Chapter 28: The People Who Came in Pursuit
Respect the dead.
After Uehara Naraka said this, the expressions on the Mist ninjas' faces were quite colorful. The Wind Release ninjutsu the little fellow used to block the shuriken was indeed strange, but he was only one person. Was he actually confident he could kill all four of their squads?
"...Such an arrogant kid!"
Whether it was Kakashi Hatake hiding in the shadows or the Mist ninjas, their first thought was that Uehara Naraka's attitude was too arrogant!
Even a long-famous ninja like Kakashi wouldn't dare charge head-on into this organized Mist ninja unit. Yet the kid who spoke was provoking them to their faces. Was he seeking death?
Kakashi Hatake peeked out slightly, quietly watching Uehara Naraka, who was forming hand seals. His attention was instantly captivated.
Uehara Naraka was forming seals slowly; even without using the Sharingan, his movements could be seen clearly. But the seal sequence was something even Kakashi had never seen before. Could the kid be about to use a ninjutsu he had never heard of?
Kakashi Hatake immediately focused his full attention, carefully using his Sharingan to memorize Uehara Naraka's seal sequence, wanting to secretly copy Uehara Naraka's ninjutsu!
Uehara Naraka didn't know all this, but he didn't care either. After casually forming a bunch of messy hand seals, he thrust his palm fiercely towards the sky, looked at the group of Mist ninjas with a smile, "We'll meet again if fate allows, assuming you survive... Lightning Release: Slicing Maelstrom!"
A thundercloud storm floated around Uehara. Bolts of lightning suddenly shot out from the storm clouds, scattering down onto the heads of the Mist ninjas!
Several Mist ninjas were instantly struck into charcoal by the lightning. After the other Mist ninjas dodged the first bolt, the second bolt, the third bolt followed...
Lightning struck down continuously!
One Mist ninja didn't have time to dodge or defend, was struck by a lightning bolt, fell to the ground, and then never had the chance to get up again!
The frequency and speed of the lightning attacks were not something they could easily handle. The Mist ninjas finally realized the predicament of being under the thundercloud storm. It was very difficult for them to escape, and they didn't even have enough time to form defensive seals.
Under crisis, human nature abruptly revealed itself.
The Jonin captain leaped beside one of his subordinates, grabbed his body, and threw him into mid-air, intercepting two lightning bolts; his subordinate consequently turned into charred remains. Seeing this, the other Chunin captains actually started grabbing their own subordinates and comrades' bodies to use as shields for their own escape!
If not for the high frequency of the lightning attacks, the ninjas of the Mist unit might even have started killing each other in an internal conflict!
Uehara Naraka watched the Mist ninjas in the thundercloud storm, the smile on his lips slowly fading. Faced with the threat to their lives, the Mist ninjas' performance was truly pathetic, far worse than the Ame (Rain) village ninjas.
Kirigakure's Bloody Mist Policy, which for many years didn't prohibit killing comrades and even encouraged it, finally revealed its bitter fruit: no one dared to easily trust their companions anymore!
Uehara Naraka fought his easiest battle yet. He didn't need to use a second powerful skill; just casually throwing cards completed a one-sided slaughter.
Kakashi Hatake, spying on all this, broke out in a cold sweat!
That boy used only one ninjutsu to kill four Mist ninja squads, including an elite squad led by a Jonin!
However, Kakashi Hatake also felt a small thrill of joy inwardly. Not only had he escaped the Mist ninjas' entanglement, but he had also copied a powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu, and Kakashi Hatake himself excelled most at Lightning Release.
Advancement Quest 3: Kill ten official Chunin (10/10). Reward: 1000 Life Energy, 1000 Chakra Energy, 1000 Gold Coins. Reward: Life Energy Recovery increased by 100%. Reward: Chakra Energy Recovery increased by 100%.
Advancement Quest 4: Kill ten official Jonin (1/10). Reward Unknown.
Uehara Naraka observed the rewards for completing Advancement Quest 3 with surprise. Besides the usual Life Energy, Chakra Energy, and Gold Coin rewards, there were additional bonuses for Life Energy recovery and Chakra Energy recovery.
Life Energy: 2201 (Standard Jonin 1000~3000)
Chakra Energy: 3250 (Standard Kage-level 3000~10000)
Health Regen: 4 points/sec
Chakra Regen: 3 points/sec
Remaining Gold Coins: 2070
Equipment: Seraph's Embrace. Increases Chakra Energy by 1400 points, increases Skill Cooldown Reduction by 20%, reduces Chakra consumption by 20%.
After observing his stats, Uehara Naraka breathed a sigh of relief. Besides his physical strength and stamina increasing significantly, his Chakra Energy had broken 3000 points. He finally had a foothold to survive in this ninja world.
Besides these standard rewards, there were also the Life Energy recovery and Chakra Energy recovery bonuses. Especially the increase in Chakra Energy recovery, which would allow Uehara Naraka to use Flight Technique and Mayfly Technique without limit, ensuring his safety at the very least.
All that remained was to wait for Kisame Hoshigaki's arrival.
Uehara Naraka considered several ways to recruit Kisame Hoshigaki, but worried about Kisame's loyalty to the mysterious masked man, Uehara didn't want to expose himself easily.
In the end, Uehara Naraka still decided to first severely injure Kisame Hoshigaki, then forcibly bring Kisame back to the Land of Rain. That should count as completing the mission, right?
Outside the mountain forest.
A shark-faced youth leading a Kirigakure Hunter-nin corps of over twenty people appeared at the foot of the mountain. Besides them, a brown-haired woman also arrived with three ninja squads, among whom was a powerful reconnaissance ninja.
Ao.
Ao was the only Byakugan Kekkei Genkai user not from the Hyūga clan. Having acquired a Byakugan by chance during a war, he became Kirigakure's strongest reconnaissance ninja.
The joint appearance here of Kirigakure's upper echelon high-level combatants, Mei Terumī and Kisame Hoshigaki, showed the importance they placed on Kakashi Hatake and Kirigakure's thirst for Konoha intelligence.
Kisame Hoshigaki scanned the mountain and said softly, "Ao-senpai, let's begin! We guys only know how to speak with our swords; searching for the enemy will have to trouble senpai!"
"Understood... Byakugan - Activate!"
Ao abruptly brought his two fingers together, opened his Byakugan's vision, and carefully searched the mountain forest for tracks, looking for figures within.
After a while, Ao finished his search, his expression suddenly turning ugly. He said gravely, "All the ninjas at the northern outpost have been killed! There are still two living people on this mountain. One is a short kid; the other is Kakashi Hatake, he's in the eastern woods!"
"Ha, looks like our luck is good!"
Kisame Hoshigaki took Samehada (Shark Skin) off his back and looked at Mei Terumī, "Then, we'll proceed to capture Kakashi Hatake next. Your Excellency Terumī Mei will assist us with containment. Is this arrangement acceptable?"
"Whatever."
Mei Terumī waved her hand indifferently, covering her mouth with a light chuckle, "Our goal is only to capture the Copy Ninja. Who is responsible for attacking and who is responsible for containment doesn't matter."
"Then we'll be counting on you!"
Kisame Hoshigaki acted without pretense, dragging Samehada in his hand as he leaped into the forest. The Hunter-nin corps followed closely behind him.
Mei Terumī led her subordinates along Kakashi's position within the mountain forest, setting up a blockade to force Kakashi towards Kisame Hoshigaki's direction.
As for Uehara Naraka in the mountain forest, none of them paid him any mind.
The only person truly concerned about Uehara Naraka's strength was just one.
(End of Chapter)
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