Chapter 350: They Won't Deduct My Pay, Right?
It had been nearly five months since the Three-and-a-Half-Day War ended, and low-intensity combat along the Cloud-Thunder Federation's border continued.
The entire border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire had turned into a battlefield between the Cloud-Thunder Federation and the Anti-Cloud Alliance. The Land of Fire had sufficient strategic depth and financial resources to relocate residents from the border areas, but the Land of Rivers, with its narrow territory, was mostly engulfed in war.
In a depression between hills, Kakuzu and the Ashen Bandits lay on the wet grass.
"Suna ninja dislike rain. It's fine for a short while, but if it rains for a long time, they won't want to move out, and their patrol lines will shrink. This place is safe for now."
Not far away was the target's hiding spot they had tracked down.
Kakuzu whispered, "Two Iwa squads totaling 6 people, and about 24 to 27 people in the Suna camp. In other words, we will face an enemy force of over 30 people."
Honestly, Kakuzu was a bit nervous. accustomed to acting alone, this was a number he would never touch under normal circumstances. Fortunately, the Ashen Bandits beside him were also strong, so it shouldn't be a big problem.
Hiroto, wearing the "One-Dot" mask, patted Kakuzu on the shoulder. "Then we'll leave it to you. Reinforcements have been called. We have other missions, so we'll withdraw first."
Kakuzu was dumbfounded.
"Huh? Wait, you're leaving?"
If he didn't have the Ashen Bandits backing him up, why would he look for trouble with 30 people alone?!
However, the Ashen Bandits stood up. Hiroto said, "We had other missions to begin with; we've been delayed long enough. The coordinates have been reported, and basic information transmitted. Reinforcements will arrive soon. When you see the rainbow light, just charge. Don't hesitate."
"No... wait! How about I give you a cut of the money? 10,000 ryo? 10,000 ryo each!"
"It's not about money. We have a mission. Gone."
"Don't go! 15,000 ryo! No more than that! 16,000!"
The One-Dot mask paused for a second but still left.
Until the Ashen Bandits disappeared from sight, Kakuzu was still dazed.
Just a moment ago, he felt safe here. Now that he was alone, he immediately felt too close to the camp. Kakuzu hurriedly pressed his tall body lower, cursing internally.
That's 30 people! And all elites!
Although he was a top mercenary in the ninja world, against a team of dozens of elites, he didn't have enough hearts to die.
After an agonizing ten minutes, the rain had soaked all of Kakuzu's clothes. He finally adjusted his mindset. "The Cloud-Thunder Federation has many experts, and my cooperation with Yotsuki Dana has always been pleasant. There shouldn't be any mistakes... I'll charge when reinforcements arrive! Not a big problem!"
After calming down for a few more minutes, Kakuzu remained highly alert, watching the changes in the sky. Finally, he saw a rainbow light speeding from the horizon.
The light was extremely fast, arriving in a few breaths. Gritting his teeth, Kakuzu charged out too.
The rainbow light in the sky couldn't be hidden, naturally attracting attention inside the Suna camp. The entire camp erupted in noise instantly. Someone shouted, calling companions to prepare for battle. Dozens of fully armed ninja reacted extremely quickly.
Focusing too much on the sky, they hadn't even noticed Kakuzu approaching on the ground yet.
Seeing dozens of Suna ninja in formation from a distance, Kakuzu's scalp tingled. But fortunately, the delivery pod should land first, so he wouldn't have to draw fire immediately.
Soon, with a loud bang, the delivery pod smashed into the ground in front of Kakuzu, sending sand and stones flying.
The pod didn't land directly in the center of the camp as Kakuzu imagined, but between the camp and him.
Kakuzu suddenly realized: Why only one streak of light? Is the reinforcement only one person?
Could it be Yotsuki Dana personally?
Then the pod door slowly opened, and it was empty...
Kakuzu: (｀_ゝ´)
Kakuzu turned around and ran.
No, accurately speaking, inside the two-meter-tall pod was only a single kunai.
The direction of the landing guided the gaze of everyone in the Suna camp. Someone spotted Kakuzu and pointed. "It's him! The enemy is there! Catch him!!!"
Many who didn't spot him earlier assumed Kakuzu had walked out of the pod.
Kakuzu was terrified out of his wits.
"Is this the support?! For a camp of thirty people, you supported me with ONE kunai?!! At least tie an explosive tag to it!!"
Kakuzu looked back in fear but froze.
Unnoticed, a blond figure wearing a white Hokage cloak had appeared in front of the delivery pod.
"When did he appear?"
The Suna ninja hadn't reacted either. This person truly appeared out of thin air.
"What's going on? Who is that?"
