Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 36: The Jōnin's Resolve!

The sounds of his students battle swiftly came to an end, with only his students chakra signal left standing, as he parried a kunai strike from the level 19 Mist ninja, his analytical mind processing the tactical implications while his body moved with practiced efficiency. The collapse of the Hidden Mist Jutsu confirmed what his insects had already detected—Mizuki Hōzuki's chakra signature had been extinguished.

"They did it," he acknowledged internally, his respect for his students coordination reaching new heights. "They defeated a chunin-level opponent with teamwork."

But his momentary satisfaction was interrupted by the immediate reality of his own desperate situation. The two remaining Mist ninja had adapted their tactics, using water techniques to create barriers that disrupted his insects' coordination while maintaining pressure that prevented him from ending the fight quickly, allowing neither of them to gain any ground over the other.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!" the level 19 ninja called out, his hands forming seals with practiced efficiency that spoke of advanced battlefield experience.

The massive water construct charged toward Shibi with crushing force, its size and power designed to scatter his insect formations while creating openings for his partner's attacks. The technique demonstrated why this opponent had survived to reach such a high level—his ninjutsu was both powerful and tactically sound.

"Your students are dead," the leader taunted, as he prepared his own technique. "Soon you'll join them."

Shibi's response was cold and analytical, his voice carrying the quiet authority of someone who had just received confirmation of his tactical assessment. "My students have proven their worth. Now I will prove mine."

The time for measured responses had passed. His students had succeeded against overwhelming odds, which meant he no longer needed to hold back techniques that might cause collateral damage. The kikaichu responded to his killing intent, their formations shifting into patterns that spoke of lethal efficiency.

"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!" Shibi called out, his chakra signature flaring as he unleashed an advanced Aburame technique that few had ever witnessed and lived to describe.

Thousands of kikaichu erupted from his body in a perfect sphere of death, their coordinated movement creating a wall of destruction that expanded outward with mathematical precision. The insects moved with supernatural coordination, each one following flight patterns that maximized their coverage while minimizing interference with their companions.

The water dragon technique was overwhelmed instantly, the insects consuming the chakra that held it together before continuing their expansion toward the two stunned Mist ninja. The sheer number of kikaichu was staggering—a display of the Aburame clan's true power that went far beyond anything his students had previously witnessed.

"Impossible," the leader gasped, his eyes widening as he realized the scope of the technique bearing down on them. "No one has that many insects—"

"The Aburame clan has been perfecting this technique for generations," Shibi replied, his voice carrying the weight of clan pride and deadly certainty. "You are about to learn why we are feared."

The two Mist ninja tried to retreat, but the insect sphere was expanding faster than they could move. Water techniques proved useless against the swarm—there were simply too many kikaichu to stop with conventional ninjutsu, and their chakra-draining abilities made them nearly impossible to destroy through direct confrontation.

"Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" both ninja called out simultaneously, their combined techniques creating a massive barrier of churning water between them and the approaching swarm.

But the insects simply flowed around the barrier like a living tide, their coordination allowing them to maintain formation while adapting to obstacles. The water wall bought them seconds, nothing more.

That's when Tatsuma's voice cut through the chaos of battle.

"Shadow Clone Shuriken Jutsu!" he shouted from the cave entrance, having taken an elevated position, his hands forming seals with desperate speed as he sought to create the distraction his sensei needed.

Multiple shadow clones materialized around the clearing, each one launching shuriken at the two Mist ninja from different angles. The projectiles weren't meant to kill—they were meant to force the enemy to divide their attention at the crucial moment when Shibi's technique was about to strike.

The tactical timing was perfect. The level 12 leader was forced to dodge the incoming storm of shuriken, his concentration broken just as he was trying to form seals for a defensive technique. The disruption lasted only seconds, but it was enough.

"What in the! So many Shuriken!" He shouted, trying to block or deflect them best he could, getting hit in multiple places around his body unable to cope with the shear amount of projectiles.

However, that was the least of his worries, as the attack had only served as a distraction, leaving him open for the killing blow.

Shibi's insects engulfed him in a cloud of death, their chakra-draining abilities overwhelming his system in moments. His scream cut through the air briefly before being silenced as the kikaichu consumed his chakra and life force with ruthless efficiency, killing him in mere moments.

"Hiroshi!" the level 19 ninja called out, his voice carrying genuine anguish as he watched his partner fall to the Aburame technique.

But his emotional reaction created the opening Shibi had been waiting for. With one opponent down, he could focus his full attention on the stronger enemy, his tactical mind already calculating the most efficient way to end the confrontation.

"Secret Technique: Insect Clone Jutsu!" Shibi called out, his form splitting into multiple copies as his insects created perfect duplicates of his body.

The technique was more advanced than anything his students had seen, the insect clones moving with perfect coordination while maintaining individual tactical capabilities. Each clone was a fully functional combatant, their collective assault overwhelming the remaining Mist ninja's defences.

"You killed him," the young ninja snarled, his chakra signature flaring with rage and desperation. "I'll make you pay for that!"

"Water style: Water Tornado Jutsu!" he called out, his hands forming seals with desperate speed as he unleashed his most powerful technique.

