Chapter 193: The Biggest Difference Between Yahiko and Naruto
Whoosh whoosh...
Through the thick black smoke, twelve kunai shot out again.
In a brief moment, Yahiko and his companions were fully focused on the incoming kunai.
Because not all twelve kunai, each tied with explosive tags, were aimed at them—some were directed toward the village behind them.
Fearing for the villagers' safety, the three immediately used various jutsu to intercept the flying weapons. None of them noticed that although the attack seemed like a coordinated assault from twelve individuals, it had in fact only been thrown by six—each tossing two kunai at once.
The enemy leader had extensive battle experience and quickly devised a tactic exploiting Yahiko's team's priority on village protection. Six of his men launched kunai through the smoke as a distraction.
The other six split off—two circled left, three went right—and while Yahiko's team was preoccupied with the midair threats, those on the flanks launched their own kunai.
Meanwhile, the leader used Earth Style to burrow underground, aiming to launch a surprise kill attack on Yahiko.
His plan counted on Li Yao and Yuzu also being distracted by the kunai aimed at the village, which would allow the rest of his men to throw off their formation—giving him the chance to isolate and eliminate one target at a time.
Unfortunately for them, they were up against Li Yao and Yuzu .
Both possessed advanced chakra sensory abilities. The enemy's tricks and sneak attacks were completely visible to them.
As six kunai with explosive tags came from the right, Li Yao calmly grabbed a handful of small pebbles from the ground.
Whoosh whoosh...
Six pebbles shot from his hand at high speed, each striking the angled surface of a flying kunai.
Clang clang clang...
In an instant, the kunai reversed trajectory, flying back even faster and landing two meters in front of the three attacking ninja.
BOOM BOOM...
The kunai exploded. The three attackers were caught completely off guard and blown away by the shockwaves.
Li Yao had judged the distance perfectly—injuring them enough to take them out of the fight, but not fatally. They'd live, but they were done.
On the other side, facing four kunai with explosive tags from the two attackers on the left, Yuzu rapidly performed hand seals.
"Paper Style: Paper Bomb Technique!"
Six rectangular paper bombs, sharp as steel blades, shot forward. Midair, they intercepted and detonated the incoming kunai.
The remaining two paper bombs, mimicking Li Yao's tactic, struck the ground two meters from the attackers and exploded.
The two were similarly taken out of combat—unless they risked their lives to continue.
"Damn, we fell for it!"
Only then did Yahiko and his team realize what was going on. The explosions to their left and right snapped their attention around, and they understood—they had been targets of a coordinated flank assault. If not for Li Yao and Yuzu , the outcome would've been disastrous.
"Thank goodness for Brother Li and Sister Yuzu …"
Just as Yahiko breathed a sigh of relief—
From behind him, two hands shot up from the ground, grabbing his ankles.
"Die!"
The enemy leader, lying in wait beneath the earth, activated his jutsu, intending to drag Yahiko down and crush him.
"Crap..." Yahiko's expression changed. Just as the thought of "this is it" crossed his mind, he heard the sound of something piercing the air.
Whoosh whoosh!
Smack! Smack!
"Ugh!"
A muffled grunt came from below. Two pebbles hit the hands grabbing Yahiko with pinpoint precision, sending a jolt of pain through the attacker's nerves, forcing him to release Yahiko.
Yahiko quickly leapt backward.
Crack!
The enemy leader burst from the ground.
But instead of pursuing Yahiko, he immediately retreated.
"Yahiko, are you alright?!"
"Yahiko..."
Nagato and Konan rushed to his side, concern written all over their faces.
"I'm fine." Yahiko shook his head, then looked at Li Yao and Yuzu and scratched his head sheepishly. "I got careless. Good thing Brother Li and Sister Yuzu were here."
"Be more careful. Don't underestimate the enemy," Konan said, still shaken.
That moment had really scared her. She hadn't been able to do anything—it was only thanks to Li Yao's quick response.
