hotmtlnovel Chapter 204 Bystander, Survivor
Chapter 204 Bystander, Survivor
Chapter 204 Bystander, Survivor
The next day, before dawn, Taiyi was awakened by a torrent of memories.
It turned out to be a shadow clone monitoring the Hidden Cloud Village. Upon discovering that the Hidden Cloud Village had begun packing up its camp in preparation for departure, it immediately deactivated itself and notified Taiyi.
I checked the time; it was only around 4 a.m. These Cloud Ninja are really diligent.
Taiyi didn't dare to be negligent. After washing up, he quickly ate something, left three shadow clones behind, and then his main body disappeared into the tent.
They reappeared in the heart of the Land of Wind.
In the distance, the caravan had finished packing and was about to set off.
Taiyi followed far behind them, waiting for the right opportunity to arrive.
Perhaps it's because the Hidden Cloud Village is indeed powerful now, or perhaps these Cloud Ninja are simply not worried about their identities being exposed.
Taiyi, who was following behind, found that the behavior of this group of Yunren was simply too arrogant to be true. They walked openly across the desert, their group scattered and gathered in different places, without any intention of concealing themselves.
If Sunagakure hadn't stopped sending out squads of ninja on solo missions, they would have been discovered by Sunagakure long ago, given their current state.
Actually, Taiichi was somewhat wrong about the Cloud Ninja. When they first arrived in the Land of Wind, they were very cautious and were prepared to take immediate action to deal with any Sunagakure ninjas they encountered.
But as time went on, they were surprised to find that there were hardly any squads of ninja outside the Sand Village. Perhaps they were just lucky, but at least they didn't encounter any.
Now that their mission is almost complete, they no longer worry about being discovered by the Sand Village ninjas, so they can act more recklessly.
So Taiyi followed the group for another day, watching them swagger through the Land of Wind without encountering a single Sand Ninja. He wondered if they were lucky or Taiyi was unlucky.
Helpless, Taiyi could only patiently continue to follow the team.
Hard work pays off.
Finally, on the evening of the third day, as the caravan regrouped, what was bound to happen did happen.
Fukuhara, the Jonin captain of this Sunagakure squad, and his squad left the village a month ago to go to the seaside city of Monsoon Castle in the east to carry out a mission.
Now, the mission has been successfully completed, and they are on their way back to the village to prepare for the upcoming war against Konoha.
Although he had been away from the village for a long time, he was still aware of the situation of the war. The current battle situation was not favorable to Sunagakure, which made him eager to return to the village as soon as possible and contribute his own strength to the village.
Just as their team was hurrying on their way, they crossed a tall sand dune, and what suddenly appeared before them took them by surprise.
A team of about twenty people, with more people joining them at this time.
Fukuhara noticed the problem with this team at a glance. Not only were they all ninjas, but the way they were moving was clearly how a team would assemble after completing a mission.
This is the heart of the Land of Wind, so how can there be so many ninjas dressed as Cloud Village? Anyone with a sound mind knows there's definitely something wrong here.
However, the distance is just too close right now.
The three teammates beside him all turned to look at Fukuhara, waiting for his orders.
"If a fight breaks out, I'll hold them off here for a while. The three of you split up and run back to the village as soon as possible, and report the situation to the village!"
Having said those words, Fukuhara was already prepared to die in battle. There were more than twenty ninjas there, including two Jonin. Each of these ninjas possessed a single ninjutsu, which would be enough to give him a hard time. He wasn't even sure how long he could hold out.
Meanwhile, the Cloud Village members also noticed the Sand Village team that had suddenly appeared. Upon confirming that it was just a four-person Sand Village team, cruel grins appeared on their faces.
They never expected that even as they were about to leave, prey would come knocking on their door. This was what all the Cloud Ninja present were thinking.
"Troy, take your men and wipe them out. Kazda, take your men and flank them, don't let them escape."
"Yes, Lord Shiryu!" *2
However, the moment the Cloud Ninja made a move, Fukuhara knew that a battle was inevitable. He decisively ordered his men, "Retreat!"
He then rapidly formed hand seals.
Wind Release: Great Sandstorm.
A fierce wind, accompanied by yellow sand, swept towards the Cloud Village ninjas ahead, obscuring everyone's vision in a hazy yellow haze.
Wind Release: Great Scythe Itachi.
Under the cover of the sandstorm, the overwhelming scythe-like wind blades continued to sweep across everything in sight, threatening to cut all the Cloud Ninja into pieces.
However, although the attack came suddenly, the Cloud Ninja were not easy to bully. Two thick earthen walls rose up from the ground, blocking the way for the Kamaitachi Storm.
