Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 235 The Abandoned Pawn of the Valley of Mist, Harvesting the Hidden Stone Village

The Valley of Mist lies at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.

The terrain here is shrouded in dense fog year-round. It is damp and cold.

For the Sand Village ninjas accustomed to the arid desert climate, this environment was extremely uncomfortable. Even breathing felt like their lungs were filled with water.

Yekura walked alone on the gravel path at the bottom of the canyon.

She did not bring any attendants.

Rasa said that this was a top-secret transaction, and having too many people watching would easily arouse Konoha's suspicion.

"As long as we get this batch of supplies, the village will be able to get through this difficult period."

Yecang silently told himself.

The thought that thousands of tons of grain could feed the village made her feel that her efforts were worthwhile.

Even though she was acting as the agent for Kazekage Rasa, their political ideologies differed.

But at least, everyone is doing it for the village.

"This should be it."

Yecang stopped in his tracks.

According to the agreed coordinates, the handover point is just ahead.

However, there was no one there.

There was no messenger from Iwagakure.

"Are you late?"

Yecang frowned.

She stood there and waited.

The humidity in the air was getting higher and higher. The mist even condensed into tiny water droplets on her hair.

Sudden.

A slight fluctuation of chakra triggered Yekura's nerves.

It's not just one, it's many.

Ye Cang suddenly raised his head, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Who's there? Come out!"

She instantly completed the hand seals, and four orange-red fireballs appeared around her.

Scorching Escape.

The fog hissed as it evaporated into nothingness.

"As expected of Sunagakure's hero."

A rough voice came from the thick fog ahead.

Dozens of red figures slowly surrounded them.

They were wearing short-sleeved vests.

The leader was a tall, imposing Iwagakure Jonin with eyes full of mockery.

"Very alert."

"Unfortunately, he's not very bright."

Yekura's gaze swept over the Iwa ninja. She didn't see any supply wagons or large-capacity rolls.

Yecang's voice turned somber.

"Are you envoys from Iwagakure? Where are the supplies?"

"Supplies?"

The Iwagakure Jonin burst into laughter, as if he had heard a hilarious joke.

The surrounding Iwa ninja also joined in the laughter.

"Women of Sunagakure, do you really think we'd just give you a thousand tons of grain for nothing?"

He stopped laughing, his eyes turning pitying yet cruel.

"The supplies are already on their way to Sunagakure."

"Lord Ōnoki is a man of his word. Since he agreed on a thousand tons, he won't shortchange you by even a single grain of rice."

Ye Cang was stunned.

"Since the supplies have already been delivered, why choose to hand them over here?"

"Because that's the money to buy your life."

The Iwagakure Jonin ruthlessly tore the truth apart.

"Your acting Kazekage, Rasa, sold you to us for a thousand tons of grain."

"You've killed so many of us, how could the Tsuchikage possibly let you go?"

"Your Wind Shadow, you traded your life for the village's food supply. It was a very worthwhile deal, wasn't it?"

boom.

Yekura's mind was buzzing.

I was sold.

He was sold out by the village he had sworn to serve to the death.

She remembered the trusting look in Luo Sha's eyes before she left. She couldn't believe it.

"impossible----"

Yecang gritted his teeth.

"Lord Kazekage—he wouldn't do that!"

"Accept reality, woman."

The Jonin from Iwagakure drew his broadsword from his back.

"In the face of political bargaining chips, heroes are nothing more than nice-sounding but expendable commodities."

"Let's do it!"

At a command.

The Iwa ninjas around them launched an attack.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A dozen Iwa ninja simultaneously formed hand seals. A combination of water and wind ninjutsu.

The gale, carrying a massive amount of water, swept towards Yecang.

They came prepared.

"Scorching Release: Overheating and Killing!"

The four fireballs surrounding Yecang instantly expanded, transforming into four dazzling suns.

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

The raging water crashed into the fireball, bursting into a cloud of white steam.

