Chapter 105: The Legitimacy of Kirigakure Jutsu in Konoha
"Ice Release... This technique is quite effective against ordinary people, but sadly, it's useless against those guys."
Kyōichi sighed.
Ice Release is powerful, but it's still within the realm of ordinary jutsu. It lacks the destiny-altering abilities of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Kekkei Genkai and doesn't possess the overwhelming power of Dust Release.
One could only say,
It's better than nothing!
In his hand, he toyed with an ice blade. With a thought, three or four ice blades appeared in the air.
These were just basic applications.
Honestly, they weren't very useful. For Kyōichi, their greatest utility was in forming a layer of ice armor over his body, making him less vulnerable to Lightning Release users.
Stepping outside, he saw numerous shinobi gathered around a tent.
All engrossed in scrolls.
Hidden Mist Jutsu, Silent Killing - these were fundamental to Kirigakure. Who wouldn't want to learn a few more techniques for self-defense?
Unfortunately,
Shisui and his two companions lacked Suiton abilities and could only look on with envy. They focused on Silent Killing instead. Shisui, being short and agile, quickly immersed himself in the scroll.
When Kyōichi went out, Shisui was reciting it to the others.
Might Guy was also there.
However,
After listening, he scratched his head.
"Guy, did you understand it?" Ebisu asked softly.
"No, I think this Silent Killing isn't practical for us. We don't even know the Hidden Mist Jutsu, do we?"
Guy was clueless about whispering.
Genma Shiranui covered his face, speechless—
These two oddballs were his teammates!
"You're not meant to learn it. The teacher wrote not about how to use it, but how to guard against it, counter it, to prevent us being killed by masters of these techniques," Kurenai explained.
As the only female ninja in the group, her words went unopposed. Everyone nodded in agreement.
After she spoke, she noticed Kyōichi's arrival.
She quickly stood up, brushed off the dust, and chuckled, "Sensei, am I right?"
"Yes,"
Kyōichi smiled.
The ninja on the eastern front weren't many, but most were strong, with just these six genin.
However,
This time, he planned to take them to Kirigakure.
So,
"Train hard. This mission is relatively simple. You haven't experienced the cruelty of the battlefield. I'll take you to see it."
"Yes!"
Shisui was a bit excited, yet also nervous.
Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could die on the battlefield, let alone them.
On the battlefield, clan heritage and genius titles are useless.
Only strength speaks the truth.
The others also understood what was happening—Kyōichi was taking them to the battlefield!
"You're not joking, right?"
"I never joke. Work hard!"
Kyōichi patted Ebisu's shoulder.
The boy looked bitter.
However,
Kyōichi wouldn't be moving for the next few days—
Might Duy hadn't fully recovered yet.
Duy was a deterrent presence.
He believed that after Hozuki Mangetsu returned, he would report the situation, and Kirigakure's ninja would understand his strength.
Meanwhile,
These days were also giving Kirigakure time.
If he attacked now and Yagura wasn't back, what then?
That would truly lead to a great battle.
Kyōichi had no intention of annihilating Kirigakure's force; he still hoped Yagura would lead his men to stab the Mizukage in the back. Killing them all would be counterproductive.
The information from Inoichi kept coming. Today, he received surprising news—back then, the eighth member following the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was named Ao.
It was unlikely to be a coincidence.
The probability was too small.
And from the descriptions in his memories, it seemed to be the same person who later acquired the Byakugan.
Unfortunately,
He didn't wait for the Byakugan but met Kyōichi's blade instead. The worst part was, Kyōichi killed him without even knowing who he was.
Similarly,
Two bodies, one a member of the Seven Swordsmen and the other a regular ninja. Obviously, the Hōzuki hostage was more valuable.
So,
Even Inoichi couldn't deal with him.
Truly tragic!
Of course,
Kyōichi was only slightly sentimental, even a bit hypocritical.
He was more than happy to see Ao dead, not to mention feeling sorry for him. Besides, Ao's abilities were mediocre. He had the Byakugan but couldn't even see chakra points, let alone develop the Hyūga's Gentle Fist techniques.
In comparison, Zabuza, without the Byakugan, managed to figure it out...
The difference was clear!
Such a waste was better off dead.
These days, Konoha was busy studying Kirigakure's jutsu and Silent Killing. While Kyōichi was treating Might Duy, he also healed the other three famous hostages.
The intelligence gathering was nearly complete.
Yet, they still held value—
Once the situation with the Hidden Mist Village resolved, these three could serve as bargaining chips.
After all, they were painstakingly nurtured by the Third Mizukage.
Four days passed.
Might Duy had fully recovered.
Under the signal flare, all the ninja gathered, and two prepared boats were docked at the shore.
"Kyōichi, maybe we should bring more people?" Yamanaka Inoichi expressed his concerns.
Kyōichi had only brought two-thirds of the manpower, considering that—
He was likely to face a significant number of ninja from the Hidden Mist Village.
"No need, this many is enough. If the Mist really wants to fight, they still have to face me."
It wasn't arrogance from Kyōichi.
