Naruto: The Age of Ninja Swords Begins in Kumogakure

Chapter 71 The Hyuga Brothers (Seventh Update)

Tamura Hao didn't pay much attention to the patrol team here. After all, the elites of the major ninja clans in Konoha were either on the front lines or in Konoha. It was impossible to station elites in a place like this.

They only need a day to recover. With four Jonin present, even if they can only exert half their strength, it will be enough to contend with a Jonin squad.

However, one thing Tamura Hao hadn't expected was that while the major ninja clans had indeed sent their elite forces to the front lines, it wasn't all of them.

As a ninja clan in Konoha, they naturally have certain privileges. Some of their most outstanding juniors were not sent to the front lines, especially those skilled in reconnaissance.

For example, there's Hyuga Hiashi, the young head of the Hyuga clan. As the main branch of the Hyuga family, he naturally has many powerful guards around him.

"Inuzuka Jin hasn't returned? Did he encounter the enemy?"

Upon receiving the report, Hiashi Hyuga immediately perked up.

He was actually quite upset about being assigned here, since this was the rear area and not a strategic location; the enemy was unlikely to come here.

This is a form of protection the family provides for him, but he doesn't need this protection.

His current close combat skills are in no way inferior to those of a Jonin. To have such strength at the age of sixteen is considered very outstanding in the clan.

Having cultivated for so many years, he longed for a real battle, or even to go to the front lines.

I didn't have much hope when I got here, but who would have thought that something would go wrong so quickly.

"We followed the patrol route we were given and found some markings. It seems we've discovered traces of an unknown ninja squad. We need to provide support as soon as possible."

The Inuzuka ninja who came to report spoke rapidly, his heart filled with anxiety. After all, that was his younger brother, and he didn't want anything to happen to him.

Hyuga Hiashi had an idea and then looked at his younger brother Hizashi, who was assisting him.

"Are there any other abnormalities?"

"No other abnormal reports have been received at this time."

Hyuga Hizashi replied, then seemed to have guessed his brother's thoughts and worriedly advised, "Father instructed us before we left that we must not take any risks, and we must not leave this camp."

He was well aware of the Byakugan's rarity; it was said that a single Byakugan could fetch a price of 100 million ryo at the bounty office, and all the major ninja villages coveted it.

Only the main family can receive disapproving looks, so it's very dangerous for the eldest brother to come out this time.

Hiashi Hyuga stood up and said coldly, "Hiashi, according to the intelligence obtained by the clan, the Uchiha clan possesses eyes with eye power above the three-tomoe Sharingan, and there is more than one of them. Such eyes are capable of threatening the Kage."

We represent the future of the Hyuga clan and must not be outdone by the Uchiha. The tempering of battle is essential.

"They won't let us go to the front lines, but if we don't even dare to fight here in the rear, how can we lead our clan to surpass the Uchiha in the future?"

As the young head of the Hyuga clan, he knew very well that their Byakugan was no less powerful than the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, not just the tomoe Sharingan, but also a higher level of eye.

However, the Hyuga clan did not unleash the true potential of the Byakugan, while the secret realm lineage was much stronger in this regard.

He firmly believed that his future would be no worse than that of the Uchiha with those eyes, and that battle was the best nourishment to drive his growth.

"Can……"

Hyuga Hizashi wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Hyuga Hiashi waving his hand.

"Don't worry, we have three elite Jonin protecting us, and my brother and I are also capable of matching Jonin strength, so we'll be fine."

Although he longed for real combat where life and death were at stake, it did not cloud his judgment, nor would he risk his life.

This time, his father arranged for three elite Jonin from the branch family to protect him. With his own and Hizashi's strength, he could even fight against the Kage.

Besides, he and Hizashi arrived here secretly, and even Konoha didn't know which base the two brothers had come to, so it was impossible for them to be targeted.

After hesitating for a while, Hyuga Hizashi finally gave up trying to persuade him.

"Inuzuka Takashi, you're coming with us to support Inuzuka Jin and the others."

Seeing that his younger brother no longer objected, Hyuga Hiashi immediately ordered a pursuit.

Although he was very confident in his Byakugan, he also understood that the Inuzuka family, who relied on their sense of smell, had an advantage in long-distance tracking.

"yes!"

Inuzuka Zhao accepted the order and immediately went out and whistled, and his own ninja dog quickly came running over.

Hyuga Hizashi also gathered three clansmen from the camp, and the group of six began the pursuit.

With the marks left by Inuzuka Blade, the six arrived at the place of the tragedy a few hours later.

"This place has been cleaned up."

Looking at the ground that had been scraped clean, Hiashi Hyuga could tell that a battle had taken place here.

Inuzuka was furious. His cousin's mark, traces, and scent disappeared here, indicating that he was probably dead. Even his body had been disposed of and taken away by the other party.

"There are traces in two directions, one directly in front and one to the side."

Hyuga Hizashi, after circling around, remarked that he had spotted traces in two directions.

"Zhao, can you determine which side smells fresher?"

Hiashi Hyuga looked at Akira Inuzuka, indicating that this matter needed to be confirmed by Akira Inuzuka.

"The smell on the side is a bit fresher."

Suppressing his grief, Inuzuka said, and made a firm decision in his heart to kill the murderer and avenge his cousin.

"Chase!"

Hiashi Hyuga decisively gave the order, and the group quickly gave chase.

After chasing for several hours, the group finally looked grim as they faced the great river in front of them.

The other party clearly entered the river to use the water to conceal their traces and scent, making it impossible to trace them now.

They couldn't determine whether the other person was going upstream or downstream, or from where they landed.

If there are still branching tributaries, it will be even harder to find them.

"Go back and pursue them in the other direction."

Hiashi Hyuga had no choice but to order a return. This time, the speed was much faster, and they returned to the fork in the road in a short time, following the other trail.

Although the other party passed by earlier and the smell was much fainter, there was still some residue.

With some subtle clues, tracking it wouldn't be a problem.

Meanwhile, Tamura Hao and his group were resting. They needed as much time as possible to rest and wouldn't leave until the Konoha ninjas caught up.

Most importantly, Uzumaki Tamagotchi is still unconscious. Without Uzumaki Tamagotchi's Mind's Eye to sense movement, it is very dangerous. If one is not careful, he may run into a patrolling ninja from Konoha, which would be even more troublesome.

"They've arrived. There are six people, five of whom have very high chakra strength, especially three whose chakra strength is no less than that of the three older men."

Tamura Hao suddenly spoke, looking solemnly in that direction.

He was always connected to the chakra of the Ten-Tails and the phantom of Kaguya, using their Kagura Mind's Eye to sense them. Although he could only sense a range of one kilometer, it was already quite good.

"Three elite Jonin? How could there possibly be three elite Jonin here?"

Fukai was puzzled. The three ANBU ninjas he brought out this time were all veterans, elites of the Yotsuki clan, and genuine elite Jonin.

Unexpectedly, there were three elite Jonin from Konoha here.

Could it be that Konoha has secretly planted something here?

It can't be that much of a coincidence!

(End of this chapter)