"Wait! Those clothes look familiar!!"
The blond young man glanced around. His superb combat intelligence analyzed the situation almost completely in an instant.
Several kunai flew out. Some were parried, some flew far away, and one weaker enemy was nailed dead directly.
Then Kakuzu saw the Yellow Flash bloom in the crowd.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
"Urgh! The enemy knows Space-Time Ninjutsu!"
"Rasengan!!"
"I remember now! That guy is the Cloud's lackey! The new Hokage!!!"
"Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three!"
"Don't panic! There's only one enemy!"
Kakuzu gaped, stopping his escape.
"That guy... is the Hokage? Yotsuki Dana sent me a Hokage as support...?"
Then what the hell am I afraid of?!
Kakuzu decisively stopped running.
Just then, two more rainbow lights flew from the horizon, landing directly inside the Suna camp this time.
Two young figures stepped out of the pods.
Nagato and Konan.
Konan and Nagato exchanged a glance. Konan flapped her wings and flew directly into the sky. In the next moment, explosive tags fell like rain.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Nagato's Rinnegan under his sunglasses quickly scanned the camp, looking for the target.
"Bansho Ten'in!"
A figure was sucked over. Before getting close, Nagato cast a Genjutsu on him. But it seemed not to be the target, so Nagato used "Shinra Tensei" to blast him away.
Then Nagato tore off his black cloak with red clouds, revealing his muscular upper body.
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, OPEN!"
Combining Shinra Tensei and Bansho Ten'in at will, supplemented by simple yet powerful Genjutsu, plus the terrifying physical boost from the Eight Inner Gates—for a moment, Nagato could be called a trinity of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.
"Eat my 'Bansho Ten'in Punch'!"
Paper cranes made of explosive tags flew down from the sky, chasing enemies as if they had intelligence, crashing into their arms and exploding. The scene was gruesome.
Too fast!
By the time Kakuzu ran back to the delivery pod, Minato bad already dealt with the pursuers, glanced at Kakuzu, and entered the camp to help.
By the time Kakuzu ran into the camp, everything was over...
Throughout the entire battle, let alone using a ninjutsu or killing an enemy... he hadn't even formed a single hand seal...
A thought flashed through his mind...
"Leaning against a big tree really is good for shade..."
Then a second thought popped up, making him break out in cold sweat.
I didn't do anything... they won't deduct my pay, will they?
He hurriedly quickened his pace.
When he arrived, he saw the red-haired youth holding someone by the neck, seemingly controlled by Genjutsu. The others had basically been eliminated.
Nagato said, "This should be the target, 'Kakko'."
Worthy of being half-disciple of Onoki, he exchanged a few moves with Nagato before being caught in a pincer attack by Minato and captured.
Minato looked at Kakuzu. This person should know the intel best.
Kakuzu coughed lightly and said gravely, "Correct. This person received personal instruction from Onoki. Rumor has it he very likely mastered the cultivation method for the Super Light-Weight Rock Technique."
Konan asked curiously, "But he didn't try to fly away just now."
The reason Konan was sent was to prevent the enemy from flying away.
Kakuzu wasn't sure either. "Maybe he hasn't mastered it well enough..."
Although Yotsuki Dana only sent three people to support Kakuzu, each was indispensable. Konan for AOE damage and sealing the sky, Minato for mowing down enemies, and Nagato for powerful Genjutsu to capture alive, plus his own strength.
After capturing the target, Minato could quickly bring them back to the Federation.
Forget a camp of 30; they would dare to walk through a camp of 300.
Nagato said, "Wait, let me confirm with Genjutsu first."
Nagato lifted his sunglasses slightly, revealing the Rinnegan underneath, and cast a Genjutsu on Kakko.
It was evident Kakko had undergone anti-Genjutsu training, his body resisting instinctively. But under the Rinnegan's power, his defenses crumbled rapidly.
A few seconds later, Kakko was lost in the illusion.
"Mom... Mom... what do you want to know? I'll tell you everything... Mom's mane is so soft and fragrant..."
A tear rolled down Kakko's cheek.
Kakuzu's heart skipped a beat. What kind of weird Genjutsu is this...? Killing the person and breaking their heart too?
Nagato asked, "Are you Kakko?"
"Yes..."
"Have you mastered the cultivation method for the 'Super Light-Weight Rock Technique'?"
"No..."
Everyone looked at each other.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Kakuzu's face.
"Um... the intel might be wrong... Hahahaha!"
Nagato didn't give up and asked again, "What did Onoki teach you?"
Kakko struggled a bit but finally chose to confess to "Mom."
"Onoki-sama... taught me... the Super... Weighted Boulder Technique..."