Konoha's lexicon of ninjas

Chapter 99 Physical Suffering! (10,000-word update, please subscribe and vote!)

On the battlefield, one Iwa ninja after another appeared.

They crossed the giant crater and arrived at a place where the air was still scorching hot. Looking at the charred and cracked earth, they slowed down one by one.

"Who on earth could have done something like this?"

"I hope Lord Zi will be alright?"

"Impossible. It has already transformed into a tailed beast; it's not something an ordinary person can contend with."

"But this time the enemy is clearly not an ordinary ninja."

Breathing in the scorching air, the group of Iwa ninjas continued their search.

"Lord Zi is here!"

Suddenly someone shouted.

Upon hearing this, several Iwa ninja immediately rushed over.

Then they saw Lao Zi lying in a large, collapsed pit, breathing weakly.

"They actually drove him to this point!"

"Could it be the Legendary Sannin of Konoha?"

The two Jonin leading the team were shocked and immediately led Rōshi to retreat directly back to Iwagakure instead of the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Birds.

……

On Sarutobi Shinnosuke's back, Hoshishita Shuichi, having regained some strength, couldn't help but ask, "Captain, that guy shouldn't be dead, right?"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded: "You seriously injured me, but the Jinchuriki's vitality is very strong, and with the power of Lava Release, he was immune to a large part of the damage."

Although Hoshinoichi didn't ask any further questions, Sarutobi Shinnosuke knew exactly what he wanted to know and continued, "The reinforcements from Iwagakure have arrived, and we can't give Iwagakure an excuse to start a war at a time like this."

Given the circumstances, he could have easily defeated Lao Zi with a single kunai, or taken away the heavily injured Lao Zi.

Regardless of the situation, it will inevitably drive the Iwa ninja to a frenzied pursuit.

Most importantly, Konoha does not want a war to break out.

After hearing the explanation, Hoshino nods.

Actually, he understood when Sarutobi Shinnosuke chose to retreat immediately, which is why he suggested collecting the scattered pieces of the Four-Tails' flesh instead of capturing Rōshi.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also had a very clear inclination: he did not want war, otherwise he would not have had this mission today.

However, next time, he thought he would turn the explosion of the Fire Hell Lotus into a high-temperature ray of Dragon Flame Breath, and turn the Four-Tails Jinchuriki into a sieve, to see if he could still survive.

……

While thinking this to himself, Hoshino Hideichi chuckled and said, "If Iwagakure dares to start a war, we'll wipe that guy out next time we meet!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had previously worried that Hoshinobu Shuichi wouldn't understand the village, or his father Sarutobi Hiruzen's policies.

After all, Hoshino Shuichi was someone his father valued, a young genius from the Hokage lineage with great strength, and a promising future.

It's all for the best now that Hoshino Shuichi has no resentment.

So when they heard Hoshino Shuichi's slightly childish words, both Chihiro and Chihiro couldn't help but laugh.

Chihiro couldn't help but say, "Yan, your two ninjutsu are very powerful, but they consume too much chakra. You can't use them lightly, especially when you don't have your comrades as backup."

Xingxia Xiu said, "I dared to unleash my full power because the captain and the others are here!"

……

Half an hour later, Hoshinoichi had recovered his strength and got off Sarutobi Shinnosuke's back.

The three of them continued on their way to the border of the Bird Country without stopping.

As dawn broke, Hoshino and his two companions arrived at the meeting point and met Shinichi Yamanaka and Tomoya Nara.

"Where is the strength?"

"I asked, Sarutobi Shinnosuke."

Nara Tomoe and Yamanaka Shinichi were silent.

Hoshino Shizuka's heart skipped a beat.

A moment later, the group returned to the cave and saw Akimichi Shigeiwa's body.

Hoshita Shuichi knelt on one knee beside the corpse to examine it; the injuries were the same as those of Kurama Yamayo back then.

They were all hit in vital areas by the iron cannon, which pierced their bodies.

Hoshino Shizuka sighed helplessly.

This is the second teammate of his to die.

Killing others is nothing, but watching those around you die makes the fragility of life magnified countless times.

Behind him, Nara Tomokazu said, "When we were retreating after completing the mission, we encountered Iwa ninja who had come to protect the daimyo of the Land of Birds."

"Chongyan died to cover our deaths."

Shinichi Yamanaka said, "If it weren't for your battle with Old Purple drawing away the pursuers, Shika and I probably wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed."

They were elite members of the Anbu, but the Iwa ninja were no slouch either; the two leaders were both Jonin.

Shinnosuke Sarutobi nodded, suppressing his grief: "I understand."

"Take a rest first, we'll set off in two hours. This area isn't absolutely safe!"

Everyone nodded silently, but Chihiro accompanied Hoshino Shuichi as they prepared Akimichi Shigeiwa's body.

Two hours later, after storing Akimichi Shigeiwa's body in the sealing scroll, Hoshino Shuichi and his group of five set off, crossing the border of the Bird Country and entering the Rain Country.

That evening, the group returned to the Land of Fire.

However, compared to the relaxed atmosphere at the start, the return journey felt particularly heavy.

After resting for two hours at the border of the Land of Fire, the team set off again and rushed back to Konoha overnight.

Inside the changing room.

After changing out of their gear, Hoshino and the other three waited silently.

About half an hour later, Sarutobi Shinnosuke returned. After a moment of silence, he said, "Everyone, please come to Shigeiwa's funeral tomorrow!"

"Also, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the team will have a month-long vacation."

"Disband!"

Everyone nodded and then left.

After leaving the headquarters of the Dark Side, Shinichi Yamanaka and Satoshi Nara left together.

Chihiro patted Hoshino Shuichi on the shoulder and asked softly, "Do you want us to take you home?"

"Don't worry, Chihiro-nee, I'm not that fragile."