Together with Might Duy, while it was far-fetched to wipe out all of Mist's ninja, holding them off to cover the others' retreat and escaping unscathed was entirely feasible.
So, there was no need to worry.
Unable to dissuade him, Inoichi could only watch them board the ship.
The ship set sail.
Filled with shinobi, any sabotage from the Hidden Mist would have little impact on them. At worst, they would abandon the ship and escape, merely costing more chakra.
A few kilometers out, Kyōichi encountered an unexpected issue.
He had calculated everything, except for one thing—
Might Duy and his son were seasick!
Unbelievable!
"Ugh~"
The two were violently ill.
The sound of vomiting was contagious, and it created an unpleasant atmosphere.
Kyōichi rubbed his temples.
These two...
"Duy-senpai, Guy, why don't you two just run over the water? You can do water running, right?"
"Of course!"
"Ah!! Run? Sure, the Green Beast of Konoha is back in action!"
Might Guy was the first to dash out.
Splash.
He jumped into the sea and raced across the water surface, a sight to behold.
Baffling.
Kyōichi watched the father and son duo disappear into the distance.
"They're running all that way?"
"Don't worry, they can run much farther than you think."
Kyōichi was not concerned.
Since he hadn't planned to reach their destination in one day, they were scheduled to stop at a previous base for a break.
Several hours later.
They arrived at the former base of the Hidden Mist.
The Mist ninja had already evacuated, destroying most traces and leaving behind no significant clues.
They continued their journey with intermittent stops.
A day later...
"Lord Kyōichi, I've spotted ninja from the Hidden Mist. About four squads on an island four kilometers northeast. We should be close now."
"Perfect, let's go."
After Kyōichi's command, he dashed forward, followed closely by Asuma, Shisui, and others.
Apart from Kyōichi and Hayama Shirakumo's squad, Hyūga Hoheto also quickly caught up. The rest stayed on the ship, moving with the main force.
Before long.
The Mist ninja noticed them.
"Lord, the ninja from Konoha are here again!"
"Don't panic!"
Shimokawa and Hiroki launched two signal flares.
"Fight?"
"If we retreat further, they'll be at our headquarters."
Shimokawa and Hiroki stated.
Konoha had pushed them too far; there was no room left to retreat.
Meanwhile.
Seeing the signal flares, Yagura yelled and led three to four squads into action.
He had anticipated this.
After all, four to five people were missing, and the base's information might have been compromised.
Thus, he had moved some of the Yuki and Kaguya clan members here a few days earlier.
Recently, since no attack had come, he let them return—
After all, dealing with the difficult Kaguya and Yuki clans was more trouble than it was worth.
However.
A few days later, Kyōichi arrived.
A grave mistake!
Yagura internally cursed, hastening his pace.
Soon, he saw dense fog rising from the nearby island.
"Lord Yagura, this doesn't seem like our Hidden Mist Technique."
A sensory ninja reported urgently.
The chakra signature was wrong!
Yagura's face darkened.
He knew it!
If he wasn't wrong, this was the chakra signature of Kyōichi.
This Kamida Kyōichi...
Despicable, detestable!
How had it only been a few days?
Not only had the enemy mastered the Hidden Mist Technique, but they had also improved it to the point where it overpowered their own.
This reminded Yagura of a not-so-pleasant memory—
According to the elders, the famous water technique user of the ninja world wasn't from the Hidden Mist, but the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
He could now empathize with that feeling.
Damn it!
On the small island.
Kyōichi covered the enemy's dense fog with his own mist, and around the island, dozens of exploding tags flew in the air, trapping the four squads of jōnin on the island.
"Attack."
"Yes!"
Although Asuma and the others were apprehensive, they charged forward at the command.
The dense fog provided excellent cover.
However.
As the disadvantaged side in adapting to the mist, Asuma and his team didn't have much of an advantage, but under this chakra-formed fog, it was Kyōichi's home ground.
A voice rang out.
"The throat, the spine... eight vital points. Which one should I target next?"
"What?"
Shimokawa and Hiroki were confused, followed by a surge of anger.
Did Konoha think that by mastering their Hidden Mist Technique, they could replicate their Silent Killing Technique?
How arrogant...
Before the thought even finished, a chill ran down their spines.
The next moment.
A sharp pain in their necks, and a look down revealed—
Blood spraying.
Not just them, another jōnin also fell to a blade, but he was frozen in place, unable to move, and directly pierced through the heart by a water column formed by Kyōichi's sword.
Two jōnin unleashed a Great Breakthrough.
But.
Their Wind Release dispersed the fog momentarily, but within a second, the mist closed in again. In that brief time, they didn't even see the enemy.
This was the true Silent Killing Technique!
No sound, no sight, only the death of comrades visible.
Their Hidden Mist Technique was overshadowed, rendered ineffective as a distraction.
"Damn it! Run, quickly!"
The remaining ninja were filled with fear.
For the first time, they realized the terror of the Hidden Mist and Silent Killing Techniques, especially when wielded not by a Mist ninja but a Konoha ninja.
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