The Earth Dragon's explosion sent cracks through the hardened rock. But the ground also absorbed the impact of the blast. So the Rock dome stayed intact. However, at the next moment, a Vacuum bullet hit the Rock dome and penetrated it.

Junji, who was pouring his chakra into the Rock dome, immediately noticed it and moved to his right. He was always on alert for another sneak attack. However, he didn't have much time to move. Though he dodged, the bullet created a deep cut in his upper left arm as it passed.

Junji winced but he had no time to worry about the pain. While dodging the Vacuum bullet, he couldn't supply chakra to the Rock dome anymore. Renjiro's clone noticed it and slammed his hands on the ground again.

'Earth Release : Earth Flow Divide jutsu'

The ground under the Rock dome immediately began splitting apart. Realizing the danger, Junji created an opening in his Rock dome and moved out. The ground under the rock dome kept splitting apart. It split for 10 meters when the entire Rock dome collapsed inside it.

As soon as Junji moved out, a Vacuum bullet and an Earth spear attacked him. But he managed to dodge them both. Fujin concluded, 'Looks like killing him with a long-range attack is not possible.'

Fujin and Renjiro's clone weren't the only ones who targeted Junji as soon as he left the dome. Hoka and Mieko also got into action. They flickered in front of him.

Mieko immediately threw a few shurikens, while Hoka ran forward to block his chakra points. Junji immediately dodged the shurikens. Hoka used that opportunity to close the distance between them and attack him.

Junji blocked Hoka's attacks while analyzing, 'How did these brats get here? Did they defeat our chunins? Or did they get reinforcements who freed them up? I am getting worried about Doi. I need to break free quickly!'

Junji had his back against the wall. Realizing that he would not be able to break free by staying on defense, he decided to go on the attack. He started with Hoka who was fighting him.

Unfortunately for him, the enemy's attack was too intense. He tried to gain an advantage against Hoka, but Hoka's Taijutsu was as good as his! Additionally, he had to keep an eye out for Mieko's shurikens, Fujin's Vacuum bullets and Renjiro's long-range jutsus.

With Hoka fighting in close range, Vacuum Bullet became too dangerous to use. While it did apply pressure on Junji, Fujin concluded that it won't create much of an effect. So Fujin flickered and joined Mieko and Hoka as well.

Junji noticed Fujin and thought, 'So it was him. Looks like there are no reinforcements. But does this mean that all 3 of them won their fights?'

His face grew grim as he concluded, 'We underestimated them. This mission is now a total disaster!'

Fujin stayed behind Hoka and made a few hand signs. Junji kept a close eye on Fujin.

Renjiro's clone observed his students and analyzed, 'All 3 of them are here. So all four of the enemy chunins should be dead.'

He smiled, 'I never thought that I would be the slowest to deal with my opponents. My main body seems to still be in a deadlock.'

Renjiro's clone stayed behind and just observed his students. Just his presence alone created a lot of pressure on Junji. He wanted his students to get the experience of fighting against an experienced Jounin. After all, missions tend to go bad frequently. The next time, he wouldn't be around to keep an eye on them.

Hoka kept engaging Junji in hand-to-hand combat. Mieko used her Shurikens to make openings for Hoka. While Fujin used his air bullets to not allow Junji any retreat.

Junji's expression was grim, 'These brats are strong. Three of them together can take me on. And they aren't allowing me any opportunity to use any Ninjutsu! And that clone is still staring at me.

But with these brats here, he won't use any large-scale ninjutsu. But, I need to save some chakra to deal with the clone and to escape. And I still have to check on Doi!'

Though a lot of thoughts were running through Junji's mind, they didn't affect his combat. The fight remained in a deadlock for the next 5 minutes.

During these 5 minutes, Junji gave multiple opportunities for Fujin and Mieko to jump into close combat. However, all those openings were traps. Neither Fujin nor Mieko jumped in and stayed behind Hoka and provided mid-range support.