Hoshita Hideichi shook his head, then Oki Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Chihiro waved their hands before using the Body Flicker Technique to disappear in the blink of an eye.

……

"How can I improve my defense?"

On his way home, Hoshino Shizuka pondered to himself.

A ninja's body sometimes seems too fragile.

Orochimaru's current research into snakes and his software modifications stem from this.

"Throughout the ninja world, the Lightning Release armor formed by the Cloud Ninja's Lightning Release Chakra Mode must have the highest defense. Although it can't defend against Amaterasu and has elemental weaknesses, it can defend against many physical attacks. Otherwise, the Third Raikage wouldn't have been exhausted to death..."

"There's also the Chakra Cloak; you can't even think about it without Chakraton, and it's very difficult to do with ordinary chakra. But speaking of which, Chakra Mode can also be seen as a kind of Chakra Cloak."

"Creating and regenerating is also a form of insurance, but at a high cost."

Hoshita Shuichi suddenly thought of Orochimaru, who could transform into a snake and constantly shed his skin to avoid death, and felt a little envious.

"Stop!"

Hoshino Shizuka shuddered, suppressing the dark thoughts in his mind: "I don't need those if I have a dictionary tree... Even if I can't avoid becoming a lunatic or a pervert in this world, I absolutely cannot let myself become neither human nor ghost."

"He and Tsunade created the Hundred Healings Technique, then Fire Release Chakra Mode... followed by Creation Rebirth. It's better to lose lifespan than to die."

"Moreover, it possesses the Hundred Healings Technique, which allows one to use chakra to slow down cell aging and indirectly extend lifespan."

"So what happens next? You've acquired all five mastery levels, making you all-around capable, but in reality, it hasn't raised your skill ceiling by much..."

With his mind in turmoil, Hoshino Shuichi's thoughts were a bit jumbled for a moment, and he only came to his senses when he got home.

Yakushi Nonou and Asuka were already asleep, so Hoshishita Shuichi moved quietly.

However, when he came out of the bathroom, he saw that Yakushi Nonou had already prepared a late-night snack for him.

"You must be exhausted from rushing back after completing your mission. Come and have something to eat before you rest."

Yakushi Nonou's gentle and warm smile instantly healed Hoshino Shuichi.

He strode forward, opened his arms and hugged Yakushi Nono, listening to her strong heartbeat, and felt inexplicably at ease.

Yakushi Nonou paused for a moment, then realized what was going on. She hugged Hoshino Shuichi with one hand and gently stroked his hair with the other.

On the other side, Asuka's door opened a crack, and a pair of eyes watched quietly.

After a while.

Hoshita Shuichi released Yakushi Nonou and smiled, "Dean, I'm alright!"

Without asking any specific questions, Yakushi Nonou smiled and nodded, "How about we have a late-night snack then?"

After saying that, she added, "Would Asuka like some too?"

Asuka, who had been secretly watching, panicked and stammered, "Um...yes...yes!"

Hoshino Shuichi chuckled to himself.

A short while later, Asuka came out in her pajamas, her face still flushed.

After all, being caught peeping in the act is bound to make one feel ashamed.

However, Hoshino Shizuka enjoyed his late-night snack very much.

After all, who doesn't like to be treated gently?

After having a late-night snack and cleaning up together, they chatted for a while in the living room before saying goodnight and going to their rooms to sleep.

Hoshino Shuichi had only been asleep for a short while when he was startled awake and felt himself being embraced by a soft body.

"Shuichi, I'll also apply to join the Anbu and form a team with you, okay?"

Asuka's voice rang in Hoshino-shita Shuichi's ear.

Hoshita Shuichi felt a tingling sensation on his ear and was about to speak when Asuka said again, "With me here, I will definitely make sure nothing happens to you. I have now mastered the Adamantine Sealing Technique and Kagura's Mind's Eye, and I will not be a burden to you."

Hoshita Shuichi turned around to face Asuka and said with a smile, "Asuka-neechan, I'm not the Hokage."

Asuka's crimson eyes shone brightly in the darkness: "Then, Shuichi, if you become Hokage, I'll be your bodyguard!"

Shuichi Hoshita hugged Asuka and buried his head in her chest: "Then it's settled!"

But in his heart, he felt that becoming Hokage was too far away.

Once Minato becomes Hokage, he can control the character and team up with Asuka.

Yes, we can pull the water stop again.

……

The following day, Hoshino Shuichi, dressed in all black, bought flowers and went to attend Akimichi Shigeiwa's funeral.

In addition, there is Asuka, who insists on staying with him, and Yakushi Nonou also agrees with this.

Asuka stayed outside the cemetery, while Hoshinoichi and Sarutobi Shinnosuke joined them and entered the cemetery together.

There weren't many people attending the funeral; besides his own squad, there were members of the Akimichi clan. However, to Hoshino Shuichi's slight surprise, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was also there.

A moment of silence, flowers offered...

After exchanging a few words with Akimichi Shigeiwa's family, Hoshishita Shuichi, at Sarutobi Shinnosuke's prompting, went aside to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen.

After exchanging greetings, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Shuichi, spend more time with Tsunade and Minato during your vacation. I heard Tsunade is developing a new technique?"

Hoshino nodded: "Yes, Third Hokage, I also plan to go and help Tsunade-sama soon."

"And I also went to learn sealing techniques from Master Minato."

After observing Hoshinobi Shuichi's condition, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and then said, "Regarding the research on the Four-Tails, we shouldn't push too hard, nor should we easily experiment on ourselves. Safety should be the priority."

Full of caring advice, Hoshino Hideichi quickly replied, "Don't worry, Third Hokage, I will be careful, and I will put Lord Orochimaru first."

Blame everything on Aunt Snake!

(End of this chapter)