But Li Yao couldn't always be by Yahiko's side. He couldn't watch over him forever.
Before she could spiral further, Yahiko cut in, "I'll be more alert from now on. I won't underestimate anyone again."
He knew deep down it wasn't just carelessness. It was a gap in strength.
Nagato knew too. He silently resolved to grow stronger.
"Who are you people?"
"Hanzo's subordinates?"
The enemy leader, now back among his comrades, had received reports on the battlefield. His eyes focused sharply on Li Yao.
The other three, while clearly chakra-strong and jutsu-competent, lacked experience—newbies, essentially.
But Li Yao and Yuzu , especially Li Yao—he had sensed the underground ambush before it even triggered and responded instantly.
That kind of reaction was not something ordinary shinobi were capable of.
Moreover, from start to finish, Li Yao had only used... pebbles.
Not a single real jutsu.
That alone had the enemy leader feeling dread. He couldn't help but ask who they were.
"Even though we wear—" Yahiko instinctively began his talk-no-jutsu.
"Retreat!" the enemy leader suddenly barked. His squad moved in perfect unison, throwing smoke bombs and vanishing without hesitation.
Boom boom boom...
A thick cloud of smoke covered the entire village entrance. Yahiko opened his mouth to speak—but no words came out.
"???"
He was dumbfounded. These guys didn't play by the rules. One second they were asking who they were, the next second they were gone—no intention of listening to his explanation.
Heh.
Li Yao shook his head and chuckled internally.
This was what real shinobi behavior looked like. Those who insist on knowing the name of the person who beat them before they die? Idiots.
A true shinobi, like that enemy leader, acted smartly.
The moment he realized the power difference, he noted Li Yao and Yuzu holding back earlier. He used conversation as bait, lured Yahiko into talking, and when Yahiko opened his mouth, he immediately dropped a smoke bomb and escaped.
They didn't care why Li Yao had spared them.
Or whether there was some hidden motive.
All they wanted was to survive—and distance themselves from someone who could kill them instantly.
Only after surviving would they consider why they weren't killed.
Maybe they wouldn't consider it at all.
That's the cruel reality of the ninja world.
Yahiko didn't understand this yet—but Li Yao and Yuzu did.
"Why?"
Yahiko turned to Li Yao with confusion in his eyes. "Brother Li, why didn't they want to talk at all?"
Clatter...
The small stones fell from Li Yao's hand to the ground. He smiled and said, "Because you're not strong enough yet."
In truth, the reason the enemy leader chose to flee was that he realized the one in command was not Li Yao or Yuzu —but Yahiko, the one he nearly killed.
In that instant, he understood—Yahiko made the calls, not the strongest one.
That meant if Yahiko allowed retreat, Li Yao wouldn't pursue.
So they fled while they still could.
Had Li Yao been the one to speak first?
The enemy leader would've had no choice but to stay and listen.
Because he knew that someone like Li Yao, with such speed and reaction time, wouldn't be fooled by a smoke bomb.
If that were the case, his only options would've been surrender—or death.
That's the difference.
Yahiko didn't quite grasp it. He just muttered, "I get it... he probably thought I was too weak. Didn't trust what I said."
No, it's because you don't kill.
As long as you refuse to kill, no one will take your words seriously.
Li Yao shook his head again.
This was the biggest difference between Yahiko and Naruto.
Yahiko truly refused to kill—enemy or otherwise.
A person like that, no matter how strong, isn't feared.
And without fear, there is no respect. Without respect, who listens?
Naruto, cheerful and sunny as he was, would kill.
That's what gave his talk-no-jutsu weight.
Yahiko's words relied solely on understanding and personal charm.
But charm fades. Eventually, people get tired, and the only thing that keeps them in line is the power to control life and death.
That's reality.
Yahiko hadn't realized that yet—and would continue to suffer for it.
(END CHAPTER)
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