Nara Kyoi had heard before that powerful Water Release users could employ large-scale Water Release techniques even in waterless environments.
However, the scene before him shocked Nara Kyoi to the point of fear.
Fox!
Was actually creating a waterless environment within the seawater!
All around the seabed, dense walls of Wood Release suddenly sprouted.
An area of two hundred square meters was enclosed by the Wood Release.
The Wood Release formed a square cofferdam?
Then, Fox created a filter screen using Wood Release beside him.
He used a Water Shockwave directed outside the cofferdam, continuously draining the seawater from inside it, forcing the water through the Wood Release filter.
The water level inside the cofferdam dropped rapidly.
The Kiri-nin hiding in the seawater were all intercepted by the filter screen as they passed Fox.
Even the Hōzuki clansmen using the Hydrification Technique couldn't evade Yōkō's detection.
Finally, the cofferdam was emptied of water, exposing the corals and sand on the seabed.
Hōzuki Kyougetsu, the Yotsuki clan head, and the other Kiri-nin stood on the corals at the bottom, looking up in confusion at the Konoha ninja on the Wood Release cofferdam walls.
Hōzuki Kyougetsu's face showed bitterness. He had just ordered his subordinates to try and break through the Wood Release walls, but sharp spikes suddenly grew from them, impaling those subordinates.
When he tried to charge out of the Wood Release enclosure, he was entangled by wooden vines on the structure, nearly having his chakra drained completely, forcing him to stay away from the walls.
Wood Release was too terrifying. Those wooden vines could actually absorb chakra, just like the Great Sword Samehada.
The core ability of Samehada seemed like a minor technique compared to Wood Release.
Yōkō saw that on nearby ships, many people were watching through telescopes.
There were surely Kirigakure spies among them.
Yōkō looked down at the Kiri-nin on the seabed and said:
"You dared to insult Advisor Shinnosuke, and still thought you could escape?
When the master is disgraced, the retainer must die!
If we don't kill you, how can we repay Advisor Shinnosuke's mentorship?
Your deaths are certain today!
Advisor Shinnosuke! Please take action now!
Use your forbidden technique to kill these Kiri-nin! Your mighty name will spread across the shinobi world for the first time!"
Hippo, standing nearby, was nearly grinding his teeth to dust!
'When the master is disgraced, the retainer must die' – how did Fox come up with such Flattery? Why couldn't he think of it?
He thought the reason he hadn't become ANBU Vice Chief was that his strength was inferior to Fox-sama.
He never imagined, never imagined, that strength was the aspect where the gap between him and Fox-sama was the smallest.
In terms of loyalty to Advisor Shinnosuke, he was far, far behind Fox-sama.
Look, Fox-sama was on the verge of becoming ANBU Chief based on loyalty alone. How could he fall behind?
He, Hippo, also wanted to advance very much.
Hippo secretly vowed that he must make proper arrangements, must use rumors to enhance Advisor Shinnosuke's prestige in the shortest possible time!
Wait, no, how could they be called rumors?
He truly was far inferior to Fox-sama. Those weren't rumors; they were slightly curated facts!
Soon, Advisor Shinnosuke's mighty name would spread throughout the shinobi world!
Everyone else stopped moving and looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke felt pleased. Fox had created an enclosed space with walls on all sides, perfectly suited for his forbidden technique.
It really had to be Fox. After years of working together, everything was just right.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke formed hand seals, and four Shadow Clones appeared around him.
Seeing this opening move, the others were excited.
Advisor Shinnosuke had actually mastered the S-Rank forbidden technique created by the Third Hokage himself.
"Five Elements Unrivalled Attack!"
Hōzuki Kyougetsu's eyes filled with terror. His Hydrification Secret Technique feared physical attacks not, but was extremely vulnerable to Fire Release and explosions.
Within the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack, he absolutely could not use the Hydrification Technique, or the water constituting his body would be boiled dry by the Fire Release.
The attack range of this forbidden technique was immense; escape techniques like the Body Flicker couldn't evade it.
He quickly used Water Release, while the Yotsuki clan head used Lava Release. Their techniques swiftly collided with the five elemental attacks.