A massive whirlwind of water erupted around him, the spinning torrent designed to destroy the insect clones while creating a defensive barrier that would buy him time to plan his next move. The technique was impressive, its power speaking of advanced training and battlefield experience with great chakra control.

But Shibi's analytical mind had already identified the weakness in the approach. Tornado techniques required constant chakra maintenance, and the Mist ninja's emotional state was compromising his efficiency. The technique would drain his reserves rapidly while providing only temporary protection.

"Kōzaru!" Shibi called out, his voice carrying the authority of a battlefield commander. "The hawks! Secure them now!"

His enhanced senses detected his students moving toward the cave entrance, their coordination still intact despite the exhaustion from their previous battle. The mission objective remained paramount—the intelligence those hawks carried could be crucial to the war effort.

The level 19 ninja's water tornado began to weaken as his chakra reserves depleted, the emotional strain of losing his partners affecting his technique control. Shibi's insect clones maintained their pressure, forcing him to sustain the defensive technique longer than his chakra could support.

"I need a distraction," Shibi calculated, his mind recognizing that the enemy's technique was about to collapse. "Something to break his concentration at the crucial moment."

"Sensei!" Kōzaru's voice carried across the clearing as he emerged from the cave with the rescued hawks. "We have them!"

The intelligence hawks were alive but weakened, their training keeping them calm despite the chaos of battle. Yuki and Riku flanked Kōzaru as he secured the birds, their protective instincts extending to the mission assets.

"Perfect timing," Shibi thought, his insect clones positioning themselves for the final assault as the water tornado began to falter.

The distraction came from an unexpected source—one of the rescued hawks, recognizing friendly ninja, let out a sharp cry that cut through the noise of battle. The sound was distinctive, trained specifically to signal Konoha operatives, and it caused the Mist ninja to glance toward the cave entrance in confusion.

That moment of divided attention was all Shibi needed.

"Secret Technique: Insect Imprisonment!" he called out, his chakra signature flaring as he unleashed the killing technique.

The insect clones converged on the weakened Mist ninja from all angles, their coordinated assault overwhelming his collapsing defences. The water tornado dissipated as his concentration broke, leaving him vulnerable to the full force of the Aburame assault.

But the level 19 ninja had one last desperate gambit.

"You think you have me! Water Style: Exploding Water Shock Wave!" he screamed, his hands forming seals with suicidal determination as he poured his remaining chakra into a technique designed to take his enemies with him.

The massive explosion of water erupted outward with devastating force, the technique's power amplified by the user's willingness to sacrifice his own life. The blast scattered Shibi's insect clones and sent him flying backward, his body impacting a tree with bone-jarring force.

The clearing fell silent except for the sound of settling water and Shibi's laboured breathing. The Mist ninja's body floated face-down in the crater his final technique had created, his chakra signature completely extinguished.

"Sensei!" Tatsuma called out, his voice carrying genuine concern as he saw their teacher struggling to stand.

Shibi rose slowly, his left arm hanging at an unnatural angle and blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. The final technique had caught him despite his defensive measures, the explosive force causing significant injuries that would require medical attention and bed rest.

"I'm functional," he said, though his voice carried the strain of someone fighting through significant pain. "Mission status?"

"Hawks secured," Kōzaru reported, his enhanced senses detecting the extent of his sensei's injuries with growing alarm. "But you're hurt badly."

"Broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, possible other fractures and concussion," Shibi assessed clinically, his mind cataloguing his injuries even as his body protested movement. "Combat effectiveness reduced by sixty maybe seventy percent."

"We need to get you back to the village," Aotaka said, his concern evident as he saw their sensei's condition.

"The mission—" Shibi began, but Kōzaru cut him off with surprising authority.

"The mission is complete," he said firmly, his voice carrying the confidence of someone who had just proven himself in combat. "We have the hawks, the intelligence is secured, and the enemy is neutralized. Now we need to get you medical attention."

The reversal of roles was striking—the student taking charge when his teacher was injured, demonstrating the leadership development that came from his combat experience. Shibi's mind noted the change with approval even as his body struggled with the pain.

"Acceptable assessment," he acknowledged, his respect for his students' growth evident despite his injuries. "Kōzaru, take point. Tatsuma, Aotaka, watch our flanks. We move immediately."

The journey back to Konoha would be dangerous with their sensei injured, but they had proven themselves capable of handling threats through coordination and tactical thinking. The intelligence hawks represented a significant victory for the war effort, and their successful rescue validated the risks they had taken.

As they prepared to leave the clearing, Kōzaru looked back at the bodies of their defeated enemies—the first chunin-level opponents they had killed in direct combat. The weight of that accomplishment was both sobering and empowering, a reminder of how far they had come from their early days in this world as academy students.

"Let's go home," he said quietly, his hand moving to steady his injured sensei as they began the long journey back to the Hidden Leaf Village.

The mission was complete, but the war was far from over. Team 15 had proven themselves worthy of their rank, but greater challenges awaited them in the battles to come.

Their growth as shinobi had been forged in the crucible of genuine combat, and they would carry the lessons learned into whatever conflicts lay ahead.