The temperature in the canyon rose sharply. The water was evaporated by the scorching force, creating a large hole, which Yekura seized the opportunity to leap out of.

But as soon as she landed, the soil beneath her feet softened.

"Earth Release·Yellow Spring Marsh!"

Three Iwa ninja emerged from underground, their kunai aimed straight for Pakura's vital points.

"Get out of here!"

Yekura manipulated a fireball, which grazed the bodies of the three Iwa ninja.

A heart-wrenching scream rang out.

The three Iwa ninja were instantly drained of all moisture, turning into three shriveled mummies that shattered in the mud.

However, more Iwa ninja surrounded them.

"Don't engage her in close combat!"

The Jonin from Iwagakure gave a loud command.

"Earth Release: Earthquake Core!"

Before Yekura could escape the Swamp of the Dead, the ground beneath her feet suddenly dropped. She lost her balance.

Immediately afterwards, several high-pressure water jets shot down from above, hitting her shoulders and thighs.

puff.

Blood splattered.

Yecang immediately rolled to his feet and hurled another fireball, taking two more lives.

The battle was extremely fierce.

This is a desperate struggle.

The Iwagakure members were numerous and well-coordinated. They continuously used Water Release and Wind Release to deplete Pakura's chakra, and Earth Release to restrict her movements.

Ten minutes later.

More than thirty mummified corpses lay in the canyon.

But Yekura has also reached her limit.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

She knelt in the mud.

His clothes were tattered and he had more than a dozen wounds.

Of the fireballs floating around, only one remained, and it was dim and teetering on the verge of collapse.

Chakra is depleted.

"it's over."

A Jonin from Iwagakure stepped forward.

He raised his broadsword and aimed it at Yekura's neck.

"As a ninja, you were strong. But as a tool, you were discarded."

Yecang did not look up.

She looked at the muddy water on the ground. Her disheveled face was reflected in the puddle.

The physical pain had numbed her. What truly chilled her to the bone was the collapse of her faith.

She bled for the village, but in the end, she became nothing more than a supplement to the grain supply.

"Let's get started."

Yekura closed her eyes.

Since the village no longer needs her, there's no point in living anymore.

"goodbye."

The Iwagakure Jonin swung his sword down suddenly.

however.

The blade did not fall.

"What?!"

The Iwagakure Jonin stared at Blade in shock.

Sometime during the night, a layer of thick, black fibers appeared. Those fibers wrapped around his knife.

"What the hell is this thing?!"

"That Onoki kid, he's still as insidious as ever."

A hoarse, deep voice came from the depths of the thick fog.

A tall figure emerged from the mist.

He wore a large black robe, a Takigaku headband, and a mask over his face.

Eyes a deep, dark green, cold and greedy.

"Kakuzu?!"

The Iwagakure Jonin recognized this fearsome demon.

Why are you here?!

"If you take someone's money, you're obligated to solve their problems."

Kakuzu said coldly.

"Onoki thought that by using the black market's top-secret channels to send a letter to Rasa, he could do it without anyone noticing."

"But he forgot. The underground black market, its financial flows, and its intelligence networks have long since changed hands."

Ever since Sousuke dumped those twenty tons of silver into the black market, Kakuzu has become the biggest money-maker in the underworld. All the information brokers and money changer owners have to be mindful of his whims.

Ōnoki's secret letter had already been reviewed on Kakuzu's table before it reached Rasa's hands.

"A thousand tons of grain in exchange for a renowned Blazing Release user who will be famous throughout the ninja world."

"This deal sounds like a great deal. But—"

Kakuzu suddenly pulled his arm.

The Iwagakure Jonin dropped his greatsword.

"My boss believes that this woman is more valuable alive than a thousand tons of grain."

"Your boss?"

The Iwagakure Jonin retreated repeatedly.

Who is this S-rank rogue ninja who has lived for over eighty years and calls him "boss"?

"it's me."

A calm voice rang out.

Sosuke slowly walked out.

