Starting from the roots of Konoha, they were the masterminds behind the scenes.

Chapter 19 Sudden Battle! (Please read on, vote, and give monthly tickets!)

Too far away, even Hoshinobu couldn't hear what Sora was saying.

But no matter what he says, the fish is already in the net, and he won't be polite.

The shadow clone immediately emerged from the tree and then raised one hand.

burst!

Boom!

A corpse suddenly exploded, sending up billowing flames and smoke.

The explosion served as a signal; before Kong Ren could react, the other corpses also exploded.

In an instant, all the air ninjas were engulfed and submerged by the explosion and fire.

The traps set up by Hoshino Shu and Sarutobi Atsushi were not triggered, but rather active.

It's very simple: just stick the explosive tags under the clothes of the corpses.

So, Soryu's careful inspection was of little use.

When the explosion ended and the smoke cleared.

A ninja emerged from behind the earthen wall he had built, looking around somewhat bewildered.

He was the only one left who could still stand.

The others were either killed instantly or seriously injured and lying on the ground, including the two team leaders.

Shaking his head, Kong Ren staggered as he tried to save his captain, but a swarm of dark insects suddenly emerged from the ground and enveloped him.

After struggling for a few moments, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Immediately afterwards, the four members of Xingxia Xiu appeared.

"Keep one of the flying insects alive and ask if there are any other sky ninjas or ninjas from other factions."

Xingxia Xiu gave the order.

"clear!"

Oil Girl nodded, and a swarm of black insects flew out, then split into several streams.

Regardless of whether they were killed by the explosion or not, they were all bitten by insects, and in the end only the female captain was left.

Aburame Hiichi followed the same method Hoshinoshita Hide used when interrogating Tsuchiya Naoya, but the female jonin couldn't take it after only having one ear eaten and told everything.

Xingxia Xiu listened from the side, a smile appearing on his lips beneath his mask: "Yunren... I knew I was right."

"No wonder Kong Ren is so crazy, it turns out he has a powerful backer."

"It's a pity, I don't know if I can rely on this backer."

Xingxia Xiu sneered inwardly, then turned and left.

After taking down the female ninja, Aburame Toichi followed closely behind.

A moment later, the four of them joined Tsunade and the other two.

Xingxia Xiu cut to the chase: "The Sky Ninjas have all been dealt with, but there's still one unexpected incident."

"The Sky Ninja are colluding with the Cloud Ninja. There are Cloud Ninja in the Land of Hot Water who were originally going to take action, but the Sky Ninja refused."

Jiraiya's expression darkened upon hearing this: "As expected, there is a stronger force pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Tsunade frowned and said, "You want to take care of those Cloud Ninja?"

Xingxia Xiu said calmly, "Your mission is over, but our mission is not."

"The will of Root is to protect Konoha in the darkness and eliminate all enemies that threaten the village."

"Whether they are Sky Ninja or Cloud Ninja, if they threaten the village, they must be eliminated!"

These words stunned Tsunade and the other two.

Orochimaru then said, "You probably don't know how many Cloud Ninja are left, right?"

Aburame said, "We only know of one contact point between the Cloud Ninja and the Sky Ninja, with a small team of people. As for the number hidden in secret, we don't know."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade immediately exclaimed, "That's too dangerous!"

"If there are other Cloud Ninja lurking in the shadows... no, there must be other Cloud Ninja hiding in the shadows."

"Then you will be surrounded."

Jiraiya nodded and looked at Hoshino Hideaki, saying, "We should bring this situation back to Konoha before proceeding to the next step."

Xingxia Xiu remained unmoved and said calmly, "Then you should go back to the village!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

The three women, including You Nufei, immediately followed.

Although they did not agree with Xingxiaxiu's decision, after these missions, they had gotten used to no longer questioning it.

Moreover, they felt that what Xingxiaxiu said was not wrong.