Subsequently, the two teams of ninjas bypassed the earthen wall from the left and right. One team attacked Fukuhara, while the other team went directly past Fukuhara to pursue the three fleeing Sand Ninjas.
"Damn it, you Cloud Ninja, are you trying to start a war between Sunagakure and Cloud Ninja?" Fukuhara roared angrily. He was a ninjutsu-type ninja, and close combat was not his forte. Now he could only retreat while forming hand seals and using some minor ninjutsu to hinder the Cloud Ninja from getting closer.
"Haha, war? This Sand Village ninja, it seems you struck first, how dare you turn around and accuse me?"
The leader, Troy, amusedly teased Fukuhara, occasionally throwing a lightning ball or two to disrupt his escape and spellcasting. At the same time, he directed his subordinates to flank him, launching ranged ninjutsu attacks.
In just one exchange, the Sand Village's Jonin went from being able to both attack and defend to only being able to defend. If this continues, defeat is only a matter of time.
While Fukuhara was entangled in the conflict, his three subordinates were also caught up by Kazuda's ninja. Facing the Cloud Village's Jonin, these three Sand Ninja, who were only Chunin level, couldn't even last a few minutes before dying.
If the Cloud Ninja hadn't wanted to take down these Sand Ninja with zero casualties, the battle would probably have ended long ago.
Meanwhile, Taiichi, hiding in the rear, quietly watched the battle he sensed, a strange smile playing on his lips. When he saw the first Chunin from Sunagakure die, he knew it was time for him to act.
He got up and circled around to the direction the Sand Village ninja had come from. He took off his Konoha headband and put on the Sand Village headband that he had prepared beforehand. Taichi looked at the battlefield again. At this moment, the second Sand Village Chunin had also lost his life.
Taiyi started running, accelerating, and as he drew closer, he seized the opportunity to shout loudly, "Stop! You traitors from Kumogakure!"
Immediately, his figure was spotted by the Cloud Ninja. At that moment, the last Sand Village Chunin was killed. The Cloud Ninja who killed him cruelly pulled out the kunai that was stuck in the Sand Ninja's chest and turned his head to reveal a ferocious smile.
But suddenly he felt a pain in his chest, and when he looked down, he saw that he had been pierced through by a short knife.
"How could it be so fast!" That was the only thought left in his remaining consciousness, and the sand ninja who suddenly appeared had already passed by.
"Damn it, attack together!" Kazda was enraged when he saw one of his men wiped out in the blink of an eye. He had managed to kill three men without suffering any losses, but he never expected to be ambushed like this.
He was completely unaware that the newcomer was not one of the small fry he had dealt with before.
After killing one person, Taiyi was completely excited. Looking at the people surrounding him, he symbolically formed hand seals as he ran.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Immediately, Taiyi blew out a violent hurricane from his mouth, which was mixed with a large number of dense wind blades.
The two Cloud Ninja at the front of the charge were hit squarely by the wind before they could even dodge, their bodies instantly cut open and covered in blood, clearly beyond saving.
The few Cloud Ninjas who were a little behind reacted quickly, dodging the wind blades from the front and planning to approach Taiyi from the side.
Little did they know that Taiyi was waiting for them. He poured a surge of wind-attribute chakra into the short sword in his hand, and the blade immediately glowed with a bluish light.
Facing the charging ninja, Taiichi swiftly dispatched the Cloud Ninja with a few swift strokes of his sword.
At this moment, only the one Jonin remained in front of him, and now it was the Cloud Village Jonin's turn to be at a loss.
He retreated rapidly towards the main force, simultaneously forming hand seals and releasing a series of lightning orbs in an attempt to hinder Taiyi's advance.
However, he clearly underestimated Taiichi's ninjutsu skills. If it were close combat, he might be able to hold out for a while, but in a long-range ninjutsu duel, Taiichi was not afraid at all.
Hands form hand seals, Wind Release: Vacuum Jade.
Countless compressed air projectiles spewed out from Taiyikou, like a machine gun firing continuously. Before the incoming lightning ball could even get close, it was shattered by countless vacuum jades without even a splash.
The remaining large amount of vacuum jewels did not dissipate after shattering the lightning ball, and continued to fly towards the direction of the Cloud Ninja.
This terrified Kazda, who continued to form hand seals while shouting for help: "Captain, help! The enemy is too strong!"
Just as Taiyi's ninjutsu was about to be completed, he finally finished his last hand seal, slammed his hand on the ground, and an earthen wall immediately rose up.
Just by looking at the style of the earthen wall, one can tell that earth-escape is not a ninjutsu he is good at.