He was wearing a black trench coat and a black glove with a red vortex sealing spell drawn on his right hand.

He was carrying a knife.

The shape of that knife was terrifying.

The handle is a section of grayish-brown vertebrae, while the blade is dark red. Under the translucent keratin layer, you can even see the blue veins pulsating.

【Hungry Ghost - Bone Eater】.

"Takaya Sosuke————"

The Iwagakure Jonin gritted his teeth and recognized the man.

"You insane businessman, how dare you interfere in transactions between major powers!"

"Kill him!"

The Iwa ninja immediately took action.

"Earth Release: Earth Rising Spear!"

The ground trembled, and a dozen sharp rock spears shot out from under Sosuke's feet, blocking his movement.

It was extremely fast, and there was no way to avoid it.

"Watch out!" Ye Cang, who was lying on the ground, shouted instinctively.

Although she was heartbroken, the instinct for survival kicked in when she saw someone coming to rescue her, and she issued a warning.

However, Sousuke did not dodge. He didn't even form hand seals to use Earth Release: Hardening.

Several sharp rock spears pierced his thigh, abdomen, and shoulder.

However, there was no scene of blood gushing out.

A white periosteum had already grown beneath Sosuke's skin.

The rock spear pierced the periosteum, sparks flying, but it couldn't advance an inch.

"The Corpse Bone Pulse?!"

The Iwagakure Jonin was greatly alarmed.

"Aren't you from Konoha? How do you possess the bloodline limit of the Kaguya clan from the Land of Water?!"

According to the intelligence, this Takaya Sousuke is a merchant skilled in Water Release techniques and ninja tools. When did he acquire this ability?

Sosuke did not answer.

"Kakuzu!"

He had barely finished speaking.

Kakuzu's black robe billowed and tore open instantly. Two black monsters wearing eerie masks emerged from his body.

"Fire Release: Head Carving!"

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

A combination of ninjutsu, unleashed in an instant.

The raging wind and fire disaster transformed into a sea of flames, engulfing more than a dozen Iwa ninja in front of them.

However, the Iwa ninja reacted extremely quickly.

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!"

The sea of fire pierced through most of the earth wall, but ultimately failed to inflict any damage on the Iwa ninja.

At that moment, Sosuke moved, and at an extremely fast speed.

He rushed into the crowd.

But the Iwa ninja reacted extremely quickly. They were elite.

"Earth Release·Yellow Spring Marsh!"

"Earth Release: Great River of Earth!"

The mudslides came from all directions, altering the terrain and burying the suddenly appearing Musuke.

Sousuke stood on the churning mudslide. Precise chakra control kept his legs firmly planted in the ground.

A rock ninja raised his sword and slashed.

Sosuke raised his left arm to receive the blow.

"when!"

The ninja sword struck the periosteum and immediately chipped.

Sosuke waved his right hand.

[Bone Eater] traced a dark red arc.

puff.

The Iwa ninja's throat was cut open.

At the same time, Sousuke's left hand reached out.

Five bone spurs suddenly shot out from the tips of his five fingers.

"Ten fingers piercing through bullets."

Puff puff!

Five bone spikes pierced through the chest of another Iwa ninja.

"Attack him together! Kill him!"

The Iwagakure Jonin roared and charged forward, pulling a new greatsword from the scroll.

In a flash, he appeared above Sousuke's head.

The broadsword slashed down fiercely from above.

A large amount of earth-style chakra surged into the blade, hardening it to its limit.

Sousuke himself was proficient in the use of earth-style chakra and knew that even bone membranes could not defend against this strike. He dared not take it head-on.

He brandished his knife.

"when!"

The two knives clashed together.

The Iwagakure Jonin was horrified to discover that the Earth Release chakra attached to his greatsword was rapidly dissipating!

"This knife is eating my chakra!"

He was utterly shocked and had a bad feeling.

puff!

On the surface of the blade of [Bone Eater], the dark red keratin layer suddenly cracked open.

Countless tiny, grayish-brown bone spurs grew wildly from the blade.