Watching the four leave without hesitation, Tsunade and the other two fell silent.

"madman!"

Tsunade suddenly cursed under her breath.

Jiraiya gave a wry smile: "They make me feel ashamed."

Orochimaru remained calm and said, "So you've decided to follow them?"

Tsunade and Jiraiya nodded.

Jiraiya said, "No matter what, they helped us just now."

"Now that we're helping them, it's a way of repaying a favor."

Orochimaru, too lazy to waste words, simply strode forward.

A moment later, the three caught up with Xingxia Xiu and her group of four.

"Hey, do you have a battle plan?"

Tsunade shouted at Hoshino Hide.

Without turning his head, Hoshino replied, "You can call me 'A'!"

The latest novel is first published here!

"The battle plan is simple: we'll be responsible for drawing away the Cloud Ninja."

"Wait until the hidden Cloud Ninjas come out before you make your move."

Tsunade and the other two exchanged glances, then Tsunade nodded: "No problem."

"However, shouldn't we be more cautious and gather more intelligence first?"

Xingxia Xiu said, "The Yunren there are more familiar with the environment than we are."

"We're easily exposed, so let's be direct."

"You are disciples of the Third Hokage, so there shouldn't be any problem in terms of strength compared to us."

Upon hearing Hoshino's praise, Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh and say, "Hahaha, that makes sense, but your strength isn't bad either."

Tsunade couldn't help but curse Jiraiya inwardly as an idiot.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

As evening fell, Xingxia Xiu and her group arrived outside a town.

The contact point between the Sky Ninja and the Cloud Ninja was in an inn in this town.

Instead of entering the town immediately, Hoshino Hide first ate some soldier rations, replenished his water, and rested for a full half hour before using his transformation technique to disguise himself as a merchant and enter the town with Inuzuka Ryo and the other two.

Competitor Hotel.

Xingxia Xiu looked up at the signboard and then went in first.

The moment he entered the hotel lobby, Hoshino Shu keenly made eye contact with a middle-aged man sitting on a sofa on one side of the lobby, reading a newspaper.

Their eyes met, and they reacted almost simultaneously.

Let's go together!

As Hoshino turned around, he deactivated his transformation technique, and in that instant, his right hand landed on the hilt of his sword, while his left hand formed a hand seal vertically.

Dance of the Crescent Moon!

at the same time.

The middle-aged man holding the newspaper kicked the table in front of him, sending it flying towards Xingxia Xiu, while simultaneously letting out a sharp whistle.

Upstairs in the hotel, two Cloud Ninjas, who were sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, jumped up immediately upon hearing the whistle.

In a room across from the hotel, three Cloud Ninjas burst out through a broken window upon hearing the whistle.

Meanwhile, Inuzuka Ryo and the other two were still at the entrance of the inn.

The great war broke out so suddenly.

Inside the lobby.

With a single slash, Xingxia Xiu cleaved the table in two, and shadow clones appeared on both sides.

There was little room to maneuver in the limited space, and screams rang out amidst flying wood chips.

The middle-aged man's left arm was severed, and he also had a knife wound on his chest.

Just as Xingxia Xiu's shadow clone was about to deliver the finishing blow, a large number of shuriken came hurtling towards them.

The shadow clones scattered in response, and the Starry Sky Blade danced wildly, knocking away all the swords in their hands with a series of clanging sounds.

Immediately afterwards, two Cloud Ninjas, each wielding a sword, charged forward.

One of the Cloud Ninja's swords was crackling with electricity.

With a whoosh!

He channeled Wind Release chakra into the blade and charged forward, taking on two opponents at once.

Outside the hotel, Sarutobi Atsushi fired a signal flare.

Aburame Hiichi and Inuzuka Ryo stopped three Cloud Ninja.

Outside the town.

The three of them, including Tsunade, who had been waiting, saw the signal flare explode in the sky and immediately jumped up and rushed into the town.

(End of this chapter)