The subsequent explosion caused by the clash of the five chakra natures was terrifying in its intensity, instantly engulfing the two.
The Wood Release cofferdam created a semi-enclosed space, amplifying the explosion's power.
Nara Kyoi thought to himself, truly worthy of the Hokage's eldest son, his mastery of this five elemental releases was so strong.
Fox said, "Advisor Shinnosuke, as expected, you are truly the number one among the Sarutobi clan's younger generation!
That rogue ninja Sarutobi Kanenosuke's Five Elements Unrivalled Attack is far inferior to yours!
If we encounter Sarutobi Kanenosuke, not only must we kill him, but we must also defeat him head-on using the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack, destroying everything he stands for!"
Hearing Fox's Flattery, Hippo's heart once again churned with turmoil, filled with regret.
Why couldn't he connect flattery with executing a rogue ninja?
Sarutobi Shinnosuke repeatedly. He found Fox's excellent suggestion.
Killing Sarutobi Kanenosuke was one thing; more important was crushing Kanenosuke's pride.
The Five Elements Unrivalled Attack, when used by the Hokage's son, was the authentic version, with truly great power.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke asked, "Hyūga Koe, what about Yagura?"
Hyūga Koe said, "Advisor-sama, Yagura escaped. His strength is considerable. He had already fled far away before Fox-sama created the cofferdam. Even a cofferdam of Fox-sama's scale couldn't trap Yagura."
Yōkō thought, this Hyūga Koe really doesn't know how to read the room. He said:
"Advisor Shinnosuke, Yagura probably recognized your strength early on and thus made preparations to escape beforehand.
The Five Elements Unrivalled Attack has an immense range, equivalent to a Tailed Beast Ball. This forbidden technique is truly formidable."
Nara Kyoi thought to himself that he was just too proud, unable to lower himself to speak such nauseating praise.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, feeling pleased, said, "Let's continue our diplomatic mission. Instruct the Konoha ninja in the outpost fortresses to be wary of Kiri-nin retaliation. We still need to go to the Land of Hot Water."
After dispelling the Wood Release cofferdam, Yōkō glanced at the people with telescopes on the surrounding ships, thinking to himself, Kirigakure spies, look carefully. In the end, it was Sarutobi Shinnosuke who killed the two clan heads with a single technique.
He went to Hippo's side and whispered to him:
"Hippo, Advisor Shinnosuke has just become an advisor. We must Build momentum for him.
Arrange for some people to spread the news that Advisor Shinnosuke, outside Tōga Port, single-handedly killed the clan heads of Kirigakure's Hōzuki, Kaguya, and Yotsuki clans in one battle.
Konoha Village needs a powerful Foreign Affairs Advisor to quickly emerge from the shadow of being severely damaged by Uchiha Madara.
You're an old-timer in the ANBU. You know how to do this, right?"
Hippo quickly said, "Don't worry! Fox-sama!
I'll arrange it immediately. I will spare no effort to Build momentum for Advisor Shinnosuke!"
Yōkō nodded and said, "Words like these, that Boast and brag about oneself, are inconvenient for Advisor Shinnosuke to say himself.
As his subordinates, it's our duty to share his burdens. Don't you agree?"
"Yes! Share the burdens, we must share the burdens! I want so much to share the master's burdens!"
Yagura returned alone to the Land of Waves. Meeting the Kiri-nin there, his face was dark. Without a word, he hurried back to Kirigakure.
The Kiri-nin in the Land of Waves outpost fortresses were at a loss, unsure whether to prepare for Konoha's retaliation.
According to the original plan, Yagura would lead elites to sabotage the Land of Fire Daimyō's ships and port, then repel Konoha's retaliation a few times, humiliating Konoha, before attempting to contact the Land of Whirlpools Daimyō to discuss mission shares.
Soon, the Kiri-nin in the outpost fortresses received intelligence from their spies.
They didn't even need spies; merchant ships brought back the news.
Konoha's new Foreign Affairs Advisor, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, had killed three Kirigakure clan heads in a single battle!
Hōzuki, Kaguya, Yotsuki – all major Kekkei Genkai clans.
This terrifying strength...
When Yagura returned to Kirigakure, he had to face many inquiries.
