Konoha's lexicon of ninjas

Chapter 64 Ye Cang! (Second update, please subscribe and vote)

Go down the mountain, then cross the river.

At that moment, the shadow clone's memories came back to him, and Hoshino Shuichi immediately said, "Minato-sensei, there really is a trap to the east!"

"It's the puppeteer Chiyo!"

Minato Namikaze's gaze sharpened upon hearing this, and he immediately stopped in his tracks: "Follow the river south!"

The four immediately changed direction, originally intending to take a detour eastward.

As they drifted downstream, Kurama Sanyou couldn't help but ask, "Minato-sensei, is that Chiyo girl very strong?"

Minato Namikaze nodded slightly: "She is an outstanding female puppeteer from Sunagakure."

"In addition, she is skilled in medical ninjutsu and the use of poison."

"She caused a lot of trouble for the village during the last Shinobi World War. Fortunately, Lady Tsunade was there to break her poison technique."

Puppet masters, especially powerful ones, are very difficult to deal with.

Chiyo is an outstanding individual, and it is said that she obtained ten puppets made by Bunzaemon, the most powerful puppeteer in Sunagakure.

Bunzaemon was an outstanding ninja of the era of the First and Second Hokage, and he pioneered the path of the puppeteer lineage of ninjas.

Both Kurama Sanyou and Uchiha Shisui were shocked upon hearing Minato Namikaze's explanation.

Hoshino Shuichi also knew a bit about Chiyo.

This guy is ruthless!

If we were to encounter them, along with other Sand Ninja...

If they didn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape, apart from Minato Namikaze, I think all three of them, including Shuichi Hoshino, would have to kneel down!

Minato Namikaze's change of plans was clearly the right thing to do.

The four traveled south along the river and then entered a town called Otsu, using the town's complexity to cover their tracks.

Then Hoshino Shuichi and Uchiha Shisui transformed into wild cats and headed north out of town into the mountains. Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport Kurama Sanyou directly to their side.

This left the Sand Ninja who had tracked Minato's team to a complete loss of information, cutting off their trail.

……

In the mountains, Hoshino and her three companions found a cave and settled down temporarily.

Meanwhile.

Previously, on the battlefield halfway up the mountain, Chiyo appeared here with several Sand Ninja, silently watching this tragic scene.

Three Jonin and twelve Chunin were all killed in just a few minutes.

"That blond guy!"

Thinking of Minato Namikaze's astonishing Body Flicker Technique, Chiyo's expression became even more solemn.

"This knife mark must have been left by that brat with the dagger."

"Konoha's genius..."

Chiyo examined each corpse, gleaning bits and pieces of information from them.

Finally, Chiyo said to a Sand Village Jonin, "Rasa, withdraw the encirclement of Minato and the others!"

Rasa frowned upon hearing this: "Lady Chiyo, this Konoha squad is far too destructive. If we don't deal with them, they will cause immense harm."

Chiyo said, "Of course I know that."

"But as you've seen, how many people would it take for an ordinary ninja squad to wipe them out?"

"We cannot go to war."

"Therefore, cancel the previous encirclement and suppression plan and organize a Jonin squad to pursue them."

"Even if we can't eliminate them, we must force them to leave our heartland."

Luo Sha nodded in agreement; he shared the same thought.

Chiyo then said, "I'll leave this pursuit mission to you. Konoha's White Fang has reappeared in the Land of Rivers, and I need to go there."

Luo Sha agreed and immediately turned to leave.

……

Night falls.

Hoshino Shuichi's shadow clone reappeared in Otsu Town as a stray cat, wandering in the moonlight and lamplight, weaving through the crowds, and leaping between houses.

What puzzled Hoshino was that there was no trace of the Sand Ninja in the town.

They disappeared here during the day. So many Sand Ninja chased after them, and they gave up so quickly?

"what?"

Hoshita Shuichi, who was on his way to meet up with Uchiha Shisui, suddenly stopped and looked at a figure on the street: "This is...."

"Yakura?"

Her figure and demeanor are absolutely stunning!

Just then, seemingly noticing Hoshino Shuichi's gaze, the curvaceous figure on the street turned and looked over.

Hoshino Shuichi meowed nonchalantly, then strode into the dark alley.

On the street, Yecang withdrew her gaze and continued to follow the trail of Konoha ninjas that the Sand Ninjas had tracked during the day, eventually arriving at an abandoned house.

During the day, the traces of Konoha ninjas ended in this dilapidated house.

Ye Cang frowned and carefully examined the area under the dim light, but still found nothing.

The marks were broken too cleanly!

After leaving the house, Yecang looked around again, and finally came to the roof, surveying the surroundings.

Suddenly, her gaze stopped and fell on a dirty stray cat.

