Chapter 69: Yamanaka Fū and the Root Ninjas
Two people who couldn't make decisions were definitely unable to negotiate a result.
Neither Salamander Shinda nor Yamanaka Fū could make decisions for the people behind them. Both sides quickly decided to temporarily end this meeting.
The meeting between Konoha Root and Amegakure (Village Hidden in the Rain) seemed to have broken down.
"Naraka, the Konoha people are leaving."
Konan looked down at the Konoha ninjas retreating in an orderly fashion, unable to suppress the anxiety on her face.
The hidden Zetsu underground also felt a bit anxious.
Uehara Naraka secretly activated the cooled-down Destiny skill to observe the surroundings... That guy Zetsu was actually still lying in wait!
Test that insidious guy?
Uehara Naraka glanced at the departing Root ninjas and said in a low voice, "Teacher, let's go pursue the Konoha Root ninjas first!"
If Zetsu was still following them after he and Konan left, then that would indicate there was a problem!
If there was no problem with Zetsu...
Then he could conveniently complete several quests targeting Root ninjas!
As the ninja world's darkest organization, Shimura Danzō and the Root ninjas had clearly garnered considerable malice, thus there were many quests related to them...
This wave shouldn't be too much of a loss.
"...Okay."
Konan agreed with Uehara's opinion, then added a reminder, "When hunting them down, leave one alive. See if we can get intelligence regarding Danzō..."
"But..."
Uehara Naraka frowned, hesitating, "These Konoha ninjas are all elites. I feel they might not necessarily betray their superior..."
"Mm."
Konan nodded and said softly, "But it doesn't matter. After we capture them, I'll explain to you."
She definitely wants to summon the Human Path Pain.
The Soul Removal Jutsu possessed by the Human Path Pain could often gather all information from a person's brain. That was about the extent of the Human Path's usefulness...
If not for gathering intelligence, it could only serve as a close-combat meat shield and fall guy, just like the Asura Path Pain...
"I'll go with you!"
Hattori Hirakawa quickly grabbed his ninja sword and followed them.
If attacking Ame ninjas, Hattori Hirakawa would certainly display a 'rather die than submit' attitude; but for ambushing and pursuing Konoha ninjas together, Hattori Hirakawa was very willing to cooperate actively.
"..."
Uehara Naraka and Konan couldn't help glancing at him again. Did this guy think he was strong enough to be useful in battle?
Hattori Hirakawa understood their gazes and muttered discontentedly, "No matter what, I'm still a Jonin!"
"A Jonin..."
Uehara Naraka commented darkly, "I was just recently thinking of using a few Jonin to test my strength..."
Hattori Hirakawa: "..."
Konan rapped Uehara Naraka's back of the head with her knuckles and chuckled lightly, "Alright, then let's take him along!"
After all, it was rare to encounter an Ame ninja willing to cooperate.
Konan and Nagato wanted to kill Hanzō of the Salamander not only for revenge but also to rule their homeland, the Land of Rain, and make it better.
Those ninjas loyal to Hanzō would therefore become a big problem for their future governance of the Land of Rain.
It was precisely for this reason that Konan kept leading Uehara to attack Ame outposts, creating Akatsuki's terror, forcing Hanzō to gather his trusted subordinates to protect himself, thereby eliminating them all.
This guy Hattori Hirakawa wasn't very strong, but he also carried pain, and already showed signs of dissatisfaction with Hanzō...
He could be spared.
After all, the Land of Rain was a small country; Jonin weren't numerous.
Both Konan and Nagato knew very well the Land of Rain's national power was weak and talent scarce. Ninjas from other countries clearly looked down on Ame ninjas even more.
Like the Konoha ninjas who just retreated from the canyon.
Yamanaka Fū led his subordinates to hide in a stone cave. He himself was currently writing about the process of their first contact with the Ame ninjas, planning to send someone to deliver it to Konoha later.
"Hmph, what do those Ame ninjas think they are?"
One Root ninja finally couldn't hold back and cursed aloud.
Although Root wasn't very famous, its power within Konoha was considerable; they even dared to ambush and kill ANBU ninjas.
Amegakure was just a small country's hidden village. During wartime, it was always used as a battlefield by major powers. That group of Ame ninjas wanted to cooperate with Root, yet actually expected them [Root] to back down first?
"Amegakure's leader is, after all, Hanzō of the Salamander..."
Yamanaka Fū paused his pen and persuaded softly, "Lord Danzō cannot leave the village for the time being. The meeting task can only be completed by us. Endure patiently for now; the mission takes priority above all."
"Yes, Captain."
"Apart from necessary patrol and reconnaissance personnel, everyone else avoid going out."
Yamanaka Fū's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop as he instructed softly, "During this period, we will wait quietly here for Lord Danzō's orders. Do not cause provocations within the Land of Rain's borders. Absolutely must not lose the greater for the less..."
"Enemy attack!"
A panicked voice came from the cave entrance!
Before Yamanaka Fū and this group of Konoha ninjas could react, a deafening bombing sound erupted!
Boom!
The entire mountain seemed to be destroyed by blasting!
Yamanaka Fū only felt the earth beneath his feet tremble violently. Rolling stones tumbled down, leaving them with nowhere to hide!
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison!"
Several Root ninjas quickly formed seals and released Earth Release ninjutsu, supporting the cave to prevent it from collapsing.
One sensor ninja observed for a moment and said gravely, "Captain, the wall of this mountain isn't thick. We can escape just by opening a breach!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave Slash!"
Several other ninjas skilled in Wind Release formed seals and released Wind Release ninjutsu, opening a breach leading outside.
After the group of Root ninjas jumped out, the outside environment had already changed drastically. The surprise on their faces could no longer be hidden, "This... What on earth happened?"
"If I remember correctly..."
Yamanaka Fū's gaze was slightly frozen. He surveyed the scattered sand and rocks, cold sweat gradually appearing drop by drop on his forehead, "When we came earlier, this should have been a mountain, right?"
Where was the mountain now!
Apart from the cave they had just stayed in turning into ruins, the entire small mountain had been inexplicably blown away!
"Captain, someone's there!"
Several figures stood on a rock outcrop.
A blue-haired woman stood on the rock. Beside her stood several youths of varying heights, and at the very edge was a trembling ordinary Ame ninja.
It was precisely Konan, Uehara Naraka, and the others.
Looking at the state of the group of Konoha ninjas, Uehara Naraka clicked his tongue in admiration, "A bombardment of one million exploding tags, yet so many people still survived... Is this the strength of Konoha ninjas?"
"Cough cough..."
Konan coughed lightly, her face unable to help flushing red.
Because she had only casually spread a layer of exploding tags. The coverage area was too wide, the tags too dispersed, fundamentally failing to unleash the power of an exploding tag formation.
The entire mountain was indeed blown away... but the Konoha ninjas hidden inside the cave actually survived.
However, what they originally wanted was a living captive from Konoha.
Konan calmly spread her palms. Two paper wings slowly converged behind her. The wings lifted her into the air, "Alright, Naraka, let's begin!"
(End of Chapter)
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