Three clan heads were dead. The three clans were seeing things with resentment.
Finally, Elder Genji intervened. At a high-level meeting, he stated that Sarutobi Shinnosuke would henceforth be treated as the primary assassination target, which somewhat placated the three Kekkei Genkai clans.
Elder Genji declared that if encountered on the battlefield, Sarutobi Shinnosuke was to be prioritized for elimination.
For a time, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's name Rapidly became famous throughout the shinobi world.
Upon entering the Land of Hot Water, Sarutobi Shinnosuke did not proceed directly to the capital but headed straight for the border.
Upon hearing of Konoha's heavy losses, Kumogakure had directly dispatched a large number of ninja to invade the Land of Hot Water's border.
One of the outpost fortresses stationed on the Land of Hot Water's border had already been captured by Kumo-nin. The garrison forces had to abandon the remaining three outpost forts and fall back to organize a second line of defense.
Minor nobles in the north of the Land of Hot Water had been killed by Kumo-nin. The Land of Hot Water Daimyō had sent consecutive official missions to Konoha, demanding that Konoha quickly resolve the military pressure from Kumogakure.
At the front lines, Sarutobi Kōhi was anxiously awaiting Konoha's reinforcements.
Three garrison battalions, over a hundred ninja, were all under his command.
But what the front line needed was a Kage-level ninja. He was just a jonin, with nothing special besides the Sarutobi surname.
He didn't dare organize a counterattack, could only have his forces continuously retreat, creating a safe distance.
The defensive line had retreated a hundred kilometers from the Land of Hot Water's border. Just a few dozen kilometers more and they would reach the Land of Hot Water's capital.
When he learned that Advisor Sarutobi Shinnosuke had arrived, the tense muscles on his face relaxed.
Excellent, the village had finally sent someone, and it was the Sarutobi clan's new advisor.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke entered the simple temporary camp and quickly asked, "Kōhi, what's the situation at the front? What are the Kumo-nin's numbers?"
Sarutobi Kōhi welcomed Shinnosuke and the others into a temporary tent and, pointing at a map, said:
"Advisor Shinnosuke, the Kumo-nin have sent a 500-strong elite vanguard force to test Konoha's reaction.
According to our intelligence, more Kumo-nin are gathering in the rear.
If the Kumo-nin probe Konoha's depth and strength, they could turn this border conflict into a full-scale war at any time!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression was grave.
He had just encountered powerful Kiri-nin at Tōga Port, and now he faced a large Kumo-nin force in the Land of Hot Water.
Their own numbers were too few, just over a hundred.
Sarutobi Kōhi said, "The perfect countermeasure now is to crush the Kumo-nin's 500-strong vanguard force in one go.
That way, the Kumo-nin will know Konoha's strength hasn't weakened, and they won't consider starting a war."
Hippo, afraid that Fox-sama would once again outperform everyone, hurriedly jumped in and said:
"It's just 500 Kumo-nin! The Advisor-sama has mastered the large-area forbidden technique, the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack! No matter how many come, they will die by it!
Advisor Shinnosuke's forbidden technique is perfectly suited for dealing with large numbers of enemies.
The Five Elements Unrivalled Attack is so powerful, with such a wide range. Using it on few enemies is wasteful; its true power is shown against many enemies.
In critical times, we must Administer strong medicine! Find their main force and engage them in a decisive battle!"
Hippo spoke with such confidence, as if they could annihilate 500 Kumo-nin tomorrow.
Nara Kyoi felt compelled to step in and cool down the Heated atmosphere. He asked:
"Kōhi-sensei, who commands the Kumo-nin vanguard? How many jonin and how many chūnin are there?"
Sarutobi Kōhi said, "The Kumo-nin vanguard is commanded by the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Ryūjin. There are 11 jonin, and a large number of chūnin, making up over half the force."
Hippo was taken aback. That was strange. Why was Fox-sama so quiet?
He looked at Fox.
Fox-sama, why aren't you piling on the praise? Why leave me to do all the talking? It's making me look a bit awkward.
Could it be that Advisor Shinnosuke would have some difficulty dealing with Ryūjin?
***
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(End of Chapter)