Stray cats and such are very common, but at this moment Yekura suddenly remembered the stray cat that had made eye contact with her on the street earlier.

Swish!

Yecang's figure disappeared from the rooftop and reappeared next to several cat paw prints.

These are marks I've seen before; the few cat paw prints seem perfectly normal.

But at this moment, Ye Cang's intuition told him that this was not a simple matter.

She immediately formed hand seals and created six shadow clones, which went their separate ways to follow the different cat paw print tracks.

Not long after, Yekura returned to the room where Minato Namikaze and the others had last stayed.

Upon closer inspection, she found no cat paw prints, but did discover signs of human removal.

"There was definitely something wrong. The cat paw prints started here, but they were covered up."

Ye Cang smiled, then pondered, "Why are there only traces left by two cats?"

"That Minato Namikaze's Body Flicker Technique... could it be more than just short-distance instantaneous movement?"

Ye Cang looked surprised and immediately slipped away.

A moment later, Yekura reappeared, accompanied by five others including Rasa, all of whom were Jonin.

Of the six, Luo Sha and Ye Cang are the youngest.

Listening to Ye Cang's speculation, Luo Sha and the others looked around again.

Upon their return, a middle-aged Jonin said, "Yakura's speculation is highly probable."

"A body-flicker technique that allows for long-distance movement—this must be a space-time ninjutsu!"

Luo Sha looked north, unable to see clearly in the darkness, but he knew there was a mountain there.

Based on the traces, it is very likely that the Konoha squad was hiding inside.

But it's also possible that they've already left.

"Then let's go!"

"We can't keep going around here forever; the situation in the Land of Rivers is very unfavorable for us right now."

Luosha Road.

The others nodded in unison, and then they all used the Instantaneous Movement Technique to disappear.

……

Inside the cave, Hoshino Shuichi and Uchiha Shisui dispelled their shadow clones. After receiving feedback on their memories, Uchiha Shisui said, "Minato-sensei, all the Sand Ninja who were tracking us have withdrawn, but other Sand Ninja have arrived. Their numbers are unknown, but in this situation, it is highly likely that they are an elite Jonin squad."

He obtained his intelligence by hypnotizing the people in the town.

By piecing together information from multiple people, although it is unknown how many Sand Ninja came later, some things can be deduced from their comings and goings.

Minato Namikaze nodded, his gaze turning to Shuichi Hoshino.

Hoshino Shuichi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Minato-sensei, we've probably been exposed."

Kurama Sanyou exclaimed in surprise, "Shuichi, your transformation technique has been exposed?"

Hoshino Hideichi shook his head: "I'm not sure, it's just a gut feeling."

Minato Namikaze laughed and said, "A ninja's intuition is often very accurate."

"It's now pretty much certain that the Sand Village has changed its strategy and is now using a small number of elite troops to deal with us."

"Furthermore, this elite force has discovered that we are very likely hiding here."

Uchiha Shisui continued, "In that case, the secret of Minato-sensei's Body Flicker Technique might also be discovered."

Minato Namikaze said nonchalantly, "Once ninjutsu is used, it's inevitable that others will have information about it. It's just a matter of time. There's no need to worry about that."

Kurama Yasunari muttered, "Elite squad, looks like we're in big trouble?"

Hoshita Hideichi laughed, "We've caused so much trouble for the Sand Village ninja, of course they'll come looking for trouble with us too!"

The atmosphere immediately relaxed after those words were spoken.

Minato Namikaze immediately said, "Shuichi, create a shadow clone and come with me to check the situation. The rest of you, retreat north."

"clear!"

……

Leaving behind a shadow clone, Hoshino Shuichi, Uchiha Shisui, and Kurama Sanyou retreated first.

Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze and Shuichi Hoshino's shadow clones encountered the Sand Ninja team that had just come to search for them halfway up the mountain.

"Two bloodline ninjas!"

Minato Namikaze felt a chill when he saw Rasa and Yotsuya.

Sunagakure would gather information on geniuses from other villages, and Konoha was no exception.

Among them, those with bloodline limits are the most prominent, especially those whose bloodline limits are not inherited by a family.

Rasa is a bit older, now 20 years old, while Yoko, who has a hot figure and looks incredibly mature, is about the same age as Minato Namikaze.

"It seems this mission is coming to an end..."

Minato Namikaze made a decision in an instant, while quietly sharing information about Rasa and Yokura with Shuichi Hoshino.

One is a Magnet Release user, and the other is a Scorch Release user; both are young and powerful Jonin.

On the other side, Rasa, Yekura, and the others were also on high alert, especially when they saw that there were only two of them.

The Watergate team's performance these past two days has been so astonishing that they have no choice but to be on high alert.