Naturally, such earth-based techniques could not possibly withstand Taiyi's wind-based techniques.
Before the Cloud Village Jonin could relax, the earthen wall was pierced by a dense barrage of Vacuum Orbs. The Jonin hiding behind the wall trembled, and more than a dozen penetrating wounds appeared on his body, with blood gushing out.
On this side, Captain Kumogakure and Kazda heard Taichi's shout at almost the same time, but seeing that there was only one person, they didn't take it to heart.
But before he could even turn his attention back, Kazda was already calling for help. When he turned back to look, Kazda's squad, including himself, had already perished.
"Damn it, a powerful expert has arrived. Everyone, stop watching and take care of this Sand Village ninja immediately."
After saying that, he picked up a kunai and joined the battle against the previous Sand Village Jonin. He wanted to deal with one first and then concentrate his strength to find trouble for the other.
But Taiyi was more than happy that Yunren had done this. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to continue this charade.
Now that's great, Taiichi no longer needs to hold back his speed and can run at full speed towards the Sand Village, shouting, "Brother, hold on, I'm coming!"
Fukuhara really wanted to hold on. Seeing how strong this new Sand Village comrade was, he thought he could be saved if he held on for just a little while longer.
However, there were simply too many Cloud Ninjas, and two Jonin were attacking him from both sides. He really couldn't hold on any longer!
Just as Taiichi was only 10 meters away from him, the Cloud Ninja Captain's kunai had already pierced his heart. Looking at Taiichi, who was furiously forming hand seals, Fukuhara revealed a sad smile. He hadn't been able to hold on after all.
Over here, Taiichi watched as the Cloud Ninja killed the Sand Ninja Jonin, and immediately became "enraged". He formed hand seals and unleashed Wind Release: Vacuum Wave.
A continuous barrage of energy blades erupted from Tai's mouth, covering a vast area that included all the Cloud Ninja in the attack.
"Everyone be careful, this guy is very strong in Wind Release. Anyone who knows Earth Release, get in!"
Immediately, eight Cloud Ninja stepped forward, including the Jonin named Troy. They formed hand seals together, and earthen walls rose from the ground. Although they couldn't perform a combined technique like those of Iwagakure, the eight earthen walls stacked together were still quite thick.
The vacuum wave swept across the earthen wall, and the first three sections immediately collapsed. As the air blade swept back and forth, the collapsed earthen wall was also cut into pieces.
But these eight earthen walls ultimately blocked Taiyi's Wind Release.
Just then, seven or eight ninjas emerged from each side of the earthen wall, wielding various weapons and attacking Taiichi under the leadership of a Jonin.
Clearly, they preferred close-quarters combat with Taiichi to his ninjutsu.
Taiichi was not afraid at all. The short sword glowed blue again. Taiichi raised the sword and charged towards the enemy on the left. With two slashes, he felled two Cloud Ninja. The third slash was blocked by a Cloud Ninja Jonin. Then, the Cloud Ninjas around him immediately prepared to surround him.
Troy wore a sinister grin, as if he could already foresee Tai's death.
He was about to make a sarcastic remark when he saw Taiyi take a deep breath and unleash a Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
"How is that possible? Doesn't he need to use hand seals?" Troy cried out in his heart.
But there was no way anyone could respond to him. At such close range, it was practically a wind jutsu released right at his face. How could he possibly dodge it?
As Taiichi shook his head, the ninjas surrounding him were immediately blown away. Each of them had at least a dozen wounds cut by the wind blades. The Jonin, in particular, was covered in wounds, and his head was unrecognizable.
The Cloud Ninjas who had originally intended to rush forward all stopped in their tracks. They were terrified. Of the original twenty-odd people, only nine remained, including two Jonin who had been killed in battle.
Are the few people they have left enough to kill this Sand Ninja? When did such a powerful Wind Release ninja appear in the Sand Ninja?
Seeing that Taiyi was closing in step by step, the leader of the Cloud Village Jonin shouted unwillingly, "Escape! Scatter and escape! Reunite at rendezvous point A after you escape!"
After saying that, he quickly formed hand seals, and a large amount of lightning nets enveloped Taiyi. As soon as he finished releasing the ninjutsu, he turned and fled into the distance without looking back. At the same time, a signal flare was launched into the sky, notifying the Cloud Ninja who had not yet returned to evacuate immediately.
Taiyi waved his hand and unleashed another powerful breakthrough, shattering the vast net of lightning. Watching the fleeing Cloud Ninja, he symbolically pursued them for a moment, then killed a few more Cloud Ninja who were lagging behind before stopping.
Of course, he couldn't kill all these Cloud Ninjas, otherwise who would go back to inform the Cloud Village?