Junji's situation kept getting worse. Though he wasn't seriously injured, he had a lot of close calls. There were a lot of small cuts on his body. It was only a matter of time before one attack hit him fatally. Even more pressing was that his chakra was decreasing. And Renjiro's clone was observing him carefully.

Understanding that maintaining the situation would be unfavorable for him, he decided to go on the attack.

As Junji decided, a shuriken came flying at him. He tilted his head and avoided it. Right after, Hoka attacked with his gentle fist style. Junji began moving backwards to avoid Hoka. However, 2 air bullets were shot behind him and one was directed at him.

Not having any opportunity to use any Ninjutsu to defend, Junji had to move forward towards Hoka to avoid the bullets. Hoka aimed his palm at Junji's chest. Junji used his left hand to deflect Hoka's attack by hitting him on his wrist.

Junji followed it up with a strong kick with his right leg targeting Hoka's left side. Hoka blocked the kick with his left forearm. However, the force of that kick sent Hoka to his right for a few meters.

Junji immediately ignored Hoka and moved towards Fujin and Mieko thinking, 'These kids didn't attack even when I provided openings. So their Taijutsu must be weak!'

Seeing Junji run towards him, Fujin's eyes widened. He shouted, "CRAP!" and immediately ran to his left leaving Mieko alone to face him.

Seeing one of the two kids run away, Junji smirked. He thought, 'As I thought. They were both hiding behind that Hyuga brat. So they specialize in mid and long-range combat and are bad at Taijutsu. I'll kill this girl before that Hyuga brat comes to her help and then kill the one who ran away as well.'

Mieko scoffed internally at Fujin's antics. She threw the shurikens in her hands at Junji and grabbed a kunai. Junji dodged the shurikens and grabbed his own kunai and attacked Mieko.

Mieko blocked his kunai with her own and kicked his abdomen almost at the same time. Junji was shocked, 'She isn't bad at Taijutsu!'

At that moment, Hoka began running towards him from his rear while Mieko attacked from the front. Junji's face grew grim as he grabbed another kunai.

He blocked Mieko's attacks and was about to look at Hoka when he suddenly felt something on his right. He looked to see that the kid who ran away was attacking him with a sword. Fujin attacked him as if he wanted to cut his body vertically in two.

Realizing the danger, he increased the force on the kunai that was blocking Mieko and sent her flying backwards. Almost immediately, he raised the kunai in his other hand to block the sword and sent a kick at Hoka who was just behind him.

The sword clashed with the kunai and the kick met 2 outstretched fingers. Junji grunted as he felt Hoka disabling a chakra point in his feet. However, soon his eyes widened as he saw the sword cutting through his kunai and coming down at his head.

He pushed his feet on Hoka's fingers and used them to jump away from him so that he could dodge the sword. His body began moving towards Fujin's right. The sword, which was aimed at the center of Junji's head, barely missed it. However, it hit him on the shoulder and severed his right arm!

Fujin looked at his opponent in surprise, 'He used Hoka's attack to propel himself away from my sword swing! It's incredible that he is still alive!'

Hoka and Mieko was surprised as well that Fujin didn't manage to kill him. However, all 3 instantly attacked him once again. Hoka moved around Fujin's sword to attack Junji. Fujin too moved towards him and swung his sword again at Junji.

Junji, who had landed just 2 feet away from Fujin, was in shock! His right arm was severed and his right foot hurt. He looked at Fujin's sword fearfully and moved backwards while grunting in pain. However, Mieko was right behind him and stabbed a kunai in his back.

Blood came out of Junji's mouth as he stopped himself and swung his left fist behind himself to hit Mieko. However, both Hoka and Fujin had reached him. Fujin stabbed his sword into Junji's heart while Hoka jabbed his two fingers into Junji's throat.

Junji looked at Hoka and Fujin in disbelief. When he entered the Land of Fire, he never thought that he'd be killed by ninjas one-third his age!

Mimasuya Junji, a veteran Jounin of the Village Hidden in the Mist, fell in battle!