"Minato Namikaze of Konoha!"

Rasa spoke, his gaze first falling on Minato Namikaze, then shifting to Shuichi Hoshita beside him, before finally settling on the hilt of the sword protruding from Hoshita's waist: "To kill a Jonin at such a young age is truly astonishing. Although he is an enemy, he deserves our respect. I am Rasa, a Jonin of Sunagakure!"

Hoshita Shuichi: "Konoha Chunin, Hoshita Shuichi!"

Luo Sha stared at Hoshino Hideichi's youthful face and said, "I will use all my strength to kill you; it's out of respect for you."

Hoshino Shuichi smiled and said, "I'm no match for you now, but ten years from now, you won't be my match."

"Your son and daughter will not be a match for me in the future."

This left both Minato Namikaze and Rasa and the others on the other side stunned.

"Shuichi's angle... is really strange and interesting!"

Minato Namikaze smiled to himself, but his hand had already drawn a Flying Thunder God kunai.

After a moment of surprise, Luo Sha's gaze turned cold: "You have no future!"

By this time, Ye Cang had grown impatient. He raised his hands, and two bright red fireballs appeared in his palms: "Take them down first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a fireball shot straight towards Hoshino Shuuichi.

"That's really something, they acted without hesitation!"

With a silent grumble, Hoshino Hideichi symbolically formed two hand seals, opened his mouth, and unleashed a stream of fire. The flames rapidly coalesced into a massive fireball, which he then launched at the attacker.

boom!

The fireballs collided and exploded with a deafening roar, followed by rolling waves of fire that parted as Yekura's Scorching Release fireball hurtled straight towards Hoshino Shuichi.

Hoshino Shuichi immediately dodged backward, using his agility and superb reflexes to evade attacks.

Upon seeing this, Yekura immediately launched a second Scorching Release fireball towards Hoshino Shuuichi.

But at that very moment, Minato Namikaze's kunai flew toward Yoru Kura.

At the same time, Minato Namikaze's figure disappeared and suddenly appeared in front of the Scorching Release fireball, pressing down the Rasengan in his hand and colliding with the Scorching Release fireball.

Bang!

The scorching fireball exploded.

Yekura easily dodged the kunai, while Rasa raised his fist: "Got you..."

At the foot of Minato Namikaze, iron sand spreads upwards.

Rasa had clearly anticipated Minato Namikaze's actions and seized the opportunity.

However, just as he was manipulating the iron sand to grab Minato Namikaze, Minato Namikaze vanished from the spot.

"Be careful!"

A gasp of surprise came from behind Yekura.

Minato Namikaze appeared behind Pakura, grabbed his Flying Thunder God Kunai, and with a flick of his right hand, scattered a large number of Flying Thunder God Kunai out of his ninja tool pouch.

Rasa quickly turned around and saw this scene, his pupils dilating: "Those kunai... the technique of Body Flicker Technique!"

Among the intelligence gathered previously, there was no mention of any technique on the kunai.

Those Sand Ninja who knew this were all dead.

Just like Hoshinobi Shuichi, all the Sand Ninja who knew he didn't need hand seals to use Fire Release techniques were dead.

"Watch out, those kunai have incantations for the Instantaneous Movement Technique!"

As Rasa spoke to warn him, a dense barrage of iron sand flew towards them, attempting to stop Minato Namikaze from attacking Yoko from behind.

However, both the Jonin who reminded Yekura and the iron sand failed once again.

Minato Namikaze's figure disappeared from the spot again, and then reappeared behind a middle-aged Sand Ninja Jonin, with the Spiral Hair appearing in his hand.

The middle-aged Sand Ninja Jonin was already on guard and turned to parry with his sword.

The next moment, the Rasengan collided with the blade. With a forceful press from Minato Namikaze, the blade shattered, and the Rasengan struck the middle-aged Sand Ninja Jonin, blasting him away.

Rasa's iron sand, Yekura's scorching fireball, and other attacks arrived one after another, but all of them missed their target.

However, Rasa's iron sand had already been hidden beneath a series of Flying Thunder God kunai, and as soon as Minato Namikaze appeared, he launched an attack.

However, it still didn't work out!

"This guy is too fast..."

"It's practically like a yellow flash!"

Luo Sha's expression was solemn.

Minato Namikaze's figure flashed repeatedly, finally appearing suddenly beside Shuichi Hoshino. He used a Rasengan to shatter Pakura's Scorching Release fireball, causing it to disintegrate and never reassemble.

Luo Sha's attacks were always a step behind, even though he had made preparations well in advance.

The first round of confrontation has ended.

Two people, including Hoshinobu, were unharmed, while one Sand Ninja was seriously injured and unconscious.

(End of this chapter)