Naruto: My Progress in Konoha.

Chapter 1227 Trap (Bonus Chapter)
On the dunes.

While Yamato and the others discussed their strategy, Qingming looked around listlessly.

This is why, with so many people around, he couldn't easily activate his White Eyes to observe his surroundings, nor could he release his mental energy to perceive over a wide area.

Otherwise, he could scan Tentsuji Pass in a matter of minutes.

Just as he was lost in thought, a subtle fluctuation of chakra suddenly came from underground, as if something was approaching.

Without almost any hesitation, Qingming immediately shouted, "Watch your step! Something's coming!"

Before they finished speaking, the other person had already left the spot.

Upon hearing his warning, the others, though finding nothing, reacted immediately, each using their own methods to leave the spot where they had just been standing.

Almost immediately, several puppets emerged from the sand, unleashing a barrage of poisonous needles that flew in all directions, attacking Qingming and the others.

"puppet?"

"Oh no, it's a puppeteer from Sunagakure!"

One of them saw what had attacked them and cried out in alarm.

Qingming brandished his longsword, deflecting all the poison needles aimed at him with a clang, and then used a 'Blink Technique' to leave the spot once again.

bang~
Another puppet burst from the ground, rushing straight at Qingming, but it missed its target.

Qingming raised his left hand, instantly forming a hand seal, and unleashed a ninjutsu on the puppet—Wind Release: Wind Blade!

huh~
A wind blade several meters long shot out and pierced straight through the puppet's body, severing it in half.

However, this did not completely render the puppet powerless. After a tremor, it reassembled itself and continued its attack on Qingming.

Qingming's expression turned cold, and he immediately activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.

Despite having only a three-tomoe Sharingan, his powerful eye and keen sense of chakra allowed him to clearly see the chakra threads controlling these puppets.

Then, he channeled his Wind Release chakra into his longsword, and as he dodged the puppet's attack, the blade struck several chakra lines.

Boom~boom~boom~
An invisible sound, like lines snapping, came from behind.

The puppet froze in place.

However, the next moment, several more chakra threads shot from afar, attempting to regain control of the puppet.

However, how could Qingming give him this opportunity?

He flashed around and unleashed a flurry of slashes at the puppet.

With the enhancement of Wind Release chakra, the longsword in his hand was like a divine weapon. Even though the materials used to make these puppets had undergone special treatment and were extremely hard, he still managed to cut them into pieces.

At that moment, Qingming seemed to hear someone's heartbroken voice.

It's important to know that creating such a puppet is quite expensive.

However, Qingming didn't care about any of that.

After dealing with the puppet in front of him, he glanced at the others.

The others weren't idle either.

While he was entangled with this puppet, Yamato's ANBU squad, along with Uchiha Tetsuo and Uchiha Shisui led by Uchiha Yatsushiro, were also attacking other puppets.

Meanwhile, the reconnaissance team led by Uchiha Inahisa was using ninjutsu to locate the puppeteer who controlled these puppets.

As everyone knows, the best way to deal with a puppeteer from Sunagakure is to avoid his puppets, find him directly, and kill him.

And so, it all came to an end.

However, the puppeteers of Sunagakure are not fools; they won't just stand there blatantly waiting for you to attack.

Moreover, this time they came prepared, making them even harder to find.

Fortunately, the reconnaissance ninjas who accompanied the team were all capable, and after some effort and time, they managed to pinpoint the location of these puppeteers.

Then someone shouted: "Southwest, 340 meters, underground!"

With just a few simple words, the target location was marked.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui immediately abandoned the puppet in front of him and used the 'Body Flicker Technique' to rush towards the target location at a speed that the others could hardly match. Closely following behind was Qingming, who had already killed the puppet.

Of course, if Qingming were to run at full speed, his speed would not be slower than Uchiha Shisui's, and might even be much faster, after all, his 44 points of 'Constitution' attribute are not just for show.

But as I said before, there's no need for him to show too much face in this operation.

At least, that's how it is in front of others.

Seeing the two of them leave one after the other, Yamato, who had originally wanted to send someone to help, immediately gave up the idea.

As a high-ranking member of the Dark Division and the person in charge of this operation, no one understood the strength of these two better than him. Since they had chosen to take action, even if the number of enemies was two or three times greater, they might not be a match for them.

Therefore, he did not need to send any more people.

The situation is unclear right now, so it's best to concentrate our forces and hold our ground until the enemy shows up, then we can act accordingly.

······
the other side.

Qingming and Uchiha Shisui traveled at high speed.

They soon arrived at their destination.

Uchiha Shisui scanned the ground, only vaguely sensing the presence of ninjas below, but unable to pinpoint their exact location.

However, Qingming was different. He could clearly sense that there were four people hiding below, and that they were surrounded by a barrier, which concealed their presence.

'If that's the case, then there's no need to hold back.'

With this thought in mind, Qingming immediately began to raise his hands and form hand seals.

Beside him, Uchiha Shisui, unable to pinpoint the enemy's exact location, looked troubled. He looked up, wanting to say something to Qingming, but what he saw was Qingming forming hand seals.

This made him swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Clearly, Qingming has located the enemy's position.

What Qingming used was not some special ninjutsu, but a B-rank ninjutsu—Earth Release: Earth Vein Dragon Technique!
This technique is not only used as an escape or hiding ninjutsu; after he mastered it to perfection, he could use it flexibly.

Just like now, he directly communicated with the earth's veins, using the power of the earth to force out the people hiding below.

Uchiha Shisui felt the sand beneath his feet shake, and then four figures leaped out of the ground and appeared not far ahead.

Clearly, these four people were the target puppeteers.

Judging from their headbands, they are clearly ninjas from Sunagakure.

The leader of the four, a Sand Village Jonin, said, "Konoha ninja, you have crossed the line."

However, Uchiha Shisui ignored what the other party was saying and charged forward with his sword.

The four people in front of them said they had crossed the line, but judging from their actions, it was clear that they had planned this all along.

If that's the case, then who is right and who is wrong is no longer important.

Although Uchiha Shisui was usually mild-mannered, he wouldn't do anything foolish at this time.

Seeing this, Qingming nodded appreciatively.

Without saying a word, he rushed forward.

Since Sunagakure has set up an ambush here, no matter where they got the information from, there must be more than just these four people involved in the ambush.

Perhaps, more Sand Ninja are already approaching this place.

Therefore, it's best to deal with these people first.

After all, in the chaos of battle, a puppeteer can be used as several people.

While he wasn't afraid of it, others might not be. As fellow Konoha ninjas on a mission together, it was better to have fewer deaths.

With that in mind, Qingming charged straight at the three weaker individuals.

You asked him why he didn't attack the strongest Sand Ninja captain?

It's very simple; the other party has already engaged in combat with Uchiha Shisui.

(End of this chapter)