to catch Seimei off guard.
Unfortunately for them, such an ambush was meaningless against Seimei's Sharingan, with its extraordinary perception.
A quick glance was all it took for Seimei to identify the hidden threat—two kunai rigged with explosive tags.
Without hesitation, Seimei retrieved six kunai from his pouch, one between each finger, and calculated the trajectory of the incoming projectiles with precision using his advanced *Ninja Tool Throwing* skill.
**Clang! Clang! Clang!**
The kunai collided midair, sending sparks flying as Seimei intercepted all the projectiles, including the two rigged with explosive tags.
With expert control, he redirected the tagged kunai toward Yoshida Hideo and his allies, cutting off their possible escape routes and forcing them into direct confrontation.
**BOOM! BOOM!**
The simultaneous explosions lit up the area.
In the middle of it all, Yoshida Hideo and the others stopped in their tracks, their faces darkening as they glanced at the fiery destruction around them.
They had briefly entertained the idea of bypassing Seimei and heading straight for the command center, but even that fleeting thought was thoroughly squashed.
Their frustration was palpable.
Seimei, unfazed by their expressions, drew his sword and launched a *Instan Blade Technique*.
Yoshida Hideo and his team had no choice but to engage him head-on.
**Clang! Clang! Clang!**
The clash of blades echoed continuously.
With his exceptional swordsmanship, superior physical abilities, and the assistance of his Sharingan, Seimei held his own against three opponents, even gaining the upper hand.
At one point, he used *Earth Release: Hardening Technique* to tank a coordinated strike from Yoshida Hideo and another special jonin.
Exploiting the opening, he feinted with a *Blink Blade Technique*, creating an opening in Kawada Koji, who possessed a unique water-style chakra nature.
Seizing the moment, Seimei struck with a *Rasengan*, gravely injuring Kawada Koji.
**Thud!**
A mouthful of blood sprayed from Kawada Koji as he was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
Seeing this, Yoshida Hideo and the remaining special jonin abandoned their offensive and rushed to shield Kawada Koji.
In less than two minutes of close combat, one of their teammates was incapacitated.
Yoshida Hideo glanced back at Kawada Koji, who struggled to rise, and his heart sank. Turning back to Seimei, his wariness deepened.
He had already been cautious of Seimei's strength, but witnessing such devastating power in action added immense pressure.
The other special jonin, less capable than Yoshida Hideo, was even more fearful.
Seimei, noticing the hesitation in their eyes, smirked coldly and charged forward again without hesitation.
He had sensed their fear, no matter how deeply they tried to hide it.
Since fear had taken root, Seimei had no qualms about fanning the flames.
As Seimei rushed in, Yoshida Hideo and the special jonin had no choice but to confront him.
The intense battle resumed.
Time ticked by.
Just as Seimei was about to severely wound the second opponent, a kunai suddenly flew toward him.
Noticing the projectile out of the corner of his eye, Seimei frowned and retreated mid-strike.
**Whoosh! Whoosh!**
Two figures appeared beside Yoshida Hideo, clearly on his side.
Seimei's gaze sharpened as he assessed the newcomers—both genuine jonin, and experienced ones at that.
It was evident that the kunai had been thrown by one of them, timed perfectly to disrupt Seimei's attack.
Looking into the distance, Seimei spotted a large unit of Kirigakure ninja rushing toward their location.
These reinforcements were the second wave, and the two jonin leading them had simply arrived ahead of their team after noticing the commotion.
(*Chapter End*)