The Hidden Cloud Village convoy sped along the wide dirt road, wheels crushing gravel and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Zurui sat in the lead carriage, fingers constantly tapping his knee, his brows furrowed. As the Jonin in charge of this operation, his mood was heavier than when they had arrived.
In the end, they still couldn't smoothly obtain a complete Byakugan bloodline limit…
Recalling the hypocritical faces of the Leaf Village's higher-ups at the negotiation table in Konoha, Zurui couldn't help but grit his teeth. They, of course, knew Kumogakure's true objective, yet they still put on a show.
They spoke of "peace," but then immediately wanted to execute the Hyuga Branch Family member before handing him over… If he hadn't used the excuse that "Lord Raikage wants to personally interrogate the culprit," he probably wouldn't have been able to bring back even this living Hyuga clan member.
The carriage jolted, and Zurui's gaze unconsciously drifted to the rear—there was a specially designed prisoner cart, holding a blindfolded Hyuga Hizashi.
This was the first time they had acquired a perfectly intact Byakugan wielder.
In previous wars, the Hyuga Main Family was protected flawlessly, and once a Branch Family member was captured, the Main Family would immediately activate the Caged Bird Curse Mark to execute him. Being able to bring back a live specimen this time was an unprecedented breakthrough.
At the negotiation table, he had already warned Konoha—not to arbitrarily execute the "criminal." Although this was just for show, he was genuinely worried that Konoha might secretly tamper with things.
As long as he returned to Kumogakure…
A fanatic gleam flashed in his eyes. The village's scientists had long coveted the Byakugan. If they could unravel the mystery of the Caged Bird Curse Mark through human experimentation, or even find a way to transplant the Byakugan…
Lord Raikage would surely…
Suddenly, the carriage jolted to a halt, interrupting Zurui's thoughts. "What's going on?" he barked, pulling back the curtain.
"Lord Zurui! We have an unexpected situation! It might be an enemy attack!"
The urgent shouts of the Cloud Ninja made Zurui's brows furrow. Enemy attack? In this plain? Bandits and mountain thieves would never dare to attack a regular Hidden Cloud Village convoy, and if it were Ninja from another Shinobi Village...
Did they not know this was tantamount to declaring war on Kumogakure?
Jumping out of the carriage, the convoy had come to a complete stop, and all the Cloud Ninja had entered battle readiness, their kunai and shuriken already in hand.
Following everyone's gaze, in the middle of the road, a figure clad in a black robe and wearing a fox mask stood silently. The sunlight cast a cold halo on the mask, making it impossible to discern the expression beneath.
It seemed the newcomer meant trouble…
Zurui's hand unconsciously reached for the Ninja blade on his back, but then he let go. His most important mission now was to safely deliver the Byakugan back to Hidden Cloud Village; there was no need to create extra complications.
"Who is ahead?" he took a few steps forward, shouting loudly, "This is the Hidden Cloud Village envoy's convoy! No matter which village's Ninja you are, this action is tantamount to declaring war on Kumogakure!"
The black-robed figure did not answer, but slowly raised his hands and began to form hand signs. As he moved, the cloak behind him suddenly billowed without wind, flapping loudly.
"Nine-Headed Snakes."
A low voice echoed across the plain. With each word uttered, a corresponding giant character appeared in the air, shimmering with an eerie blue light.
"Azure · White · Scarlet · Black · Void · South · North · Three · Jade."
Nine characters formed a massive array in the air, emitting suffocating Chakra fluctuations. The Cloud Ninja unconsciously retreated a few steps.
"Nine-Faced Beast!"
At the black-robed figure's command, nine giant, distinctively shaped summoned beasts roared out from the array. Each one exuded terrifying pressure. These summoned beasts lined up neatly on either side of the black-robed figure, completely blocking the entire road.
The black-robed figure slowly raised a hand, pointing towards the prisoner cart.
"My demand is simple."
The voice from beneath the mask was chilling, devoid of any emotion.
"Hand over the power of the Byakugan."
Zurui's face instantly darkened like ink, veins throbbing on his forehead. His eyes were fixed on the black-robed masked figure in front of him, and information about the strong individuals from the major Shinobi Villages in the Ninja World flashed through his mind—a Ninja capable of simultaneously summoning nine different summoned beasts? Unheard of!
This guy… which village is he from?
But this was not the time to think. As an experienced Cloud Jonin, Zurui made a decisive move, fiercely waving his right hand. "Everyone! Full attack!"
His hands instantly completed the hand signs, and his chest puffed out: "Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Boom—!"
A dazzling beam of lightning shot out from his mouth, directly at the black-robed figure's chest. Almost simultaneously, the surrounding Cloud Ninja also formed hand signs.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Senbon!"
Dozens of Lightning Release Ninjutsu, shimmering with blue-white electricity, assailed from all directions, completely engulfing the black-robed figure's position. The blinding lightning illuminated the entire plain, and the pungent smell of ozone filled the air.
However—"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A series of dull thuds sounded. A scene that left all the Cloud Ninja dumbfounded unfolded: the Lightning Release Ninjutsu, powerful enough to pulverize rocks, dissipated into nothingness after hitting an invisible wall several meters away from the black-robed figure, erupting in dazzling electrical sparks!
"So that's how it is…"
A low voice came from beneath the mask, accompanied by a hint of playful sigh.
"You chose to fight when given a demand? Completely abandoning the possibility of negotiation… I respect your loyalty to your village…"
"Now… crush them!"
Nine massive figures charged towards the Cloud Ninja formation like arrows released from a bowstring. The ground trembled under their footsteps.
"Protect the Byakugan!" Zurui roared hoarsely, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He stared intently at the charging Nine-Faced Beast, his hands rapidly forming hand signs, preparing to meet the attack—
"Hey, look here."
A cold voice suddenly rang in his ear. Zurui's hair stood on end, and he sharply turned his head; the eerie fox mask was suddenly right in front of him!
When?!
"You…!"
Zurui's hand had just touched the short blade on his back when a sharp pain erupted in his abdomen. He widened his eyes, his body flying backward like a rag doll, tracing an arc in the air.
"Lord Zurui!"
His subordinates' horrified shouts came from afar, but the sound was quickly drowned out by the roar of the Nine-Faced Beast. The Cloud Ninja frantically fought back, but they were easily crushed like ants—elite Jonin-level summoned beasts against ordinary Ninja was a one-sided slaughter.
"Cough… cough, cough…"
Zurui struggled to get up, a sweet, metallic taste rising in his throat. However, before he could push himself up, a hand pressed down on the back of his neck, forcing his entire body into the dirt.
How was this possible?!
Zurui's pupils constricted violently. As an elite Cloud Jonin, his taijutsu skills were among the best in the village, yet he was being completely overwhelmed at this moment?!
"You…" He painfully rolled his eyeballs, trying to see the person pinning him down, "Who exactly are you?!"