They instantly wrapped around the arms of the Iwagakure Jonin.

"Ughhhhhh!!!"

The Iwagakure Jonin screamed in agony.

Those bone spurs, like the roots of a plant, pierced into his muscles, blood vessels, and meridians.

Devouring. Devouring madly.

His burly body rapidly withered away. His life force and chakra were greedily devoured by these bone spurs.

The surrounding Iwa ninja were terrified.

That sword, just like the ninja sword Samehada, can absorb chakra!

"Monster! Kill him!"

More than a dozen Iwa ninja simultaneously threw kunai and rushed forward to attack.

Zongsuke drew his knife.

The Iwagakure Jonin had turned into a dried-up corpse and was lying in the mud.

Sousuke turned around to face the Iwa ninja who were charging at him.

Beneath his skin, faint white bone-like textures emerged. That was a sign that his Corpse Bone Vein had been pushed to its limit.

He rushed straight into the crowd.

His fighting style completely violated the common sense of ninjas.

He neither dodged nor flinched when faced with the kunai thrusting at him.

"Pfft!"

Ribs suddenly pierced through the chest cavity, like a row of white fences, not only blocking the kunai, but also piercing through the Iwa ninja.

His Corpse Bone Vein gave him a very high margin of error when facing such an attack.

He swung the sword.

The bone-forested cuttings on [Bone Eater] erupted again, stringing the three Iwa ninja who had circled behind it together like candied hawthorns. In less than a second, the three turned into dried corpses.

"It's so useful."

Each time [Bone Eater] absorbs an enemy's chakra, it can be used to unleash an even more powerful attack.

They grow stronger with each battle.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Kakuzu launched an attack from afar, forcibly separating the Iwa ninja surrounding Sousuke.

Sosuke took advantage of the mudslide to reap lives.

Kakuzu controls the field, Sousuke reaps the rewards.

Blade-like sharp edges and bone spikes protruded, and the canyon was stained red with blood.

Kakuzu watched Sousuke go on a killing spree, a deep sense of dread flashing in his eyes.

"Shikotsumyaku—a strange sword that can also absorb chakra—"

"This boss is more dangerous than I imagined."

Kakuzu silently raised Sousuke's danger level to the highest in his mind.

You absolutely cannot have any ulterior motives when doing business with this kind of person. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire.

Less than ten minutes.

The canyon was completely silent.

Dozens of elite Rock Hermit warriors were wiped out.

Sosuke stood in the mudslide.

His body was covered in blood, some from enemies, and some from his own bones piercing his skin. But thanks to his terrifying regenerative abilities, his wounds closed up rapidly.

"receive."

Sousuke flicked his wrist.

The bone spikes on the blade of [Bone Eater] reluctantly retracted.

He put the knife back into the sealing scroll.

He took off his black gloves, his palms were soaked with sweat and trembling slightly.

Suppressing this deadly weapon is no easy task.

Kakuzu jumped down from the tree.

He walked up to several Iwa ninja corpses that had not been devoured by the bone-eating beast and squatted down.

"It has the heart of a Jonin, and it's of good quality."

Kakuzu's black tentacles extended and pierced the corpse's chest cavity.

"My water-attribute heart isn't as good as this one, so I'll just replace it."

"Boss, the corpses here are worth at least twenty million taels of silver. Although you killed most of them, I also contributed a lot. Could you pay me half the price?"

"no problem."

Sosuke took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off his body.

"This is small change. I have more important assets to receive."

He turned around and walked towards Ye Cang.

Yecang was still kneeling there.

She did not run away.

Having witnessed the carnage of Sosuke and Kakuzu's battle, she knew very well that she couldn't escape.

Moreover, she didn't want to run away anymore.

Her body had reached its limit, her chakra was depleted, and she had more than a dozen wounds on her body.

But the deeper wound lies in my heart.

Sosuke walked up to her.

"Yakura, the hero of Sunagakure. Nice to meet you."